Human Inclinations to Godliness

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Man's turning to Allah 'Azza wa Jalla during times of calamities is a sign of his inclinations to Godliness. Man gets involved with his position and status so much that he forgets about Allah 'Azza wa Jalla. He gets fully entangled in his sins and disobedience. 

Once a calamity befalls upon man, he suddenly remembers Allah and turns to Him for help. Thus, we realize that this sense of Godliness is intrinsic in humans, but man's involvement in worldly affairs results in his forgetting Allah 'Azza wa Jalla.

There is a well known tradition that states that a man went to see Imam Ja'afar bin Muhammad al-Sadiq r.a and expressed his amazement about the recognition of Allah 'Azza wa Jalla. 

The man said: "I have discussed this issue with many knowledgeable people, but they have not been able to help me". 

Imam Ja'afar r.a ended his amazement using his intrinsic human Godliness and asked him:  "Have you ever been aboard a ship?"

The man answered: "Yes".

Then Imam Ja'afar r.a further asked: "Have you ever been on a sinking ship and reached out for a narrow piece of board to stay afloat?"

The man said: "Yes, I have".  

Imam Ja'afar r.a said: "Then, while you could not see any dry land or anyone there to save you, were you not really attracted to some power to rescue you?"

The man replied in the positive answer and was finally relieved of his amazement about Allah 'Azza wa Jalla recognition.

* Imam Ja'afar r.a is a scholar of tabi'in era which is the era of Medina just like Imam Anas bin Malik r.a. He is the son of Muhammad bin Ali bin Hussain bin Ali bin Abi Talib. His paternal grandmother is lady Fatima binti Hassan bin Fatima binti Muhammad s.a.w. If brethren notice this, we have this tradition to rename our newly born child with the same name like the grandparents to carve the memory about them in our children mind... My middle name which happens to be my personal name is the same name with the place or the mosque where lady Aisha r.a put on her pilgrimage garment to perform 'omra. When we transcript it into Chinese sound, it would be the name of a 12th century Buddhist temple in Beijing yet the meaning is synonymous, hehe...  

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin!

Science and Religion: Introduction and the Influence of Western Science

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

This is modern, haha

 

Reference Preface

My little room is quite dusty, maybe I need to do some cleaning chores. Was so busy with thesis refining until forgotten to check my room cleanliness. I've been reading to some Islamic books while doing researches for my thesis including of the Sharia. In relation to what had recently happened, I would just post the translation of this message from a humble ulama from Indonesia, Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah. In European continent and some parts of United States, the divinity sciences has been separated with the earthly ones but in Eastern world it is on the other hand different. We're not as extremist as some Europeans or those who think that they would be advanced if they put themselves in certain group or way of thinking because of the inferiority complex that they are facing. 

It's not Muslims or anyone to be blamed for their inferiority complex. It's their own fallacy and failure to know their self. This literature is not of mine, I'm just translating it roughly into English and adapting it so the ulama's message would reach the world. The source is from the magazine known as "Panji Masyarakat" or "Banner of the Society" around 1959-1961 published in Jakarta, Indonesia. I checked the stats and many people are reading the post about the absurd movie so I decided to play the responsibility as an unanimous person among world community to cure the situation around the world by propagating our ulamas' teachings and views from South East Asia. Thanks for spending some time at this humble site. Brothers and sisters around the world may use the source for research and the translator is me. Just put unanimous translator at your literature since this is polluted with my commentary, hehe. However, please don't forget to mention the real writer which is Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah as all credits only belong to the real writer. Hope it is useful to see how Muslim view the Life. I guess there should also be in Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, Urdu and Chinese translations for this.

Introduction

In the history of man-kind, there are various waves that influencing his or her life. At certain point of life, he's influenced by the poetry. At some points of life, philosophy is influencing him. In the other point of life, religion and faith influencing him. The development of thought also going through stages as such; poetry, philosophy, religion and sciences. 

Before the era of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, the Greeks were influenced by the poetry especially those of Homerus. The Arab society in Arabian Peninsula during the age of spirituality ignorance were also influenced with the wave of poetry as such they also organized annual competitions in term of poetry. For the Malay nations, they were in fact influenced by poetry known as pantun, syair, gurindam and etc. Whatever being seen by a Malay since the wind blows, sea waves swashing about the beaches, mountains scratching the sky and other natural phenomenon were made parts of their poems. 

The Middle Ages were known as the era of religious wave whether in Europe or Western world or in the Eastern world which also includes Muslims, Jews, Oriental Christians, Hindus and other religious groups. Then, there were the era known as the era of science and technology in the 19th century. It is the time where the so-called "framed technology science" in its wave influencing people around the world.    

In the ancient time before the globalization of the world; The wave of the "science" is like the fire burning inside the bushes. There are countries or nations who are still influenced by the poetry, while other neighboring nations for example are influenced by the philosophy. In the same time, there are also those who are influenced by the religion. Since 19th century, the result of the science which researching the physical realm becomes more advanced. The relation of those who stays far away from the other could be closer. The world seems boundless with the development of communication technology such as radio, television, internet, youtube, blogs, websites, and others. So, the wave of "physical science and knowledge" that has influenced Europe since Renaissance period and 19th century is also covering the whole globe where the internet and other means of communication could reach the land.

Influence of Western Style Science

The influence of "physical and materialistic science" has covered the Western world namely Europe. The influence of religion decreases. It is still there just the influence is not as intense as in the Middle Ages. People are searching and desire for something which is "concrete". They do not prefer the "abstract" anymore. This wave is also reaching the Eastern world in Asia and other continents such as in Africa and America. The people who are influenced by this wave in Asia, Africa and America were influenced not due to their advancement in knowledge, but is because they are merely copycats. What kind of persons are these copycats? As what I understood, they are those who takes others style and the reason they do it is just to look good and they wanted to look as good as Europeans. This has to do with the self-confidence as they think they are ugly if they copy others style. These obnoxious individuals are also in academics field today or at least trying to claim academician title for themselves. Ibnu Khaldun who were a famous Muslim sociologist has said: "Loser nations would be addicted to imitate those who wins". This is what happened for e.g in the production of a cheap movie does not matter if the producer is of any faith, belief or ideology.

The weakness of religious influence and the shining of "physical and materialistic science" in the European continent was the reasonable result of the "science" which has risen since it was in 17th century. Researches, analysis, empiricism, continuation between these possibilities to those possibilities, interrelating the reasons and impacts, fallacies in theories and experiments being developed time by time that brings to the preferable or satisfying results were generically made up as "science". These were made structures for scientific opinions, belief and arguments. This is what many of us even in our country understood as "science". Those who rejected this nowadays being cast out of the system and left aside just like what happened to myself or perhaps many other "madrasah" oriented young people : ) 

After this development in Europe, most of them believed that it is not favorable to merely following what has been inherited to them by their ancestors. The quotes inherited from Socrates, Plato or Aristotle could not be accepted before being experimented or tested. This also includes the words of divine scriptures and orders from the Church must undergo the experiment and researches in laboratory.   

Through these ways, they had produced not only hundreds but thousands new opinions to be practiced and enjoyed in their daily life. These opinions and arguments become the structure for "modern" Europe today and it also amazes those loser individuals who can't produced their own or even comparable science of their own. When looking at the concrete results of their inventions, some people takes their hats off the Europeans' science and they become less respective to religion and its sciences become sunken under the Europeans' materialistic sciences. Faith in the God and His messengers and chosen sages only promising the hereafter paradise in form of uncertain prophecies. While Western sciences has produced paradise in the current life. Radio, TV entertainments, phones, cars, planes, electricity, air conditioner and many more has turned the attention of man-kind from the Heaven to the Earth. People are giving their attention to the "science and technology" and not to hermits, monks, religious teachers or ascetics anymore. They believe and paying attention to the life which is now. The hereafter and resurrection are something which never been experienced by them and could not concretely being seen with man-kind physical eyes.

When the time passing, people becoming more excited to drag even metaphysical stuffs into their so-called "science". Although religious knowledge or science is not their specific field and task but they still to make it "scientific" according to their way. The hereafter matters according to them has no "scientific" proves. Paradise and hell-torments are persuasion and threats only for those who still has no knowledge, ignorant, marginalized and no scholar.

More shattering the faith of these people toward religion is after the rise of Nicholas Copernicus study about the solar system. Before this, Europeans have a belief which could not be contested that the Earth is the center of the Universe. While the Sun, the Moon and stars were circulating around the Earth. Stars were created for the benefit of man-kind and Earth is for the human's interest. The whole universe was under the rule of human and man-kind were the most noble beings in the whole system. Copernicus had strongly demolished this belief system through his studies and research questions. He said that the Earth is like a tiny particle of dust among zillions of stars in the universe. The Earth circulating around the Sun and not otherwise. Other than that, there are many other stars which is more huge as compared to the Earth. Man-kind are nothing to be compared to other realms which are wider and huge. My comment about astrology studies in Europe, the primitive Chaldean of Babylon in the early Mesopotamian civilizations and ancient Yemeni Arabs who revered the Sun and stars had already know about this though they were not baptized into Christianity or any other "celestial" religion nor living in Renaissance age of Europe. Even this knowledge were wide spread as far as to Indus civilization as we could see in the Navagraham system of Hindus' astrology. After reviewing the studies of Copernicus, Roman Catholic Christian clerics in the 14th C Europe were so furious. They were furious as the authority of humanity were lowered.

After Copernicus, there was Charles Darwin who had introduced the Theory of Evolution. He theorized that beings were created according to well-arranged stages and it took millions of years for being evolve from the imperfect ones to the more perfect ones. Beings evolved from the lowest to intermediate ones and later reaching human form stage. Beings started to evolve from microorganism, plants, insects to animals. The highest of animals' advancement was when they evolved to be primates or apes. From primates, the beings starting to evolve to be human in its form. My personal comment about this naturalist theory, it is choppy. It is still a "theory" to also be considered as a belief or creed and could be developed or repaired if other better arguments could come up to counter this existing theory. I was once bounded to Buddhism belief and practices before Allah moved my heart to return to my ancestral religion, Islam. I believed in reincarnation of beings in the different physical forms such as insects, animals, human, angels or demon. Gautama Buddha has taught this thousands of years earlier than Copernicus and I think Gautama Buddha was more sophisticated and clear in his view or "theories" about "beings" as compared to Darwin as he's not only talking about the physical beings but also without leaving behind metaphysical stuffs. According to Buddhism and Hinduism theories of acts' law, beings regardless animals, angels, demons or man-kind are subjects to the fruits of their acts and thoughts. However the form which is auspicious to achieve 'peaceful blast' according to Buddhism is in human-form and it is the most difficult form to be achieved since it took thousands of years to be incarnated as human.

The portal which was opened by Copernicus was extended in its opening with Darwin who over lays a further views about the universe. Europeans began to experience changing in their world view and the way they look at human-being becomes different as before. Their pure and innocent views about the universe were transformed to mechanical views as they learned about the theories and findings such as proposed by Darwin and Copernicus. Their view is now about the survival is the fittest. Those who are weak will eventually be eliminated. It further leads them to the belief that the Universe has no Creator. Universe is creating itself and thus it leads to Atheism. The Europeans were not inventing anything new. They were just repeating the same thing which happens thousand years before them in many parts of the Earth. In the age of spiritual ignorance, the polytheist Arabs in the Holy City, Mecca were oppressing those who were weak. Those who were unfortunate were enslaved by those who are more strong. Women were looked down like a toy to be used as what happened in sex-maniac movies in nowadays Western style movies. Women also looked them selves as sex-slaves to men. Nowadays, this kind of view is still in existence be they in secular or religious society. There is no difference at all, just the grouping and classification of their groups is different : )

Church organizations in Europe at that time became more enraged. The view that most of man-kind have now to be classified as modern is opposing to the view that human are noble beings that they hold for so long. After astrology and natural theory studies, there were studies on geology in Europe. They researched the Earth and its contents. The inquired on how the Earth tried to be separated from the Sun. Then they researched the beings known as the biology. They researched the beginning on how the beings started to develop. Then, other researches developed out of the one existed. All of these inquiries had also affected the view of people about religion and affected the influence of religious leaders. These researches in Europe had also influenced how they interpret the meanings of the Bible at least for those who still wanted to have faith in the God.   

Out of the Context

Last night I went out with a friend to Setapak. We talked until 3:00 in the morning and I get some ideas about life-planning after this. I also asked him few questions about LGBT groups which is now a hot stuff in our country and he has few LGBT friends and acquaintance. I just feel not comfortable to judge others and before making up my mind I would make all sorts of inquiries. So, I always ask people who know more about the issue or at least asking them to show me the place where I can get the needed information. It is important for sharia students as contemporary issues are among the problem of ummat. That is why I was late in updating this post though I am excited to check this work.

Thankful to Allah he does not forget me though he is busy with his newly found job. We just went to Japanese restaurant but I can't have seafood. So I just ordered green tea and non-vegetarian Soba noodle. It is also not recommended to take meat but it comes with package so I just accept it. Well, it was his treat so again I'm thankful and not wasting it. As long as he does not say that it is a kind of alms giving I'll accept it. These weeks to come is actually our high holy days so there are limits to everything. We share some points of holy days with the Jews especially those related to Yawm al-Qiyamat (the Resurrection Day). This is not a binding law for other Muslim brothers and sisters but only to us as we have to accept the life of poor ascetics and praying for other brothers and sisters well-being. Insha Allah if He gives me the opportunity I would update the post about this ulama's view on the science and religion. I'm going to make some milk for my father. Poor he is, he still can't swallow anything. Brothers and sisters, please take good care of your health. It's vital for us to perform worship to Allah...

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin!   

Guidelines for a Muqallid

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

The God the Most Highest ordered: "Ask the knowledgeable people if you don't know." And the people of remembrance or people of knowledge are those who are followed. Whereas the muqallid is not a person of knowledge so he becomes a follower of someone else.

This is what makes me feel not comfortable when people walking behind me or praying behind me and making me an imam though only for a salat service, hehe. I am just a muqallid and my imam also does not like people to walk behind him. I am taking his example on how I behave as a mean to respect my imam as I read everything about all imams and their characters.

Ibnu Abdul Barr (d.463) and others mentioned: "The people are united in the ijma' that the muqallid is not counted as being from the people of knowledge. The knowledge is the realization of guidance along with its proof."   

Ibnu Qayyim mentions: "And it is as Abu Umar bin Abdul Barr said - Indeed the people do not differ about the fact that knowledge is the realization attained from proof but without proof, it only becomes a taqleed."

Sayings on the Permissibility of Issuing the Fatawa Based upon Taqleed

Ibnu Qayyim stated that there are three sayings about this:

I. It isn't permissible to issue a fatawa or guidelines based upon taqleed since it is not in category of knowledge. Issuing a fatawa without a knowledge about particular field, issue, and sciences of divine law is forbidden and haram! So, based from this, people could judge on the level of knowledge possessed by 'clerics' in Pakistan, Bangladesh or India's rural village when they issued ridiculous fatawas or guidelines like poking people's eyes, raping women for crime committed by men and etc which Western medias always put into highlight when talking about Shari'a Islamiah or the Way of Nature. This one is from the saying by most of Hanbali scholars and majority of Shafi'ie scholars.

II. It is permissible for a cleric to issue guidelines with regards to himself, but it is not permissible to issue fatawa to others based upon taqleed.

III. It is permissible to issue fatawa based upon taqleed when there is a need for it and when there is no mujtahid scholar. Mujtahid scholar refers to scholars who do researches based on his knowledge on particular sciences of the path. This is the most correct of the sayings and is what is acted upon. 

Sheikh Albanee says that hadith is a proof in itself after mentioning the statements of the imams on taqleed as found in the introduction of "The Prophet's Prayer Described" where it has a heading "Taqleed for whoever Can't Search for the Evidence for Himself" in page 94.

Some may question: "Not all of the people are able to be the people of knowledge as what has been explained." The answer of Hanbali scholars is yes, indeed. Nobody has any doubt on this fact but Allah has mentioned in Surah an-Nahl verse 63: "So ask the people of knowledge if you don't know!" The same verse also appears in Surah al-Furqan verse 59.

Prophet Muhammad s.a.w mentions: "For those who issued fatawa without knowledge, why don't they ask if they don't know? The cure for those in confusion is to ask!" However, the scholars did not mention all of the above evidence to show who is eligible or not eligible to be a scholar. Their research is with regards to those who are considered to be the people of knowledge in their society. Taqleed is upon the common person and ignorant one. Scholars who can and able to search for the evidence are excluded from being a muqallid. The responsibility of a scholar is not to do taqleed because their responsibility is to perform ijitihad.   

The saying of Ibnu Abdul Barr explains further that: "All the rules are for common folk, they are those who have to perform taqleed on their scholars whenever necessary. They are incapable to understand or comprehend evidence or sciences. Sciences has grades where one cannot attain the top most grade unless if he goes up through the basis. Scholars don't differ in the matter of common folk having to follow their scholars."

Sheikh Muhammad Uthaimeen who wrote the article believes that it is not correct to generalize common folk by saying that all of them must perform taqleed. Taqleed only happens when a person follows a scholar if he has no access to evidence or could not search for the evidence. Many people are smart enough as they could clearly understand evidence if it is presented to them. For example, we can't deny that a common person could also understand evidence contained in the hadith: "Tayammum is one strike (of the hands on the dust) for the face and hands". People who are lacking of intelligence could also understand the hadith.

The conclusion from the article is that, taqleed is allowed for who ever that could not search for or understand the evidence from sciences of the path. Ibnu Qayyim also hold this opinion. In certain times, scholars would also have to depend on taqleed where they could not find any document and text from the sunnah except which came from the knowledgeable scholars.

The God knows more than His creatures...

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace, and love, amin!

Salvator from Deviation: Imam al-Ghazali Rahimahullah

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

 Why I Make this Post?

I read this book titled "Salvator from Deviation". I found it in parents' old house in Sungai Petani while cleaning the house. Quite dusty but I think it is very interesting since it is about Imam al-Ghazali and he is quite a name. It is surprising to me because some of Imam al-Ghazali's experience which was told in the book resemble to mine. I believe many people also facing almost similar experience but it is the matter whether we notice it or not.

We listened to many arguments and quarrels among brethren. Who is right and who is wrong. Everybody claims that they are rightful whether they are in the Sunnah side or Shi'a side. In Sunnah ourselves we could see quarrels among movements such as of Indian subcontinent like the Barelwis with the Deobandis. In Shi'a side we could also see quarrels and it does not count what happened among Sunnah brothers and Shi'a brothers in Iraq and Pakistan or among different faiths such as among Muslim and Christians and etc.

I feel very sad and disgusted each time I see blood was shed because of this. I can't cry in front of people but that is what I feel when I see the news or listening about it. Every time I watch, listen or reading about bloodshed I would feel uneasy and trying to turn off everything that I listen, watch or read with regard to this. So, let us at least pray to the God to enlight us with His revelation which is the noble Quran and the Sunnah of prophet Muhammad s.a.w. Beside we began to read from basic to whatever we are capable to accept with our limited and different level of thinking, ok?

Introduction

Imam al-Ghazali name is Abu Hamid Muhammad al-Ghazali. He was born in Tus of Persian empire in 450 H (1058). His dad passed away since he was a little child. He and his younger brother, Ahmad was sent to study in Tus then to Jurjan. Later he was sent to Naisabur to study under the supervision of al-Juwayni. Al-Juwayni was also one of al-Haramayn imams.

Al-Juwayni passed away in 478 H (1085). After this teacher passed away, al-Ghazali was called by Nizam al-Mulk who was a minister in the court of Seljuq. The Seljuq's at that time were controlling the Abbasid caliphate in Baghdad. The minister was impressed with al-Ghazali talent so he was appointed as a professor in Nizamiyya University in Baghdad. he achieved the highest academic position in the university when he was 33 years old. When he reached 36 years old, he feels something is happening in his self. He feels something wrong inside him. His physical body is healthy but due to the sudden impact crushing his soul, he fell ill. He can't eat, drink, or even working as a teacher. This impact is referred to the feeling that he was holding the post due to worldly necessity but not for the hereafter.  

Following this conflict within himself, he suddenly resigned from his post in Zulqa'idah 488 (1095). He left Baghdad and turned to be a traveler but in the pretext of a pilgrim to the Holy Land (Mecca). He donated most of his possession and only taking some which is sufficient for his family maintenance and to support his travel. He stayed in Damascus, Jerusalem and traveling to perform pilgrimage in Mecca. Later he went to Medinah al-Munawwarah for a visit. Later he went back to Tus and observing the path with his disciples.

In 499 H (110), he felt the need to return to Naisabur and returning to his teaching profession in Nizamiyya University. He felt himself as a reformer and and his decision to return to his profession is apart of a reformation. Before, he taught only for his worldly needs but after returning from his travels he only teaches for the sake of the God. He serves the institution until 504 H (110) and after that returned to Tus. He passed away in 505 H (18th Dec 111).

Writings

He wrote about 400 books but only 50 survives and those are what we received today. His books are not so perfect because he is only an ordinary human-being:

1) He was not so good in Arabic grammar like Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal. However his statements are quite firm and strong in which they couldn't easily being beaten and challenged by any linguists or scholars.

2) He employed many Persian influenced words since it was his mother tongue and first language. It could be found in his book for example, Kimiya-e-Sa'adat and some explanations in other books.

3) He strongly emphasized the studies of prophetic sunnah especially of Sahih Bukhari and Muslim before he passed away. Only in a short time perhaps, he would be a scholar of hadiths but His calling came earlier so he left the world without accomplishing his studies. It is due to this that we could see weak hadiths in his literature.

4) Other scholars such as Ibnu Taimiyyah of Hanbali school of jurisprudence expressed his regret with Imam al-Ghazali works due to that he still employs the ideas from philosophies though Imam al-Ghazali detests the idea of philosophies. Such philosophies could be seen in his works like in Ihyaa Ulumuddin, Kimiya-e-Sa'adat, Mishkat al-Anwar, Jawaher al-Quran and etc.           

About the Book: Salvator from Deviation  

This book had already being translated into few languages. It's Arabic title sounds like al-Munqidh min ad-Dhalal. I just rephrase it again as simple as I can for the introduction part for those who could not have the access to this book. This book could be a source for everyone to get to know about Imam al-Ghazali so we don't only listen from others but we could also judge it with ourselves and consideration. This book is not an autobiography but it is close to an autobiography.

What is an autobiography? It is a history of a person's life and he writes it on it own. However, this book consists al-Ghazali analyzing thoughts on creed and his spiritual reckoning. He emphasizes on the premises which supporting the theories on the existence of "revelation" which descends on noble prophets. It is at a higher stage from rationality. He didn't write this book according to time chronology but he began it with the questions of knowledge source as what had been done by Descartes (1596-1650).

Imam al-Ghazali rejects taqlid or blind-following, senses source and reasons. But finally he was enlightened by the light and he returns to believe the role of senses and reason. Starting from here, he divided the streams of the Truth seeker into four divisions. They are:

1. Kalam

It is already developed and acts as a science that defend the creed of the Ahlussunnah wal Jama'ah as what had been stated in the al-Irshad. Al-Irshad was written by al-Juwaini (1028-1085). Al-Juwaini was a member of Shafi'ie school of jurisprudence who adheres to al-Ash'ari creed in Kalam. Imam al-Ghazali respects this scholar of Kalam ideas as he is his teacher but he feels that the science does not satisfy him as a Sufi. For him, Kalam is not sufficient when it comes to metaphysical matters and the goal of Kalam is not to explain metaphysical matters. There is no evidence that Imam al-Ghazali has changed his evaluation on this science but it is just the matter that his interest changed. He never reject this science and he also include the details about this science in this book.     

2. Philosophies

Philosophies were divided into three branches. They are known as Dahriyyun (Materialists), Ilahiyyun (Theists), and Tabi'iyyun (Naturalist). He emphasizes more on the Materialists due to that al-Farabi and Ibnu Sina were among these people. Why? Because both of these guys tried to modify the Greek and Neoplatonism philosophy and bringing it within Islamic Tawheed Creed. Their Creed would be established on what they understood based on their logical reasons though there are evidences proving that what they reasoned are wrong. As for example, some philosophers believe that the universe is already in existence and later they employ a creator for the universe. I guess, this is what makes me not excel well in reasons and logics during my schooling time because I can't accept this thinking and I hate those show off talking about proving the existence of the God with universe. I don't really read Harun Yahya but I would rather open up Quran and Hadiths as both of them teach us humility, hehehehe.

How could he detect this? Only by mastering and understanding the philosophy as a whole. His book known as the "Goal of Philosophies" clearly shows that he had mastered this science. Later only, he criticizes the philosophy. Some of them according to him never contradict the religion, some had been labeled as innovation and could bring a person into deviation, and he highlighted three questions that bring a person into infidelity. According to him, al-Farabi and Ibnu Sina were labeled as infidels because they were involved in these three questions. The questions are:

i. The universe is in existence without being created (it has the nature resembling the God's)
ii. The God knows not juz'iyya (particulars)
iii. Human-being will be resurrected without physical     

These are mentioned in his book known as Tahafut al-Falasifah. However, majority of Muslim (which includes me) has no courage to assume them as infidels though Imam al-Ghazali and Ibnu Taimiyyah reasons are not easy to be put aside. Not all of the works of Ibnu Sina and al-Farabi arrived to us and most of those arrived to us are quite impressive especially to those excels in "science and mathematics". Many writers who defend these figures especially Ibnu Sina would present problems and statements through technical jargon so only certain people would understand this. This is what I don't like about academicians regardless fields. I could not help to have negative thinking like, "such a boast!!!" when I was engaged in their talks. Both al-Farabi and Ibnu Sina were Nezari Isma'ili Shi'a Muslims.

3. Ta'alimiyya or Batiniyya

Most of people in our country knows about Imam al-Ghazali especially many have the access to his book, Ihyaa' Ulumuddin. But not many realize that he was actually an opponent to Batiniyya ideology. He wrote books on the polemics of Batiniyya ideology such as the Argument of Truth, the Chapters of Errors, the Stairs, the Answers for Four Questions, and etc.

Other name of Ta'limiyya or Batiniyya is a specific Qarmatian Isma'iliyya. Isma'iliyya in general is the Seventh Imaam Shi'a. These people claim that they get the knowledge from an infallible imam. Imam Ali k.w also being mentioned in this book when Imam al-Ghazali discusses about this issue. In the beginning of Shi'a development, it has nothing to do with Batiniyya. But nowadays, it is generally related to the Isma'ili Shi'a. 

According to the book, Shi'a began since the period of transition between prophethood and companions. But Batiniyya began to develop in the period of al-Ma'mun in the second hegira. After the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w passed away, the quarrels happened on the legitimate successor of caliphate. Some people siding with Ali k.w and they were known as Shi'a Ali. This political problem became more severe and it brings disaster and sadness where many beloved companions and brothers died. In term of usool, some Shi'a Muslim resemble the Mu'tazilah, some resemble the Sunnah, and some resemble the Mushabbihah. About these highlighted terms, try checking them with major teachers. Please don't only rely with sources from the net. There must be face-to-face discussion and interaction to understand matters and this is for all brothers and sisters own good.

Batiniyya were a group of Zoroastrians who initially has nothing to do with any group of Muslim. It infiltrates into Muslim groups in the period of al-Ma'mun. The organizer of this teaching is known as Abdullah bin Maimun al-Qaddah. The source about this is from the book "Opening the Secret of Batiniyya" written by Muhammad Ibnu Malik al-Hammadi al-Yamami (1939) page 16-17.

According to al-Shahrastani, Shi'a is divided into five groups whom are Kaisaniyya, Zaidiyya, Imamiyya, Isma'iliyya, and Ghullah. Each one of them has their own off-shoots with different names. I put some of the link in this side so Sunnah brothers and sisters could also learn about them and not only listen about them or reading from fliers. The Ismai'ili Shi'a in Iraq was the one known as Batiniyya or Qaramita and Mazdakiyya. In Khurasan, their name changed to Ta'alimiyya and Mulhidah. Imam al-Ghazali refers them with their name in Khurasan as he went there to bring down this teaching. Specifically it refers to Qarmatian Isma'ili Shi'a.

There is also the fact that some Shi'a Muslim also againts Batiniyya Shi'a group. One of them for example is Thabit bin Aslam an-Nahwi. He exposed the evil-doing of these people and as the result he was kidnapped and brought to Egypt. He was killed there. This event happened around 1067 (460 H) while Imam al-Ghazali was still a young man perhaps 19 or 20 years old.

There are efforts by scholars to eliminate the difference between Muslims regardless Sunnah or Shi'a. For example, Jamaluddin al-Afghani (1838-1897) had already tried to unify brothers of the sides. People who adhere to Batiniyya are not Muslim according to al-Afghani. They are grouped into Atheists but taking the pretext as Muslims.

Imam al-Ghazali also mentioned that he saw the movement of the drug addicts Batiniyya followers who kill people who oppose them while they were high. From this people we've got the word assasination in English. It slips into European vocabulary during the period of Christians' Holy War in the East to get the Holy Land.

In 1093 (483 H), before Imam al-Ghazali denounce his position as a professor in the university as a traveler to find out his self, the Nizam al-Mulk was killed by a young man from Qarmatian-Batiniyya movement and the chief of the movement was Hassan as-Sabah. In 1109 (503 H) before Imam al-Ghazali passed away, there were three murders happened which involved the great Muslim figures in Isfahan, Hamadan, and Jami' 'Amal. These people had tainted the name of Ismai'li Shi'a Muslims of other streams where now people began to generalize or associate Isma'ili Shi'a Muslims with the Qarmatians.

Ibnu Arabi too rejects Batiniyya. In his book, "the Opening of Mecca" he mentioned that Batiniyya is the ideology of infidels. He used the reference of Imam al-Ghazali when he talked about this issue of Batiniyya. He mentions:

"And there risen third deviated group who take all the law and turning them into esotericism and nothing left for exoteric of the law. These people are known as the Batiniyya group. They're of various streams. Imam Abu Hamid (al-Ghazali) rejects their view in his book al-Mustazhiri and explaining the errors and flaws of their view in it. Happiness will reach those who practice both the exoteric and esoteric of the law. They are the ulamas protected by the God (in their creed and practices) and pondering upon the law from the revelation."

Everywhere around the world, there would be this teaching of Batiniyya slipping inside the society in the pretext of religion and confusing people. Sometimes it taints the tasawwuf science though it has nothing to do with it for example the panentheism or wahdat al-wujud.       

4. Tasawwuf

Regarding this matter or science, Imam al-Ghazali rejects the usage of terms such as hulul, ittihad (union), and wusul (reaching) when talking about human connection with the God. It is wrong! This is explained in his book known as al-Maqsad al-Asna. So, this is different to al-Hallaj word which is also founded in Saivaite Hinduism. I watched this Tamil movie and it employs exactly the same word used by al-Hallaj. The movie is known as Naan Kadavul in Tamil and also in Sanskrit as Aham Brahmaasmi. It is also a teaching which was popular particularly in Java Island in Indonesia if brothers and sisters are reading Indonesian history because I read their history from honorable Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah notes and books while I was in solitary. I read Hindus and Buddhists stuffs that I'd got from temples too while I was a confused young boy. So, it's not a torment to my head anymore. It just making me more silent when people around me cause I am afraid that people would misunderstood me : )

Most of all from this book written by Imam al-Ghazali based from his travel to find his self, he founds that there is the need for a person to do practices with knowledge. A person needs to equip him self with the knowledge of tawheed for faith toward Allah, jurisprudence for acts of worship, and ihsan to be sincere to Allah in which it will prevent us from social misconduct and harming the society. Though not all people agree with his view but he is still among scholars who tried hard to be sincere to Allah without leaving behind the needs of worshiping Allah in the prescribed manner in both revelation and sunnah.

As for me, it is enough to be a lay man Muslim. I love it this way and I would love to learn both Quran and Sunnah. Wish I finish this political studies quickly and I could also find my Lord through His Mercy and Love, amin....

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace, and love, amin!