QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Here
some very important questions put forward by my esteemed friend. First
I would like to apologize for responding very late as its bit difficult for me
to convert my thoughts into English language as I am not a good linguist. These
are very important questions that need to be addressed very carefully so it
required some sincere time.
//Dear ahle aqal, I am coming to a simple conclusion that
your over-arching view on "Know yourself" & “know your purpose in
life" is fundamentally flawed.//
Firstly
dear friend this is not my personal view, this is what I have understood from
the book Quran. Knowing oneself means knowing our own direction, our limits,
our strength and our weakness. How can we operate without knowing the most
complicated machine, can we? And that machine is our own self, our own
mind, our own psyche. I don't understand what is wrong in understanding or
knowing our own selves before operating it? We need to understand our own mind
before operating it. There is no harm in knowing what we are and what we are
capable of?
//I am not being disrespectful to you, just pointing out a natural
flaw in your analysis.//
The
main flaw, blunder or foolishness is not to understand the machine before
operating it. I am your friend and it is only because of you that I am one of
the admin of this august group. I like your straightforwardness, I always
respect sincere questions. I am just an ordinary translator of the book Quran.
Till date whatever little I know it is from the study of the book Quran, I have
full confidence that my analysis is right, thus I am here to humbly defend it.
I would never escape by saying Allah knows the best. I speak with full
responsibility and honesty.
//You make the assumption that the majority of humanity have the
luxury to reflect and act on "knowing one-self" and "knowing
their purpose in their existence". //
When
I say that the subject of the book Quran is to know oneself, it means to know
our own respective inherent script (Al-Kitab). This is not luxury but a very
important necessary. If we recognize our inherent script in early stages of
life then we won't require to copy or imitate anyone to live our life, sadness
and depression would never touch us.
Everything
is provided in that inherent script (Al-Kitab) we just need to apply our
intellect and study or be a keen observer. There is no other way but to reflect
and think. The main problem is we have lost that early molding stage of our
life, now it is difficult to go back and learn. Now at this stage it looks absurd
to think back about our own self because materialistically we are successful or
we think the only to success is by material up gradation. We need to look deep
inwards and ask ourselves are our souls are happy and satisfied with the achievement
we have?
The
words Quran, Kitab, Furqan, Hudayah, Zikr, Hakim, Taqwa are all related to our
embedded script preserved in our mind. We must think and there is no other way
or easy way of living. Action without reflection is 99% failure. Most people
fail because they don't think, they act on impulse.
The
book Quran often admonishes its reader to think, ponder, reflect and use
intellect. This means we don't have to blindly follow any book or ideology or
person. The label Muslims don't think at all, they love to copy others and that
blindly copying is the lethal prescription for disaster and discontentment in
life.
//The vast majority of humanity live hand-to-mouth, even in
developed countries, worrying about if they can pay their next fuel bill or
whether they can provide their children a wholesome food for their next meal.//
Yes
it is true many people struggle to make a living, those who make a good living
also struggle, and it may not be for material gains but other issues such as
health and mental peace. So struggling is part of life. I too live a
hand-to-mouth life and there is nothing wrong in it but I continuously think
about my failures and why I am failing again and again. Why satisfaction is
missing even if I am not starving but still thinking. All are not fortunate to
live a luxurious life. Is living a luxurious life should be our aim or
living a happy life must be our goal?
The
main reason people fail in life because they don't follow their field of
interest. Our field of inclination is our true wealth which we ignore in lieu
for race, competition and rivalry with others. Our respective field of interest
is written, embedded in our inherent script. It is inherited by all of us but
we fail to recognize it.
The
main subject of book Quran is how to achieve mental peace, under which the
subject of worrying and depression too is addressed. The subject peace of mind
is not an ordinary subject that we can overlook. The cause of depression and
worrying is due to not understanding our role in life and pursue those desires
that is impossible to get fulfilled. In short we are not able to understand our
strength and weakness to fulfill that desire. When we understand our role our
script of our life and whole heartedly accept it then material gain is the byproduct
of it. Imitating or copying others won't bring any goodness in life. Job
satisfaction is important in life and that will only come through when we know
what work makes us happy and content. Our script time and again keeps reminding
us to follow the embedded script because only in it is the prescription for
successful and healthy life.
//And tell me and our members, if we forgot about the fuel bills
and the next meal to feed our children.... how will contemplating over
"knowing one-self" and "knowing our purpose in life" help
our predicament?//
The
book Quran persistently tells us to think, remember and analyze our life.
Forgetfulness of responsibilities is considered morally bad and evil. The book
never says to take refuge in mountains or forest and your food will come from
the sky. Thirst and hunger are very common and important topics of life, no one
can ignore it. No sane person will undermine these issues of food, clothing and
shelter; it is utterly foolishness and stupidity not to think about it.
The
book Quran is forcing us to think, analyze and know our own script before
undertaking any profession in life. Knowing our inherent script is to know
ourselves. We can excel in life physically, mentally, financially, emotionally
only if we understand ourselves. Knowing ourselves means to know our field of
work and evolve in it. In Quranic terminology it is accepting our direction
known as Qibla. We will succeed if we recognize our script and follow it sincerely
and honestly. Good and healthy living is a byproduct of following our own
inherent script. Follow the script carefully and sincerely the food, clothing
shelter and fuel will come at your doorstep. Go towards your script and all
your necessities will come at your place.
//Surely the Quran, was not written for people who had the luxury
to ponder and nasle-gaze about knowing one-self and the purpose of one’s
existence.//
Brother knowing is knowledge. Being human is all about uniqueness and acquiring
knowledge. Information gathering is part of knowledge which every human does
knowingly or unknowingly. Pondering, contemplating is not a luxury but
necessity of life. It is incumbent on every human being to think before acting.
It is not about thinking about others but it is to think about our own self on
how to live, how to cope, how to survive, how to conquer our own selves.
Thinking and caring about others is second stage. Thinking is not at all a
luxurious commodity but necessity to find ways for peaceful simple living.
Occupied in constructive thoughts is not nestle gazing but a step towards
progressive evolution.
//Brother ahle aqal, please understand, I am in no way undermining your superior
knowledge of the Quran. I am only asking humbly, how your interpretation
of the Quran is anyway related and reflective of issues faced by 99% of
humanity.//
No
doubt that 100% of the humanity faces the necessities of food, clothing and
shelter since the time immemorial. This problem is not new. Some people have
prevailed over these problems but still they face some other problems. The book
Quran is a problem solver that emphasizes us to think, ponder, contemplate
remember and analyze our own self. Thinking is the only solution and it is
incumbent on every human being. We don't need a book to instruct us but sadly
common sense is not common that's why the book Quran emphasizing on education,
knowledge, thinking, contemplating, pondering...
We
must know that nothing is in our control, we can only think, desire but
ultimately nature works in its own flow. The revolution of Earth is not in our
hands, the formation of days and nights are not even hand, Sun shine, Moon
light, Air, Water, Food are not in our control. We just can think, reflect,
that's the only thing which we can do before acting, the results are not in our
hands.
Knowing
ourselves is not about from where we have come from or where we will go after
we die. It is mainly about serving properly when we are still alive. We cannot
serve without knowing our capacity, ability and capabilities. Work is worship;
work is service (ibadah). Serving Nature is serving our own self.
It is not how much resource we have, but how we utilize it and how
much we enjoy, that's the secret to happiness and peace
Thank
you 🙏
