Some idiot recently wrote about needing to choose action over emotion in these trying times. What he so conveniently forgot was the more fundamental role played by faith.
Action is all good and well, especially when it replaces vacuous emotion. However, neither can carry a stick to the ever-essential faith. Our concrete faith in our Creator must be established before any action is carried out or emotion is expressed.
This faith comes from silencing the all-too-pervasive Logic that has taken control. Logic dictates that actionable steps are the sole means to achieving change. Logic dictates that power is needed to gain respect. Logic dictates that literacy rates, GDP, Internet access, and other silly statistics are measurements of healthy, successful societies. Logic dictates and we submit.
We've become enslaved to our logic. Everything must fall into neatly laid out cause-and-effect.
Where was the logic in Musa (AS) striking the raging sea with his measly staff with the army of Pharaoh in hot pursuit?
Where was the logic in Maryam (AS), suffering the pangs of delivering Isa (AS), shaking the stout palm tree in hopes of dates falling?
Where was the logic in 313 poorly armed foot soldiers facing a heavily armed cavalry of 1000 in the valley of Badr?
Those historic actions were carried out with an unshakable trust and belief in the power of the One who creates and controls cause-and-effect.
So now our new-found god of Logic is dictating that we need a strategy to pull ourselves out of our centuries-long stagnation. This includes education, political activism, social work, economic empowerment, and so on.
All important and invaluable steps, no doubt. However, the foundation of certain faith (Yaqin) must come first. Slaying the idols of logic and cause-and-effect must come first.
We must have that undying faith that adherence to the Sunnah is more critical to success than any college degree or any lobby group. We must exude certainty that our Creator is the sole source of victory, not military force or political acumen.
Until we do, the pain and suffering will continue.
Just don’t call it genocide
1 week ago
10 comments:
Salam Naeem -
I appreciate that you have made this effort to emphasize the role of faith, but the title, "More Faith, Less Action," seems to imply faith without action, which is not at all the right course.
Actions ought to be an extension of faith, and not diminished because of it. Or am I wrong?
Also, it is important to understand that in order to think clearly a person must be able to restrain their emotions. Think of the word for intellect/reason, which is 'aql, rooted in the rope used to hobble an Arab's camel. The whole idea behind it is that we should tie our emotions in order to think clearly.
That doesn't mean ignoring emotions, or making them go away, and certainly doesn't mean worshiping logic! For instance, ayah 2:242 from the Qur'an,
Thus doth Allah Make clear His Signs to you: In order that ye may understand.
This "understand" is ta'aqiloon--from 'aql. Understanding without being swayed by emotions. Emotions are there, but restrained. That doesn't conflict with faith at all.
Moreover, faith should be rational as well as spiritual--not just one or the other.
Faith is important, and action should result from faith. So we need more faith, and more action, maybe.
all the stories you mentioned about relying on "illogical" actions are all true, however all these people did not just sit and wait until God gave them their "illogical" miracle solution, rather they first attempted to make a difference in society by working etc, and once that clearly did not work they looked to Allah for a miracle which he granted them with due to thier previous actions.
As for Sayidatna Mariam (AS) she was ordered by Allah to shake the tree.
Hey, I like where you're going with this post!
As an Eastern Orthodox Christian, I also share a sense that we are limited creatures and that reason is not all powerful. We are creatures of a complex mixture of heart and mind and spirit. The Rationalistic West, after the 18th Century in particular has bought into a notion of man's infinite progress through science and reason, but it fails to take note of the utter ruin of the ethical foundations.
Great post.
BTW can you help me find a book "Fascism" by Harun Yahya?
David
AA- Amy,
"Actions ought to be an extension of faith, and not diminished because of it. Or am I wrong?"
I agree. I'm not calling for an all-out halting to action. Of course, we must continue with 'righteous deeds' as commanded in the Quran.
However, our priorities are backwards. Our mindset is geared to turn to action whenever we need change. When our plants are dying, we immediately run to water them, instead of praying to Allah first. When we're sick, we immediately go to the medicine cabinet or the doctor, instead of praying to Allah first.
Of course, I'm not calling for inaction. Sitting around will never bring about change. However, let us not put expectations of change on ourselves, but on Allah.
"Moreover, faith should be rational as well as spiritual--not just one or the other. "
Amy, I appreciate your attempts at keeping a balance. Truly that is the Prophet way. However, we've gone to one extreme (rationale over faith) that I believe we need to go to the other extreme in order to get back to a balance.
I say forget action, reaction, inaction and all other forms of response. Lets simply focus on faith, turn to Allah, and let Him guide us to what is best. Surely, He will not let us down.
Problem is that our intellect refuses to allow such a 'passive' attitude. In reality, such an approach is most definitely NOT passive.
AA- Bilal,
"rather they first attempted to make a difference in society by working etc, and once that clearly did not work they looked to Allah for a miracle which he granted them with due to thier previous actions."
On the contrary my friend, they first placed their firm trust and expectations in Allah. And only then did Allah guide them to the correct course of action.
"As for Sayidatna Mariam (AS) she was ordered by Allah to shake the tree."
Correct. And Musa (as) was ordered by Allah to strike the sea with his rod. And Muhammad (as) was ordered by Allah to fight at Badr.
Let us all wait for Allah's command instead of trying to take matters into our own hands. Surely that is a recipe for destruction.
Salaam Naeem
I don't want to say that returning to faith is actually passive. But like in your example of going to get medicine before turning to Allah--it is correct to turn to Allah, and to do first. But is it correct to go the extreme of not taking medicine at all? That's what I fear you're calling for.
We can look at a simple passage like Surat al-'Asr and see the importance of all four of those things--not just belief, and not just actions.
But belief, AND actions, AND... it says enjoining the right and enjoining patience. So yes we need belief, and we need to keep on doing the righteous deeds Allah has commanded us to do (prayer and charity and so on) and enjoining the right... isn't that jihad? And we need to know when to be patient and when to act.
But it's all there. Belief first, yes, belief the foundation, yes, but followed up by action.
AA- Amy,
I appreciate your balanced approach. Ideally I would be calling for the same, but we aren't living in an ideal situation are we?
"But is it correct to go the extreme of not taking medicine at all? That's what I fear you're calling for."
I'm calling for less action, not NO action. Specifically, I'm calling for less *knee-jerk* action. I'm calling for more introspection before opening our mouths or working our hands/feets. I'm calling for more reliance on Allah and less reliance on our logic, rationale, and actions.
And since we (as an Ummah) have gone to the extreme of jettisoning our reliance on Allah, I'm calling for us to return to the proper balance, which can only be achieved by swinging the pendulum back to the extreme of more faith and less action.
Not sure if I'm making sense...
Just to be clear, the action I'm criticizing is not our daily acts of worship. That type of action, in fact, ought to be increased. The action I have a problem with is the steps we take in order to resolve our conflicts and relieve our pain and suffering.
Salaam Naeem..
I think I see, when you say "less knee-jerk" action. Because that is what's going on, and I don't see how it's benefiting anyone much.
For instance: , marching in a protest, signing a petition--Congress still supports Israel. Raising money--Israel still blocks aid.
So perhaps what is needed then is first prayer, and then planning. (Eh, failing to plan is planning to fail, yes?) Come up with a plan to actually make long-term change. That is, to change ourselves. Not to change government, not to change other people, but change ourselves so that the situation changes.
Ah yes, but they balanced both well. They did not act without having the same amount of faith in their actions, nor did they have faith without doing anything. The Prophet's (Salla Allahu Alayhi Wa Aalihi Wa Sallam) battle at Badr came only after he taught the message of Islam yet Quraysh contiued thier persecution, Sayidna Musa (Alayhi Al Salaam) was ordered to split the sea only when he could do nothing else; he was trapped between the opposing army and the sea.
And as for waiting for a command from Allah, we already have those from teh vaious ahadeeth and Quranic ayaat that point to what to do. So theres nothing to wait for.
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