Iqbal and Nationalism

The following excerpt has been taken from the the Iqbal's Allahabad address which is an insight about his thinking about the aspired Muslim state and his concerns about nationalism.

It cannot be denied that Islam, regarded as an ethical ideal plus a certain kind of polity – by which expression I mean a social structure regulated by a legal system and animated by a specific ethical ideal – has been the chief formative factor in the life-history of the Muslims of India. It has furnished those basic emotions and loyalties which gradually unify scattered individuals and groups, and finally transform them into a well-defined people, possessing a moral consciousness of their own. Indeed it is not an exaggeration to say that India is perhaps the only country in the world where Islam, as a people-building force, has worked at its best. In India, as elsewhere, the structure of Islam as a society is almost entirely due to the working of Islam as a culture inspired by a specific ethical ideal. What I mean to say is that Muslim society, with its remarkable homogeneity and inner unity, has grown to be what it is, under the pressure of the laws and institutions associated with the culture of Islam.
The ideas set free by European political thinking, however, are now rapidly changing the outlook of the present generation of Muslims both in India and outside India. Our younger men, inspired by these ideas, are anxious to see them as living forces in their own countries, without any critical appreciation of the facts which have determined their evolution in Europe. In Europe Christianity was understood to be a purely monastic order which gradually developed into a vast church organisation. The protest of Luther was directed against this church organisation, not against any system of polity of a secular nature, for the obvious reason that there was no such polity associated with Christianity. And Luther was perfectly justified in rising in revolt against this organisation; though, I think, he did not realise that in the peculiar conditions which obtained in Europe, his revolt would eventually mean the complete displacement of [the] universal ethics of Jesus by the growth of a plurality of national and hence narrower systems of ethics.
Thus the upshot of the intellectual movement initiated by such men as Rousseau and Luther was the break-up of the one into [the] mutually ill-adjusted many, the transformation of a human into a national outlook, requiring a more realistic foundation, such as the notion of country, and finding expression through varying systems of polity evolved on national lines, i.e. on lines which recognise territory as the only principle of political solidarity. If you begin with the conception of religion as complete other-worldliness, then what has happened to Christianity in Europe is perfectly natural. The universal ethics of Jesus is displaced by national systems of ethics and polity. The conclusion to which Europe is consequently driven is that religion is a private affair of the individual and has nothing to do with what is called man's temporal life.
Islam does not bifurcate the unity of man into an irreconcilable duality of spirit and matter. In Islam God and the universe, spirit and matter, Church and State, are organic to each other. Man is not the citizen of a profane world to be renounced in the interest of a world of spirit situated elsewhere. To Islam, matter is spirit realising itself in space and time. Europe uncritically accepted the duality of spirit and matter, probably from Manichaean thought. Her best thinkers are realising this initial mistake today, but her statesmen are indirectly forcing the world to accept it as an unquestionable dogma. It is, then, this mistaken separation of spiritual and temporal which has largely influenced European religious and political thought and has resulted practically in the total exclusion of Christianity from the life of European States. The result is a set of mutually ill-adjusted States dominated by interests not human but national. And these mutually ill-adjusted States, after trampling over the moral and religious convictions of Christianity, are today feeling the need of a federated Europe, i.e. the need of a unity which the Christian church organisation originally gave them, but which, instead of reconstructing it in the light of Christ's vision of human brotherhood, they considered fit to destroy under the inspiration of Luther.
A Luther in the world of Islam, however, is an impossible phenomenon; for here there is no church organisation similar to that of Christianity in the Middle Ages, inviting a destroyer. In the world of Islam we have a universal polity whose fundamentals are believed to have been revealed but whose structure, owing to our legists' [=legal theorists'] want of contact with the modern world, today stands in need of renewed power by fresh adjustments. I do not know what will be the final fate of the national idea in the world of Islam. Whether Islam will assimilate and transform it, as it has before assimilated and transformed many ideas expressive of a different spirit, or allow a radical transformation of its own structure by the force of this idea, is hard to predict. Professor Wensinck of Leiden (Holland) wrote to me the other day: "It seems to me that Islam is entering upon a crisis through which Christianity has been passing for more than a century. The great difficulty is how to save the foundations of religion when many antiquated notions have to be given up. It seems to me scarcely possible to state what the outcome will be for Christianity, still less what it will be for Islam." At the present moment the national idea is racialising the outlook of Muslims, and thus materially counteracting the humanizing work of Islam. And the growth of racial consciousness may mean the growth of standards different [from] and even opposed to the standards of Islam.
I hope you will pardon me for this apparently academic discussion. To address this session of the All-India Muslim League you have selected a man who is [=has] not despaired of Islam as a living force for freeing the outlook of man from its geographical limitations, who believes that religion is a power of the utmost importance in the life of individuals as well as States, and finally who believes that Islam is itself Destiny and will not suffer a destiny. Such a man cannot but look at matters from his own point of view. Do not think that the problem I am indicating is a purely theoretical one. It is a very living and practical problem calculated to affect the very fabric of Islam as a system of life and conduct. On a proper solution of it alone depends your future as a distinct cultural unit in India. Never in our history has Islam had to stand a greater trial than the one which confronts it today. It is open to a people to modify, reinterpret or reject the foundational principles of their social structure; but it is absolutely necessary for them to see clearly what they are doing before they undertake to try a fresh experiment. Nor should the way in which I am approaching this important problem lead anybody to think that I intend to quarrel with those who happen to think differently. You are a Muslim assembly and, I suppose, anxious to remain true to the spirit and ideals of Islam. My sole desire, therefore, is to tell you frankly what I honestly believe to be the truth about the present situation. In this way alone it is possible for me to illuminate, according to my light, the avenues of your political action.

Sands of time

The sun of 2011 was set by vanquishing the stagnant, miserable and dim lights of indolence. The new sun of 2012 rose with the rejuvenation of passion and struggle. What lead the initiation of events in Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt, marked a point in the sands off history, that whenever there is not enough light for people to see vividly they hope and struggle for the new sun to rise. Sand which trickles down from the narrow tight passages of trial and frustration lays down in the hourglass of nature, that is ready to repeat its course with the same outcome of serenity, attained after a lot of loss and repentance after its struggle.
It is wondrous that with the discreetness of outcomes of our actions which repeat themselves, we are unable to comprehend that what is necessary and what needs to be done. Many notable historians like Toynbee and Ibn e Khaldun have pointed out in history that when the characters of Nations and civilizations rot in the attic of vulgarism and disintegration of moralities takes place, there is a test for people and for civilizations. This predicament leads to a mass movement of people which decides their fate. This increases the pace of history itself and exaggerates its evolution. This movement of people is to undo the past condition and to rebuild the future on the sentiments of esteemed values which were buried beneath the sands of unconscious mind.
These actions, if, are unable to repair the damage of the past endeavors of people, are like sandstorms which disperse the civilizations to anonymity and annihilation. This is also incipient for new civilizations and they breathe fresh air for some time to again fall prey to the holocaust for inception of new life. This has happened with many of the civilizations of the past like Babylonian, Syrian, Hellenic civilizations.
With loss there is repentance, with repentance there comes faith, with faith there is taqwa, with taqwa there is responsibility, with responsibility there is opportunity, with opportunity there is struggle, with struggle there is satisfaction, and satisfaction leads to self righteousness and nafs e mutmainna. This is the way civilizations are built again on the sentiments of vigor and dignity. It’s when people decide to stand firm on ground, to do what is right and to demolish the whims and falsehoods of turmoil. It exalts hope in people and a spark to reignite the yoke of life.
It is uprightness and steadfastness that keeps the balance of universe. Without motion there could be no universe, no life and nothing like struggle would have existed in our lives. In reality, all these truths exist in our lives and these are integrated part of human mind and intellect which certainly cannot be overlooked or be forgotten. It just needs to be revived.

“Relieve yourself of the fear of others,
You are a power asleep; shake yourself awake”
(Allama Muhammad Iqbal)

In the Islamic world as well as other centers of the world social structure of our communities is at a decline, injustice is a norm, discrimination flourishes under capitalism, monarchy with a new hood of democracy is dominant, and people live astray lives in trying to find peace in the delusion of modern notions of society. The zeitgeist has stripped humans off of their religion and faith and has made the material world their supreme commander. Particularly in Pakistan people have become static in their lives, they have befallen in the hands of sloth and luxury. Action which was to endorse their existence, aims which were to keep them alive, and dignity which had to earn their rightful place in society is on the verge of extinction.
Although, we have managed to hold on to the mimesis of our civilization but procrastination, and inability to act, and a dignified character is missing from the souls of our people. Universe is a single truth, so as Allah and so as humans. It’s is the unity and constant change which ensures the existence of our life on the small grain of sand. We have today infinite number of reasons to make a divide among ourselves. It is the oneness of our religion which can unite the pearls in a single necklace of love.
But we are faced with venomous melancholia which forbids us to stand up for right and turn down evil by all our force, to adopt the path of righteousness and to put a halt on the wrong turns. We need to act, we need to volunteer, we need to work, and we need to actualize our selves. We need to revive our Islam, we need to wear our morals and ethics, we need to ponder over our own actions and we need to alter them for good, we need to inspire the lost dignity, we need to care for our brothers and sisters, we have to say no to our selfish desires, we have to work for others, we have to rejuvenate the spirit of selfless service for others, we have to adopt the character of our leader Muhammad (S.A.W), we have to do something or else the sands of time will wipe us out from the face of this world as they did to sixteen of the major civilizations of the past.

خدا تجھے کسی طوفا ن سے آشنا کر دے
کے تیر ے بحرکی موجوں میں اضطراب نھیں

On the question of aims by one of our teacher, blank faces of students were observed and they didn’t surely knew what their aim was and what is it that they are here for. The replies came out like this; I want to be an accomplished engineer; I want to be self dependant and would share the burden of my parents; I would go abroad for study and would come back to Pakistan to serve it; etc. There is a reason that we are Muslims and we need to work for that reason. Unfortunately we have taken our deen for granted and we are not willing to learn what it teaches us and what injunctions imply on us as the responsible young Muslims. A study has revealed that majority of the Muslims are 25 or under, a resource that is passing its lives with no aim what so ever. We were sent down to form the caliphate under Allah’s subjected rule. We were to be His representatives. But we are living our lives in a delusion with no meaning and purpose.
The reason of all this delusion and procrastination is that we are reluctant in acquiring knowledge and are hesitant about our fundamental beliefs and faiths. This ideological weakness and lack of true understanding of Islam has lead to this situation. It is observed that those people who are staunch believers of any idea transpire movement and revolt in people against the stagnated sands. We should relive our past and be confident about our future, we should always remember that we have a resource of true wisdom and knowledge with us and it can contribute to eradicate all the grave misconceptions faced by humanity today. We have to understand that our salvation lies in helping others not by ridiculing them, it lies in understanding others not by leaving them alone in the delusions of the society, our success lies in unity and not in discord. We have to revive the brotherhood, a fraternity which no religion on this earth provides with.
We should act, persevere and incept new horizons for our future while learning from the mistakes of our past. We should unleash the passion which is concealed in our hearts and tame this spirit for the fulfillment of Allah’s commandments only then we will be able to succeed in this world and in the world hereafter. Otherwise there will be chaos and discontent in our lives. Otherwise, hourglass of time will break free our sands and will disperse us in the preposterous winds of delusion.

خدا ےَلم یزل کا دست قدرت تو ، زباں تو ہے
یقیں پیدا کر اے غا فل کہ مغلوب گماں تو ہے

Duplicity

People tell me that I do not judge others well; I am certainly amused by this sarcasm. I mean, why is there a need to judge people? Only reason that comes into mind is the duality of personality, which is woven in the fabric of humans today, that is, they are not what they seem to be, they do not act on purposes apparent to the public, it is call wisdom and intelligence today to judge people of what they are and what do they really mean. Surely stint is this condition of mankind. Fairness, truth, and sincerity is molded according to one’s will. We neither care for the moral sentiments of character and dignity and nor we care for others feelings and desires. This situation leads to the lack of trust and affects the natural harmony among people. And when this necessary harmony is missing from the individuals and the society as a whole there is stagnancy in the evolution of moral character and ethics. What is extensively required today by us is to understand the feelings of others rather evaluating the behaviors of others by mere guesses. And instead of imposing our own set of beliefs on others we should try and seek to comfort others by trying to know their abilities and lend a hand in extending them rather diminishing them by unnecessary judgments and predictions. While it is a very well known fact that nothing can be judged or guessed with hundred percent sureties. As well it is not the right vested to us by Allah and we have no authority over it. May Allah bless us with a true understanding of this ayah: ولقد كرمنا بني آدم We have honored the sons of Adam

Cleanliness!

When we are child and in the primary level of education we do learn and read that “Cleanliness is half the faith”. It is a hadith by our beloved prophet (S.A.W). He (S.A.W) said it 1400 years ago. And today we live in filth and dung all along the 24/7 life we are spending on this planet earth. We donot care about wastes lying all around us and we happily live amongst it. And adding to that when we have to study the subjects like "operations management" and " Lean manufacturing", We learn about 5-S(Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain). The same thing and in short "Cleanliness" which our religion has already taught us. How unworthy and disgraceful Muslims we are.
Allah says in the holy Quran:

O thou wrapped up (in the mantle)!. Arise and deliver thy warning!. And thy Lord do thou magnify!. And thy garments keep free from stain!. And all abomination shun!
Surah Muddaththir (1-5)

Yet I came across this article in “The Guardian” and I hope that you read it because it is the action of people there that they gathered there to clean all the mess of the riots themselves. And I see every day that on the wall opposite to my house someone from somewhere throws off garbage there. Given that the garbage guy comes daily to pick dung from every house. I don’t know why those people could not give the dung to the man instead of throwing it out daily.
It’s not about garbage or anything, because the garbage is picked up daily from that wall. But what matters is the ‘attitude’. The attitude and character that was the part of our heritage is being adopted by people of the West. And I really admire them for this. InshaAllah! one day they will accept Islam whole heartedly and would a lot better than us. I hope that the day be near for this to happen.
Allah clearly says in Quran that He replaces transgressor Nations with those who are obedient to Him.
You can read the complete article here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/aug/12/after-riots-public-move-rebuild

Hamid Gul Speaks about Afghan War!

Hamid gul states the aims of afghan war:
1. To reverse the momentum of Taliban. (Taliban who are the resistance fighters. Fighting for the same reason as they were fighting with the Soviet Union. The reason being to protect their way of life. As America is jealous of protecting their way of life the Taliban are jealous of protecting their way of life.)
2. Liberation from the occupation forces. It is not possible and is not achievable. It’s not moral and correct. As you cannot cast the nation in a certain mold you have visualized for them. They cannot settle on less than that.
3. The other purpose is for corporate America to install in the oil rich area of Afghanistan and Caspian sea basin area.
4. To check china from moving into this region.
5. To see that no new system emerge. They have seen that their system is a failure and they are afraid that if any new system based on the Islamic principles of equality, fraternity and freedom emerges then imperial powers will have no place to hide.
6. Another goal is to provide a security shield to Israel.

Unending Peace

Crops expanding as far as you can se, silently fulfilling the commands of Allah. Not denying what is expected of them, not transgressing with the purpose of their creation and truly depicting the nature on which ourselves are born and bred. The nature, giving purpose to our creation, like those standing green crops, like those tiny little beads from where they incept their life; growing and taking care of themselves to accomplish their destiny.
It is like a lesson for the more intelligent creations, to learn reasons and will from those little plants about their existence in this unending universe of ours. though stranded in the perseverance of our struggle of living we forget what we are here for, then how come we can create a world which is as comforting and peaceful as those meadows and valleys, those mountains and oceans, those wonders of bounteous nature, spread from the skies to the earth and from all over norths to souths. Confusions, turmoil, miseries, lusts and vanities built in the very fabric of our nature was to be be brought under more civilized and moral part of our conscious instead it has eventually become a beast breathing evil in every soul of today’s beefed up humans.

Perceptions, Presumptions and Expectations

Once I read somewhere that perception is the ability of humans to predict or anticipate something whole while experiencing its small part that is to say, based on your previous experiences you can tell what the situation is that you are in at the moment.
It is like I live my life in a perception of how it is actually. And based on my perceptions I make presumptions and these presumptions lead me to expectations that I associate myself with. In everyday life it seems to me that we people are always presuming the behavior and attitude of others that are actually based on our own perceptions and then we expect many things from the people who are very close to us. In my opinion I believe no one on this earth is like me and understands me truly because everyone is unique if no two people can have same finger prints how they can know each other perfectly. Everyone has his own world inside him and no other can know for sure what this world actually is for that particular person. But the arrogance take holds of people and they come to believe that they know everything about the people they are close together with.
When this stage is reached in relationships people make presumptions of other’s behavior and attitude and come to believe about everything they have perceived. This makes them to predict actually what the other person’s action mean and what he aims to do. This is a dreadful thing I believe because no one can know what is inside of the other no matter how long you have spent with him and no matter how strong your relationship is.
When this stage is also over there comes the third level, in which people associate expectations with which they have spent time. But when the part of other comes into play which the other haven’t known and expectations are crushed down, then relationships are broken and there is chaos and discontent among people.
I believe that we should respect others’ inner world and must not presume that our perceptions can be right for sure and start associating our expectations with them. In this way we can be at peace with everyone at every time.