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Saturday, September 12, 2009

Maheen A. Rashdi

Maheen A. Rashdi is renowned journalist whose regular column features in the Sunday Magazine of Dawn. The following was meant for tomorrow, but since religion is not among the subjects covered in that section, it has been passed on to me. I must say that I am very much grateful for some of the things stated about me here - Khurram Ali Shafique

Becoming Holy

By Maheen A. Rashdi

The past three weeks of Ramazan have induced me to take stock of the twists that the holy month brings into the lives of us Muslims each year. While it requires us to show our better sides, it inevitably turns us into short-tempered, work shirking, lethargic individuals. While at the one hand divine proclamation intends to promote abstinence and restraint in all matters of worldly things during Ramazan, we end up fully unleashing our gluttonous desires and zero tolerance for fellow beings.

And for some, it is almost a swapped existence. I have seen confirmed alcoholics kick the bottle for precisely these thirty days, shed their tailored suits for the white, starched, shalwar kameez (not forgetting the topi on top) and frequent the mosque five times a day as opposed to their daily late-night binges in non-Ramazan days. Well, whatever makes people tick, who am I to comment on personal choices.

When a dear friend posted a beautiful commentary on the Surah Yusuf from the Quraan last week on his blogspot to ‘honour the holy month of Ramazan,’ I was surprised that the Ramazan season had had that effect on him too. For I had always stereotyped him – for no logical reason at all -- as someone who was far removed from all things pertaining to religion. And here I pride myself on being non-judgemental.

Anyway, I discovered that Khurram Shafique is not only a historian/scholar/philosopher and the only one I personally know who may be qualified to be called a genius with indefatigable mental energies, but he is also as well-versed in Quranic text and sub text.

In his commentary, Khurram captures the description of the Surah which is about Hazrat Yusuf (Joseph), his dream, his brothers’ deceit and his revelation besides the all too famous story of Zuleikha (wife of Potiphar) and her seductive overtures towards Yusuf. Retelling a tale about one of the most detailed stories from the Quraan, Khurram Shafique has structured his analysis along Aristotle’s six ‘elements of drama’.

When I marveled at his work, he confessed that he would not have expostulated on Quraanic verses as these have a magic of their own which should not be polluted by mere human descriptive, but that he was compelled to do so.

Why? “Because there’s a danger lurking on the ‘intellectual horizons’ which promotes literature that debases the human soul and runs down literature of dignity,” he explained. He feels that an esoteric school of thought now dominates the frontier of Islamic Studies and Comparative Religion which is bent on defiling all credible voices on religion.

I however, do not feel that any such threat has the power of taking over established values or eradicating worthy literature. And as far as the Quraanic words are concerned, these are the most accepted religious writings by scholars of all faiths besides Islam. No amount of loose talk from naysayers has the power to dull or negate its magic.

Allama Yousuf Ali explains in one of his many commentaries that Islam is a non-racial, non-ethnic, non-biased code of life. It simply requires undisputable faith in the Almighty; a determination to live right and to see that justice and truth prevails. It requires us to stay away from wrongdoings, to fight injustice and to stay clear of deceit. And as I see it that is the main code by which all decent humanity abides and all religions have preached just that. So where is the dispute amongst religions? Don’t they all speak the same language?

But alas, being also the most potent tool for power, religion has been twisted to become the cause for every war as well. That is also why it has been complicated and high-jacked by clerics, dogmatic preachers and political players.

It took a lot of will power for me to pick up the Quraan’s translation the first time and find out for myself what exactly are God’s words which have filtered to us in many versions – sometimes even distorted for fearful effect. And because my grade two teacher’s words of how Quraan describes the details of hell had stuck in my mind, my fear was quite tangible. She of course failed to convey the overwhelming kindness of the Almighty contained therein perhaps to maintain a perverse fear factor and her own authority. Before starting, I never knew that I would actually be reading a story book with multiple components – history, jurisprudence, health guidelines, biology, geography and rules for decent civilized living.

Islam is neither complicated, nor terrifying nor unbending and unmindful of human vulnerability, and that is my last word for my believing, practicing, non-practicing and non-believing readers and friends.

Forgive me if I have been too dogmatic, for I too have been swept by the season. Maheenrashdi@yahoo.ca

11 comments:

  1. Maheen Rashdi is spot on when she says, Khurram Shafique is not only a historian/scholar/philosopher and the only one I personally know who may be qualified to be called a genius with indefatigable mental energies.

    The work that I have witnessed, and the insights that I have inferred from Khurram Sahib's genius has made a huge impact on my understanding of the known and the abstract world.

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  2. In two parts I want to comment on the affect this beautiful piece of spiritual journalism has had on me:

    Part I: I want to EMPHASIZE this as well:
    "I discovered that Khurram Shafique is not only a historian/scholar/philosopher and the only one I personally know who may be qualified to be called a genius with INDEFATIGABLE mental energies" (and I would add writer-creative-spiritual energies & God-given gifts as well!)

    YES, the only one I know as well with this description on either side of the world!

    I surmised this yet didn't know this!: "but he is also as well-versed in Quranic text and sub text. (Wow! this makes being a student here all the more amazing opportunity and gift for such a me!)

    "Retelling a tale about one of the most detailed stories from the Quraan, Khurram Shafique has structured his analysis along Aristotle’s six ‘elements of drama’."

    Again I would add something more...I've observed an amazing grasp of universal-ancient and modern varieties of literature!

    Part II next...

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  3. So glad humility is mentioned here which is part and parcel of our host and teacher here. In this exceptionally descriptive and layered piece - again his humility is noted - which I'm sure with his obvious life of prayer Khurram Ali Shafique Sahib will not lose -to go along with his scholarship in MANY areas - ie...With other scholars I read - they lose me over their obvious arrogance and self-announcement of their scholarship OVER depth of content and that what the add takes away rather than "frames" the beauty about which they write.

    ' "there’s a danger lurking on the ‘intellectual horizons’ which promotes literature that debases the human soul and runs down literature of dignity,” he explained. '

    I'd like to know more about this since I know nothing concerning these studies or debate? Is this like what is called "New Age" among westerners or an over-emphasis on the mystical from any age or tradition?

    "He feels that an esoteric school of thought now dominates the frontier of Islamic Studies and Comparative Religion which is bent on defiling all credible voices on religion.

    Allama Yousuf Ali explains in one of his many commentaries that Islam is a non-racial, non-ethnic, non-biased code of life. It simply requires undisputable faith in the Almighty; a determination to live right and to see that justice and truth prevails. It requires us to stay away from wrongdoings, to fight injustice and to stay clear of deceit. And as I see it that is the main code by which all decent humanity abides and all religions have preached just that. So where is the dispute amongst religions? Don’t they all speak the same language?

    But alas, being also the most potent tool for power, religion has been twisted to become the cause for every war as well."

    Part III next...

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  4. Again the genius of this journalist points out parallels in the teaching and "imparting of God's truth" to so many in America as children thru bibilical teaching with end to control young minds for self-made and ultimately evil goals:

    "God’s words which have filtered to us in many versions – sometimes even distorted for fearful effect. And because my grade two teacher’s words (emphasis on) "details of hell had stuck in my mind, my fear was quite tangible. She of course failed to convey the overwhelming kindness of the Almighty contained therein"...

    "Islam is neither complicated, nor terrifying nor unbending and unmindful of human vulnerability"

    Having just been with a dear Pakistani-American Muslim friend last evening and shared some of Khurram Sahib and Scholar's illustrated and other writing with her and had her beg that I leave them with her for awhile - I too, as this noble, well-spoken journalist has said, "have been swept by the season".

    With deep humility and abiding gratitude for the BRIDGES he, the Quran and Allama Iqbal, the stories of Yusuf, the STUDENTS here at RR - so astute and scholarly themselves - and now this journalism have are helping to build in our shattered and wounded world.

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  5. Akhtar and Connie, thanks. I am constantly learning from the comments which appear here and emails written to be in response to my writings. I hope that this two-way process of learning will continue.

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  6. As I keep RE-reading the magnificent article - I see that the Quuran, faith, God and the Unity of all people of faith is highlighted most of all along with TWO: Ms. Mareen and Khurram Sahib. I wanted to add that I too have "been swept by the season." in ways I trust will continue to transform me.

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  7. My understanding is nothing compared with people like you and my comments are nothing to be counted as well, in at least this gathering of educated and polished people.

    Thatswhy I'll not play with words but just want to comment;" WELL SAID!"

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  8. ReeBz,

    YOU are WAY ahead of most people at your age - at least including me! ON EVERY COUNT.

    Best Regards,
    Connie

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  9. Hi sister maheen, its ur Mua, student , and clue i have green eyes, lol
    anywaz
    see u tom, if ur reading this today,lol
    i dont make sense.
    ANYWAZ
    Salam

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  10. Hello Sister Maheen, Its Me your best Student ^^ Samreen. Hope to see you soon, we miss you alot =O I hope you gave me a good mark for my average lol ^^


    -Samreen

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