tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751964279420308191.post5113104983353778428..comments2024-02-26T12:53:35.542+05:00Comments on The Republic of Rumi Blog: Fear is the keyKhurram Ali Shafiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15329916182280619617noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751964279420308191.post-86450031974226413422012-07-23T05:40:10.772+05:002012-07-23T05:40:10.772+05:00Greetings,
The premise that fear is the root of e...Greetings,<br /><br />The premise that fear is the root of evil, and that the "object of Islam is to free man from fear," is, to me, a profound formula for practical work on any level of life. It identifies the root problem, and the path for overcoming it. <br /><br />Fear restricts and constricts. The summary maxim from Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, "Dare and Live," seems so deeply (and yet so simply) powerful. It points to the will of mankind that can overcome that which restricts and constricts. <br /><br />This reminds me of something written by Maya Angelou:<br /><br />"Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage."<br /><br />Many virtues may exist in a value hierarchy, courage perhaps being a (maybe the) catalyst for all change and growth. I'm saying this in the current context of fear being that which is to be overcome. <br /><br />I'm thinking back now on previous MLC courses during which we discussed the absolute necessity of utterly sincere faith in the Divine *and* in the human capacity to make ever more real that Divine in the world. Accepting the limitations that offer themselves up in the world, it (i.e., the world) can succeed with its alluring appearances, leading some to abandon hope, give in to the sometimes momentous negativity in the world, think that there's no solution (other than, perhaps, the same, tired, violent, seeming solutions), and thus buy in to the impossibility of a Marghdeen.<br /><br />With all this in mind, I believe Iqbal supplies here a solution. It involves walking a path that, according to me, requires (I know that I'm a broken record, as I've mentioned this before) one to deny on the one hand, and affirm on the other. There's so much in the world that, if not denied, can lead to a crooked path. If not denied, it can too easily blind one to the utter *realness* of a message like Iqbal is delivering.<br /><br />There's so much talk in the world of being "fearless." So much of that talk is, according to me, however, individuated, and essentially devoted toward fighting something external to oneself (i.e., a person, an army, another religion, etc.). This kind of fearlessness is, to me, not at all an overcoming of fear, but something more akin to simple denial of fear. As we know, denial of something does not eradicate the something, but merely chokes one's appropriate response to it. <br /><br />As I sense Iqbal's message on the freedom from fear, the freeing of mankind from fear is very far from the aforementioned "fearlessness of the world" which, to me, essentially serves an inner idol. Iqbal's freedom from fear, to me, speaks to the *opening up* of that depth of humankind (otherwise inaccessible) which, when accessed, frees the conduit through which collective consciousness and Marghdeen may genuinely manifest.<br /><br />Just some thoughts.<br /><br />All good wishes,<br /><br />robertroberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11393402288038226179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751964279420308191.post-17748458724159685142012-07-18T12:17:58.074+05:002012-07-18T12:17:58.074+05:00The last phrase of Jinnah sums up the enitre discu...The last phrase of Jinnah sums up the enitre discussion in the right way which is "Dare and Live". I also agree with the the psychological implications or repurcussions of fear. The observations of Iqbal about the degreading state of affairs of Muslims is alos very noteworthy in which he states that muslims of today have indicidual interests instead of collective interests and perhaps this is one the reasons which has led to their decline. This post has also highlighted the long-standing prejudice which the people of the West have been harboring against Islam like blood thirsty islam and so on.Tasleemnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751964279420308191.post-57529139031626213962012-07-16T16:13:17.715+05:002012-07-16T16:13:17.715+05:00Khurram Sahib, this is indeed an excellent post, a...Khurram Sahib, this is indeed an excellent post, and helps me see the line 'Dare and Live' in a way I hadn't seen before. Thanks.Saleena Karimhttp://www.libredux.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751964279420308191.post-10313380524232799862012-07-15T23:49:03.577+05:002012-07-15T23:49:03.577+05:00Sir, thank you so very much for sharing it. it was...Sir, thank you so very much for sharing it. it was insightful. I didn't know fear can have power over human being (to even political and metaphysical extent). I specially liked part about 'Fear makes the loss of 'herd-instinct'. <br /> <br />and also this, "I am afraid the old European idea of a blood-thirsty Islam is still lingering in the mind of Mr. Dickinson. All men and not Muslims alone are meant for the Kingdom of God on earth, provided they say good-bye to their idols of race and nationality, and treat one another as personalities. "<br /><br />how much Iqbal understood the purpose of humanity on the whole.Noorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15909166828158971623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751964279420308191.post-5505844765159828982012-07-15T20:47:51.946+05:002012-07-15T20:47:51.946+05:00Yes, and also personalities like Nawab Abdul Latif...Yes, and also personalities like Nawab Abdul Latif Khan and Saleemullah Khan of Dhakka. I feel that these two are our forgotten heroes and I am so eager to find out more about them. Sources seem to be scarce though.Khurram Ali Shafiquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15329916182280619617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751964279420308191.post-90446701992688951682012-07-15T18:20:00.462+05:002012-07-15T18:20:00.462+05:00First of all,Mr.Shafique,any amount of thankfulnes...First of all,Mr.Shafique,any amount of thankfulness cannot suffice as to how I feel after reading this.I am not aware if anyone would care to dig deeper into the heart of human beings as Iqbal did.I feel very fortunate to understand what fear does to an individual,a nation,in fact the whole world.After reading this post,I have learned many things about fear,I didn't know existed.It certainly is an eye opener for me.<br /><br />Since according to Iqbal fear is not just a psychological issue it has ethical,political even metaphysical implications and its elimination is the objective which defines the very structure of Islam.<br />I guess after losing their power the Muslims in India were reluctant to get it back because of fear.They must have believed they should not take any action as they were afraid of the repercussion.The Muslims were fortunate that they still had amongst them personalities like Iqbal,M.A.Jinnah ,Sir Syed Ahmad khan,who gave them hope and made them believe that they have to eliminate fear from their heart and believe in "Dare and Live".<br />This was a very interesting and informative post and once again I would like to thank you for presenting this to us.Ranu 802https://www.blogger.com/profile/00928109626033735690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751964279420308191.post-30711999746231121402012-07-15T06:48:25.670+05:002012-07-15T06:48:25.670+05:00Greetings,
Re-reading this tonight, I'm left,...Greetings,<br /><br />Re-reading this tonight, I'm left, again, in awe of how Iqbal describes the source of evil (and dis-union). In many cases (i.e., in so many of his other writings), Iqbal points to a Splendor within humanity. This post points to the residence of that Splendor (humanity), and apparently how that same residence can become overtaken with fear, with consequent ethical, political, and even metaphysical manifested outcomes. <br /><br />For me, this is all very powerful in how Iqbal highlights that this is not just a psychological issue. What is fear, and often presumed and labeled as merely "psychological," has, then, far greater consequences than what is typically attributed to personal psychological disorder. It is the root of ethical, political, and metaphysical disorder and disunion far more extensive than merely the personal realm. <br /><br />This strongly resonates (to me) with Iqbal's writings highlighting how destiny will change when we change ourselves. <br /><br />I'm reading the link shared ("The Mysteries of Selflessness") at:<br /><br />http://allamaiqbal.com/works/poetry/persian/ramuz/translation/05.htm<br /><br />Iqbal is here clear about fear:<br /><br />Its eye wreaks havoc in the realm of Life,<br />Its ear is a thief of Life's intelligence.<br />Whatever evil lurks within thy heart.<br />Thou cast be certain that its origin<br />Is fear: fraud, cunning, malice, lies, all these<br />Flourish on terror, who is wrapped about<br />With falsehood and hypocrisy for veil,<br />And fondles foul sedition at her breast.<br />And since it is least strong when zeal is high,<br />It is most happy in disunion.<br />Who understands the Prophet's clue aright<br />Sees infidelity concealed in fear.<br /><br />Perhaps, for others, this is familiar territory. For me, though,these teachings on Iqbal are arriving like gifts, with the scent of a revelatory mission. It leads me to ponder, seriously, on just how sensitive and powerful is our human mission.<br /><br />Thank you again for this.<br /><br />All good wishes,<br /><br />robertroberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11393402288038226179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751964279420308191.post-54970109662523062852012-07-10T23:59:51.375+05:002012-07-10T23:59:51.375+05:00I really liked Robert's comment. Also, key fo...I really liked Robert's comment. Also, key for me was the concern with that which "counteracts his/our ethical progress"...When this is clearly a goal, finding solutions<br />may be closer than we can imagine.CNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10877484524704475807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8751964279420308191.post-24687483026487359362012-07-10T18:10:12.435+05:002012-07-10T18:10:12.435+05:00Greetings,
This may now be one of my favorite pos...Greetings,<br /><br />This may now be one of my favorite posts that you've shared. To me, this post, brief as it is, nonetheless overflows with fecund meaning and significance.<br /><br />Some other areas of my life involve teaching on fear (*f*alse *e*vidence *a*appearing *r*eal). Considering just how far and wide fear rules (and the consequences thereof), I often reflect on the value of a system/method (perhaps even in the body of religiosity) that is based entirely on the overcoming of fear in all levels of the psyche...and beyond. <br /><br />This post includes many ideas on which one can follow up. Thank you!<br /><br />All good wishes,<br /><br />robertroberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11393402288038226179noreply@blogger.com