... something that has left a deep, deep imprint on my spiritual life was a sort of personal epiphany a couple of years ago. i had been reading and studying a number of thinkers, namely Kahlil Gibran and Ibn Al-Arabi, and was beginning to personally ask God if there was a way to understand Him and His will or to know if He existed. and something actually came to me. i suppose i would call it a verse ...

... thank you all for listening! again, i am deeply grateful to have found this forum. may God draw near to you and give you His peace.

Salam again Ayani,

It was a pleasure to read your post and all the warmth and humble good faith between the lines ...

Ab Abd-Allah Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn al-`Arabi ( ), Muhyi id-Din ( ) or 'Revivifier of religion' and al-Shaykh al-Akbar ( ) or 'Great Master' has added a great deal to my life as well ... sorry, just couldn't resist the temptation to be elaborate ... tempt

His intensely beautiful and always passionate advocacy of wahdat al-wujud ( &#1583 or the 'unity of being' in both al-Futuhat al-Makkiyya and Fusus al-hikam rocked my world as they continue to this day. From Fusus al-hikam -

If you see a Prophet speaking a language outside the simple ordinances of the Shari'a, that is due to the fact that he is a wali and a knower of Allah. For this reason, his station in respect to his being a man of knowledge and a wali is more perfect and complete than it is due to the fact that he is a Messenger or someone who legislates and has a Shari'a. If you hear one of the People of Allah speaking, or it is related to you that he said, "Wilaya is higher than prophethood," that speaker only means what we mentioned. Or if he says that the wali is above the Prophet or the Messenger, he means in the same person. He is the Messenger, and inasmuch as he is a wali, he is more complete than he is by simply being a Prophet. It does not mean that the wali who follows him is higher than him. The follower never overtakes the followed in that in which he follows him. If he had overtaken him, then he would not be his follower. So understand that!

How totally RAD is that ? ...

Thanks for the wonderful moments brought about by your post.

Peace, Sohel

Salaam everyone,

I'm not new to this board, but haven't posted in a long time. I'm writing because Ramadan has been emotionally difficult for me this year and I'm hoping to get some support. I tend to become perfectionistic during Ramadan, and it winds up hurting me a lot. I am very suspicious of the hadith and oftentimes reject ideas because there's no qur'anic support for them. However, for other things, I tend to obsess about them even though there's no qur'anic support for them. My actions and fears are inconsistent with eachother and with what I sometimes trully believe. I get so afraid of my prayers not counting or my fast not counting that I obsess about how clean I am and whether or not I'm doing things the right way. Sunni Islam has so many rules to follow and there are inconsistencies between sources too. all this is so overwhelming and emotionally draining for me. What also bothers me is that some people who attest to the faith don't seem to care about all the rules, but if you really analyze the rules it's just too much. For some reason I can't seem to break away from it. It's hard for me to whole-heartedly believe something. I'm held back by fear- fear that I'm gonna go to Hell. I wish that I could just believe in something.

Walaikum as salam dear bluerose,

Thank you for sharing your concerns. At the risk of seeming shamefully self-indulgent, I shall go ahead and suggest my introductory thread that may be of help among many other things I'm sure.

Excerpt -

For me personally as such a Muslim, the defining principle of being a Muslim is love of Allah, and the manifestation of that love through the diligent cultivation of kindness, and social justice as an extension of that kindness. Kindness starts with oneself by taking care of the self and discarding the ego by willfully submitting to Allah, by taking care of one?s family and community, and by understanding that Allah is the ONLY Omniscient and Omnipotent judge of all things, and nobody will escape HIS judgment in this world or the moment of our death.

Let me reiterate that in my humble opinion also, Islam as per the Holy Quran is also an ?intellectual? Deen (Way) without priesthood ? as in de facto or any other kind intermediary between Allah and man's existential and other salvation - and every individual Muslim has the responsibility to exercise his or her Allah given faculties, nurture and enhance those faculties through discipline and scholarship, and apply the guidance of the divine revelation of the Holy Quran in everyday life wholeheartedly and holistically.

On the concept of ?authorization? of books other than the Quran with regards to the Messenger, I personally find equating, for all practical purposes, the reverence for a revealed text to man made text, and empowering scholars restricted in their role according to the revelation to the point of becoming intermediaries between Allah and our salvation, nothing less than heartbreaking and tragic.

The typical madhabist ?rationale? that the only alternative to ?Islamic unity? through ?accepted standardization? is ?chaos? is also sadly interesting to look at. I am speaking of views such as those of Abdal-Hakim Murad who believes that -

?With every Muslim now a proud mujtahid, and with taqlid dismissed as a sin rather than a humble and necessary virtue, the divergent views which caused such pain in our early history will surely break surface again. Instead of four madhhabs in harmony, we will have a billion madhhabs in bitter and self-righteous conflict. No more brilliant scheme for the destruction of Islam could ever have been devised.? (from UNDERSTANDING THE FOUR MADHHABS the problem with anti-madhhabism)

As for myself, I do not subscribe to the dubious and somewhat predictably paranoid notion than individual freedom of conscience and thought and the moral slash social responsibilities that come with those freedoms as ordained by Allah as per the Holy Quran, lead to 'chaos' as he sees it or anything other than what is promised by our Creator in his revelation - namely peace, happiness and salvation in this life and the life to come.

No Orwellian ?world view or order? can mitigate that promise with sweet semantic twists and turns that may resonate inside hearts filled with fear and pain. One does not have to be a discrete mathematician to figure out that intolerant exclusions lead to sectarianisms, and those sectarianisms by definition lead to division, degeneration and eventual exploitation by the enemies of the faithful.

That said, I do have immense respect for contemporary but traditionally-rooted scholars such as Sheikh Hamza Yusuf and Imam Zaid Shakir as fellow Muslims who add value to my spiritual life - but I do not let them come as an intermediary between Allah and my desired happiness and salvation in this life and the life to come. I cannot and neither can they as my respected teachers and fellow Muslim brothers. They help me stay on the straight path, not define it as Allah already has in the Holy Quran.

On the other hand, no intentional or inadvertently semantic twists or doublespeak can mitigate the actual power relations at play when it is defined by scholars who see themselves as de facto priests.

Some of those power relations become dangerous once they seek to impose knowledge masquerading as debate with its own set of absolutist dogmas and rules of men, and exercise power without the possibility of role reversal and playing GOD in their judgments. Divisions with easy answers in a world where other men do the thinking for us, ultimately benefit those who profit from such divisions as a source of socio-political power. There is great indignity in speaking for others in a universe created by the only Omniscient and Omnipotent Creator who has created it in ways we?re just beginning to understand as modern scientific knowledge since Einstein, Bohr, Heisenberg, Chaos Theory, the Human Genome Project, and incredible advances since in physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics as tools that help us understand Allah's creations better.

That said, elements of the Sunnah, particularly unifying practices resulting from the traditions, may have many conditional positives also. If those practices are inspired by and designed in the spirit of the Quran, and do not become purely ritualistic ends in themselves, they can indeed bring people closer together and create peace, unity and justice in our communities.

I personally practice all 5 pillars in a somewhat orthodox manner ? without some of the traditional ?shirk? either in my spirit, mind, heart and utterances - for the benefit of Islamic unity while keeping the ONLY the Quran and its mandates and suggestions in my spirit, heart and mind. These practices impose a sense of discipline and order in my life, and indeed compliment other expressions of my submission to Allah.

It is not enough, in my humble opinion, just to adhere to the 5 pillars of our traditions, but one must adhere to those pillars without losing sight of their connections with the spirit of the revelation as the individual Muslim feels, sees and thinks fit. Allah-consciousness must permeate every moment of every ritual for those rituals to keep our spirits, our minds and our hearts and bodies upon the straight path as revealed in the Holy Quran.

I do not believe as some of my ?unitarian? or ?anti-sectarian? fellow travelers do that the Sunnah as expressed through the traditional 5 pillars not in the Holy Quran, and the straight path as written in the Holy Quran need to be mutually exclusive in practice. It is indeed difficult, but very much possible to practice elements of the Sunnah and NOT break our covenant with Allah, provided that those practices are neither purely ritualistic devoid of individual and deeply internalized meanings and experiences, nor undertaken in anything contrary to the letter or spirit of the Quran.

It is perhaps possible - if those practices are not imposed or coerced into the hearts of its parishioners who willfully and consciously submit to the Allah as revealed in the Holy Quran - for those traditional practices, after due modifications, to become a critical toolkit to add to and further consolidate our covenant with Allah.

http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=15577.0

I pray that was of assistance.

I guess the bottom line is, at the risk of sounding somewhat daft and frivolous ... only Allah is Perfect, so it maybe OK to CHILLAX a bit more, endeavor to stay dilligently true and focused in your heart with regards to all expressions of submission, and let Allah do what He will ... )

Easier said than done I know, but for what it's worth, my prayers are with you ... )

Peace, Sohel ... peace

Ali- i think you are right.

many Hindus i have talked to say that the many "gods" are really ways that people illustrate different attributes of the One God.

i think that trying to understand God is something that is sewn into our being. others would say "hardwired", but i prefer the embroidery imagery.

Aly, something i keep thinking about also is the Quran continually urging us to turn to One God, to pray, to be just, and to turn away from what is evil. i think the true message of Islam is more universal than many traditional Muslims might think...

yes, that makes sense! i couldn't explain how very well, but it makes sense to me.

Interesting topic. Here's a couple of blurbs on Monotheistic practices rooted in Hinduism and influenced by Islam, especially Sufism ...

In Punjab ...

Sikhism(IPA (help?info) or (info); Punjabi , sikkh, IPA is a religion that began in fifteenth century Northern India with the teachings of Nanak and nine successive human gurus. This system of religious philosophy and expression has been traditionally known as the Gurmat (literally the counsel of the gurus) or the Sikh Dharma. Sikhism comes from the word Sikh, which in turn comes from the Sanskrit root iya meaning "disciple" or "learner", or ika meaning "instruction." Sikhism is the fifth-largest religion in the world, and is generally considered the fifth largest organized religion, depending on how one defines an "organized religion"...

Philosophy and teachings

Sikh religious philosophy has roots in the religious traditions of northern India. The Sant Mat traditions are fundamental to the teachings of Sikhism's founder, Nanak. Especially important to the connection with Sikhism were the teachings of some of the saints such as Ravidas and Kabir. Sikhism is also inspired by the emphasis on devotion to God in the traditions of Vaishnavism, especially through the Bhakti movement, as well as influences of Sufism. However, Nanak's teachings diverge significantly from Vaishnavism in their rejection of idol worship, the doctrine of divine incarnations and a strict emphasis on inward devotion; Sikhism is professed to be a more difficult personal pursuit than Bhakti. The evolution of Nanak's thoughts on the basis of his own experiences and study have also given Sikhism a distinctly unique feature.

Scholars have presented Sikhism as a distinct faith. Some scholars have presented it as a syncretic religion which combines some elements of Hinduism and Islam. Sikhs maintain that their religion was directly inspired by God, and many of them consider the notion that Sikhism is a syncretic religion to be offensive.

Sikhism primary beliefs and principles

1. One God - There is only one God who has infinite qualities and names Pantheism. S/He is the same for all religions. God is Creator and Sustainer - all that you see around you is His creation. S/He is everywhere, in everything. S/He is fearless and with no enemies. Only God is without birth or death and S/He has and will exist forever.

2. Reincarnation, karma and salvation ? Every creature has a soul. On death, the soul is passed from one body to another until liberation. The journey of the soul is governed by the deeds and actions that we perform during our lives.

3. Remember God Love God, but have fear of Him as well. Only by keeping the Creator in your mind at all times will you make progress in your spiritual evolution.

4. Humanity (brotherhood) All human beings are equal. We are sons and daughters of Waheguru, the Almighty.
   Uphold moral values Defend, protect and fight for the rights of all creatures, in particular your fellow human beings.

5. Personal sacrifice Be prepared to give your life for all supreme principles. See the life of Guru Teg Bahadur.

6. Many paths lead to God ? Sikhs are not special; they are not the chosen people of God. Simply calling yourself a Sikh does not bring you salvation. Christian, Hindus, Muslim, Jews, etc. have the same right to liberty as a Sikh.

7. Positive attitude toward life "Chardi Kala" ? Always have a positive, optimistic and buoyant view of life. God is there ? He will be your help.

8. Disciplined life Upon baptism, a Sikh must wear the 5Ks and perform strict recital of the five prayers Banis, etc.

9. No special worship days Sikhs do not believe that any particular day is holier than any other.

10. Conquer the five thieves It is every Sikh's duty to defeat these five thieves Pride (a?Hankar), Anger (Kr?odh), Greed (Lob?H), Attachment (Mo?H), and Lust (K?haam). Known collectively as P.A.G.A.L.

11. Attack with Five Weapons Contentment (Santokh), Charity (Dan), Kindness (Daya ), Positive Energy (Chardi Kala), Humility (Nimarta).

http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh_religious_philosophy

And also in my neck of the Subcontinental woods, Bengal ...

Brahmo Samaj (Bengali Bramho Sh?maj) is a social movement which culminated in the Brahmo religion. It was conceived as reformation of the prevailing Bengal of the time and began the Bengal Renaissance of the 19th century.

Meaning of name

"Brahmo Samaj" literally means the society of worshippers of the 'One True God'. Brahmo ( bramho) means one who worships Brahman, or the supreme spirit of the universe existing within one's self, and Samaj ( sh?maj) means community of people united.

Doctrine

The fundamental principles of the Brahmo Samaj are that

1. There is only one God, the creator and sustainer of the world, who is infinite in power, wisdom, love and holiness.

2. The human soul is immortal, capable of eternal progress, and responsible to God for its doings.

3. No created object (including Human being) is to be worshipped as God. God manifests himself directly to the human soul, and no prophets or scriptures are mediators between God and the soul.

4. There is only one way to salvation and that is by worshipful deeds.

5. Neither Vedas, nor any other scriptures are infallible. All religious teachers and books are to be honored but not venerated.

6. All human beings are equal before God. Thus there is no division based upon caste, colour, race or sex.
   http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmo_Samaj

Peace ...

And that sums it up, according to the qur'aan, the best Hadith

Echo those words and feelings ... WAY.TO.GO sister ... peace

My childhood didn't have much religious experiances. We never did anything. When I moved to Arizona, my family started going to church and I became familiar with Christianity. I am realizing more and more about God. I need something that I can understand. I want to experiment with some religions to find the one that I can believe in. If I died today, right now, I would have no idea what would become of my soul. This is why I joined this forum, to get a taste from a variety of religions.

P.S. I am a friend of LP

Peace hplover326,

I feel where you're coming from and interested in knowing where you are in your journey at the moment. I have posted a thread here that may be of some use, or so I pray -

http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=15589.0

Looking forward to your eventual response ... )

That said, I am an Artemis Fowl person myself ... jedi

Also, Jason Bourne over the 'other' JB any day ... offtopic

Salaam to all.

The personal accounts in this thread have been both heart breaking and heart warming for this submitter. I too have had my share of battles with the unkind ways of my brothers and sisters under a wide variety of circumstances, and dealt with them successfully only because of my submission to Allah as He revealed Himself in the Quran. Such battles are never without their share of pain and sorrow.

I shall go ahead and quote some effective suggestions I have found here for all those who find themselves in a position similar to that of Prophet Lot, and endeavor to stay righteous in cruel and intolerant surrounding and the ridicule of those who find ultimately counterproductive satisfaction in making others feel small.

? Just tell them you only trust the Koran and they will shut up. No need to attack hadiths and Sunni Islam. Just make sure they can't attack you. Its actually easy. No Muslim can deny the authority of the Koran. But some here try to attack others and this creates hostility. To each is his own way and what matters is our faith and our sincerity reflected in our deeds.

In light of ?

Salaam,

What I find really funny is that Traditional Muslims only believe in Quranic verses that do not contradict Hadith instead of the other way around. So if there is two contradicting laws between the two, they choose to follow the one that they think comes from their God, Muhammad. ;D

True from what I have seen from some if not most 'Madhabist' Muslims. Some traditional scholars on the other hand, and most of the 'normal' masses of Muslims, especially here in rural Bangladesh, rightly look at the Holy Quran as the primary source in spirit as well as intellectual practice and perceptions. There are also many who also look at the Holy Quran as the ONLY divine source the same ways. Just one man's limited observations here ... )

Anyway, it's all good.

In addition to the excellent suggestions and insights quoted above, I shall humbly suggest that you may also choose to refer them to certain traditional scholars such as Sheikh Hamza Yususf. Here in this interview, he talks about his translation of Imam At-Tahawi's Creed of Ahlus Sunnah Wa Al-Jama'ah and much, much more.

Here are the links to the video -

Part 1
http//uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lJlZeb_tdnY

Part 2
http//uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6SE4_f7FyIU

Part 3
http//uk.youtube.com/watch?v=h8xm9ndF_Yw

Part 4
http//uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bWnV0XVoMS8

Part 5
http//uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gBQhrxYeNGU

Part 6
http//uk.youtube.com/watch?v=y3kyRCwYydo

After all these years, I still derive a great deal of comfort from his gentle ?qualifications? with regards the 'traditional' Shahadah of Abu Hurairah (Part 3), and his diligent belief in pluralism and 'invitation' rather than the exclusivism and 'imposition' of the ?my way or the highway? types perhaps inadvertently indulging in blasphemy by playing a role they are forbidden to play.

Some 'traditional' scholars like him are keenly aware of their true role in Islam and know how to use their scholarship in order to find common ground and bring people together through the Holy Quran, rather than fuel the fire of sectarianism and hatred.

I shall end with a demonstration of one of my personal responses to a vicious attack during a ?debate? about the Shahadah of Abu Hurairah and its uses as de facto ?shirk? in many if not all cases ? only Allah knows what is truly in the hearts of His creations ? and included the use of resources available in this website.

When the aforementioned ?debate? degenerated into to attacks such as the one quoted here ?

Any idiot who accuses a great Sahabi like Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) of fabrication of Hadith is a deviant imposter. I can clearly see why Sunni muslims are so harsh with some of Shi'i extremists who ritually curses Sayyidina Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman (whom Allah is pleased with)...Talking about "anti-sectarianism"!!!

? I responded by saying -

Such angry and bitter posts fool no one. I for one DO NOT wish for the poster to get banned from this forum despite what I as a member find to be clear violations of the spirit of its rules, and despite the thinly veiled personal and misconceived communal attacks being sifted through a perceived loophole ... )

After you have had enough venting, I would humbly suggest that you revisit the following Islamic etiquette as suggested by the Holy Quran, suggestions which I hope the eminent leaders of the Madhab of your choice will not object to too much. Some of the verses may possibly be somewhat more relevant than others IMHO -

Islamic Etiquette
By Layth (e-mail [email protected])

Besides the laws revealed by GOD that were designed to govern our lives, the Quran has also indicated a list of 'Etiquette' which we are advised to maintain in our dealings with each other on this planet.

"This Reading (Quran) guides to the best path, and brings good news to the believers who lead a righteous life, that they have deserved a great recompense." (179)

The below list are not LAWS, but when GOD makes a recommendation, it is always very advisable for us to 'hear & obey' in a guarantee that it will lead to happiness for all involved.

Always Respond to a 'Greeting'

"When greeted with a greeting, you shall respond with a better greeting or at least an equal one. GOD reckons all things." (486)

"O ye who believe! When ye go abroad in the cause of Allah, investigate carefully, and say not to any one who offers you a salutation "Thou art not a believer!"..." (494)

Always Say 'Good' things

"Do you not see that GOD has cited the example of a good word as a good tree whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches are high in the sky. It produces its crop every season, as designed by its Lord. GOD thus cites the examples for the people, that they may take heed." (1424-25)

Be 'Humble', and speak 'Lightly'

"Walk humbly and lower your voice, the ugliest voice is the donkey's voice." (3119)

Invite to GOD with wisdom and kindness

"Invite to the path of your Lord with wisdom and kind enlightenment, and debate with them in the best possible manner. Your Lord knows best who has strayed from His path, and He knows best who are the guided ones." (16125)

"It was mercy from GOD that you became compassionate towards them. Had you been harsh and mean-hearted, they would have abandoned you. Therefore, you shall pardon them and ask forgiveness for them, and consult them. Once you make a decision, carry out your plan, and trust in GOD. GOD loves those who trust in Him." (3159)

Be Kind to your parents

"Your Lord has decreed that you shall not worship except Him, and your parents shall be honored. As long as one or both of them live, you shall never say to them, "Uff" (the slightest gesture of annoyance), nor shall you shout at them; you shall treat them amicably. And lower for them the wings of humility, and kindness, and say, "My Lord, have mercy on them, for they have raised me from infancy." (1723-24)

Suppress Anger & Forgive People

"who (the righteous) give to charity during the good times, as well as the bad times. They are suppressors of anger, and pardoners of the people. GOD loves the charitable." (3134)

Counter Evil with Good

"Not equal is the good response and the bad response. You shall resort to the nicest possible response. Thus, the one who used to be your enemy, may become your best friend." (4134)

"They steadfastly persevere in seeking their Lord, observe the Link (Salat), spend from our provisions to them secretly and publicly, and counter evil with good. These have deserved the best abode." (1322)

Do NOT Say 'Bad' things

"And the example of the bad word is that of a bad tree chopped at the soil level; it has no roots to keep it firm." (1426)

Do NOT be 'Arrogant' or 'Carefree'

"You shall not treat the people with arrogance, nor shall you roam the earth carefree. GOD does not like the arrogant showoffs." (311

Do NOT engage in 'ignorant' talk

"The servants of the Almighty are those who tread the earth gently, and when the ignorant speak to them, they only utter peace." (2563)

Do NOT Curse the Idolaters

"And do not curse those who call on other than GOD, lest they blaspheme and curse GOD, out of ignorance. We have adorned the works of every group in their eyes. Ultimately, they return to their Lord, then He informs them of everything they had done." (610

Do NOT make fun of others, or call them names

"O you who believe, no people shall ridicule other people, for they may be better than they. Nor shall any women ridicule other women, for they may be better than they. Nor shall you mock one another, or call each other names. Evil indeed is the reversion to wickedness after attaining faith. Anyone who does not repent after this, these are the transgressors." (4911)

Do NOT be suspicious, or spy on one another, or backbite

"O you who believe, if a wicked person brings any news to you, you shall first investigate, lest you commit injustice towards some people, out of ignorance, then become sorry and remorseful for what you have done." (496)

"O you who believe, you shall avoid any suspicion, for even a little bit of suspicion is sinful. You shall not spy on one another, nor shall you backbite one another; this is as abominable as eating the flesh of your dead brother. You certainly abhor this. You shall observe GOD. GOD is Redeemer, Most Merciful." (4912)

Do NOT be 'Racist'

"O people, We created you from the same male and female, and rendered you distinct peoples and tribes, that you may recognize one another. The best among you in the sight of GOD is the most righteous. GOD is Omniscient, Cognizant." (4913)

http//www.free-minds.org/articles/q.../etiquette.htm

Being accused of ?blasphemy? for propagating the Holy Quran and ONLY the Holy Quran in other posts from those who perhaps inadvertently set up scholars and imams as de facto partners with Allah - scholars and imams who took it upon themselves to give authority to the Sunnah and the Hadith ALONGSIDE the authority of Allah and His Messenger as revealed and FULLY CONTAINED in the Holy Quran is hardly surprising at all.

For the record, and in good faith response to yet another expected and vicious attack, I am an 'anti-sectarian', 'unitarian' Muslim as per the letter and spirit of the Holy Quran, NOT A SHIA OR SUNNI in terms of my understanding of Islamic sects.

That said, there have been many Sunni, Shia and Sufi scholars, among quite a few ?non-Muslim? ones from other faiths who have added deeply to my faith since my willful submission, and continue to do so with their illuminating and erudite ideas and insights. I have no desire to rule the world, ?convert? anybody to my particular ways, or territorialize their individual Deen in any manner whatsoever. I am simply making information available to everyone in this pluralist forum, and occasionally expressing my views on the information being shared without any ulterior motives or ?hidden?, convoluted and otherwise esoteric agenda, or any malicious intent towards those comfortable in their faith.

This website has been created for all people who have a desire to allow God into their lives and follow His path alone...

This website invites all people of various beliefs (Sunni, Shia, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Bahai, Agnostic, Humanist, and even Atheists) to come and examine for themselves the system of Submission/Islam which is based on God Alone.

Many of you may outwardly be content with your current faith or that which you inherited from your parents and community...but to some out there, there will always be a tugging at the back of their mind that 'there is something more', and that 'some things don't always make sense'...

If you are one of those people, then open your eyes, put on your thinking cap, and welcome to an open examination of the system of Submission/Islam which very few know about...
http//www.free-minds.org/

The key word is INVITE, not ?coerce? or ?impose?.

I shall respond to all attacks from with the following verses from the Quran -

"...We have revealed to you this book to provide explanations for everything, and guidance, and mercy, and good news for the submitters/muslims." (1689)

"Shall I seek other than GOD as a judge, when He revealed THIS BOOK FULLY DETAILED? (6114)

"The word of your Lord is COMPLETE in truth & justice." (6115)

"Say (O Muhammad), 'Whose testimony is greater?' Say, 'God is the witness between me and you that THIS QURAN was given to me to preach it to you, and to whomever it reaches.' However, you certainly bear witness that you set up other gods beside. Say, 'I will never do what you are doing; I disown your idol-worship.'" (619)

"When our verses are recited for them, those who do not expect to meet us would say, 'Bring a Quraan other than this, or change it.' Say (O Muhammad), 'I cannot change it on my own initiative. I simply follow what is revealed to me. I fear, if I disobey my Lord, the retribution of a terrible day.' ...Who is more wicked than one who invents lies about God, or rejects His revelations? The guilty never succeed. Yet, they idolize beside God those who possess no power to harm them or benefit them, and say, 'These are our intercessors with God.' ...such is idol-worship." (1015-1

"The followers will say to their leaders, "It was you who schemed night and day, then commanded us to be unappreciative of GOD, and to set up partners to rank with Him." They will be ridden with remorse, when they see the retribution, for we will place shackles around the necks of those who disbelieved. Are they not justly requited for what they did?" (3433)

"Why do they not study the Quraan? Or are their locks on their hearts?" (4724)

"When they are told, "Follow what GOD has revealed herein," they say, "We follow only what we found our parents doing." What if their parents did not understand, and were not guided?. The example of those who reject is that of one who repeats what he hears of sounds and calls, without understanding. Deaf, dumb, and blind; they cannot understand." (2170-171)

"And who is more wicked than one who is reminded of his Lord?s verses but he turned away from them, and he forgot what his hands had done. We have made veils upon their hearts from understanding them, and a deafness in their ears. And if you invite them to the guidance, they will never be guided." (The Message 1857)

http//www.free-minds.org/

A gentle reminder to those who fear death and believe that scholars and imams, not good intent complimenting good deeds, will 'intercede" on their behalf when the time comes ?

"Say, 'To God belongs ALL INTERCESSION. To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, then to Him you will be returned.' When GOD ALONE is advocated, the hearts of those who do not believe in the hereafter shrink with aversion. But when idols are mentioned along with Him, they become satisfied." (3945)

"Spend from our provisions to you before a day comes wherein there will be no trade, no nepotism, and NO INTERCESSION." (2254)

"Beware of the day when no soul will help another soul, no ransom will be accepted, NO INTERCESSION will be useful, and no one will be helped." (2/123)

http//www.free-minds.org/articles/gods_system/intercession.htm

And that we are responsible for our own actions ?

"That is because God was not to change anything He bestowed to a people, unless they change what is in themselves. God is Hearer, Knowledgeable." (The Message 853)

This post will be my repeated response to all accusations, name-calling, and no doubt 'refutations' in the future from all those who at times inadvertently try 'refute' something without the in-depth, 360 degree knowledge of what they're 'refuting'. Since this will be a perpetual response to all personal attacks, name-calling, slander, malicious misdirection, and intolerant, attempted imposition masquerading as 'refutation' and debate, please feel free to quote yourself and copy and paste it after such posts. If you don?t, I certainly will.

A good faith, real refutation which displays detailed knowledge of the posts, on the other hand, is most welcome ... )

Peace

The result has been excellent so far, and the brother may even be on his way to finding more peace and tolerance in his heart. Such is the power of Allah.

Thank you for your time and I pray that some may find elements this longish post of use, and apologize with the utmost sincerity if any of it appears self-indulgent in any way.

Peace, Sohel ? )

Peace and welcome Eric,

This always helps me

4122 As for those who believe and do good work, We will admit them gardens with rivers flowing beneath, eternally they will abide therein. God's promise is truth; and who is more truthful in saying than God?

These are the roots of islam, imo. Let the branches and leaves grow from these roots, but always remember the roots, and will be well.

Peace,
Tay

Spot on, and thank you ... peace

In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful

Let me begin by saying that on September 14, 2007 I embraced Islam. Now before I accepted Islam I was a christian off and on. I was extremely a hardcore christian from about ages 18-20. Then when I was married for the first time I became a mormon. I was a mormon off and on for about 5 years and then after getting divorced I began my search for other religions out there. I came across Hare Krishna belief - practiced that shortly, but it didnt last. So off to the next one and the next and the next......And that cycle continued for a while. So next was Islam and that is when I stopped searching. In Islam I find truth, peace, happiness, basically the whole gammit of emotions. I never have felt closer to God than I do now in Islam. But before taking shahadah I was feeling so free to praise Allah and found it quite easy to believe in 1 God and ascribe no partners to Him. Here comes the odd part. After taking the shahadah, my faith went immediately on a downward spiral. I know Allah will test us for out benefit, but I was like how come why now lol. Sometimes I just feel so bound by ritualism rather than by Allah's mercy. I dont like feeling that way.

...

Assalamu Alaikum,

Eric

Brother Eric,

I bid you peace and extend you the warmest possible welcome ... )

If my personal journey in Islam has taught me anything my brother, nothing is quite as cut and dry and without layers of complexity as some would like to believe, especially when it comes to everything outside the Holy Quran. I can only speak for myself in saying that the choices that I endeavor to make are based on my personal connection to Allah as He revealed Himself in the Holy Quran. Other texts and ways may help me understand the revelation better and shed light in my endeavors to manifest my submission to Allah, or they may indeed, at times intentionally and often inadvertently, lead us astray depending on the role you allow them in your life. The resources available in this website alongside works of traditional scholars such as Sheikh Hamza Yusuf and Imam Zaid Shakir of Zaytuna Institute have helped me appreciate the Holy Quran at several different levels, and stay on the path without imposing anything that assigns an intermediary between Allah and my salvation.

All I can suggest in good faith is that you keep the faith, use all of your faculties in ?internalizing? the Holy Quran and assessing whatever you?re dealing with in your journey, and use your own educated judgment. The following verse in particular always reminds me of what I must do as a willful submitter.

"That is because God was not to change anything He bestowed to a people, unless they change what is in themselves. God is Hearer, Knowledgeable." (The Message 853)

Despite all my battles with those who wanted to do things this that or their way, as perhaps expressed in the 'avatar' I use in this forum, I have managed to hold my own easily with the Holy Quran as my guide. Then again, I have been fortunate to be born and now living in Bangladesh where religious tolerance is deeply rooted, and did not face any hostility in Northern California where I spent most of my adult life, before the evil events of 9/11.

The Sunni majority of Bangladesh is perhaps notably more tolerant than its other South Asian, especially Pakistani and Afghan counterparts, and ?in your face? religious advocacy by ANYONE is traditionally considered somewhat rude by the mostly non-sectarian Bangladeshi culture as a whole. Allow me to clarify.

Sunni Islam in then East Bengal and now in Bangladesh has always been Sufi influenced and tolerant, even 'unitarian' in its general outlook. The very fact that most Muslims in Bangladesh, while identifying themselves as Sunnis, do not follow any of the Madhabs in great detail, often do not even know what a Madhab is for that matter, and do not consider various Shia and other non-Sunni sects to be 'deviant' and/or 'non-Muslims' - is a good manifestation of that attitude.

That said, despite recent, meaning since 1947, some Wahabi and Pakistani sectarian efforts to establish less tolerant and often absolutist ?Madhabist? institutions and thinking, most of the people here almost instinctively consider Islam to be a personal matter which can and must inspire politics, but not be political in the traditional sense. Perhaps that is why no Islamic political party in this nation of 150 million with 90% Muslim population has managed more than 20 seats in the National Parliament of 300 seats. After some of the more recent terrorism-related events in the country, it is projected that they will not get more than 10 seats in the upcoming elections in December, 2008.

Islam for most Bangladeshis is something closer to the vision of Lalon Shai, a late 18th to 19th century Sufi-influenced 'Baul' (a 'folk' poet, songwriter and musician from rural Bangladesh) and his hauntingly beautiful melodies and deeply resonating lyrics similar in spirit to the words of Jalauddin Rumi or Sheikh Ibn Al Arabi - than some ?Madhabist? absolutism or Maududi and other types of religious politics of Pakistan or Afghanistan.

http//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/00/Lalon_big.jpg

Lalon Fokir, also known as Lalon Shah (Bangla (c.1774?1890), lived in the village of Cheuria in the area known during pre-colonial, undivided Bengal as Nodia (in the District of Kushtia in present-day Bangladesh).

Early life

Lalon intentionally kept his place of birth and the identity of his parents unknown. Around the age of sixteen he was found floating by the bank of Kaliganga river, suffering from smallpox. He was taken to the home of Malam Shah and his wife Matijan, who brought him up.

Philosophy

Lalon left no trace of his birth or his 'origin' and remained absolutely silent about his past, fearing that he would be cast into class, caste or communal identities by a fragmented and hierarchical society. Despite this silence on his origins, communal appropriation of this great politico-philosophical figure has created a controversy regarding whether he is 'muslim' or a 'Hindu' -- a 'sufi' or a follower 'bhakti'tradition -- a 'baul' or a 'fakir', etc. He is none, as he always strove to go beyond all politics of identities.

Lalon does not fit into the construction of the so called 'bauls' or 'fakirs' as a mystical or spiritual types who deny all worldly affairs in desperate search for a mystical ecstasy of the soul. Such construction is very elite and middle class and premised on the divide between 'modern' and 'spiritual' world. It also conveniently ignores the political and social aspects of Bengal's spiritual movements and depoliticises the trasformative role of 'bhakti' or 'sufi' traditions. This role is still continued and performed by the poet-singers and philosophers in oral traditions of Bangladesh, a cultural reality of Bangladesh that partly explains the emergence of Bangladesh with distinct identity from Pakistan back in 1971. Depicting Lalon as 'baul shomrat' (the Emperor of the Bauls) as projected by elite marginalises Lalon as a person belonging to a peripheral movement, an outcaste, as if he is not a living presence and increasingly occupying the central cultural, intellectual and political space in both side of the border between Bangladesh and India (West Bengal).

Works

Lalon has composed numerous songs and poems which depicts his philosophy.Among his favourite songs are khachar bhitor auchin pakhi,jat gelo,dekhna mon jhokmariay duniyadari,paare loye jao amay,milon hobe koto dine, aar amare marishne maa, etc.

Legacy

Lalon is one of the most brilliant and philosophically insightful minds born in oral and textual traditions who expressed his ideas in beautiful songs and wonderful musical compositions using instruments that could be made by any rural households from materials available at home an Ektara (a one string musical instrument) and a Dugdugi (a hand drum). The texts of the songs was explicitly written to engage in the philosophical discourses of Bengal continuing since Tantric traditions of the subcontinent, particularly Nepal, Bengal and the Gangetic plains. In Lalon one finds critical reappropriation of the various philosophical positions emanating from the legacies of Hindu, Jaina, Buddha and Islamic traditions developing into a coherent discourse without falling into the mixes of being syncretic. He is definitely going to occupy a central position in various ecological, feminist and politics of care and responsibility aiming radical transformation of the society. In recent years Lalon has inspired Nayakrishi Andolon (New Agricultural Movement), the well known biodiversity-based ecological movements of the peasants of Bangladesh as well as inspiring young musical generations to build upon his oral and musical foundations.

Influence

Lalon Shah had a perceptible influence on the poet Rabindranath Tagore, who introduced the Baul tradition of Bengal to the world. His own music had been influenced by the diversity of Baul tradition.

In 1963, a mausoleum and a research centre were built at the site of his shrine, the place of knowledge-practices. Thousands of people come to the shrine known in Bengali as akhra twice a year, Dol-Purnima, in the month of Falgun (February to March) and in October, on the occasion of the anniversary of his death. During these three-day song melas, people,particularly fakirs and bauls pay tributes to this great mind the subcontinent has produced.

Among the modern singers, Farida Parvin is definitely the most notable one as she has recorded so far 300 songs composed by Lalon Shah.

http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lalon

Here?s an example of one of his popular songs -

Sects

People ask, what is Lalon's sect?
Lalon says, my eyes fail to detect
The signs of such things.

Don't you see that
Some wear garlands, some rosaries
Around the neck?

But what difference do they make brother?
Tell me what mark does one carry when
One is born, or when one dies?

A Muslim is marked by the sign
Of circumcision; but how should
You mark a woman?

If a Brahmin male
Is known by the thread he wears,
How is a woman known?

People of the world,
My brother, talk of marks and signs,

But Lalon says I have only deliberately drowned
The raft of signs, the marks of sect
In the deluge of the One!

From Azfar Hussain?s translation

Here?s the link to a recent video of this song -

http//uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ0p9XXIwvM

That ?folk? tradition is alive and well here in Bangladesh, perhaps the one of the most tolerant of Muslim societies, and continues to thrive and evolve an integral part of its dynamic culture. Here?s a song from Durbin Shah, a Lalon disciple, being performed by Bangla, a contemporary ?rock? band from Dhaka, the Capital of about 20 million people.

The Vocalist Anusheh is my distant cousin (by marriage) and the Bassist is her husband Buno, both dear fellow travelers ? )

Link http//uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCj3p5u8hes

Rough transliteration of the Bangla (Bengali) lyrics, without explanation of the parables and allusions used in the song -

I couldn't pray

I couldn?t pray today O Allah
Life got in the way of my prayers.

I was sleepy during the Fazr prayers
The Zohr prayers came and went just like that

Work took me away from the Asr prayers
I was at the barn during Maghrib prayers

The cow didn?t return today from grazing
And the calf wasn?t tied to his post

My wife told me we ran out of rice during the Isha prayers
And hearing my children wail of hunger
Crazy Durbin Shai broke down himself
I couldn?t pray today O Allah ?

Apologies for blabbering on ... )

Thank you for your time.

Peace, Sohel

Sohel ~

Allah bless you, man. that is all i can say. your relationship to Islam sounds a lot like my own. i also lost my father as a kid, and he also kind of opened the gates for me to religious study.

i think you will love it here, S. welcome.

Peace Sohail,

welcome

Looking forward to your point of views

Peace and thanks to Ayani and D'argento for the warm welcome. Looking forward to get to know the both of you better in this gathering ... )

Also ...

... I remember a deep sense of 'contraction' initially which weirdly fused into a sense of awareness and wonder coming from everything surrounding me.

Perhaps the word 'constriction' would have been the better word ? ... hmm

Peace and welcome, Sohel.

Thanks for sharing your story and expressing it so eloquently. Your future as a novelist is evidently bright.

Regarding your "Personal Awakening" during the surfing incident, was it the hit on the head that triggered your experience? If so, were you conscious or unconscious? I'm curious because I've had galvanizing experiences similar to what you've described, both conscious and unconscious.

Peace,
Tay

Peace unto you Tay and thank you for the warm welcome and kind words.

I have no idea how my or what 'novel' will turn out to be by the end of the process, but personally as a reader, I am not really satisfied about the way I write 'nonfiction' or 'fiction' for that matter. The styles, rhythm and flow vary quite a bit, and I tend to end up with a piece of Swiss cheese full of technical and other holes. Luckily, the cheese has not gone stale past its expiration date yet. Anyway ... )

With regards to your question about the surfing incident, I can only describe those moments in a water as a state of 'super consciousness' before Chris dragged me back ashore. He later described me as somewhat 'unconscious' but definitely in a state of daze with my eyes half closed and kind of 'fluttering', before I was overwhelmed with those amazing sensations of pure elation that resulted in some heavy tears on the beach.

I remember a deep sense of 'contraction' initially which weirdly fused into a sense of awareness and wonder coming from everything surrounding me. The fusion followed its own unique sense of time, and later 'unified' all 5 senses and more so to speak. The Sunlight reflecting off everything surrounding me was intensely vivid and as clearly delineated and defined as an exquisitely detaled Japanese watercolor sort of painted by the divinely inspired subjects of the painting themselves. There was a strange, almost comforting calmness about it all.

Of course the accumulative effect of repeatedly banging my head against the board and wiping out amidst the freezing water played its part in triggering the event. Later I met many fellow 'cold water' surfers in Northern California from Half Moon Bay to Mendocino who had their their own unique 'unifying' experiences, leading to a variety of life choices and skills.

Hope this clarifies the matter for you a little ... )

Peace, Sohel.

WOW! THats the exact same thing that led me to the Quran!!! Thats amazing that someone else has had this happen to him...

398 And when the human being is afflicted with adversity, he implores his Lord, turning in repentance to Him. But then, when He grants him a blessing from Him, he forgets his previous imploring, and sets up equals with God, in order to mislead others from His path. Say "Enjoy your rejection for a while; for you are of the dwellers of the Fire."
3949 So when the human is touched by adversity, he implores Us, then when We bestow a blessing upon him, he says "I attained this because of knowledge I had!" Indeed, it is a test, but most of them do not know.

That is one of the verses that made be realise the Quran was divine because it was exactly what happened to me... I even set up equals to God and shamefully put a lie to my experience (

All praise is to God.

Al

Dear Al,

Needless to say, I am deeply touched and my heart is filled with the sort of warmth only such kinship can call forth. Allah is indeed the Dispenser of such divine grace ... thank you for sharing.

On a lighter note, no offense intended here ...

http//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/27/ET202.jpg

We are NOT alone ...

Peace, Sohel ... peace

peace Sohel,

Re modifying posts

Please see the forum rules/guidelines
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?board=2.0
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=8177.0

Thank you Wakas, useful stuff before I become more familiar with this amazing place. I'm quite familiar with the website and have been using it as a resource for a while now, but the Forum is a totally new community for me.

The Forum rules are virtually identical to the other Forums I also frequent, and that's wonderful ... )

Peace, Sohel.

That was very interesting. I think that there is nothing wrong with engaging in Sunni ways as well as long as the individual sets in their heart the reason why they are engaing in a certain practice. My family is Sunni as well and in order to remain united with them I will follow traditional sunni ways, but with the understanding that I am doing so in an effort to remain united in the love of Allah. I really enjoyed your post.

Thank you for the warmth. I'm glad you enjoyed the post despite its length ... )

Peace.

peace,

Welcome to the forum Sohel.

Peace and thank to for the warm welcome.

I have a question to you as MOD -

How come I can't modify my original post anymore? ... ???

peace Sohel, and welcome
You have a very very interesting family. I wouldn't be surprised if that novel has autobiographical elements?

I bid you peace, and thank you for the welcome ...

In my humble opinion, all families can be interesting enough to be 'novelized', no matter how 'ordinary' they may seem on the outside. At the risk of sounding overly cheesy to the lactose intolerant, let me suggest that one just needs to plug into the astounding multiplicity of things in a universe filled with self similar, but nonetheless unique things in a perpetual state of flux. No two leaves are the same in any given plant, such is the endless creative bounty of all of GOD's known, yet to be known and unknown creations. Individuals are universes unto themselves, and once we endeavor to observe 'them' as closely and holistically as we observe 'ourselves', we can empathize with emotional events their lives and find something similar in ourselves. It's kind of like crying during a movie, and not because Keanu Reeves is trying to play an FBI agent in 'Point Break' (he was pretty good in one of the 'Speed' movies).

Ultimately in GOD's universe, all novels are autobiographical that way ...

and it's quite obvious that you love discipline and order, unfortunately you won't find either in my posts (but please do read them!).

Do not let outward appearances fool you this much my fellow traveler. Perhaps the appearance of order is only a diversionary ruse to prevent you from opening a closet full of disorder and dirty laundry...

I agree with you about unity, but this is what I find, uh, problematic with the rituals (5 pillars)
If that is our means of achieving unity, then we're only united with people of our religion, and everyone else is left out. It seems that even those who reject sectarian Islam and promote unity under god end up dividing the world into the "muslim" and "non-muslim" world.

I see your point, but variety, cultural and otherwise, is inevitable anyway, n'est pas?

Speaking only for myself as always, by endeavoring to immerse myself in GOD-consciousness as revealed by the Holy Quran during any duly internalized and subsequently modified 'traditional' ritual, unites me with all other individuals doing something similar in their own ways, with or without those pillars. I am nobody to call anyone a 'non-Muslim' no matter how they chose to manifest their submission. According to my limited perceptions, calling a 'non-practioner' of the 5 pillars such as the honorable Dalai Lama a 'non-Muslim' while calling Osama Bin Laden, perhaps a diligent practitioner of those rituals a 'Muslim'- is extremely dodgy to say the least. Only GOD knows the unuttered truth in the hearts of HIS creations.

I doubt that we are in disagreement. I'm thinking different barcodes and/or brands of canned tomatoes not past the expiration date at this point ...

Welcome to the forum Sohel. I can see why you're writing a novel, it's a very well constructed post .

Touch? ...

Thank you for the warm welcome. You are my third 'official contact' from the forum by the way, and the very first one inside the forum. Absolutely unforgettable stuff.

I. Death

Death is inevitable, and fearing the inevitable is absurd. The spiritual terms of one?s own death, now that?s another story altogether.

The belief for a Muslim or a submitter like me is that I shall die whenever Allah, my ONLY Lord and Master de facto and otherwise, wishes so. I on the other hand, have been accorded some choices, responsibilities and consequences thereof in this life by Allah, the Omniscient and Omnipotent. Depending on the choices I make, I can perhaps positively influence some of the terms of that inevitability in order to Jihad - meaning to struggle and endeavor - for a ?happy? death.

"That is because God was not to change anything He bestowed to a people, unless they change what is in themselves. God is Hearer, Knowledgeable." (The Message 853)

A ?happy? death for me, based on a great deal of study on the human brain and real individuals who have had near death experiences and were in fact clinically dead for a ?short? period of time - including my own mother?s clinical death that lasted for 90 seconds ? means death with a ?clear conscience?. This ?happy death? in my humble opinion - I shall delve into some of the reasons behind the rationale behind having such an opinion later - resulting from a life without a ?mask? or an ?ego? that hides my true, naked self and its pure existential essence, inclusive of all of its strengths, weaknesses, vulnerabilities and areas of opportunities in absolute sincerity. The sort of pure existential essence that has no frame of reference other than being a perhaps all too humble creation of Allah in the eyes of the world.

II. Dying a 'happy' death

I have come to a humble theoretical understanding about a few things with regards to the moment of our inevitable death. That said, allow me to clarify some of the possible insinuations by saying that I shall not be about to verify the theory until I am upon that moment myself, and until then, my faith and continued studies are all of have, happily so. Anyway, some of those things are -

1. The brain - being the most complex and to date the most mysterious part of the human body in terms of its capacities and potential functions thereof ? contains what many call the ?subconscious mind?, something that records everything, despite its particular level of sensual consciousness, we input into our existence. We cannot hide anything from this mechanism through clever rationalizations or various forms of false securities and ephemeral comforts. As a Muslim, I believe that our subconscious mind is what ?records? all of our actions and intent for His divine judgment.

2. It could be argued that when we dream either good or bad things that we do not particularly wish to dream about, our subconscious mind is symbiotically communicating with our conscious mind using its own and perhaps self-contained to a large extent - syntax and elliptical reasoning(s) through an often heterogeneous collection of images. What we experience during dreams with regards to all of our senses is real until we wake up and realize that we have been dreaming. Dreams exist in their own realms of space-time or ?world? so to speak, and consequently have their own ways of measuring space-time that have little to do with clock-time and the 3 other dimensions we are easily conscious of. If we do not wake up from the reality of the ?dream? and into the reality of the ?world?, the latter reality would exist perhaps totally out of our individual consciousness and become irrelevant to us as individuals. As far as the ?eternal? sleeper is concerned, his dream is the only reality.

3. What we do during the waking hours and the intent behind those activities, as sensed by the typical sensory input system of the body, have a psychological impact on what goes into the subconscious mind and the psyche. The psychological impact is at once emotional and intellectual, a psycho-holistic impact or unifying experience I shall call within a very narrow context ? ?the spiritual experience of the pure self?. Simply put, it is the holistic - meaning the symbiotic relationship between what we perceive to be divisions such as the body, the mind, the individually unknown and yet to be internalized modalities and functions of and connections between each ? and absolutely honest and sincere awareness of intent behind each one of those ?acts?, in the broadest sense of the word, irrespective of how we chose to consciously deny, bury or rationalize that intent for an ultimately false sense of security in order to fit into a social, unsocial or even anti-social apparatus of existential capture. I will go off on a bit of relevant tangent here by clarifying the aforementioned ?types? a bit ...

A person who somewhat unquestionably defines himself first and foremost in terms of a particular frame of reference rather than his/her ?existential essence?, or as a ?group? member who fails to fairly question unilateral authority bound by a set of ?infallible? rules created and perpetuated by that same authority, or take other initiatives that may actually benefit the stated ?good? or rationale of the group is an individual involved in a social apparatus of his/her choice. A ?silent citizen? is a good example of this ?type? of individual who seeks comfort in numbers inside his/her respective social apparatus.

A person who understands the indignity in speaking for others, lives in his/her own world apart from society so to speak, and is quite content doing so, is involved in an unsocial apparatus of his/her own making. Interaction and synergies amongst different unsocial apparatus do take place, but often not deeply enough to for to form a small conglomerate. When they do, they can eventually become a ?nomadic? or ?anti-territorializing? gathering where power relations within the ?gathering? are horizontal and the specific mission, or context-based hierarchical roles instantly reversible within flexible interpretations of general, mutually agreed upon guidelines. For me personally as this ?type? of an individual, my community of friends in real as well as cyberspace, including the totality of the experience right here in this forum, is an example of the ?unsocial apparatus?.

A person who does not understand the indignity in speaking for others, lives in his/her own world apart from society despite appearances to the contrary, longs to enforce and impose his will upon the lives of others, perhaps stemming from his/her own sense of unmanaged sufferings, and is someone who derives a sort of vengeful pleasure from the humiliation, pain and helplessness of the actual or fantasized victims under his/her ?control? is involved in an anti-social apparatus of his/her own making. I shall cite Jeffrey Dahmer, Usama Bin Laden and George Bush Jr as different, perhaps somewhat extreme examples of this ?type? of person who are capable of harm either as solitary psychopaths, or psychopaths leading other psychopaths and mesmerized, unthinking followers often citing their ?job? in order to rationalize their actions.

4. Back to the topic. If the ego is simply the ?mask? fabricated from denials, rationalizations, escapes that hide the true, sincere, honest ?self? underneath, during dreams and inside the world of the subconscious, the mask fails to function and ?confesses? to us. I believe that the actual discrepancies between the ?mask? and the ?self? may dictate the nature of the dream in terms of being good, frightening or ambiguous. The things we bury and hid in order to deny, rationalize and seek ultimately a false sense of comfort, can ultimately haunt us in our dreams and impact how we are to others in our waking lives, irrespective of the ?type? of individual we are choosing to be , or the sort of apparatus we make ourselves a part of.

5. The human brain is not only the ?command center? but also the most complex organ in the human body, and is perhaps the last major organ to ?die? in the even of our death. Accepting that as a premise, then it is very much possible that at the moment of our death, our brain with all of its known, yet to be known and unknown capacities, goes into a state of great shock while being conscious of death, partially because it?s own modalities and functions as the ?command center? are facing the totally new reality of the body's cardiovascular system ceasing to function with all of its consequences. In other words, ?the command center? has become more ?self-contained? than ever as the cardiovascular system or ?the engine? that drives body or the ?apparatus? has ceased to function.

6. During that state of shock brought about by the moment of our death, it is highly likely that we enter a ?dream state? that we cannot be ?awakened? from, rendering what we?re dreaming as ?the final reality? in a dimension of space-time totally alien to us while we?re ?alive?. I believe that the dream consciousness can last an eternity until it transforms into something else.

7. Therefore, perhaps the moment of our death is a ?judgment? before the Judgment, a good dream during that inevitable moment is a ?paradise? before the Paradise, and a nightmare is ?hell? before the Hell.

8. A good or ?happy? death for me means a death that leads to a ?good? dream at the moment of my death, a happy death that I believe can only be brought about by a 'clear conscience'.

III. What is my Jihad, or how do I struggle and endeavor to clear my conscience as an individual during my life?

I have chosen to the following way of life -

1. To willfully submit myself to Allah who in His infinite grace, can accord me, his humble slave, the sort of blissfully comforting consciousness of His divine presence in my every breath as an integral part of all of his known, yet to be known, and unknown creations. I submit myself, feel and say "I SUBMIT MYSELF TO THE LORD OF THE WORLDS". (Arabic Aslamtu li rabbil aalameen). The ever present Allah consciousness that helps me shed my own mask and gives me the impetus to follow His and only His commands and suggestions as revealed in the Holy Quran, and as per that revelation, without setting up any other de facto authority or partners with Him and His revelation, as I, His humble slave endowed only with what He has granted me, feel, see and understand as a submitter or Muslim in this life and the life to come while eagerly awaiting His judgment out of a sense of that willful and loving submission and nothing else.

"...O people of the Scripture, let us come to a common agreement between us and between you; that 1) we do not serve except God, and 2) do not set up anything at all with Him, and 3) that none of us takes each other as patrons besides God...." (The Message 364)

"Do not accept anything that you yourself cannot verify. Surely your hearing, your eyesight and your mind will be questioned" (1736)

2. To follow the straight path as revealed in the Holy Quran to the best of my sincere understanding and ability as a responsible Muslim commanded to utilize all of the faculties accorded me by our Creator.

"Say 'come let me recite to you what your Lord Has forbade for you

that you should not set-up anything with Him.

and be kind to your parents;

and do not kill your unborn children for fear of poverty, We provide for you and for them;

and do not come near evil, what is openly of it, or secretly;

and do not kill the soul which GOD Has forbidden, except in justice. That is what He enjoined you that you may comprehend'.

'And do not come near the money of the orphan, except for what is best, until he reached his maturity;

and give honestly full measure and weight equitably. We do not burden a soul except by what it can bear.

And if you speak then be just even if against a relative;

and with pledges made to GOD you shall observe. This He Has enjoined you that you may remember'.

And this is My path, a Straight One, so you shall follow it, and do not follow the other paths lest they divert you from His path. That is what He has enjoined you to that you may be righteous." (6151-153)

http//www.free-minds.org/articles/gods_system/pillars.htm

3. To endeavor to follow Islamic etiquette as revealed in the Holy Quran, sincerely and wholeheartedly in my dealings with others.

Always Respond to a 'Greeting'

"When greeted with a greeting, you shall respond with a better greeting or at least an equal one. GOD reckons all things." (486)

"O ye who believe! When ye go abroad in the cause of Allah, investigate carefully, and say not to any one who offers you a salutation "Thou art not a believer!"..." (494)

Always Say 'Good' things

"Do you not see that GOD has cited the example of a good word as a good tree whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches are high in the sky. It produces its crop every season, as designed by its Lord. GOD thus cites the examples for the people, that they may take heed." (1424-25)

Be 'Humble', and speak 'Lightly'

"Walk humbly and lower your voice, the ugliest voice is the donkey's voice." (3119)

Invite to GOD with wisdom and kindness

"Invite to the path of your Lord with wisdom and kind enlightenment, and debate with them in the best possible manner. Your Lord knows best who has strayed from His path, and He knows best who are the guided ones." (16125)

"It was mercy from GOD that you became compassionate towards them. Had you been harsh and mean-hearted, they would have abandoned you. Therefore, you shall pardon them and ask forgiveness for them, and consult them. Once you make a decision, carry out your plan, and trust in GOD. GOD loves those who trust in Him." (3159)

Be Kind to your parents

"Your Lord has decreed that you shall not worship except Him, and your parents shall be honored. As long as one or both of them live, you shall never say to them, "Uff" (the slightest gesture of annoyance), nor shall you shout at them; you shall treat them amicably. And lower for them the wings of humility, and kindness, and say, "My Lord, have mercy on them, for they have raised me from infancy." (1723-24)

Suppress Anger & Forgive People

"who (the righteous) give to charity during the good times, as well as the bad times. They are suppressors of anger, and pardoners of the people. GOD loves the charitable." (3134)

Counter Evil with Good

"Not equal is the good response and the bad response. You shall resort to the nicest possible response. Thus, the one who used to be your enemy, may become your best friend." (4134)

"They steadfastly persevere in seeking their Lord, observe the Link (Salat), spend from our provisions to them secretly and publicly, and counter evil with good. These have deserved the best abode." (1322)

Do NOT Say 'Bad' things

"And the example of the bad word is that of a bad tree chopped at the soil level; it has no roots to keep it firm." (1426)

Do NOT be 'Arrogant' or 'Carefree'

"You shall not treat the people with arrogance, nor shall you roam the earth carefree. GOD does not like the arrogant showoffs." (311

Do NOT engage in 'ignorant' talk

"The servants of the Almighty are those who tread the earth gently, and when the ignorant speak to them, they only utter peace." (2563)

Do NOT Curse the Idolaters

"And do not curse those who call on other than GOD, lest they blaspheme and curse GOD, out of ignorance. We have adorned the works of every group in their eyes. Ultimately, they return to their Lord, then He informs them of everything they had done." (610

Do NOT make fun of others, or call them names

"O you who believe, no people shall ridicule other people, for they may be better than they. Nor shall any women ridicule other women, for they may be better than they. Nor shall you mock one another, or call each other names. Evil indeed is the reversion to wickedness after attaining faith. Anyone who does not repent after this, these are the transgressors." (4911)

Do NOT be suspicious, or spy on one another, or backbite

"O you who believe, if a wicked person brings any news to you, you shall first investigate, lest you commit injustice towards some people, out of ignorance, then become sorry and remorseful for what you have done." (496)

"O you who believe, you shall avoid any suspicion, for even a little bit of suspicion is sinful. You shall not spy on one another, nor shall you backbite one another; this is as abominable as eating the flesh of your dead brother. You certainly abhor this. You shall observe GOD. GOD is Redeemer, Most Merciful." (4912)

Do NOT be 'Racist'

"O people, We created you from the same male and female, and rendered you distinct peoples and tribes, that you may recognize one another. The best among you in the sight of GOD is the most righteous. GOD is Omniscient, Cognizant." (4913)

http//www.free-minds.org/articles/quranic/etiquette.htm

4. To read, get deeply inspired by, think about and internalize the guidance revealed Quran as a I pray, I fast, I serve my community, I endeavor to meet my moral, intellectual, ethical and financial obligations to myself, my family, my community and the world as a part of Allah's creation, I endeavor to refrain from unkind acts to myself - meaning the indivisible unity of my spirit, intellect and body - and everyone and everything in the world around me, and finally I humbly struggle for justice as the extension of cultivating and nurturing that kindness as an expression of my submission and faith.

IV. Next to last words

For me personally as a Muslim, the defining principle of being one is love of Allah, and the manifestation of that love through the diligent cultivation of kindness, and social justice as an extension of that kindness. Kindness starts with oneself by taking care of the ?self? and constantly endeavoring to discard the ?ego? and ?unmask? oneself by willfully submitting to Allah, by taking care of one?s family and community, and by understanding that Allah is the ONLY omniscient and omnipotent judge of all things, and nobody will escape HIS judgment in this world or the moment of our death and beyond.

By the end of the day, I live for that inevitable moment of death by struggling to do only what my willful submission to Allah as revealed in the Holy Quran, empowers me choose and do kind and just things everyday to myself, my family, my community and the world around me. I work and pray for the happiness of others in this world and the world to come simply because of the love, compassion and empathy accorded me and all other Human beings in the world.

Among all other reasons as to why I feel that I must it is simply better and more comfortable to endeavor to be kind, just and happy, rather than be unkind, unjust and ultimately miserable in this life and beyond, no matter how high those acts and intents take us until the intoxicating effects wear off, the self-perpetuating withdrawals begin, and we find ourselves having to make choices that can either liberate us or sink us deeper into self-destruction, all too often at the expense of others in our lives.

V. Last Words

I bid you peace and thank you for your time ... )

Salam to all.

I am very new here, and for the benefit of those who do not know me, and I do emphasize the word 'benefit' when it comes to NOT knowing me, I have prepared a 'spiritual profile' of sorts. Here's an excerpt relevant to the topic at hand with the link to the aforementioned profile ...

That said, I do have immense respect for contemporary but traditionally-rooted scholars such as Sheikh Hamza Yusuf and Imam Zaid Shakir as fellow Muslims who add value to my spiritual life - but I do not let them come as an intermediary between Allah and my desired happiness and salvation in this life and the life to come. I cannot and neither can they as my respected teachers and fellow Muslim brothers. They help me stay on the straight path, not define it as Allah already has in the Holy Quran.

http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=15577.0

I am intimately familiar with and extremely fond of the Sheikh's works and he alongside his Zaytuna Institute colleague Imam Zaid Shakir play a very important part in my spiritual life with their scholarship and insights. It was great to revisit the videos again, and I'd like to share them with you. Here in this interview, he talks about his translation of Imam At-Tahawi's Creed of Ahlus Sunnah Wa Al-Jama'ah and much, much more.

After all these years, I still derive a great deal of comfort from his gentle refusal to take the 'traditional' Shahadah of Abu Hurairah (Part 3), and his diligent belief in pluralism and 'invitation' rather than the exclusivism and 'imposition' of the ?my way or the highway? types perhaps inadvertently indulging in blasphemy by playing a role they are forbidden to play. Some 'traditional' scholars like him are keenly aware of their true role in Islam and know how to use their scholarship in order to find common ground and bring people together through the Holy Quran, rather than fuel the fire of sectarianism and hatred.

I am going to go ahead and post the whole series of video links here a bit later for all interested, and would humbly suggest a 'close' listening - meaning NOT 'inputting what one wants to hear' but 'what is being communicated by the speaker in good faith' as an inseparable part the whole for better contextual understanding. But first, let me invite all those interested in an even closer individual reading of the entire Surah discussed in 'Part 6' of the interview, in order to put the particular verse he talks about within perhaps a more detailed context.

An-Nisa (Women)

Medina Period

THE TITLE An-Nisa? has been given to this surah because many of its passages deal with the rights of women and with questions relating to family life in general, including laws of inheritance, prohibition of marriage within certain degrees of consanguinity, marital relations, and so forth. The opening verse stresses the essential unity of the human race and the mutual obligations, arising from this kinship, of men and women towards one another. A large part of the surah is devoted to practical legislation bearing on problems of peace and war, as well as to relations of believers with unbelievers, especially with hypocrites. Verses 150-152 refute the possibility of believing in God without believing in His prophets and this, in turn, leads to the subject of the Jews, who deny the prophethood not only of Muhammad but also of Jesus, as well as of the Christians, who deny Muhammad and deify Jesus although he "never felt too proud to be God's servant" (verse 172). And, finally, as if to stress the inseparability of man's beliefs from his social behavior, the last verse refers, again, to laws of inheritance.

There is no doubt that this surah belongs in its entirety to the Medina period. In the order of revelation it either follows immediately upon Al ?Imran or - according to some authorities - is separated from the latter, in point of time, by Al-Ahzab and Al-Mumtahanah. On the whole, however, it is most probable that it was revealed in the fourth year after the hijrah, although a few of its verses may belong to an earlier, and verse 58 to a later, period.

4 115 But as for him who, after guidance has been vouchsafed to him, cuts himself off from the Apostle and follows a path other than that of the believers - him shall We leave unto that which he himself has chosen,* and shall cause him to endure hell and how evil a journey?s end!

*Lit., "him We shall turn to that to which he has turned" - a stress on man's freedom of choice.
http//www.geocities.com/masad02/004

4115 And whoever is hostile to the messenger after the guidance has been made clear to him, and he follows other than the path of the believers; We will grant him what he has sought and deliver him to Hell; what a miserable destination.

http//www.free-minds.org/quran/PM/4

Here are the links to the video -

Part 1
http//uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lJlZeb_tdnY

Part 2
http//uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6SE4_f7FyIU

Part 3
http//uk.youtube.com/watch?v=h8xm9ndF_Yw

Part 4
http//uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bWnV0XVoMS8

Part 5
http//uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gBQhrxYeNGU

Part 6
http//uk.youtube.com/watch?v=y3kyRCwYydo

Peace, Sohel ?

I. Salam

Salam to all.

This is my very first post in this forum, though I have been lurking about quietly and recommending the website for a while now.

I will go ahead and introduce myself as best as I can in this rather long post. Please bear with me.

I was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, raised there until the age of 13 and in Pakistan before that until the age of 6. At the age of 13 I moved to suburban DC, and have spent most of my life there, Paris, and Northern California ? primarily Berkeley and San Francisco. I moved back to Dhaka for good in 2002, and spent a lot of time traveling around North and Southeast Asia, and on occasion, South America, primarily the Republic of Chile. Now I am involved in a wide variety of paid consultancies, and voluntary community service activities while working on my first novel.

Now on to more relevant stuff.

II. Family Views and Intellectual Traditions

?Allah Only? and subsequently ?Quran Only? anti-sectarian, unifying view of Islam and the wide variety of practices resulting from it are as old as The Holy Quran itself. In my own family, a traditionally Shia family with roots in Old Dhaka, my great-great grandfather came across such views during his pilgrimage to Mecca in the 1870s. Since then, being ?Shia? has been a matter of nominal cultural practices for many in our family in a traditionally tolerant, largely anti-sectarian Sunni Muslim community in Old Dhaka.

Based largely on excerpts from the Holy Quran, and words from Ali Ibn Abi Talib's sermons quoted in Nahj al-Balagha, my forefathers understood the folly of all ?my way or the highway? type of exclusivist, absolutist and divisive sectarianism, whatever form it takes within Islam.

The Quran, chapter 28 (Al-Qisas), verse 15 ?And he went into the city at a time of unvigilance on the part of its people, so he found therein two men fighting, one being of his party and the other of his foes, and he who was of his party cried out to him for help against him who was of his enemies, so Musa struck him with his fist and killed him. He said This is on account of the Shaitan's doing; surely he is an enemy, openly leading astray"

The Quran, chapter 30 (Ar-Rum), verse 31 to 32 ?Turning to Him, and be careful of (your duty to) Him and keep up prayer and be not of the polytheists. Of those who divided their religion and became seas every sect rejoicing in what they had with them"

Ali Ibn Abi Talib said in his sermon -

?You should know that you have again reverted to the position of the (pagan) Bedouin Arabs after immigration to Islam, and have become different sects (Shia's) after having been once united. You do not possess anything of Islam except its name, and know nothing of belief save its show. You would throw down Islam on its face in order to defame its honor and break its pledge for brotherhood which Allah gave you as a sacred trust on His earth and a source of peace among the people. Be sure that if you incline towards anything other than Islam. the unbelievers will fight you. Then there will be neither Gabriel nor Michael, neither Muhajirun nor Ansar to help you, but only the clashing of swords, till Allah settles the matter for you?You have broken the shackles of Islam, have transgressed its limits, and have destroyed its commands!?

Intermarriages with Sunnis and ?non-Muslims? in my family have been commonplace since that memorable pilgrimage to the Holy City, and each person in my family is free to worship as they feel, think and see fit. One of my uncles, born and raised in New Zealand of all places, participated in the Islamic Revolution in Iran upon his graduation from Al Azhar, and is an ?orthodox? Shia so to speak. His Egyptian wife is a 'traditional' Sunni Muslim sympathetic to but not a member of Hizbut Tahrir. Somehow by the infinite grace of Allah, they have a genuinely happy marriage as they have managed to find a common ground in the Holy Quran, the hadith, mutual good faith and love. Their children and grandchildren are systematically exposed to the Holy Quraan, the particular Shia and Sunni ways of practicing Islam, and are free to choose their way of worship as they wish, or not to worship at all. Only Allah knows what is truly in the hearts and minds of His creations and only He can accord the inevitable judgments that await us all.

Such unions, though discouraged by the sectarian leadership - now this is a view based solely on my personal observations and extensive travels - are not uncommon within elements of the scholarly culture Al Azhar and other such Muslim Communities other than sectarian orthodoxies the Gulf, parts of rural Iran, Southern Central Asia, most South Asian except notably Bangladesh and its Sufi-influenced Islamic culture, and Southeast Asian except Thailand and parts of Indonesia.

My late grandfather and father considered any such labels to be divisive, sectarian and ultimately blasphemous, and based their ways of worship solely on the divine authority and guidance of the Holy Quran, and the interpretations, insights and opinions of Muslim scholars throughout the ages as mere enhancements to their personal connections with our Creator. Islam for them was also an ?intellectual? Deen (Way) and they were naturally erudite in their own thoughts with regards to those the interpretations, insights and opinions, and considered such erudite free thought as the single most necessary component of that ?intellectual? Deen besides holistic Allah-consciousness. They saw such intellectual commitment as a responsibility as thinking Muslims for whom Islam is more than the comforting but divisive conformity in the cultural practices one is simply born into.

They and many others since the revelation of the Holy Quran clearly understood the role Muslim scholars and luminaries must play as Muslims without appointing themselves de facto priests and intermediaries between Allah and man?s salvation, despite semantic and other perhaps inadvertently deceptive claims to the contrary. The Holy Quran itself warns of this phenomenon that can lead people astray by creating divisions with their dogmatic approach, and assigning de facto partnerships to that salvation in a manner akin to the Catholic Church and other institutions.

So, that pretty much sums up the ?unitarian? and ?pluralist? views and traditions of my immediate family. I went along with those views and traditions without really questioning them too much, and consequently without really internalizing their value in my daily life.

III. Personal ?Awakening?

My father died under mysterious circumstances in Paris, possibly for his political views, in 1986 while I was a second semester freshman in the University of San Francisco on an academic scholarship. I was in no frame of mind to continue school after that, and dropped out, trying to bury things I was afraid to face about a number of things I did not wish to acknowledge, and trying to reinvent myself. I broke all contact with my family and survived by doing ?odd? jobs that paid me just enough to keep my head above water.

During that unforgettable journey, I came face to face with a great number of things and people that eventually lead me to an event that was to change my life for good, eventually bring peace in my heart, and perhaps made me a better person to myself and those around me.

I will talk about that most incredible event in my life, an event that defies easy classification as either ?terrifying? or ?ecstatic?. A series of moments and intensely inseparable spiritual, intellectual, physical experience somewhat ?out of the blue? that led to my real, willful submission to Allah at the age of 20 in 1987.

My friend Chris was teaching me to surf in Ocean Beach, San Francisco. I was having incredible difficulty with the ice cold water gnawing at every inch of my body right through the wet-suit, and trying to stand up on the board without any success. After wiping out and hitting my head against the board for perhaps the 20th time, suddenly I felt like an integral part of everything around me.

For those few, indescribably vivid moments I could no longer distinguish anything other than an ecstatic sort of super consciousness outside of myself as something apart from me or my body. I WAS every molecule of all the known and unknown elements that surrounded me with immense clarity. It became abundantly clear to me that everything was deliberately engineered and created by Allah, my heart was filled with compassion, and I empathized with everything and everyone. My spirit, intellect and every cell in my body acted as one and reassured me that everything is alright and worthy of the love Allah has graciously accorded me in this life.

Chris dragged me ashore. Back on the beach, I just broke down, totally overwhelmed by the beauty and love around me, and cried the purest tears of gratitude to Allah for dispensing such grace upon one of his many creations, and submitted willfully to Him as his grateful slave. The Holy Quraan made perfect sense to like never before. Since that day I have been a ?submitter?.

Much later, after dropping back into ?life? and while doing my Masters in psychology, I found out about the miracle of what is known as the ?GOD Spot? in our brains ... go figure.

Anyway, 20 years later I can still recall those moments more vividly than I can possibly describe in words. Those moments have led to a life and views guided by my submission.

IV. Personal Views

In an age where both literacy, access to information and more detailed, context and semiotics-based translations and transliterations of Quranic Arabic are becoming more and more commonplace, the roles of scholars in Islam - already limited because of Islam?s prohibition of priesthood ? must evolve accordingly in order to accommodate these Information Age realities very different from perhaps any other age in human history. On the other hand, those scholars intentionally and inadvertently benefiting from divisions, exclusions, seem ultimately interested in nothing other than the conviction of their vanity.

It is up to each individual Muslim to choose - according to all of their circumstances in this world and subsequent the intellectual and spiritual limitations they have placed upon themselves with regards to their individual abilities as ordained by Allah ? what sort of role what kind of scholar is to play in his or her life and to what end as an individual Muslim living this life as an integral part of his/her community and the world.

My younger brother and I have ended up subscribing to the aforementioned ?unitarian?, 'anti-sectarian' ways of our more recent forefathers not because we simply have had the benefit of being born into it, but also because that is where we find ourselves as individuals in this existential journey. We read, get inspired by, think about and internalize the guidance revealed Quran as a we pray, we fast, we serve our communities, we endeavor to meet our financial, ethical and moral obligations and to refrain from unkind acts to ourselves - meaning the indivisible unity of our spirit, intellect and body - and everyone and everything in the world around us, and we humbly struggle for justice as the extension of cultivating and nurturing that kindness.

For me personally as such a Muslim, the defining principle of being a Muslim is love of Allah, and the manifestation of that love through the diligent cultivation of kindness, and social justice as an extension of that kindness. Kindness starts with oneself by taking care of the self and discarding the ego by willfully submitting to Allah, by taking care of one?s family and community, and by understanding that Allah is the ONLY Omniscient and Omnipotent judge of all things, and nobody will escape HIS judgment in this world or the moment of our death.

Let me reiterate that in my humble opinion also, Islam as per the Holy Quran is also an ?intellectual? Deen (Way) without priesthood ? as in de facto or any other kind intermediary between Allah and man's existential and other salvation - and every individual Muslim has the responsibility to exercise his or her Allah given faculties, nurture and enhance those faculties through discipline and scholarship, and apply the guidance of the divine revelation of the Holy Quran in everyday life wholeheartedly and holistically.

On the concept of ?authorization? of books other than the Quran with regards to the Messenger, I personally find equating, for all practical purposes, the reverence for a revealed text to man made text, and empowering scholars restricted in their role according to the revelation to the point of becoming intermediaries between Allah and our salvation, nothing less than heartbreaking and tragic.

The typical madhabist ?rationale? that the only alternative to ?Islamic unity? through ?accepted standardization? is ?chaos? is also sadly interesting to look at. I am speaking of views such as those of Abdal-Hakim Murad who believes that -

?With every Muslim now a proud mujtahid, and with taqlid dismissed as a sin rather than a humble and necessary virtue, the divergent views which caused such pain in our early history will surely break surface again. Instead of four madhhabs in harmony, we will have a billion madhhabs in bitter and self-righteous conflict. No more brilliant scheme for the destruction of Islam could ever have been devised.? (from UNDERSTANDING THE FOUR MADHHABS the problem with anti-madhhabism)

As for myself, I do not subscribe to the dubious and somewhat predictably paranoid notion than individual freedom of conscience and thought and the moral slash social responsibilities that come with those freedoms as ordained by Allah as per the Holy Quran, lead to 'chaos' as he sees it or anything other than what is promised by our Creator in his revelation - namely peace, happiness and salvation in this life and the life to come.

No Orwellian ?world view or order? can mitigate that promise with sweet semantic twists and turns that may resonate inside hearts filled with fear and pain. One does not have to be a discrete mathematician to figure out that intolerant exclusions lead to sectarianisms, and those sectarianisms by definition lead to division, degeneration and eventual exploitation by the enemies of the faithful.

That said, I do have immense respect for contemporary but traditionally-rooted scholars such as Sheikh Hamza Yusuf and Imam Zaid Shakir as fellow Muslims who add value to my spiritual life - but I do not let them come as an intermediary between Allah and my desired happiness and salvation in this life and the life to come. I cannot and neither can they as my respected teachers and fellow Muslim brothers. They help me stay on the straight path, not define it as Allah already has in the Holy Quran.

On the other hand, no intentional or inadvertently semantic twists or doublespeak can mitigate the actual power relations at play when it is defined by scholars who see themselves as de facto priests.

Some of those power relations become dangerous once they seek to impose knowledge masquerading as debate with its own set of absolutist dogmas and rules of men, and exercise power without the possibility of role reversal and playing GOD in their judgments. Divisions with easy answers in a world where other men do the thinking for us, ultimately benefit those who profit from such divisions as a source of socio-political power. There is great indignity in speaking for others in a universe created by the only Omniscient and Omnipotent Creator who has created it in ways we?re just beginning to understand as modern scientific knowledge since Einstein, Bohr, Heisenberg, Chaos Theory, the Human Genome Project, and incredible advances since in physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics as tools that help us understand Allah's creations better.

That said, elements of the Sunnah, particularly unifying practices resulting from the traditions, may have many conditional positives also. If those practices are inspired by and designed in the spirit of the Quran, and do not become purely ritualistic ends in themselves, they can indeed bring people closer together and create peace, unity and justice in our communities.

I personally practice all 5 pillars in a somewhat orthodox manner ? without some of the traditional ?shirk? either in my spirit, mind, heart and utterances - for the benefit of Islamic unity while keeping the ONLY the Quran and its mandates and suggestions in my spirit, heart and mind. These practices impose a sense of discipline and order in my life, and indeed compliment other expressions of my submission to Allah.

It is not enough, in my humble opinion, just to adhere to the 5 pillars of our traditions, but one must adhere to those pillars without losing sight of their connections with the spirit of the revelation as the individual Muslim feels, sees and thinks fit. Allah-consciousness must permeate every moment of every ritual for those rituals to keep our spirits, our minds and our hearts and bodies upon the straight path as revealed in the Holy Quran.

I do not believe as some of my ?unitarian? or ?anti-sectarian? fellow travelers do that the Sunnah as expressed through the traditional 5 pillars not in the Holy Quran, and the straight path as written in the Holy Quran need to be mutually exclusive in practice. It is indeed difficult, but very much possible to practice elements of the Sunnah and NOT break our covenant with Allah, provided that those practices are neither purely ritualistic devoid of individual and deeply internalized meanings and experiences, nor undertaken in anything contrary to the letter or spirit of the Quran.

It is perhaps possible - if those practices are not imposed or coerced into the hearts of its parishioners who willfully and consciously submit to the Allah as revealed in the Holy Quran - for those traditional practices, after due modifications, to become a critical toolkit to add to and further consolidate our covenant with Allah.

V. Last Words

The Quran was revealed for the benefit of all of mankind, not as a ?rocket science? to an elite few to interpret and try to impose its meaning upon others by intentionally and inadvertently taking advantage of our needs and senses of inadequacy, submission and wonder. We are all born with natural, Allah-given abilities that may be nurtured and enhanced through scholarly and other endeavors, but those value additions in no way allow for a de facto priesthood for us to sheepishly follow by assigning such prohibitive and from my daily readings of the Holy Quran - prohibited partnerships.

Scholars, according the Quran, have a very limited role to play in our lives as weathermen out to tell everyone which way the wind blows. Sadly all too often we accord them the power to do the thinking for us, and take the easy way of the sheep. Another story, but as good-hearted, intelligent and literate Muslims in the Information Age of the 21st century, our individual application of Islam in spirit, mind and body as inseparable components of individual existence in this life is imperative as a way to be happy as a part of this world, and in the world to come.

Salam to all, and thank you very much for your time.