Mind

The Role of the Mind

versus Role of the TextAllah (swt) tells us about the Hajj which is approaching soon, the translation of which is:

"For Hajj are the months well known. If anyone undertakes that duty therein let there be no obscenity nor wickedness nor wrangling in the Hajj. And whatever good you do (be sure) Allah knoweth it. And take a provision (with you) for the journey but the best of provisions is right conduct. So fear Me o you that are wise!"

[ 2:197]

Every Muslim knows about the Hajj (pilgrimage) which is performed every year, and indeed we will know of people amongst our families and communities who have been to the Houses of Allah (swt).It is a pillar of Islam, which is obligation for us to perform at least once in our lifetime if we have the capability and the means.We know of the various obligatory acts like the Tawaf around the Ka'ba, the running between Safa and Marwa, the stoning of the Jamarat (the Shaytan) and the wearing of the Ihram.Bi'ismillah, today I want to focus on the topic of our motivation as Muslims in performing the obligations, Hajj being one of them.Today due to the intellectual decline and the weakening of the mentalities, many Muslims have become defeated to the extent that they try and defend the rules (Ahkam) of Islam by inventing reasons for these rules from their own minds. As an example with the obligation of Hajj, some Muslims propose that the reason why we perform this action is because it is a show of brotherhood, or due to the fact that it has a historical significance in relation to the previous Prophets (as) like Ibrahim (as). Others propose that the reason behind performing the Hajj is that it brings peace of mind, that for a few days we can forget about the world thus relieving our stress and tension.

Other examples of this apologetic defeated mentality can be seen if we look to the way some people invent reasons for the rules relating to ibadah.E.g.A prime example is reason given behind the rule in Islam stating that Pork is haram, people argue that this is because of its dirty unhygienic nature.E.g Lot of people claim that the reason for fasting is to improve our health or digestive system,even though there is text to prove this claim.

However we need to realise that these views are false and fundamentally flawed. They have originated from a misunderstanding of a basic concept in Islam, the role of the mind and the role of the text, which essentially is the topic of the Legislator (Al-Hakim). It is related to our very belief and all the commands and prohibitions we follow as I shall explain. It is vital for any Muslim to be clear on this topic.At the heart of the issue is a historical debate, which has existed for centuries - whether man can judge what is good or bad, halal or haram for himself. Whether people can objectively decide rules and regulations for themselves. Whether humankind has the right to legislate. Whether the mind is sovereign or not.This issue should be clear for us as Muslims. We recognise that Allah (swt) created us different to the animals, that he instilled within us the ability to think. And Allah (swt) emphasised that we use our thinking when it comes to accepting the belief in His (swt) existence. He (swt) said:"Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, they are indeed signs for men of understanding." Indeed the Quran and the ahadith of the Prophet provoke us to think. One of the famous statements of the Sahaba like Ibn Abbas was, "An Noor al Iman atafakur" "The light of Iman is the thought" When to use the Mind and When to use the Text

Our mind can judge the reality, for example we can judge that fire burns and that light comes from the Sun. These are definite judgements on the reality. In the same way we know that the Universe, Man and life must have a Creator. We should hold this belief in the same way that we believe that fire burns.We can also objectively conclude that the Quran is the word of Allah (swt). We know that all the Prophets (as) brought proofs of their Prophethood.

Musa (as) threw his staff which turned into a snake defying the illusionists of his day, Isa (as) cured lepresy and even brought the dead back to life defying the reality. Muhammad (saw) was at a time where the people were heightened in the Arabic language, they were experts in poetry and literature, the Quran which is a miracle for all time, challenged them and challenges the world to produce anything similar to it.

Allah (swt) says:

"Or say they: He has invented it? Say: Then bring a surah like unto it, and call (for help) on all you can besides Allah, if you are truthful."

[ 10:38]

Once we believe in Allah (swt) and in the Quran as being His (swt) word. We have to follow every command, Allah gives us whether He gives us a reason or not. We cannot invent reasons for the Ahkam Sharia.Just because we can't understand the reasons behind some of the rules doesn't mean that we reject them or become negligent in following them. E.g. the specific rules of Hajj - we cannot use our minds to decide how many tawaf we should be obligatory to perform.E.g. Salah(prayer) - if I were to say that today in the Salah, instead of reading Surah al Fateha I will read from the torah, the bible and the American constitution - none of us would accept this because we know that the basic structure of Salah is strictly defined Islam.

An excellent example which demonstrates this is that of Ibrahim (as) when he was ordered by Allah (swt) to sacrifice his son. Allah (swt) explains this incident in the Quran, He (swt) says:

Allah (SWT) in Surah Saaffaat tells us about the example of Ibrahim (as). He (SWT) says:

"O my Lord! grant me a righteous (son)! So We gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forbear. Then when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him he said: 'O my son! I see in vision that I offer you in sacrifice: now see what is your view!' (The son) said: 'O my father! do as you are commanded: you will find me if Allah so wills one practicing Patience and Constancy! So when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah) and He had laid Him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice) We called out to him 'O Ibrahim! You have already fulfilled the vision!' thus indeed do We reward those who do right. "

[ 37: 99-105]

Ibrahim (as) didn't look for a reason for the command that Allah (swt) gave him, nor did Ismael (as) knowing that he was going to be sacrificed. Rather they both willingly accepted the decision of Allah (swt), because they realised that He (swt) was the creator and that their purpose was to worship Him.We can clearly see why people cannot decide good and bad for themselves because people's views are subjective and fraught with disparity, difference and contradiction.If we look to this society - opinions of right and wrong are continuously fluctuating. E.g. Drugs - recently people have been debating whether soft drugs should be legalised.E.g. Homosexuality - it was illegal in capitalist society, but now is legalised to the extent that they want to reduce the age of consent.E.g. Physical colonialism - In the past it was acceptable for the British to directly colonise India and occupy it, but today it is would be seen as 'unjust'. So we see the more politically correct 'nicer' forms of colonialism, like the economic enslavement by the IMF and World Bank. Sadly, these concepts have penetrated some of the minds of the Muslims to the extent that they even start debating what is right and wrong according to the mind, instead of referring to the guidance which Allah (swt) gave us. They call the Zakat a welfare state(as in Socialism) and equated equate the Hudud with Western human rights. They attempt to defend or legitimise the Islamic rules according to standards emanating from other than Islam.We cannot pick and choose between the Shariah rules according to what people like or don’t like.

The rule of Hajj is equal to the rule of Salah. Our motivation towards them should be the same i.e. to gain the pleasure of Allah (swt). The rule of Salah is equal to the rule of unity which demands that a Muslim is the brother of another Muslim there are should be no borders or visas between them. So Pork is Haram to eat because Allah defined it as such, Riba (Interest) is Haram because Allah denoted it. Allah (swt) says:Indeed since the beginning of time Allah (swt) set the law for the Universe: " The sun and the moon follow courses (exactly) computed" Allah has made the sun and the moon follow their particular course." " And the herbs and the trees-both (alike) bow in adoration."

Even the trees bow to Allah in prostration. We should bow to Allah in our prayers not to other people. Only Allah (SWT) is our Rabb, our Lord,our Legislator.

" And the sky He raised high and He has set up the balance (al-Mizan)".

Allah (SWT) has established the balance in the Universe.We should not be mistaken into thinking that because Allah (swt) defined for us the rules for life that this means that we do not need to think about our reality and the problems we face. The rules of Sharia apply to reality.

For example the rule to pray towards Qibla - this means that we have to use our minds to find the location of Qibla, we may even use a compass to aid us.Similarly we also have to use our minds to understand the wide variety of problems that have befallen the Muslims, identifying the fundamental problem amongst them and solve it by applying the rule from Islam.In conclusion I want to give you an example from one of the Sahaba (ra) which clearly demonstrates the Message of Islam as liberating people from using the mind incorrectly to use it correctly in worshipping Allah (swt). This was expounded clearly by Ribbi ibnu Amir in his address to Rustum, the Persian emporor when he was asked: "Why did you come out of the desert you nomads from Arabia?" Ribbi ibnu Amir replied:

"Verily Allah has delivered us, to release the people from the worship of other people, to the worship of the Lord of all people. And from the oppression of all other ways of life, to the Justice of Islam. And from the narrowness of this life to the vastness of the hereafter."