An Attempt To Understand The Meaning Of Islam

By Asif Merchant, New Age Islam

15 Aug 2012

 

It is accepted that Islam means ‘Surrender’.  ‘Surrender to the Will of Allah’. What does that actually mean? What is meant by ‘The Will of Allah’?

 

In October 1989 a space probe was launched to go to the planet Jupiter. It reached Jupiter in December 1995, i.e. six years later. When we say that not a leaf can move except by the Will of Allah, how this probe was successfully planned to travel an enormous distance through space and reach the target as scheduled six years later. Did anyone say ‘Insha Allah’? Was there any ‘Will of Allah’ in this endeavour?

 

To explain this, we need to revise our understanding of ‘The Will of Allah’, and consequently our understanding of Islam.

 

If the success of this probe was a manifestation of ‘The Will of Allah’, then it also proves the possibility of understanding what ‘The Will of Allah’ is, and acting accordingly to achieve your aims. It is also proof that The Will of Allah is not something that can be controlled by various prayers. It is something that we can try to understand and act upon through a study known as Science. In this case, the mathematics involved in achieving the success of the probe is nothing but an understanding of the Will of Allah if such an outcome is desired. Most probably, the scientists involved in this project were unaware of all this. It only goes to show that it is not necessary to keep acknowledging that this is Insha-Allah. Why should it be necessary if indeed Allah is ‘all-knowing’?

 

One hour spent in the study of Science is better than a whole year spent in prayer.

 

It is generally accepted that the Prophet is said to have remarked that one hour spent in the study of Science is better than a whole year spent in prayer. Why did he say that, if not because he was trying to explain that to be a Muslim, it is absolutely necessary to continuously study Science and live your life according to the rationality it induces. In a number of ways the Prophet tried to encourage Muslims to place the quest for knowledge as their first priority, saying that if necessary one should even go to China in this endeavor. The Quran has 756 verses on the Universe. Is that not significant?

 

This teaching of the Prophet was accepted and followed for the first seven hundred years after the Prophet. During this period, Islamic scholars led the way in all fields of scientific activity. Scholars from Europe made a beeline to Islamic centres of scientific learning.

 

After that period of intense creativity, a decline set in, which is still visible now. Was it because of the clergy, who, since they had no knowledge of Science, managed to shift the Muslim priority to prayer, and other rituals which they could dominate?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Whatever the reasons, the fact remains that today, Muslims are way behind in Science, and there doesn’t appear to be any concern about this state of affairs. There does not appear to be any awareness of Science as the means of understanding the Will of Allah. Instead, in the general consciousness, the technological innovations and discoveries are what our people understand as Science.  Even these are usually declared ‘haraam’ initially, and accepted later when the clergy appreciate the usefulness.

 

The first message to the Prophet from Allah was ‘. . . Read in the name of the Lord who teaches by the pen  . . .’   A call for general education, unique among all the religions. How have we heeded it? Ours is the only religion that asks its followers to be educated. Why are we the least educated among all the communities?

 

There is no need to wait for government help for Muslim education. There is enough money with our people, only it is being diverted to build mosques. It is practically impossible to get donations to help students take up higher studies, set up schools and hospitals etc. Our people have accepted heaven as their quest, and to achieve that, they are busy setting up beautiful mosques, never mind if our people remain backward.

 

We take pride in calling ourselves ‘Ahl - e - Kitab’ - people of the book. But we are people far removed from all books.  A fresh look at what it means to be a Muslim and what is Islam is necessary if we are to fulfil the vision of The Prophet for his ‘Ummah’.

URL: https://newageislam.com/ijtihad-rethinking-islam/an-attempt-understand-meaning-islam/d/8285