The journey of knowledge
"The journey of knowledge must begin with belief. The Western civilization began its with doubt (cf. cogito ergo sum) and to date it is still enmeshed in it."
Speed-breakers
I have been thinking of resuming writing for quite some time now and today I finally mustered up the courage to visit the 'create post' page of my blog. I feel a certain anxiety knocking down my senses at the moment. Writing used to come so naturally once and now it comes with effort. What is good about it is that it is still has not abandoned me altogether. Like old friends, who have all gone about their ways, it still, at times, comes back and reminds me of the connection we once shared. All good things eventually come to an end - I just hope that does not happen with me and writing, at least not until this transient life comes to an end... What prompted me to write down this post after such a long time is my recent meeting with one of my teachers, with whom I had absolutely lost contact during the last five years. Life is very demanding. Its phases, very complicated. The responsibilities it encumbers us with, endless... زندگی تیرے تعاقب میں یہ لوگ اتنا چلتے ہی...
Comments
Latay hain saroor awal, datay hain sharab akhir
However, the East took belief as the opium and forgot to traverse beyond the belief alone, towards reason and doubt - for the very belief asked for a balance between the two.
Let's hope this one day, Muslim Ummah attains the balance.
Nice post (:
Thank you, for liking the post. However, I think that the idea as to the religion being the opium of masses was itself thrust upon us by the thinkers of a civilization that has its foundation in reason alone. I am deliberately not using the term West over here. A more apt term could be Western civilization. Anyway, there is a tradition of teh Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wassallam which says, "al-aql fil qalb" ... so for us, 'qalb' is a holistic concept which includes reason too. It is not just a seat of emotions as described by many westernised thinkers. Our entire tradition of knowledge very well makes use of the balance you mentioned.
JazakAllah for commenting. :)
Asma:
Of course you know him. Remember, the eight-thirty morning sessions? :)
Haris:
JazakAllahu Khair.
Each point is worth repeating against such point of views.