"Usse kon dekh sakta..."

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Was just going through Umer Toor's blog and read about his confusion as to the meaning of the term 'epistemology' being resolved :) Just one single phrase, "Sunnah is our epistemology" resolved all his confusion. MashaAllah! Now, I am quoting this here because it reminded me of how our life-long queries are resolved in a matter of seconds. And at times we don't even realize that there was a query hidden in some remote corner of our minds. We realise it was there, present and very much bothering us unconsciously, once it is answered. That happened with me a few years back when one of our teachers was explaining to us various concepts related to "differences" and "opposites". We are able to see and make sense of things because their opposites exists. And then he suddenly said, "Khuda kyu~ nazar nahi aata? Because He does not have an opposite!" And something in me said, "I am answered!" And then he recited the following couplet by Ghalib:


usse kon dekh sakta, ke yagaana hai vo yakta
jo duui ki bu bhi hoti, kahin dochaar hota


who can see Him - the One and Only
had there been a hint of duality, we'd have met Him

 

Comments

Haris Gulzar said…
Thats so beautifully explained. Sometimes we get answers to our life long queries in so simple words that it amazes us.

Nice shair as well... Nice write (Y)
10:07 AM
Naeema Akram-Jehanzeb said…
JazaakAllah!
5:30 AM
M. Umer Toor said…
We are able to see and make sense of things because their opposites exists

I am sorry i don't understand this....
7:43 AM
Naeema Akram-Jehanzeb said…
hmm, don't know how to explain it philosophically with regards to your temperament :) ... But just look around, Umer and see if everything - practically everything in this world - has an opposite to it?! Khair (goodness) and Shar (evil), Black and White, Man and woman, colour and colourlessness, meaning and meaninglessness etc. From the abstractest of idea to the concret-est of them! Things seem to be existing in opposites... And you cannot recognise the other unless you've experienced its opposite... Hope I don't sound as rambling aimlessly :)
12:51 PM
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