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Is
there Islam*** in the real sense?
If
there is, then what is it and which one?
I
have somethings to tell those
who are looking for answers to such questions, whose minds have
not been conditioned by a rather distorted kind of logic, who
believe and trust that they’ll find the right solutions by
means of religion.
Islam
gives the first place to the contemporary sciences.
It
accepts that ‘’technology has developed in this manner and the age of
information has come in the same way’’ (by
means of science). Also,
it emphasizes the fact that the universal messages/codes can be
solved only by means of science (by being scientific).
There
is only one religion at Allah’s sight. The Quran, refers to
this point and says ‘’The
religion at Allah’s sight is Islam’’.
All
the heavenly,
divine, religions
have been gathered together in a single one under the name of
Islam.
They
have been named separately
not because of the understanding that they’ve put forth, but due to the
perceptive capacity of the people (whom they address)…
If
, we do not look through a narrow perspective, then
it would be noticed that
the Jewish religion and Christianity are also telling
about Islam.
As
a result of the divine ordainement, there are only dimensional
differences between the religions. This difference should be
considered as the whole / the one reflecting upon the visible.
In the essence the same things are being shared.
The duty of the
Rasul(s) and the Nabi(s) have been to bridge the gap between the
ordinary people and Haqq and increase the dialogue between the
individuals as well as the communities.
There are differences that have been brought along by
each of them, this
is related to the evolution of
the human being, who in the ancient times was walking on
four feet like an animal and
who had become erect on his two feet much later.
This
quality which seems unacceptable in the absolute creator can
only be accepted for the human being.
Mysticism
takes into consideration the different ages in human history.
This is very important from the point of showing that it
approaches humanity in a very mature way.
While
the mysticism is arranging the relations of the individuals with
the absolute creator, it warns those who take full advantage of the blessings of this world, who are well educated, who know
how to live well and who have been enslaved by the material
values. It tells such people
about the existence of
life beyond (death). In this manner it puts forth its
trustable aspect********
In
none of the heavenly, divine religons, including Muslim and
Christianity there isn’t any class of
clergy.
For
example in the Muslim religion, (while performing the salaat in
groups) it is possible for any grown up believer to
be the imam at the front and lead the group during the salaat.
Actually,
in the mosques there isn’t a religious man for this purpose. Among those
who are present anyone who knows Arabic well performs the duty
of the imam.
The
row right behind him is there in order to correct the mistakes
that he may make.
These
are the visible manners
in performing the salaat. Every
believer can do his prayers and his dhikr wherever he likes; in
the mountains , in the fields, in the shops and so on.
There isn’t any choice of
place or sanctuary
for doing such practices. The narrow minded people are mistaken
when they are defending that the prayers (such as salaat) should
be performed in sanctuaries.
All
of the practices
named as prayers are not a kind of
worshipping made in front of a god, but they are
concerned only with the man himself.
One makes these practices in order to protect himself
from the
relentless wheels of the
system. The Quran gives the best examples for such actions
in the dimension where the pious men are living.
It
is possible to base everything on logic and logical thinking,
excluding violence
and terror. Mysticism
encourages all the logical/conscious points of view and it
doesn’t try to stop them. Mysticism can never be a tool for violence, terror and for the
destructive questionnaires which are a complete nonsense.
The understanding of jihad
in the philosophy of Islam
is not cleaning the world from the disbelievers by using
violence. Those
who are claiming that jihad is war
should not miss the point how the real war should be. I
am saying briefly that those who are accepting this fight as
‘’a fight made with
bayonettes’’ or a ‘’chest to chest fight’’ should
not forget that the real
fight is the fight that the human being makes for knowing himself.
It
would be very irrational to think that Islam would rule all over
the world.
Islam
is a concept whose essence is ‘’nothingness’’, then is
it possible for it to boast with multiplicity? Of course not.
It
wouldn’t be reasonable and realistic to get inspired from the
wars that have taken place at the time of Hz.Mohammad. Also, it
would be totally wrong to consider his approach towards the
disbelievers with a sword in his hand as trying to expand Islam
world wide . The
wars that have been made by Hz.Mohammad were for defending a
philosophy against the powers who were trying to stop them.
Therefore,
it is impossible to fix acts of
terror/violance into words such as jihad.
Jihad
is the name given to the fight that one makes with himself, his
nafs/ego (all his passions, desires, feelings such as envy,
hatred etc)
If
the human being overcomes (becomes victorious) in this fight,
then he’ll know himself and his origin.
This
is what should be understood from the word Jihad.
As
we have stated above there isn’t a class of
monks/clergy within the essence of Islam.
The
existing ones have been created after the period of
the four caliphs (Hulafay-I Raþidin).
The
decree of Hz.Rasul of Allah in this subject is very clear:
‘’The
caliphate after me (my death) will last for 30 years!’’
As
can be understood from his holy/sacred/blessed words the
caliphate (used for naming a leader over the community of Islam)
has come to an end after Hz.
Abubekr, Hz.Omar, Hz. Ottman and Hz. Ali.
Later
on, the rules that have been imposed upon the muslims by
ignorant and parasitic people can never be considered among the
religious rules and conditions (among the rules and conditions
of the deen-I Islam). The
deen accepts the beings such as the angels and jinn which cannot
be perceived by the sensory organs, it also accepts that the
position of the stars within the universal system determine the
future which is in short the science of
Astrology. Along with these, it accepts
the concept of evil eye and magic, but it
rejects the beings named as UFO’s (we do not know how
and from where they’ve come to the world). In the deen there
isn’t any place for the stories of
extraterrestrial visitors coming
and landing
on our ground in their flying saucers.
The
Reincarnation myth (the coming back of
the spirit after death to this world in another body)
prevailing in the east and which is a mere deception cannot find
any place in mysticism.
The
Islamic movements cannot be accepted as the reflexive reactions
of ignorant
communities.
The
images such as ‘’ the enemy of
the scoiety’’ ‘’a psychopath’’ cannot find any place in the Islamic
culture.
It
is necessary for the indiviudal who believes in Islam to know
himself and the society as well and he has to do his duty.
Islam
encourages one to change and take challenges.
The people who are fanatic (bigot) and ignorant cannot
represent Islam.
Islam
does not accept any fanatic points of view.
The
practices of Islam should be made till death and they arrange
the relations of the
individuals with the absolute creator who is within their
essence.
The
ones who have deep belief and faith should not care for the
useless rules that are named as
legends. They should approach mysticism without a
conservative point of view with a contemporary and civilised
evaluation.
On
the other hand some groups should approach mysticism by keeping
in mind their
responsibilities and instead of violent attacks they should use
their common sense
and take into
consideration the civilisation and the humanity. They should
avoid going to the extremes, but make deep down analysis. This would be the most logical
thing to do.
As
the Deen is a source of light
and hope for the society whose respect has started to be
questioned, who is loosing its culture, its art
and science.
The
way to make the son of man
live the hope is to keep this path open.
Istanbul-
october
13th
2001
http://sufizmveinsan.com
This article was published in Akþam Newspaper
In November-16th-17th
2001
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