‘Thinking Inside the Box’

“We all know about it, we all talk about it, we all feel it – both its delight and its pain. Yet the age-old questions never escape us – just what really is love? Is all love the same? Is all love good? Is my love for my lover the same as for my country? – My football team? If there was more love in the world, would it really be a better place? And if so, what type of love? And love for whom? Or what? Come and explore what true love is – come on – you’ll love it!”

I wrote this as a preface to the 2006 IAW talk that took place at Kingston University on ‘Valentines Day’. I did earmark one particular speaker to deliver this talk according to what I had in mind, however he was unavailable, consequently the whole nature of the talk had to change. This is a topic, which I am sure many of you are aware, which do I love talking about (no pun intended!) and my intention is to develop a talk which I will deliver in my own idiosyncratic style for the University circuit, insha’Allah. I delivered a talk last week Wednesday for a group of youth and the feedback I received has been encouraging…particularly considering I hadn’t delivered a talk for over 3 years, and also my preparation was poor.

So what is True Love then? Well, I’ll expore a few themes through my usual ramblings…

Love is one of those things in life which we all experience at varying levels. It would also be true, that despite this universal reality, we find it easier to experience love than to explain it. To a large extent our concept of love is framed by what is called ‘romantic love’ or better put the love between a man and woman. All of us (excluding those who prefer to practice ‘homosexuality’) understand this reality.

In most cultures we have revered lovers who ‘existed’ in the past and exhibited the unadulterated (no pun intended) qualities of true love. In the West we have Romeo and Juliet; in the East we have Layla and Majnun. This passionate love which we feel is both intense and deep-rooted; appearing to touch the very essence of our being. When we see the one we love, our heart skips a beat, in fact this triggers of a beating that is faster than the most manic of drummers. Our mind becomes pre-occupied with thoughts of our beloved, thoughts of wanting to be near, thoughts of wanting to hear, thoughts of wanting to love. We feel in a state of bliss, a state which no artificial substance can ever truly recreate (hence the absurdity of ‘social’ drugs being called recreational).

Often, others can perceive the one who is in love; he will be in a state of sublime intoxication – happy, fulfilled, smiling, content. It is though a longing within us, a craving of our soul has finally quenched its thirst in the spring well of our beloved. And this is before even the act of making love has occurred, the ultimate union which both exposes our vulnerabilities, expresses our tenderness and which takes us to an ‘ecstasy’ in whose experience we transcend our ephemeral being. Indeed sex is the natural consequence of this love, though sex and love may not always be necessary bedfellows – so to speak. However like every other pleasure in this world, romantic love is fleeting.

Contemporaries compare unfavourably with the aforementioned ideals of romantic love. ‘Posh n Becks’ don’t quite rate so highly, not just because ‘golden-balls’ failed to keep a clean sheet by scoring in the wrong net, but also because our concepts have changed. However, what sets apart the aforementioned lovers of folklore, is that their love transcended their being together as a couple, for it lived on in their hearts, in a manner that would not leave them at peace with themselves until their union would be complete. This is our iconic idea of love.

Speaking of Beckham, we have another form of love, the love of celebrity. As people, as a society, we love to adore other people, people who are no better or worse than us, but who have entered our hearts and occupy a special position. When we see the silky skills of a Zidane or Ronaldinho, when we witness the incredible emotion and presence of a Sean Connery, when we are dazzled by the beauty of a J-Lo, we become devotees. We derive pleasure from this; we believe we are witnesses to something special, almost something transcendent. Yet, it is interesting, that as a people, who believe in equality of all people, we bestow upon others, no better than us, special positions due to their talents and skills. 

All this would point to a longing within the human heart to devote, to revere that which we feel is greater than us, that to which we cannot ourselves reach, that which can be immortalised in our minds and soul.

What do you think?

This question was the result of a conversation I had on the Pickled Politics blog. (http://www.pickledpolitics.com/archives/1151).

It was posed by my good Friend Douglas. Below will be my response in the next few days to both the general and specific points.

“The problem with any absolute belief system is just that, it is absolute. It is also prescriptive in it’s belief that what was good for the fathers is good for the sons, and so on ad infinitum. Daughters don’t get a look in. By it’s nature, it resists change. It is, in effect the drag factor on a society, much as the Catholic Church – the only church – was prior to the Reformation.

It has a particularily rosy view of the past. It takes no account of the undoubted squalor of these times. It gives to itself the political without a corresponding link to the practical. It holds assent to a political belief system, for that is what it is, above all else. It is apparent that people who cannot succeed in other spheres can succeed as censors, thought police, etc, etc. If this reminds you of anything – perhaps the Soviet regieme, with added God – then we would be on a course to mutual understanding.

It is a recipe for a static society, while the rest of the world moves forward. Did I mention that a static society is a dead society? No? Well I will now.

So, the question everyone should be entitled to ask is whether that is a system of government they approve of, are happy with, gives them liberty, equality and support. And for their children, and their childrens children. If you opt for religious dictatorship, now, then you are storing up resentment and wars later. Life does not go on in the vacuum that marginal political theorists occupy.

It is a dynamic thing. Things change. Folk get educated, fathers are dead chuffed when their daughters do well at uni, and can’t hack it in a debate with said daughter when she asks the ‘why’ question. People are entitled to change, to question. They are not sheep. A religiously structured society does everything in it’s power to suppress that.

For instance, when I was young; long, long, ago, women had to give up work if they ‘fell pregnant’. UK, 1960s.

I would not assume that anything, much, can stand up to the maelstorm of change. Only those that adapt to it will succeed. The more ridiculous adherents will push the more sensible away. It was ever thus. Expect to see a whole lot of Muslim apostates by the 2050s. Perhaps the majority of the so-called Ummah.” 

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatahu

I have been engaged recently in a dialogue in relation to both the significance of the Islamic Civilization and its character which demonstrated the unique values, concepts and attitudes which it gave rise to due to its non-secular i.e. non-material worldview.  Interestingly I only watched the much talked about series entitled ‘Islam - Empire of Faith a couple of months ago, despite it being out for a few years now (I actually confused it with another series produced by the BBC with Ben Kingsley narrating).

The title of the series is revealing; empire of FAITH, for the foundation of this civilization (empire is misleading, for Islam conquered hearts and minds more than territory) was the Qur’an.  Simply put – no Qur’an, no civilization. Now that is truly unique and remarkable…it should make people truly wonder and indeed ponder over its miraculous nature and the risalah (Messengership) of our beloved nabi, Muhammad (saw).

For those of you who have not watched the series, I have the three part series below.  Please share your comments with me afterwards.

Wasalam

Islam – Empire of Faith

Part One:  

Part Two:     

Part Three:

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatahu

I am really rather new to this world of blogging, however of what i have seen of bloggers on the net over the last few weeks (since I finally got broadband) there are many who belong to this community, whom I can only describe as the ‘good, the bad and the distinctly ugly’.

Anyway, some people have said to me over the years that I should write and contribute my ideas as they think I talk some sense (some would say a ‘non’ prefix should be used with the previous word). Anyway, insha’Allah I intend to express my self through the pen (well…laptop actually) from now on, and hope that from any subsequent discussion we can arrive at a better understanding of the issues, concepts and ideals which we seek to both comprehend and elaborate.

This blog is called ‘Thinking Inside the Box‘, the reason for which I hope will become apparent.

Incidentally, you may like to view the link below, it relates to the Islam Awareness Week at Kingston University in 2006. This took place at the time of the Danish cartoon furore, and the trial of Abu Hamza. The local press couldn’t wait to speak to me and ask questions on a whole variety of things – however much of it not relevent to the actual week. In fact one journalist, who actually wrote this piece spoke to me for over 20 mins!  

http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/search/display.var.691109.0.islam_week_bridges_the_faith_gap.php

Well we see what happens next.