December 19, 2010
COPING WITH FEAR AND GRIEF: An Islamic Approach [Part One]
Section: WRITINGS | 430 reads
(19)
Key to True Knowledge
The key to true knowledge and understanding are three things:
(A) Knowledge of the self.
It consists of knowing oneself as the true slave of Allah and seeing oneself as truly and fully dependent on Allah at all times and in all things.
A proper knowledge of the self will automatically lead to and involve the true knowledge of Allah and the world in which one lives.
(B) Knowledge of Allah.
It is knowing, believing and accepting Allah as the true and only master.
It is seeing Allah’s hand in everything, over and beyond mundane instrumentalities of everyday life. It is being in his presence in real time and space.
As a man who knew something about some of these things once said – in Farsi language:
Na Mee Daanam Chi Manzil Bood
Shab Jaa-ye Ki Man Boodam.
………………………………
KIhuda Khud Meer-I Mahfil Bood
Shab Jaa-ye Ke Man Boodam.
Which in paraphrase means:
I do not know what place it was,
Where I spent the night last night.
………………………………
God himself presided over the party,
Where I spent the night last night.
(C) Knowledge of the world.
It is knowing and seeing the kinship that binds one to the rest of the creation.
Beyond that, it is seeing oneself as the custodian and caretaker of the planet and its occupants.
It is feeling a sense of fellowship with everything in existence as common slaves of the same true and only master.
It is being united with them all in common worship of God Almighty – albeit each in its own unique way.
Wa Immin Shay-in Illaa Yusabbihu
Bi-Hamdihi Wa Laakin Laa Tafqa-Hoona Tasbeehahum (Soorah Al-Israa’).
Which in paraphrase means:
There isn’t a thing that does not sing his
praise, except that you do not understand
how they do it (17:44).
Thus, knowing self, God and the world gives one the proper understanding of one’s place in the universe.
It provides the intellectual, emotional and spiritual tools for coping with fear and grief.
It sets one free from the bondage of the flesh and its raw and pungent desires – and thus from all attendant grief and fear – and gives one a proper perspective on everything that happens in the world.
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Freedom from Fear and Grief
This realization – and an unshakable belief in its truth – is the true and only foundation of freedom from fear, grief, sorrow, loss, pain, worry and anxiety in this world.
The realization that God, and not you or me or someone else, is in charge.
If you are a Muslim, it is part of the requirement of your faith.
If you have not fully internalized this belief and this message, then you will have trouble being a good Muslim.
If you are not a Muslim, you can still benefit greatly by believing in this fact and basing your life on that belief.
Even as a non-Muslim you can let this fact influence your life in a positive way.
Knowing and believing that God is in control of you, your life and this world will give you new strength to deal with whatever troubles or challenges life may throw at you.
For, everyone, Muslim or non-Muslim, is smart enough to see how little he or she and how completely God controls their lives and destinies.
Anyone with any intelligence can see that ultimately it is God’s will that prevails – in what happens to them and in what happens in this world.
Yet people must do what they feel they must do. They must do everything in their power to make the best things happen for them, for those they love, for all those they are responsible for or have dealings with and for everyone and everything in the world.
What a wonderful way it is to go through life!
The fact is that most human actions are reasoned out in some way, using some kind of a personal logic and rationale.
It is that which makes human beings responsible for their actions and for the consequences of those actions. Yet, what gives them true success, and what sets them free from fear and grief, is the realization, that when all is said and done, it is God that is responsible.
A God who is most merciful and compassionate; a God who loves us more than any mother loves her child; a God who is most willing to forgive our sins when we repent; and a God who is most ready to grant us our prayers when we turn to him in supplication.
And who would we rather have in charge of our destinies – us or him?
Isn’t this thought enough to make a serious dent in our deepest grief and in our darkest worry and fear?
END OF PART ONE
No part of this book may be reproduced or duplicated for
commercial purposes without the author’s express permission.
2003
© 2003 Syed Husain Pasha
Dr. Pasha is an educator and scholar of exceptional
talent, training and experience. He can be reached at DrSyedPasha [at]
AOL [dot] com or www.IslamicSolutions.com.
Next Article: COPING WITH FEAR AND GRIEF: An Islamic Approach [Part Two]
Previous Article: Leadership: What Is It and How to Deal with It? [Part Three]
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