[Chapter 28] Beyond Time and Space

Published By Categorised as STILL WORKING FOR ALLAH in the West: Theory and Methodology (Book)

Chapter 28
Still Working for Allah in the West: Theory and Methodology

Beyond Time and Space

Let us revisit this topic one more time. By talking about Muslims in the West as a separate entity with its own unique social and political setting and characteristics, I am not implying that they are better or worse than some other Muslims in some other places – even though there are aspects of the West’s political and economic culture that are clearly superior to the mostly feudal cultural structures that have much of the old Muslim world in a stranglehold.

For, to repeat one more time what I have already indicated, Islam and Muslims are both above time and beyond space. Their origin is Allah and their end is Allah. What lies in between is a kaleidoscope of transient states marked by geography and time. As a result, Inna Hadhi-hi Ummatukum Ummatan Waahidah …In paraphrase this means, surely this nation of yours is one nation – indivisible in terms of space, time or other pernicious categories of human concoction that artificially divide human beings with a view to enslave them.

All parts of this nation of Muslims or Ummah, in all places and at all times, are knit together in a common culture of Islam. It is when that culture begins to sag and develop cracks as it has in much of the traditional Muslim world in a number of ways, that we need to look at things from a pragmatic – time-and-space based – perspective and find pragmatic solutions to real problems of survival and success.

This may appear contradictory to some, but it is not. In life, things often have different parts and aspects that may on the surface appear to negate one another. But deeper thought reveals how they are often different ways of looking at the same basic reality. Islam is a perfect way for people to have their cake and eat it too. Most other systems of thought, belief and behavior offer humans a set of dichotomies – a set of binary alternatives – to choose from. Islam amalgamates them all into one integrated system.

Most people would say you belong either to this world or to the next world; you are either a spiritual person or a person tied to the material things of life; or you are either a leader or a follower. In Islam it is both. This world is the pathway to the next world. So if you want a good life in the next world, make good things happen in this world. So also you cannot become a total hermit or a recluse, nor can you adopt an airtight monkish or monastic culture. Nor are you a leader or a follower all on your own – you are always both. Recall here the same Hadith I have cited elsewhere: Kullukum Ra-'in – each of you is a shepherd and each of you is in charge of a flock.

END OF CHAPTER 28
Still Working for Allah in the West: Theory and Methodology

© 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.

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  1. [Chapter 1] Disclaimers
  2. [Chapter 2] Preparation
  3. [Chapter 3] How to Get the Most out of this Book
  4. [Chapter 4] Copyright, Ijazah, Idhin and Uses of this Material
  5. Foreword
  6. [Still Working for Allah - Book] Contents Page
  7. APPENDIX: An Extended Syllabus and Some Areas of Focus
  8. [Chapter 5] A Word on Style, Grammar, Spelling, References and Such other things
  9. [Chapter 6] Some Early and Quick Answers - Really?
  10. [Chapter 7] A Note to the Reader - Another One and the Need for Literature
  11. [Chapter 8] A Note on Qualifications and Introductions
  12. [Chapter 9] A Bit of Cheerleading and Calling the Game
  13. [Chapter 10] Talking about Standards
  14. [Chapter 11] Still Working for Allah: Some Basic Questions and Answers
  15. [Chapter 12] Goals, Aims and Objectives for a Course on Working for Allah
  16. [Chapter 13] An Earlier Commitment
  17. [Chapter 14] Ikhlas and Taubah
  18. [Chapter 15] Taqwa, Ihsan and Itqan
  19. [Chapter 16] Sabr
  20. [Chapter 17] Dhikr and Du’a
  21. [Chapter 18] Tazkiyah-i-Baatin: Some Positive and Negative Qualities
  22. [Chapter 19] Why Are the Muslims the Way they Are?
  23. [Chapter 20] Huququllah Vs. Huququl 'Ibad
  24. [Chapter 21] An Indispensable Human Threshold
  25. [Chapter 22] Interpersonal Relations: A Question of Character - Makarim Akhlaq
  26. [Chapter 23] A Thing Called Nafs
  27. [Chapter 24] Mutations of Nafs: Tribal Tentacles
  28. [Chapter 25] Still Working for Allah?
  29. [Chapter 26] Working for Allah: The Long and Short of the Story
  30. [Chapter 27] The Western Wing of the Muslim Ummah
  31. [Chapter 29] Allah’s Slaves - Whether You Like it or Not
  32. [Chapter 30] A Note on Leadership
  33. [Chapter 31] A Note on Success and Failure
  34. [Chapter 32] The Bible: A Panorama of Success and Failure in Early Islam
  35. [Chapter 33] Are Elections Haram?
  36. [Chapter 34] Excuse Me, But We Are the West!
  37. [Chapter 35] Some Frank Questions and the Shadow of September 11
  38. [Chapter 36] The Need for New Thinking
  39. [Chapter 37] Working for Allah in the West: Its Nature and Implications - Continuity and Change
  40. [Chapter 38] Working for Allah in the West: Its Nature and Implications - The Nature of the West
  41. [Chapter 39] Why Theory?
  42. [Chapter 40] Darul What, Muslims?
  43. [Chapter 41] Working for Allah: Building a Better World
  44. [Chapter 42] A Model of Citizen Participation
  45. [Chapter 43] Building a Better World: This is How the Muslims Do it
  46. [Chapter 44] Still Working for Allah - Grace from Above and a Promise of Help from Allah
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