A Dungeon of Our Own Devising

Peace, one and all…

To understand my self is also to understand how that self interacts with and relates to, others.  To understand others is to understand divergence and diversity; it is also therefore to come to understand convergence and unity.  We learn about one even as we learn about the other.

To marginalise the other and to hide all that we do not wish to face, is to deny the existence of shadow, and hence of light.  It is to deny the other’s human freedom, and hence to make our selves as slaves unto darkness.

Human autonomy is an all or nothing affair.  Either we are all free, or none of us are.  If I acquiese in the enslavement of another, I acquiese in the enslavement of my self.  Although this world is always in a state of becoming, freedom of thought and choice are our shared human birthrights.  If we deny these birthrights to others, we imprison our selves in a dungeon of our own devising.

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

Adab is a Gateway

Peace, one and all…

Those Prophetic Traditions (ahadith) which refer to matters of akhlaq and adab all fundamentally aim at building relationships.  They all aim at developing ethical (which is to say spiritual) interaction with others - whether it be with God, with people, or with the wider natural world.  That is, these traditions teach us how to be in the world, or more properly, how to become in the world.  Although much ink has been spilt through the ages on the development of ethical systems, at their most basic level all such systems aim towards fair and ethical treatment.  In other words, they aim towards the recognition of the other as sacred, in some sense. 

Of course, ethical treatment is a worthy end in itself.  We were not sent to this world merely to think fairly.  We must strive to act ethically too.  But, ethics perform another vital function: they bring human beings into mutually sustainable relationships.  Indeed, ethical treatment is, in this sense, the very gateway to such a relationship.  Adab (to use the Islamic term) generates trust and respect, which can, given the right conditions, blossom into loving friendships – and loving friendships lead towards true and profound dialogue, to an inward meeting of hearts.

Relationships teach us how to speak with compassion and truth; they teach us about the other just as they teach us about the self.

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman

Love’s Ancient Inward Road

Peace, one and all…

To be a Muslim is to be given a licence to strive.  It is to strive to do good, in and through myself – to think good thoughts, to speak good words and to do good deeds, as far as I am able.  To be a Muslim is to be a disciple and a student of God and all that is good, by the hand of His beloved Messenger (alaihi al-salatu wa al-salam).  It is to become a traveller, a neophyte upon love’s ancient inward road.

But, I must not confuse my unfolding discipleship with the end of that journey.  I have merely fallen onto the path.  I have not yet walked along its vast and ever-flowing expanse.  I have come to the house of striving, that I too might strive – fully aware that long years lie ahead, as God wills.

In all truth, I am merely a ’son of the way’ and I do but strive to follow the path of those who went before me.

And what a truly liberating thought that is.

Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman