Tuesday 7 January 2014

FB Debate: "Sheikh ul Google"



FACEBOOK DEBATE 
- Classical Scholars Vs. "Sheikh ul Google":

When the above image (click to enlarge or download) was posted on Facebook by me, a debate followed. I am certainly not a scholar and only tried to answer a few things concerning the challenges we face in these times when modern technology is at our disposal:

THE DEBATE:
Mr. A: Despite all available technologies we are still far behind from these scholars. They had more wisdom than us.

Roman: Absolutely, there is no doubt. But there are still many bona fide and wise scholars even today. The concern in the post above is more about the youth who think they know all the answers just because they have internet access...

Ms. A: Not wisdom only, but research, inventions made them world leaders.. In medicine .eye diseases/ operations .dental instruments.travelogues.astronomy ...maths .. Shipping navy.....name it 

Roman: That's true, Muslims were the pioneers in scientific advancement but the post above is about Islamic knowledge and research. It's a sensitive matter in these times when everybody can now easily access so much matter on Internet. Especially the youth and so they need to be careful.

Mr. B: Young man has every right to refute any of the statements he honestly thinks are wrong. It is entirely true that many of our scholars of old have been found to be wrong time and time again , and there are others whose works have stood ths test of time . Let our youth question knowledge which an earlier generation took for Gospel truth , and give them the opportunity of gathering knowledge by themselves, and while examining and putting to test our 'ancient ' knowledge . This is how civilization develops ,by looking forward , not backward , the ancient words can only be a guide for further investigation and development Syed Roman Ahsan, sir, never ever tell a youth to "be careful" when he is learning , dont put a handcuff on him before be begins his study .

Roman:  Excuse me but I strongly disagree with your approach because the post above is about learning Islam from Internet. A lot of information on Internet is fake or also put there by enemies of Islam. A young mind is not able to distinguish right from wrong there and also the most important thing is to "practice Islam" rather than just refuting theories of old scholars. The best way to learn Islam is in live classes or books/CDs recommended by senior people or teachers. Religion is a very serious thing, we cannot take it lightly and every care is needed. JazaakAllah.  

Mr. A: The basic problem is Knowledge vs Information. People of that era had no information technology so their intention was to get knowledge but we are living in the era of information and so many times we forget to verify the source of information, we accept it without verification.

Mr. B: Sorry, I seems to have misunderstood the basic matter of learning about Islam from internet that you were kind enough to point out . I entirely agree with you that lot o stuff on the internet , on the facebook about Islam , is first class nonsense. However,I remember an occasion when my young son could not find any information on a particular subject in the British Library, usually a very good source,two other libraries or Encyclopedia Britannica , he goggled for it on the internet and found a wealth of information. Internet is an invaluable source of information, however since personal understanding rather then the precise and correct information about Islam is presented by almost all,if we tell our youngsters the names of the scholars we believe are correct, that should help.

Mr. C: World has turned into Global village. The communication gap has been filled with technology. You may say it was possible due to research of Classical Scholars that modern world has changed so much. So I think working like "Sheikh ul Google" isn't bad. You get same amount of knowledge in couple minutes which took several days in past. It doesn't require any travel because you've access to internet and all the stuff is connected somehow.

Mr. D: Tragedy of our new Generation...

Roman: @ Mr. C: For all other knowledge and info, Internet is helpful. And for Islam also, it does help a great deal. I myself compiled a book on Islam "THE FORGOTTEN TRAIL" in 2007 with articles from Internet. However, I got the content (Qur'an and hadith references) verified from Qur'an Academy in Lahore and I was 37 years old at that time which means mature enough to see right from wrong since I have interest in Islam since youth. The danger here is when youth start acting as "KNOW-ALL" on Islam matters when they are not trying to bring Islam in their lives or to practice Islam. Only that concern has been shown in the above image. And there are many different theories and ideologies on Islam. A young mind is not able to identify the good from bad. For example, the Ahmedis sect also promotes their version of Islam, when we know that Ahmedis or Qadiyanis are not Muslims. That's why the post above is significant. Mr. B, now I hope you will understand my concern. 

 Mr. B: Roman sahab, as I have said above , I do now share your concern. So it boils down to senior members of the famly advising the youngsters who is a true " scholar" and who is not , so that they may be guided rightly .We also need to note that over the last300- 400 years of so , an important aspect of Islam, as was taught by the Prophet to his Sahabis , who then passed it down , was wiped clean, and Islam for most part become a simple ritual , and a set of conducts in social affairs .Due to which Salat , which is basically a dialogue between the banda and his Rabb, cannot take its true shape ,and at the end of the five salats per day , we are still left empty and hungry , for what , we know not .Because that is supposed to establish a connection between the banda and his Rabb, is missing .This essential missing link of Islam is Tasauuf .Add the flavor of this to your package on Islam , and your life changes and you grow spiritually to heights you could not have imagined and Namaz finally brings peace into our hearts and our lives .

Roman:  @ Mr. B: Sir, that is true. Elders in the family should advise but unfortunately most elders in today's Pakistan are drowned in media attractions without caring for Islam. Most respectfully, I am 43 years old and have been researching on Islam since 2005 but it's a life-long quest. Islam is a complete social, economic, personal and spiritual code of life and we do have the unaltered copy of Qur'an since 1400 years, so we can begin with it followed by Hadith literature (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad pbuh). And then many practicing Muslims (and Auwliya Allah) over the centuries have written books on their spiritual experiences, so they can also serve as guides and are very much there. Qur'an guides us about many other things and then it also tells us that we should pray in congregation. So we can try to go to mosque and offer our Salah (Namaaz) there. 

Sir, Tassawwuf and Sufism of today's world is mostly infiltrated with practices which have nothing to do with Islam and they have been planted by our enemies. However, I still appreciate your concern here and agree with you. Here is a very good lecture on Tassawwuf by Pakistani Scholar Prof. Ahmad Rafique Akhtar, and sharing with you here for your interest. Please do listen to it and share your views..

Base of Mysticism - part 1 (What is tasawwuf? What is Sufi?)

Complete lecture follows in part 2 and part 3
 

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