Saturday, April 08, 2006

Why?

There was a game we played as kids. Rather, we learned to annoy each other with it. When someone said some thing, you'd ask 'why?' they'd reply and again you'd ask, 'why?' Perhaps they'd reply once more before realizing that you were not seeking answers but merely to annoy. (: It was fun (but annoying when done to you!). It is amazing that as kids we realized the power of 'why' and how it could be applied to just about anything and invariably. We played along some times and tried to come up with statements that could not be questioned further, perhaps something to the effect of "because Allah Mian is one!" Here the questioner would sheepishly withold his question and aha! he was caught. (:

To be inquisitive is a part of human nature and to question is a means of learning. When we stop questioning, that is when we fall into ghafla [ignorance]. We must question ourselves to remain aware of our intentions and we must question the world around us if we are to continue to live in it. The mindset that one carries when questioning, however, contributes largely to the answers that one gets. So if the purpose behind one's questioning is to learn and to improve (and here draw closer to Allah swt) then verily he will gain knowledge (and perhaps wisdom) by it, but if it is to simply argue or to annoy then just like we did as kids, he will receive nothing but mere play.

Children exhibit this inquisitive nature from a very young age as their mind seeks to make sense of the world around them. Unfortunately, often their questioning becomes annoying to the 'adults' and they are told to simply shut up, and obey. Depending on the personality of the child then he will either rebel or obey. He will either continue to question or his inquisitive nature will become thwarted and the questions internalized, perhaps even forgotten. He will learn to simply 'obey,' be it parents, friends or fashion trends. On the other hand, if one is encouraged to question, by answering his questions instead of thwarting them, he will better learn to make sense of the world around him in a manner that is befitting a human being.

Islam is the conscious act of submission. So contary to what many would see as 'having blind faith' it is a religion that involves much thought, conviction and the conscious choice to do that which God has commanded. If you are questioning some of the basics of the deen, don't feel bad or turn away from it, but know that questioning is the very first step to receiving an answer. And God is the All-Knower, Most Wise. If you seek, He will answer you.

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