THE ALL-KNOWING
We live in a culture that demands that we know, a type of self-sufficiency bordering on arrogance. When imbibing the worldview of individualism, whether explicitly or implicitly, consciously or subconsciously, we inevitably become more anxious. Why? Because the belief that I am self-sufficient or independent is false, and dishonesty, by nature, leads to anxiety. This behaviour is often the result of the punishment culture that exists for one’s mistakes, failures or shortcomings. The more appropriate response, instead of a damaging rebuke, is to encourage further exploration and learning from failings. Unfortunately, the lesson learned is to play it safe and act as if to avoid punishment and judgment. All these approaches and responses are false standards of conduct and force deceptive and manipulative behaviour.
Allah is the al-‘Alim—All-Knowing. Not knowing is part of human nature, and humility is one of the surest ways to learn. When we accept our limitations and ignorance, we open up and become more receptive to knowledge.
“Saying ‘I do not know’ is one half of knowledge.” Prophet Muhammad (s)
ME + HUMILITY + ALLAH = KNOWLEDGE
SOW, AND LET GO
The tendency to want to exert control is a character defect, especially in the areas where we don’t have agency. Trying to move the immovable often draws our ire and leads to intense frustration and a loss of equilibrium. The intelligent approach is praying for discernment to differentiate between what is in and without our power. The general rule is this: our agency ceases regarding others. We can hardly control our children; what makes us think we can direct others, never the less time, by wishing things move faster?
Allah repeatedly tells Prophet Muhammad (s) that it is not his responsibility to force people upon the right way: “It is not for you [Prophet] to guide them; it is God who guides whoever He will” [2:272].
We must disabuse ourselves from trying to control outcomes. Our responsibility is to sow as best we can and let go and let God.
Hasbunallah wa ni’mal-Wakil: “Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs” [3:173].
“If you look at life one way, there’s always cause for alarm.” Elizabeth Bowen
One title we should all avoid is that of a One-Eyed Stiff. We exclude ourselves from many narratives when we follow a narrow doctrine. To be rigid is to be a disciple of death, writes Lao Tzu.
As per the view of Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence, rigidity is also a telling sign of an enlarged ego: “…egocentricity is the failure to accommodate new information. People hold to beliefs of all sorts in the face of evidence and arguments to the contrary.”
We must become wide-eyed and pliant and guard from being of the type alluded to in the following verse: “People have cut off their affair, between them, into sects: each party rejoices in that which is with itself” [23:53].
Until next week, InshaAllah
Zaahied Sallie
Author of The Beloved Prophet – An Illustrated Biography in Rhyme
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