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The liberation of Human Mind

  • | Sunday, 1 September, 2019
The liberation of Human Mind

By

Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Hamdy Zaqzouq
President of Al-Azhar Center for Dialogue

Edited by

Dr. Kamal Boraiqa Abdelsalam Hassan

Al-Azhar Magazine (Al-Muharram, 1441 A.H. September, 2019.)

 

     Based on its endeavor to bring into use all the faculties of the human mind Islam has laid great stress on removing all the obstacles that cause obstruction of the functioning of the mind. Islam, therefore, calls for eliminating these obstacles so that the mind can proceed on the path of sound thinking and correct perception. In this connection Islam calls for following mainly four principles:

a) Rejection of intellectual servitude and blind imitation.

     Islam calls for perceiving and making use of our minds in contemplating on the things around us in this universe; it also forbids us from acts of imitation that may impede the mind to fulfill its role. Because imitation means going astray from the right path-an act for which only animals are pardoned-such an action is not permissible to human beings who fully enjoy all their mental faculties. It is for this reason that the Holy Qur‘an denounces the idolaters for the blind imitation of their traditions and conventions that they have inherited from their forefathers. In this context it quotes them as saying, "when it is said to them, ‘Come to what God has sent down, and to the Messenger,’ they say, ‘What we inherited from our forefathers is good enough for us,’ even though their forefathers knew nothing and were not guided." (Surah 5, verse. 104) The Prophet of Allah (May peace and blessings be upon him) has also warned against blind imitation: "Do not imitate others in a blind manner".

b) Weeding out all forms of occultism, black magic, superstitions and fortune-telling.

     Islam does not permit any form of soothsaying and no human being is permitted to dominate over his fellow human beings in the name of religion. There is no harm nor benefit can occur to us except what has been willed by God, who states in the Holy Qur‘an that he is nearer to us than the jugular vein, and that he is close to respond to those who call on Him. The Prophet of Allah says, "If you ask, then ask Allah [alone]; and if you seek help, then seek help from Allah [alone].” The doctrines of Islam are clear and do not contradict the findings of any sound mind. "The Prophet stood firmly against all superstitions and delusions. It so happened that on the day when his son Ibrahim died there was an eclipse of the sun and some people said that the eclipse of the sun was a sign of sharing the grief for the death of Ibrahim. The Prophet categorically opposed this and said, "The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of the death or life (i.e. birth) of someone but they are two signs amongst the signs of Allah."

c) Emphasizing individual responsibility.

     Each individual is fully responsible for his actions, and there is no inborn sin. The Qur‘anic verses are explicitly clear on this subject. This individual responsibility is based on individual freedom as well as on mental security. Achievement of mental security is one of the primary Islamic goals. The main Islamic goals are protection of religion, soul, mind, progeny, and property.

d) By proclaiming belief in the Oneness of God.

     Islam has liberated the believer from the humiliating fear of any temporal authority and has elevated him to a position of honour. In this context the Holy Qur‘an states: "… And to Allah belongs [all] dignity, and to His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know."(Surah 63, verse 8) The Prophet says, "Seek after things without giving up your dignity or self-respect". Islam has also ordained that no obedience should be shown to any human being who is himself disobedient to God, and that a believer should speak the truth without fearing any admonition.

     Thus Islam ensures the true atmosphere in which man can think, reflect and comprehend. In this way Islam keeps the human mind free from all shackles, and liberates him of all imitations that were holding him in a state of servitude. All these measures enabled man to gain two important things that he had been deprived of until then, i.e. free will and freedom of thought and opinion. This basic position of Islam towards the human mind made a tremendous impact on the molding of the Islamic culture and thought.

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