http://www.pascalsview.com/pascalsview/2006/02/the-importance-of-learning-the-meaning-of-ijtihad.html Focused Commentary on the Family Enterprise, Entrepreneurship, Board Governance Best Practices, Venture Capital, and Public Policy Sun, 26 Jun 2011 21:12:29 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://www.pascalsview.com/pascalsview/2006/02/the-importance-of-learning-the-meaning-of-ijtihad.html/comment-page-1#comment-309 John Lerwill Mon, 05 Feb 2007 14:12:46 +0000 http://pascalsview.chime.com/?p=562#comment-309 My understanding of Islam, and of any major faith for that matter, is that its true teaching comes from within, and true understanding therefrom comes through the heart (qalb). As Rumi himself is quoted as saying (e.g. in ‘The Sufis’, Idries Shah) that the Qur’an has seven levels of understanding, and that as Rumi demonstrated by his life and teachings that formal Islam is not the be-all-and-end-all, how can applied ijtihad be truly successful unless one’s heart is traveling in a guided direction (through a teacher)? As we all know, if the intellect is left to its own devices, round can become square and tall can become short with the application of a few choice words, so – to my way of thinking – applied ijtihad is not likely to be as successful unless it is transmuted by the Sufi method, which is through Love. There is the matter of the Shia Isma’ilis, who, of course, believe in the tradition that the Prophet directed that Muslims should, after his demise, follow the ‘Rope of Allah’, which was/is his family, and the reason for the success of the Isma’ilis in adapting to modern conditions over the centuries is through the leadership of their ‘Rope’. I mention this in a similar sense, in fact, to my previous para on Rumi, as the Isma’ilis’ leader (Imam) draws his followers to him via love and loyalty, and they generally follow – in gratitude and peace – as children (“You will not know the kingdom of God unless you turn round and be as a child”, Jesus). The nub of my issue/question is this: How can ijtihad be applied successfully unless there is a truly wise guiding light who knows the Qur’an and can teach the meaning of the Qur’an according to the level of understanding of his/her listeners? Even Ghazzali realized his limitations on that one (and became a Sufi)! That Muslims should question their own religion is, of course, a pre-emptive need. Perhaps Muslims should ask, if they believe in Isa (Jesus) as a prophet, why they do not understand his teaching, which was (perhaps) the ideal to which all those who submit themselves to God (Muslims) should aspire through Islam, and as taught by the Sufis. If only we would all learn that Heaven and Hell is here with us – now; not after physical death. With love and peace, John My understanding of Islam, and of any major faith for that matter, is that its true teaching comes from within, and true understanding therefrom comes through the heart (qalb). As Rumi himself is quoted as saying (e.g. in ‘The Sufis’, Idries Shah) that the Qur’an has seven levels of understanding, and that as Rumi demonstrated by his life and teachings that formal Islam is not the be-all-and-end-all, how can applied ijtihad be truly successful unless one’s heart is traveling in a guided direction (through a teacher)? As we all know, if the intellect is left to its own devices, round can become square and tall can become short with the application of a few choice words, so – to my way of thinking – applied ijtihad is not likely to be as successful unless it is transmuted by the Sufi method, which is through Love.
There is the matter of the Shia Isma’ilis, who, of course, believe in the tradition that the Prophet directed that Muslims should, after his demise, follow the ‘Rope of Allah’, which was/is his family, and the reason for the success of the Isma’ilis in adapting to modern conditions over the centuries is through the leadership of their ‘Rope’. I mention this in a similar sense, in fact, to my previous para on Rumi, as the Isma’ilis’ leader (Imam) draws his followers to him via love and loyalty, and they generally follow – in gratitude and peace – as children (“You will not know the kingdom of God unless you turn round and be as a child”, Jesus).
The nub of my issue/question is this: How can ijtihad be applied successfully unless there is a truly wise guiding light who knows the Qur’an and can teach the meaning of the Qur’an according to the level of understanding of his/her listeners? Even Ghazzali realized his limitations on that one (and became a Sufi)!
That Muslims should question their own religion is, of course, a pre-emptive need. Perhaps Muslims should ask, if they believe in Isa (Jesus) as a prophet, why they do not understand his teaching, which was (perhaps) the ideal to which all those who submit themselves to God (Muslims) should aspire through Islam, and as taught by the Sufis.
If only we would all learn that Heaven and Hell is here with us – now; not after physical death.
With love and peace,
John

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