Prerequisites
When entering the realm of human development from a Western perspective, it is imperative for the Muslim to first have a solid grasp of the tenets of faith, particularly in the areas of Tawheed and Qadr. If you need a brush up in those subjects, then please give them priority; they’re fundamental sciences for a reason. You’re really going to be hamstrung in wading through any type of intellectual material not written by a Muslim scholar until you have a strong foundation in the pillars of faith, especially Tawheed. Allah, the Almighty and All-Wise outlined this fact in an exquisite parable, precisely informing us just how powerful knowledge of this branch of faith is:
See you not how Allâh sets forth a parable? A goodly word as a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the sky. -14:26
The reason for this advice is that some Western thinkers in this field will give ultimate credit to God, while others take a more mystical approach, almost implying that each of us is the ultimate author of our destiny. This is obviously not an acceptable viewpoint for the Muslim who knows that la howla wa la quita illa bilah, there is no movement that occurs except by the Power of Allah.
Distinctions won’t entertain the extreme end of that spectrum but there may be inspiration taken from those that discuss the power of choice without framing it with the proper etiquette that a Muslim normally would, always being careful to ascribe any outcome to the Will of Allah SWT. Even Non-Muslims who believe in God and even believe in this fact, won’t always make that attribution while discussing the power of the human will and spirit. In that case, add that yourself. This is something you and I understand as constant and does not contradict the vast amount of choice we’re afforded as human beings.
That voice, while not perfect, can still be valuable to us, something we can take a reminder and inspiration from. Much of the Ummah has incorrectly shifted toward a fatalistic view in practice, not giving proper acknowledgment to the wide domain of choice that Allah SWT has blessed us with, under His Ultimate Will, SWT. It is the power of decision that we must reclaim and exercise more frequently, as much as we can to our benefit. The whole matter has been succinctly and beautifully summed up by our beloved Prophet SAW:
“The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allaah than the weak believer, while there is good in both. Guard over that which benefits you, seek Allaah’s Assistance, wa laa ta’jiz (don’t lend yourself to things devoid of benefit), and if something befalls you, then don’t say ‘If I only would have done such and such,’ rather say, ‘Qaddarallaahu wa maa shaa’ fa’al’ (Allaah ordained (this) and He does what He wills), for verily the phrase ‘If I would have’ makes way for the work of Shaytaan.”
We learn from this to take benefit of our own resolve and will as much as possible while seeking Allah’s Help with regard to our future. Since we don’t know what the future holds, we’re not privy to what has been written in the Preserved Tablets, it is not permissible for us to act with a fatalistic, defeatist view. We act with as much strength as we can muster toward beneficial ends. Once the matter has taken place, we don’t lament the results, understanding that the matter was decreed.
Why even quote non-Muslims?
Finding common ground is an essential trait for Muslims living in the West. If you accept this premise then Distinctions is for you. We want to build bridges where we agree and where justice is served. How can we do that if we do not keep up with the conversation? Much of the thought leaders in the West articulate timeless values that we all agree on. However we’re left on the sidelines because we don’t recognize them for what they are, not up to date with the terminology used. This could be out of a righteous fear of corruption by foreign ideas. And that is the other part of the equation, many of us avoid entering the mix because we’re not advanced enough, confident enough in the concepts of our own religion to be able to synthesize them and restate them in the context of our daily realities living in the West.
I suggest that we’re ready for a new phase. We’re seeing new opportunities to gain Islamic knowledge in English with more of a focus on helping the students connect the dots, “get plugged in,” as Sh. Suhaib Webb calls it. Shayookh in the West are actively finding ways to present our religion in context, comparing and contrasting our teachings with the statements and thoughts of Western thinkers. As we grow in our knowledge of Islam we’re ready to step up and start entering the Western conversation, adding real value, expressing our principles while using the terms and concepts found in the science of human potential.
A Final Note of Caution
As with any science it is important to resist the temptation of using primary Islamic texts out of place, liberally citing them just to support a popular concept found in other literature. If a particular text fits according to the proper understanding, great, bismilah. But we need to show the proper respect to Divine sources, making sure revelation is always our scale not the other way around. If you find an Islamic reference quoted here that you think is being employed in a manner counter to its intended spirit, then please point it out.
