Sayyid al-Qutub and the Radical Threads in Islam

Sayyid al-Qutub and the Radical Threads in Islam

Eliseo, “Jun” Mercado, OMI

#Badaliyya-Philippines

The radical Islamist movement in general and the radical threads in Islam in particular developed during the Islamic revival and Islamist movement of the last three decades of the 20th century along with less extreme and reform movements. Some have argued that "without the writings" of Islamic author and thinker Sayyid Qutb the radical thgreads of Islam, and al-Qaeda, Jamah Islamiyya (JI) would not have existed."[39]

Sayyid al-Qutb preached that because of the lack of sharia law the Muslim world was no longer Muslim, having reverted to pre-Islamic ignorance known as jahiliyyah. To restore Islam, a vanguard movement of righteous Muslims was needed to implement Sharia and rid the Muslim world of any non-Muslim influences, such as concepts like socialism or nationalism or influences of the West. Enemies of Islam included "treacherous Orientalists" [40] and "world Jewry", who plotted "conspiracies" and "wicked[ly]" opposed Islam.

In the words of Mohammed Jamal Khalia, a close college friend of Osama bin Laden: Islam is different from any other religion; it's a way of life. We [Khalia and bin Laden] were trying to understand what Islam has to say about how we eat, whom we marry, how we talk. We read Sayyid al-Qutb. He was the one who most affected our generation.[41]

Sayyid al-Qutb had an even greater influence on Osama bin Laden's mentor and another leading member of al-Qaeda,[42] Ayman al-Zawahiri. Zawahiri's uncle and maternal family patriarch, Mafouz Azzam, was al-Qutub's student, then protégé, then personal lawyer and finally executor of his estate - one of the last people to see al-Qutb before his execution.

"Young Ayman al-Zawahiri heard again and again from his beloved uncle Mahfouz about the purity of al-Qutb's character and the torment he had endured in prison."[43] Zawahiri paid homage to al-Qutb in his work Knights under the Prophet's Banner. [44] (al-Zawahiri is an Egyptian medical surgeon and now the head of al-Qaeda.)

One of the most powerful effects of al-Qutb's ideas was the idea that many who said they were Muslims were not, i.e. they were apostates or murtadd. These included leaders of Muslims countries since they failed to enforce Sharia law.[45]

(Note: This is the 2nd portion of the long article on al-Qaeda)

Instruction on How to Meditate

Instructions for Meditation:Fr. Seraphion of Mount Athos

When you meditate, be like a mountain
Immovably set in silence.
Its thoughts are rooted in eternity.

Do not do anything, just sit, be
and you will reap the fruit flowing from your prayer.

When you meditate, be like a flower
always directed towards the sun.

Its stalk, like a spine, is always straight.
Be open, ready to accept everything without fear
and you will not lack light on your way.

When you meditate, be like an ocean
always immovable in its depth.
Its waves come and go.

Be calm in your heart
and evil thoughts will go away by themselves.

When you meditate, remember your breath:
Thanks to it we have come alive.

It comes from God and returns to God.
Unite the word of prayer with the stream of life, (the breath),
and nothing will separate you from the Giver of life.

When you meditate, be like a bird
Singing without a rest in front of the Creator.
Its song rises like the smoke of incense.

Let your prayer be like the coo of a dove,
and you will never succumb to discouragement.

When you meditate, be like Abraham
giving his son as an offering.

It was a sign that he was ready to sacrifice everything.

You too, leave everything,
and in your loneliness God will be with you.

When you meditate it is Jesus
praying in you to the Father in the Spirit.
you are carried by the flame of His love.

Be like a river, serving all,
and the time will come, when you will change into Love.

Every mountain teaches us the sense of eternity,
every flower, when it fades, teaches us the sense of fleetingness.

The ocean teaches us, how to retain peace during adversities,
and love always teaches us    

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6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Short Reflection for the 6^th Sunday of the Ordinary Time (C)

Readings: Jeremiah 17: 5-8; 1 Corinthians 15: 12, 16-20: Luke 6: 17, 20-26

Selected Passage:   "Blessed are you who are poor,  for the kingdom of God is yours.  Blessed are you who are now hungry,   for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping,   for you will laugh.   Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you,   and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.  (Luke 6” 20-22)

Reflection:  The Lucan version of the Beatitudes consists of ‘blessed are you…’ and ‘woe to you…’ There is no ambiguity and exceptions in the enumeration. The poor shall possess the kingdom; the hungry will be satisfied; those who mourn will laugh; and the persecuted will possess the kingdom. 

Take heed else we find ourselves making a lot of exceptions to suit our taste and status. www.badaliyya.blogspot.com

DHIKR PRAYER SIMPLE METHOD...

Dhikr is an Arabic word for remembrance. In the “tariqa” (the way) movement, Dhikr developed into a form of prayer… It is a prayer of the heart… following three simple steps:

1.Write in one’s heart a certain passage of the Holy Writ…

2.Make the same passage ever present in one’s lips. 

3.Then wait for God’s disclosure on the meaning of the passage…that interprets one’s life NOW…!

It takes a week of remembering (dhikr)…or even more days to relish the beauty of this method…

Care for the Planet, Justice and Peace through Dialogue

Care for the Planet, Justice and Peace through Dialogues                                           

Eliseo “Jun”. Mercado, OMI            

#Badaliyya-Philippines

                                                                                                                                               

The advances in Science and Technology and the leveling of frontiers and boundaries have all contributed to a greater awareness of the pluralism of faiths, culture and peoples not only in the world but also in our own community.

Yes, we live amid many and diverse faiths, cultures and peoples. The usual prevailing relationship and culture is one of EXCLUSIVISM and SELF-CENTRISM.   And there are times, our many and different faiths, politics and cultures lead to HOSTILITY.

 Yet, our traditions and the MESSAGE of our faiths tell us that albeit our many differences, we need not be hostile or indifferent to each other.  In fact, these diversities invite us to make a shift in our paradigm from hostility to partnership; from indifference to involvement; and from being closed to being opened to one another.

This relational paradigm teaches us that notwithstanding the differences and diversities we all live together on this planet, in fact, on this piece of land.  The bottom line is the affirmation that we are together in the journey through life.  For better or worse, we are neighbors and we hope and believe that as neighbors, we can be partners in building not only of a better world but more so of a friendlier community where you and I, and our children live as brothers and sisters.

·      The first step is to take our pluralism seriously.  We need to discover each other in our diversities and discover, too, that our differences enrich us not only as believers but also as human beings and citizens of this community and planet.  By doing so, we, also, discover that notwithstanding our differences, there is that KINDREDNESS amid our MANY DIVERSITIES.

·      Second is to be open to meet each other with respect - learning not only from each other but more so to be able live with each other in HARMONY. Yes, our willingness to accept, to trust each other and to live together as common stakeholders for the good of our community.

·      Third is our commitment to our common humanity - recognizing and respecting the rights and dignity of every person regardless of faith, gender, culture and color within our society/community.

The basis of this commitment is our belief that all peoples even though they belong to different religions, nations and ethnic tribes - all form ONE human family, created by the ONE and same God, living in the same world/community, and destined for a common end.

Quoting from the Holy Book (the Qur’an):

“If God had willed, He would have made you one nation; but that He may try you in what has come to you. So be you forward in good works; unto God shall you return all together; and He will tell you of that whereon you were at variance.” (Sura 5: 48)

In inter-religious relations there is one WORD that can describe our efforts and endeavors – TRUST! Trust is NOT a universal element in human relations.  It has to be slowly, patiently and sometimes painfully built through time.

In conclusion, I take a portion of St. JP II’s address at Casablanca Morocco on 18 August 1985.

                        “People do not accept their differences.

                         They do not know each other sufficiently.

                         They reject those who have not the same civilization.

                         They refuse to help each other.

                         They are unable to free themselves from egoism and from self-conceit.

                         But God created all equal in dignity,

                         Though different with regard to gifts and talents,

                         Mankind is a whole where each one has his/her part to play.

                         The worth of the various peoples and of the diverse cultures must be

                         recognized.

                         The world is as it were a living organism.

                         Each one has something to receive from the others and has something        

                         to give to them.”                                           

St. John Paul II’s Address in Syria in May 2001 reiterates the Church’s commitment to dialogue. “It is my ardent hope that Muslim and Christian religious leaders and teachers will present our two great religious communities as COMMUNITIES IN RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE, NEVER MORE AS COMMUNITIES IN CONFLICT”. It is crucial for the young to be taught the ways of respect and understanding, so that they will not be led to misuse religion itself to promote or justify hatred and violence.  Violence destroys the image of the Creator in his creatures, and should never be considered as the fruit of religious conviction.”

“Better mutual understanding will surely lead to a more objective and comprehensive knowledge of each other’s religious beliefs at the practical level, to a new way of presenting our two religions NOT IN OPPOSITION, as it happened too often in the past, BUT IN PARTNERSHIP FOR THE GOOD OF THE HUMAN FAMILY.”

 “Many serious obstacles remain, yet the first step towards peace must be a steadfast conviction that a SOLUTION IS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE PARAMETER OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THE RESOLUTION OF THE UNITED NATIONS. I appeal once more to all the peoples involved and to their political leader, to recognize that confrontation has failed and will always fail.  Only a just peace can bring the conditions needed for the economic, cultural and social development to which the people of the region have a right."

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Short Reflection for the 5^th Sunday of the Ordinary Time (C)

Readings:  Isaiah 6: 1-8; 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11; Luke 5: 1-11

Selected Passage:  After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets."  (Luke 5: 4-5)

Reflection:  Today we hear the same invitation: ‘put out into deep…’ Do we have the faith to do so notwithstanding the cost? Perhaps, like Simon Peter, we have toiled hard and for a long time, yet we hold on to our belief and continue to hope that things will be better. Yet, the Lord’s command to us is to lower the nets yet for another time.  If we do believe, we will see wonders. For the catch is bountiful and we need only to believe and hold on to our HOPE…!  Visit: www.badaliyya.blogspot.com

DHIKR PRAYER SIMPLE METHOD...

Dhikr is an Arabic word for remembrance. In the “tariqa” (the way) movement, Dhikr developed into a form of prayer… It is a prayer of the heart… following three simple steps:

1.Write in one’s heart a certain passage of the Holy Writ…

2.Make the same passage ever present in one’s lips. 

3.Then wait for God’s disclosure on the meaning of the passage…that interprets one’s life NOW…!

It takes a week of remembering (dhikr)…or even more days to relish the beauty of this method…