I want to Believe
By Aasem Bakhshi Scully: “Really? And you think that makes sense?” Mulder: “It does to me.” (Chris Carter, The X-Files) Atheism is increasingly occupying some ideological space in Pakistani electronic print media. In a recently published piece, Mr Waseem Altaf makes an ostensibly strong self-statement regarding his choice to be an atheist. The aim of present exposition in not to question the sensibilities of his discourse, per se, but just to deconstruct it better from a completely rational and philosophical standpoint to create a dialogue. Mr Altaf’s profound presentation of his belief reminds me [1] of the character of Fox Mulder in the famous television series X-files, whose was portrayed … Read entire article »
Filed under: Islam, Philosophy, Religion
Dialogue: Ali Abbas Jalalpuri on Iqbal’s scholasticism
by Aasem Bakhshi Even though it can be entirely attributed to my shameful reluctance to read philosophy in Urdu, I am embarrassed to be introduced to Ali Abbas Jalalpuri’s work so late, especially his profound critique on Iqbal. Jalalpuri’s critique of Iqbal, besides being academically valuable in its own right, is also important as it can help us immensely to reclaim Iqbal from armchair ideologues and political islamists whose strictly authoritarian projections are a source of constant … Read entire article »
Filed under: Books, Philosophy, Religion, Reviews
Iqbal- Dream of an Eagle
The days we have marked for celebrations, The rest in forgetfulness, we don’t explore The splendour of Universe as it bestowed The famous gift of language and rhythm … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pakistan, Philosophy, poetry, Politics
Are there any moral standards independent of God's will?
By Aasem Bakhshi Socrates: If that which is holy is the same with that which is dear to God, and is loved because it is holy, then that which is dear to God would have been loved as being dear to God; but if that which dear to God is dear to him because loved by him, then that which is holy would have been holy because loved by him. [...] But you still refuse to … Read entire article »
Filed under: Islam, Philosophy
A Soldier's Soliloquy: Can a Person Refuse to Fight?
by Aasem Bakhshi …if called upon by the government to do so. Thomas Hobbes would concede this right with some limitations and John Locke would probably deny. And even though Lockean tradition is superior in terms of social contract theory, I tend to take refuge behind Hobbes, considering the Leviathan I am subjected to in my part of the world. But I am still not sure how to tackle this question, which albeit still at some distance, is moving towards me while staring ceaselessly on my face. While the angst is becoming unbearable and the masochist within me is yet again alive after so many years, I ramble inveterately in search of judgment. … Read entire article »
Filed under: musings, Philosophy, Religion, war
Is it easy to fill the God shaped hole at the center of our souls?
By Aasem Bakhshi Contrary to common Muslim perception, Islamic tradition does not hold a unanimous conception of God; furthermore, being able to believe in an omnipotent, perpetually creative and law giving Deity demands clarity of conception, which is intellectually laborious and demands extraordinary dedication. The foremost act in religion is the acknowledgment of Him. The perfection of acknowledging Him is believing in Him; the perfection of believing in Him is acknowledging His oneness; the perfection of acknowledging … Read entire article »
Filed under: Islam, Philosophy, Religion
The Journey of a Pakistani Muslim
I was born into a Sunni Muslim family in a northern city in the UK. The city is home to a large Muslim minority from Pakistan. I come from an educated and broad minded family with middle of the road type of values. Religion was never really a huge issue but I did the usual cultural thing of learning how to read the Quran in Arabic till I was 10 years old. At around the age of 14, I became interested in Islam and joined the Young Muslims UK. This was my first real exposure to practical Islam. We would attend camps and have weekly meetings usually to discuss the Quran and the Hadith of Muhammad. For all intents and purposes everything was going well and my family was happy that … Read entire article »
Filed under: Activism, Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, Citizens, culture, Democracy, Egalitarian Pakistan, Europe, human rights, India, Iran, Iraq, Islam, Islamism, Pakistan, Philosophy, Religion, Rights, violence, war, Women, youth
Routines of Conscience
Routines of Conscience Carries this man with himself different books In moments of reflection and ponder Through moments of protest and anguish In times of trance and its great elation The past in his hands and mind affixed, At times, the words float through the space At times, the words reside in heavy heart See him I at different places, in different zones In different disguises, from one to another The constant struggles, the constant battles As the situation demands, as the moments seize This old heart and soul, this old conscience See him often in conversations in diversity bounded in duty and honour and its desires For his country and for its people, occupied In moments of madness and despair As the cry for change drips into the molten passions Recites he poems, in travels through its distance Strange but common and simple are the goals often we talk … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pakistan, Philosophy, poetry, Politics
Three Poems By Iqbal IV: Dialogue Between God And Man
By Dr. Ali Hashmi Muhawaraa Maa Bain Khuda-o-Insan (Dialogue between God and Man): The third poem in this selection, ‘Muhawaraa maa bain Khuda-o-Insaan’ features one of Iqbal’s favorite styles, a dialogue or interplay between earthly and celestial figures. It also employs one of Iqbal’s favored poetical styles, the Socratic Method (or Socratic Debate), named after the Classical Greek philosopher Socrates, a form of inquiry and debate between individuals with opposing viewpoints based on asking and answering questions to stimulate rational thinking and to illuminate ideas. It is a dialectical method, often involving an oppositional discussion in which the defense of one point of view is pitted against the defense of another. One of the most famous examples of this genre is Iqbal’s lengthy poem ‘Shikwah’ or ‘Reproach’ in which Man(representing the Muslim … Read entire article »
Filed under: Partition, Philosophy, poetry
Pakistan: A Failure of Intellectuals
BY AZHAR ASLAM AND SHERMEEN BANO (Cross-post from Vision21) Every Identity has a history and so does that of Pakistan. It is short but tumultuous, although some say it was born with the conversion or settlement of the first Muslim in India. In truly modern sense though India was only itself born, when British firmly established their rule from Afghanistan to Burma, by 1890s. In the process of doing this however, they sowed the seed of national consciousness in the minds of Indians. British influence moulded Indian nationalism by omissions and commissions. However it inevitably also laid the seed of communalism, as different regions and nationalities in the sub continental melting pot, woke up to the British rule and demanded their rights. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Democracy, Identity, India, Islamabad, Islamism, Jinnah, Justice, Literature, Partition, Philosophy, Politics, public policy, Religion, Rights, Writers
Three Poems By Iqbal III: Khizr The Guide
By Dr. Ali Hashmi Khizr-e-Rah (Khizr the Guide) Al-Khizr (Arabic: “the Green One”) is an enigmatic figure in Islam. He is best known for his appearance in the Qur’an in Sura al-Kahf. Although not mentioned by name, he is assumed to be the figure that Musa (Moses) accompanies and whose seemingly violent and destructive actions so disturb Moses that he violates his oath not to ask questions. Islamic tradition sometimes describes him as Mu’allim al-anbiya (Tutor of the Prophets), for the spiritual guidance he has shown every prophet who has appeared throughout history. In Sufi tradition, Khizr has come to be known as one of those who receive illumination direct from God without human mediation. He is the hidden initiator of those who walk the mystical path and also figures into the Alexander … Read entire article »
Filed under: Partition, Philosophy, poetry
Three Poems By Iqbal II: Maa Ka Khawab.
By Dr. Ali Hashmi A Psychological Interpretation of ‘A Mother’s Dream’ On the surface this poem is simply a description of a mother’s dream about her young son who is lost somewhere. Some commentators have described it as a lament by a mother whose child has died. However, there is a more life affirming explanation which makes more sense psychologically. The poem starts out simply enough. It is in the first person with a mother describing her dream: ‘Main soey jo ik shab toe dekha yeh khwaab Badha aur jis say meraa iztiraab Yeh dekha kay main jaa rahi hoon kahin … Read entire article »
Filed under: Partition, Philosophy, poetry
Three Poems By Iqbal: Introduction
A Psychological Interpretation By Dr. Ali Hashmi ‘Everywhere I go, I find that a poet has been there before me’ Sigmund Freud One of Iqbal’s translators, the Scotsman Victor Kiernan wrote ‘Mohammad Iqbal, the ‘Poet of the East’, lived a life of which outwardly there is little to be said and inwardly, of which little is known.’ Works on Iqbal by scholars and academicians would fill up a small library, particularly in Pakistan, where he is revered as one of the country’s founding fathers. He was one of the early proponents of the idea of a separate state for the Muslims of British India, a fantastically improbable idea at the time. His eventual whole hearted support for the idea of Pakistan was surprising considering that one of his early poems ‘Tarana-e-Hindi’ (‘Song of … Read entire article »
Filed under: Partition, Philosophy, poetry
Civilizations (Mirrors of Our Existence)
From years of our travel We look back Upon these civilizations, From years of adventure We look back Upon these civilizations From days of our inheritance The lands and its cultures The old forms of languages The mystery of Universe The old journey taken By humans and nature together As they traverse From place one to another, In harmony and disarray As we born and die From on to another, As we love and hate The old circumstances And situation, intertwined Through languages and its art, The trails, lost and visible As we look back Upon these civilizations The … Read entire article »
Filed under: ancient civilisations, Architecture, Arts and Crafts, culture, Dance, drama, dynasties, Heritage, History, Identity, Languages, Law, Literature, movements, Music, musings, Nature, Philosophy, Physics, poetry, Politics, psychology
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