QUEST - Let the Journey Begin

QUEST - Let the journey begin....

100 th Milad Mubaraka tribute.

Sharing with my readers, my personal quest to understand and

evolve. Knowledge is very much there ,out in the open for a true seeker. Hope you will find the journey both enlightening and awakening, as you read on.

There is no definite road map in this quest of knowledge. I will be sharing all that which is available in the public domain.

If one is a true seeker, the knowledge is there, waiting for him. One should be sincere. The Nasihat of Syedi Sadikali Saheb is there, Aqa Moula’s bayan mubarak are there – comprising of ‘ Al

Iqtebasats al Noraniyah’ articles published by Nasim E Sahar and

Badre Muneer, Misbah, al Vazarat.org etc : One has to just make an

effort to read it, the Nasihat is so eloquent and easy to understand.

Nothing is left to imagination and deduction.

I will be quoting from texts that I have come across in my readings

and surfing the Net. The purpose of this quest, is to understand,

that both Spirituality and Science are complimentary to each other.

What I have understood is that Science has mellowed from its heydays, and now, with recent discoveries and cutting edge

researches, especially in the field of quantum physics, the leading scientific community is, in fact helping a great deal in our

understanding of the Spiritual Truths, which have remained unchanged for centuries.

Nasihat ; ‘ insaf na mujab a’ bari ni inayat thai ‘

‘bari’ – Allah referred to here is Mubde Haq Subhanu. Let us understand, first things first.

Al – Bari is the First and only Eternal Being, the One, Unique and the One in every respect. HE has no partner and no peer and no

anthropomorphic attribute or action, should be ascribed to HIM.

HE is the CAUSE of all causes and the end of all ends. HE is the final cause in the sense that HE is something that always is to be.

The Gnostics, whose influence was felt mostly in the first and

second century AD, identified the FIRST CAUSE – the True God as residing in the Pleroma (The Fullness)beyond space, time and

causation, while material reality, is the creation of emanated beings – roohani.

Gita says : ‘Brahman, without beginning, Supreme, beyond what is and beyond what is not’

Nasihat : ‘aa jismani a’lam na A’shir ne havala chhe ‘ A’shir – the Tenth Pure Intellect is the Lord of this Universe. Here refer to Aqa Moula’s several bayan mubaraks, and the concept becomes crystal clear. There is no ambiguity. Once I started to

append the word GOD as referred in Judeo Christian belief system to A’shir, my understanding of the concepts became clear.

Whenever, I came across the word GOD in my reading, I tried to

visualize Moula A’shir – that far and not beyond. This to me was very important in my understanding.

Our DEEN contains the knowledge of the beyond. If one is to read the bayan mubarak of Aqa Moula (TUS) and the Nasihat of Syedi

Sadikali Saheb, one can easily understand how Alam e roohani came about, and how Al Jismul Mutlaq – The Absolute Body, or second

matter, the substance, of which this Universe is made, came into existence.

I am confining myself to trying to understand how recent scientific discoveries are helping me in understanding the Spiritual Truths.

This than is my quest.

My presentation on CHANDRAYAN proves how a Spiritual quest

can be understood fully and more deeply with the help of scientific discoveries.

Max Plank, the god father of quantum theory says: ‘ I regard consciousness as primary and matter as derivative of consciousness’

The mind is like a child – innocently curious though prankful and

mischievous – Intellect is like a mother. Use mother craft to sooth

and lull the mind, which is child like. So with this advice, let me begin the journey. Are you coming along with me ?

The belief in a divine power dominated world thought, until 400

years ago, when scientific discoveries, and philosophical skepticism, began to shake faith. The theories and writings of Rene Descartes

– Karl Marx – Charles Darwin – Fredrick Nietzsche , seemed to sink humankind into a slough of despair. Humanity had seemed to have lost direction. But science also proved to be a false god, and the world view left many despondent.

Till the beginning of 20th Century Spirituality was being assailed from all sides. On April 8, 1966, Time Magazine – an oracle of American Opinion, asked in boldfaced red “Is God Dead ?

There were many so called educated in our community, who were unable to come to term with our Faith, and were creating a lot of

trouble, and Muqqadas Syedna Taher Moula Saiffudin (RA) was all alone, battling out with vigor, and his having firm faith in Imam uz Zaman (SA)

He derived his strength and energies from Taeed of Imam-uz-Zaman (S.A.) and he always addressed his longings and aspirations to

Panjatan-e- Pak (S.A.) and Aimat-Tahereen, in whose madeh and eulogies he found spiritual strength and bliss. His often recited

Qasida Mubaraka – ‘ Banul mustafal Mukhtaare Khayrul Khalaeqi ‘

written in 1374 H – Risalah Sharifah Ramadhaniyah Nahrun Noor-ish

Sha’shani, gives us some idea of his complete reliance and surrender to the wishes of Ahle bait- e Nabi (S.A.)

La’in dhayyaqad dunya alayya fa in-nani be-taeedekum ya saadati ghairo dhaeqi

If ever I face restrain in the affairs of this world ,

I never feel constrained because of your taeed O my leaders !

(28 court cases and a number of insinuations and false accusations,

he stoutly overcame them all, and gave befitting replies, because of the taeed of Imam-uz -Zaman (S.A.)

However, in the later part of the 20th Century, with rapid advance in super computing, powerful telescopes, world wide Internet, and

cutting edge discoveries in all fields of science, the Spiritual Truths were now being rediscovered, so to say, with scientific knowledge.

Dr. Mani Bhowmik – the co-inventor of laser technology in his Book : ‘ Code Name God’ has this to say – ‘ Strangely enough the same

scientific methods, that once compelled us to question the existence of God, is now, by way of advanced physics and cosmology,

developing evidence that tend to support our old age belief in a transcendent power.

The quantum Universe is a reality, where same tiny particles may occupy, two places at one time, or react instantly to event light years away

( my taffakur – The tragedy of Karbala that happened 1400 years

ago is still moving us to grief, and when Aqa Moula (TUS) happens

to recite the ‘sahadat’ of Imam Husain (SA) it raises a crescendo of

emotions and feelings, because there is a connect, and our reaction is instantaneous, although on physical plain, there is a lot of

difference, each individual is so very different – which again is not

real, if one is to understand properly. We are ‘one’ largely because of our faith in one Moula.) As above, so below.

He goes on to state that : physics is close to proving that material

reality (our Universe, we the entire humanity, everything included) emerges from a common source ( my taffakur Mubde Haq Subhanahu – Taeed emanating from Aql Awaal – the First

Intelligence and seven Ukool ruahniya to Moulana A’shir – jehne

duniya na havala chhe) which Mani Bhowmik refers to as ‘primary field’ We refer to A’lm ul Amr.

Let me share with my readers another scientific discovery, there have been many others like this in recent years, discoveries that

have death a death blow to the Theory of Evolution, propounded

by Charles Darwin.

Scientific discovery of life forms on Earth : “ The oldest data of the

Earth’s strata in which fossils of complex life forms appear, were laid in the CANBRAIN PERIOD estimated at between 543 and 490

million years ago. In the strata older than the Cambrian Period, no fossils of the living things can be found, apart from the single cell organism. In the Cambrian Period, however, a variety of distinctly different life forms, suddenly appeared. More than 30 life forms,

such as sea urchins, star fish, snails and fish appeared in a single moment. (www.harunyahya.com)

However, it is a living miracle that in past few decades – Science and its awakened, and enlightened Scientific community – their numbers are ever growing , by their scientific pursuits and discoveries are

becoming champions of Spirituality.

Hope you are having an enriching experience this far and looking forward to another journey ahead

'Autumn is a second spring, when every leaf is a flower. ' As our trek continues on the carpet of fallen autumn leaves of

breathtaking hues, the rustle of leaves beneath our feet as we take each step forward to better understanding of Spirituality and Science.

As we trek along, let us understand how recent Scientific discoveries , are validating the Spiritual truths, although the Spiritual Truths ,

which have guided humanity on the right path for centuries, do not in itself need validation.

However, as stated in the earlier post after the initial euphoria of

scientific discoveries, which led to totally materialistic mindset,

Science has mellowed and with recent discoveries, specially in the

field of Cosmology and Quantum Physics, the Scientific community is slowly converging towards acceptance of Spiritual Truth – primarily TAWHEED – ONENESS.

In this post I will try to show my readers how, if your quest is for the Truth – than right guidance is received, from heaven above, no

mater whatever be the field in which one is working. Let me give you an example from the field of Physical and Cosmological Science.

If one is to look up the pioneering work done by Steven Weinberg – Abdus Salam and Sheldon Glashow – all Physicists , who were

awarded the Nobel Prizes for their pioneering work in 1960 and

Carlo Rubia and Simon Van der Meer for their pioneering work as

heads of the CERN team in Geneva , were also awarded Nobel Prize in the year 1983.

Simply put, the pioneering work of all these scientists received

recognition for understanding the symmetry behind Creation. By

their research they conclusively established the symmetry of diverse forces. Now Science is getting closer to the common Source – and this to me is very exiting. Science is on the threshold of the Grand Unification Theory (GUT)

With the help of powerful COBE Telescope at the macro level and

nano technology at the micro level, the scientific community is seeing

a symmetry in all things. Just like our genome (DNA) which is present in our very first cell and consists of 23 pairs of

chromosomes , possesses the blue print of our entire human being, likewise, it has been proved that, un manifested fields, pervade all space and time, and they are known as quantum fields.

The mystery of matching particles was solved in the last half of the twentieth century , when physicists determined that underlying

quantum fields, give birth to elementary particles. The empty space is not empty at all. It is seething cauldron of quantum activity.

Now Science with help of research and Theories, are accepting that yes – something virtual is becoming, something ‘real’

It took Science another 100 years, to fully glimpse and understand the existence of unification of all forces and fields, after James

Clerk Maxwell demonstrated the unification of electric and magnetic fields, which we now know as electromagnetic field.

Now let me share with you what our Deen teaches and how easy for us it is to understand, once you know the spiritual Truths.

The quest becomes very rewarding and uplifting, for if one truly

understands the Haqiqat Truths, the misconceptions are removed ,

and most important the constraints and fears are removed, and one flies high in pure joy with the help of knowledge acquired, in the understanding of Tawheed. Most important is that your quest

should be for the understanding of Tawheed – ONENESS. Before proceeding further , let me emphasize that our Deen , so

rightly says, once again quoting Syedi Sadikali Saheb –‘ tawheed ehne khaiye –jeh chhe khuda na muka’ As above, so below. The Shariat of RasulAllah (SA) is beyond zaman (time) and makan (space)

From my earlier post, readers have understood that it is Moulana A’shair – The Tenth Pure Intellect, who is responsible for the

actualization of the potentiality – a Moula who will be bringing back all the fallen souls to their glory.

Now, with the help of Science I am getting to learn how Moulana A’shir -‘ jehne duniya na havala chhe ‘ goes about his tadbeer. ( Note. Here it is advisable to talk of myself only – as it is my

personal ohbat – my personal quest, which I am just sharing with

those, who may be interested to undertake their own journey. The niyat is that the youngsters of community , may be motivated to attend sabaks , and get a proper understanding of the Haqiqat Truths)

The cause of the matter is Form, which is called by both Farabi and Bu Ali Sina, as – Wahib al suwar (the Giver of Forms ) A thing does not change from potentiality to actuality all by itself, but through something that produces results, (so there is One – Moula –

Moulana A’shir.) Note : The text in the bracket is my taffakur –

reflection, which comes to me like epiphany – sudden realization as I read.

(Book ref: Avicenna – Soheil M Afnan – ( Ph D – Cant:) The Pleroma is designated as ‘ alam al ibda’ alam al amr.

The Angel Adam -the Tenth Pure Intellect, realized that if they were to remain in the pure Spiritual world (Alam e Ibda – roohani Alam)

they will never free themselves of the Tenebrosity – darkness, murk and gloom (Aqa Moula (TUS) farmave chhe huboot waqe thayu ) This is why he made himself the demiurge of the physical cosmos

( Moulana A’shir ni rehmat, shafaqat na sabab ) and the instrument through which the Forms, who had once been of Light (noorani) would find their salvation.

(Book Ref: History of Islamic Philosophy – Henry Corbin) The created world is known as alam al khalq – Jism ul Mutlaq – total body. Now it becomes easy to understand and misconceptions are

removed., that Science is trying to unravel the mystery of this ‘alam – how it came about.

Mubde Haq Subhanu in whose Glory Quran states in Surah Ya sin – Ayah 82 -“kun fayakun” – – “Be – and it is !” is far, far beyond

anyone’s understanding , and to accept this fact, it self is Tawheed.

It is only the Chosen of Allah, who are blessed to know HIS Glory. I

quote from one of the Supplication of Imam Ali Zayn al Abedin (SA) to prove that Spirituality – our DEEN is more deep and for ever sustaining and enriching.

From his Supplication ‘ The Glorification of Allah’ Glory be to Thee !

Thou knowest the weight of the heavens.

Glory be to Thee !

Thou knowlest the weight of the earths.

(note the plurality in the words heaven and earth, now Scientists are accepting the Multiuniverse Theory) Glory be to Thee !

Thou knowest the weight of the wind, how many times, it is greater than the weight of the dust mote !

Glory be to Thee ! All holy ; All holy ; All holy (kudoos’un ; kudoos’un; kudoos’un)

(Ref: Al – Sahifat Al Kamilat Al Sajjadyya) In my next trek, as we journey along, I will try to reflect on the causes which led to the advent of dark age, when all knowledge, acquired through the Centuries, was deemed lost. In truth every thing in a sense is being rediscovered.

So my young friends – Science has along long way to go still, but the direction taken in the recent years , will one day lead to the

convergence of Spirituality and Science in the understanding of The Haqiqat.

Let us take a break in our trek and refresh ourselves , by a revelation. Prof: Alan Guth comes with his path breaking

‘Inflationary Theory’ at the right time in the Year 1979. Had it been propounded earlier, there would have been many skeptics in the

Scientific Community . Why is it so ? Have you given a thought ? Why things fall in the right place at the right time ?

The answer my friends is that – The Quest is correct. Science is

trying to understand the concept of ‘ Tawheed – The ONENESS , so all help and assistance is coming from a much higher source, beyond our understanding and comprehension.

So my young educated friends, join the band wagon. Channelize

your expertise and knowledge, be it in whatever field, and if your

quest is to understand Tawheed, I assure you, you will be enjoying each moment of your journey.

Let us drink deep from the river of knowledge. QUEST for

knowledge to an enlightened and awakened trekker, whispers from every leaf , sings from the gurgling stream and radiates shimmering light from the sky above – so trek along friends.

Unshackle your mind, let it soar high on this day of Urs Mubarak of Sayedi Fakhruddin Saheed – Babji Moula on whose house steps, the iron shackles melt, to set one free.

Spiritual Truths have been there for centuries, and they need no validation from Scientific discoveries.

Now let us take into account, some of the causes, which led to the advent of the ‘dark age’ when all knowledge acquired through the Centuries, was deemed lost.

What is more important to me as a mumin, is that after the Industrial Revolution in Europe, Science came to be largely based on the

premises of Materialism. Everything else was termed as illusion or imagination.

A definite wedge was created between Spirituality and Science.

More worrying from our Community point of view, is that those who received English/ European Education developed a mindset, that made them believe that knowledge was the result of purely intellectual activity of the Western Developing Nations.

The quest to understand the infinite power, which we know as

ALLAH has a very long history. If one is make a proper study of the

history of intellectual activity to understand the SUPREME BEING , one will have to read the history of the quest by Babylonians – The Egyptians -The Greeks – The Arabs (Saracens) – The Gnostics – The Orientalists and finally The Europeans.

The known earliest Spiritual Truth found is in the Emerald Tablet

Circa 3000 BC wherein is inscribed the following : ‘AS ABOVE , SO BELOW – AS WITHIN, SO WITHOUT’ This truth has remained unchanged for Centuries , and we learn this same truth in the

‘sabaks’ even today, and although hundreds of Scientific Theories have been propounded, to be proved wrong by later Scientific

discoveries, what is taught in our DEEN remains unchanged. So this is an important point to be remembered.

The quest by all great thinkers in the past – just to name a few Socrates – Aristotle – Pluto – Plotinus (The founder of Neo-

Platonism) The Gnostics of the 1st and 2nd Centuries, gathered

momentum and acceleration, more scientific , more methodical and

analytical, in the early 8th Century after Islam spread to far corners of the world.

Let me quote Syed Ameer Ali from his Book : Short History of Saracens.

‘From early 8th Century the Arabs exercised their intellect, physical sciences were diligently cultivated, and Chemistry botany, geology, natural history etc: occupied the attention and excersed the

energies of the ablest men. Abu Musa Jafar of Kufa (the Geber of

Christian writers) is the father of modern chemistry. The science of medicine and the art of surgery were developed to the highest degree.

Al – Kindi wrote two hundred works on various subjects –

arithmetic, geometry , philosophy , meteorology, optics and

medicine. Abu Maaashar (corrupted by the Europe of the Middle Ages into Albumazar) made the celestial phenomena his special study; and the Table of Abu Maaashar has remained the chief reference point of astronomical knowledge.

The early Fatimides, like their ancient prototypes the first

Ptolemies , were grand supporters of learning science. They

established colleges , public libraries and scientific institutes (Dar ul –hikmat) richly supplied with books and mathematical instruments, and a large professional staff.

Access to and the use of these literary treasures were free to all,

and writing materials were afforded gratis. The Calips (Imams – SA) frequently held learned disputations, at which the professors of these academics appeared, divided according to their different faculties,… dressed in their Khalaa ( The gowns of the English

universities, still retain the original form of the Arabic Khalaa) UN

QUOTE Feeling proud my young friends – the English Professors are still donning the Fatemi attire, and hopefully, by the end of the next post, you will also realize that the same Intellectual enquiry,

religiously pursued by the Arabs , lost in the ‘dark age’ is slowly but surely reemerging and is being rediscovered, with scientific proofs,

fuelled by rapid advance in technology covering, all the branches of intellectual pursuit. This is what I find most exciting. Personally I consider it as the 100 Milad Mubarak boon and blessing.

Nahj – Al – Balagha of Moulana Ali (SA)is surely, the fountain head of AL ILM. During the time of Imam Jafar us Sadik (SA) there was a deep and far reaching intellectual pursuit, which included all

branches of discipline. The prime aim and goal was to understand the Tawheed of Allah. There was no disparity between different sciences and theologies. Knowledge was homogenous , and the quest was to understand and assimilate all knowledge.

Rasail – Ikhwan Al – Shafa (the Epistles of the Brethren of Purity) not only contain interesting scientific and philosophical thoughts,

but includes words of wisdom, for the emancipation of human soul.

Syedna Al_ Qadi Al-Numan (RA) during his 66 years of khidmat of four Imams (SA) has written in all 44 Kutubs, the most widely read and prominent being Daim ul Islam.

Moulana al – Mu’ayyad fil din al Shirazi (RA) Moulana Hamid al –

Din al Kirmani (RA) just to mention two of the many leading Ismaili

thinkers and noteworthy scholars , whose intellectual pursuit, after a lapse of many centuries is finding favor with leading thinkers of this Century.

In the Book : “Introduction to the History of Science” the author George Sarton gives tribute to Muslim Scientists. Let me quote: “It will suffice here to evoke a few glorious names without

contemporary equivalents in the West – Jabir ibn Haiyan, al Kindi, al – Khwarizmi, al- Fagani, al – Razi, al – Farabi, Ibn Sina (Bu Ali Sina) ……. He refers to a few more. What he states at the end is, what

concerns us the most – and I quote ‘ If anyone tells you that the

Middle Ages were scientifically sterile, just quote these men to him, all of whom flourished within a short period of 750 to 1100 AD.

Robert Briffault in his Book : Making of Humanity writes : ‘ It was

under the influence of the Arabs and Moorish revival of culture, and not in the 15th Century, that a real renaissance took place.’ He goes on to state ‘Science is the most momentous contribution of Arab Civilization to the modern world.’

The Arab scientists were calculating the size of the earth , from the

measurement of a degree on the shores of the Red Sea – this at the time when Christian Europe was asserting the flatness of the Earth.

Insa Allah in our upcoming trek, we will examine the reasons, that led to the misguided thinking that Scientific knowledge was the sole

preserve of the Western Nations , and basically on account of

Renaissance, followed by Industrial Revolution, as taught to all of us in schools.

Along the way of our QUEST at times, the trek becomes very

difficult, we are faced with many challenges, but those of true spirit, none the less carry forward, turning every obstacle into a stepping stone, for they are sure to find a rainbow at the end of their journey.

Let us take into account, some of the causes, which led to the

advent of the ‘dark age’ when knowledge acquired through the Centuries was deemed lost, and more importantly, when it

resurfaced, it was wrongly assumed to be, largely on account of the intellectual pursuit of Western Nations, as a result of Renaissance and Industrial Revolution.

It was not so, as clearly shown in my previous post. Please permit to quote an erudite scholar Syyed Ameer Ali from his book – ‘ The Spirit of Islam’

‘ Such was the glorious achievement of the Moslems in the field of intellect; and all was due to the teachings of one man ( Nabi

Mohammad – S.A) … Afflicted humanity awoke into new life. Whilst the barbarians of Europe, who have overturned an effete empire, were groping in the darkness of ignorance and brutality, the

Moslems were building up a great civilization. During the centuries of moral and intellectual desolation in Europe, Islam led the vanguard

of progress. Christianity had established itself on the throne of the Caesars, but it failed to regenerate the nations of the earth….From the schools of Salerno, of Bagdad, of Damascus, of Cordova, of Granada, of Malaga, the Moslems taught the world the gentle

lessons of the philosophy and practical teachings of Science’ I also quote a Christian author of a blog aptly describing the result

of the meeting of two diverse cultures: ‘ The Christians were brought face to face with a civilisation superior to their own; their eyes were dazzled by the light of Arabian learning; and the mental ferment

which succeeded in Europe led to the cultivation of science and

literature, the foundation of universities, the study of the immortal classics of Greece and Rome, the growth of philosophy and skepticism, the Renaissance in Italy, and the Reformation in Germany. And these movements, in turn, led to the French

Revolution, which sounded the death-knell of Feudalism, and to the Free thought of Voltaire, which pierced the heart of Superstition.

Likewise a most barbaric and damaging episode erupted – an

earthquake on the fertile plains of Islamic Intellectual and morally

uplifting landscape, in the last part of the 10th Century. The cause was the rallying call made, to save Christianity from the infidels

(Muslims) – after a meeting called by Pope Urban II. As a result of which, the Crusades began in 1097 and continued for 3 centuries.

First Crusades 1097 –1099

Second Crusades 1147- 1149 Third Crusades 1187- 1192

The Crusades burst among the Muslim empire, at a most crucial

moment in its history. I shudder to mention the barbaric acts, which

occurred at Ma’arra al Numan, following the capitulation of Antioch.

Peter the Hermit, Walter nicknamed ‘penniless’ – Godeschal – the German monk perpetrated inhuman atrocities.

Millions perished in battle, hunger or disease and the Crusaders

disgraced the Cross, for the protection of which they had issued

forth. It is very ironic, and how misguided were their clergy, as the Muslims also believed in One Supreme Being- Allah. They fought

the holy wars to rid the world of the infidels. This only shows how

misguided they were, and the real causes were far too malicious and deep.

A Muslim view fully borne out by the atrocities committed by the Crusaders

The object of the Crusades was inhuman. They were launched against Islam by those who were suffering from mental rigidity, prejudice, wrong conceptions, class ÂŹdistinctions, intellectual

stagnation, educational backwardness and medieval fossilisation .

These wars were started with a view to oppose a new religion and a world system which believed in human values and had replaced

discrimination and inequality by justice and equality and put the firm

belief in one God in the place of complex heathenism. The result was tremendous bloodshed, large scale destruction and many ignoble incidents which continued for over a century.

The brilliance of Islamic teaching and moral code, made an

impression on many moderate and thinking Christians, many

converted to Islam, as things settled down. Many Christians and

Jews were holding important administrative posts, and were exerting influence in the Fatimid Courts. In the previous post, I have already dwelt on the brilliance and quest of Intellectual achievements,

encouraged and fostered by our most revered red Fatemi Imams (SA)

However, unfortunately Islam was to suffer more devastation in the form of a Tsunami, that originated from the vast steppes of

Mongolia, in the form of Chengiz or Jingis Khan. In the year 1218 AD the Mongol issued forth from the steppes , with a savage following of a million and moved upon Farghana.

Centres of knowledge and culture like Herat, Balkh, Bokhara,

Samarkand were reduced to ashes. A general massacre was ordered in all these cities. This Mongol invasion put an end to the intellectual life of Central Asia.

More destruction and savagery was witnessed when 50 years later Halaku, the grandson of Chengiz Khan sacked Bagdad. For three days the streets ran with blood, and the water of the Tigris was

dyed red for miles along its course. The horrors of rapine, slaughter and outraged humanity, lasted for six weeks.

The reckless assassination of thousands of scholars, poets, writers and the destruction of libraries and colleges wrought irreparable disaster upon the Muslim civilisation , which had flourished for centuries with remarkable vitality.

What deepened the somber effects of the tragedy was the fact, with the extermination of men of learning, the spirit of enquiery and

original research, so distinctly associated with Arabic learningas practically destroyed.

However, in the midst of all this horrors, there was a silver lining.

More than a hundred years before the Mongols sacked Central Asia, Moulana Imam Taiyyeb (SA) had gone in seclusion, In the

beginning of the 12th Century Moulana Lamak (RA) had come in the hazrat Imamiyah Mustansiryah to seek the raza. We mumineen are very familiar with the historical evidence that transpired.

Here I quote from one of my earlier post on the Glorious Fatimid Empire – Part 3.

‘The period of 454 A.H. to 459 A.H.,was a period of chaos and famine, but of far reaching and significant consequence for the

Fatemi Taiyyebi Dawah. Sy. Al- Mu’yyad (AQ) passed these four years in conference with Dai Lamak at Dar-ul- Ilm, and thus

although the Nile had dried up, the Fatemi Uloom flowed in torrents towards Yemen.

Syedna Mu’yyad (AQ)remained in charge of the entire Dawah until

his death in 470 A.H. He wrote most of his works, in the last year of his life.’

So long before the Mongols had destroyed everything in sight, the

true learning (I’lm of A’le Mohammad, encompassing all branches of knowledge) found a very safe and secure haven, to be diligently pursued and revitalised , in the fortified forts (hisn haseen) of Yemen.

Rainbow in all its majesty after all the difficulties. .

One can be blessed with more insights, when you take a pregnant break on your trek, and soak in the nature. It helps to rest your body, calm your mind and awaken your soul.

Continuing from the previous post, all was not lost. In our Deen we are more concerned with knowledge that ‘illuminates’ Mere

accumulation of knowledge for the sake of acquiring an aura of a very learned person, is not encouraged. Acquiring of knowledge

should have a definite purpose, and that purpose in our Deen is the quest to understand Tawheed of Allah.

Like speech,knowledge which is a mile long but only a centimeter deep is of little value. So it can be surmised, that the I’lm of Ale

Mohammad – the true I’lm required for the emancipation of souls, and to make us mumineen into ‘farishta shifa’t’ (angelic human

being) did survive the onslaught of the Crusades and the ravages of

the Mongols.

When the Mongol hoards were destroying every known vestige of

humanity, culture and knowledge, so assiduously nurtured by Islam since the beginning of 8th Century, through the lands of Central Asia, our revered Doat e Kirams fully occupied themselves in the

intellectual pursuit and enquiry of Tawheed, in the relative safety

and seclusion of Yemini Mountains and valleys. This is what term, as a blessing in disguise.

Let me share with my fellow trekkers as we soak in the beauty and

barakat as we sit on the hallowed ground of Al – Khaif ul Naseem,

where Sy. Hatim Mohiyuddin (SA) used to give ‘sabaks’ some facts from history. AKHBAR IS ANWA’R – provided you are willing to reflect, and not to rot, as we use to do in school days.

When Chengiz Khan was marauding Central Asia, during that time or thereabout, Syedna Hatim Mohyuddin (RA) was engrossed in

writing of 16 Dawat kutubs, and his Mazoon Syedna Mohammad

Taher (RA) – known as ‘Bawisa na Saheb ‘ had written 7 kutubs.

The death of Syedna Hatim Mohyuddin Moula (RA) in 596 AH

coincided with the total destruction of Bagdad, as referred to in my earlier post in 1218 AD.

Syedna Ali Bin Molaya Mohammad Walid (RA) assumed the august

office of Dai ul Mutlaq in 605 AH (1227 AD) I will request my readers

to log on to the shared link. Please do read and reflect, reflect,and reflect – it has been compiled by me as a WAKE UP CALL.

Doa of Nabi Muhammad (SA) – the loom of 18 lusicious grapes – intervening 5 centuries – 18 Doat Kiram in the progeny – ‘nasl’ of Walid who died a polytheist- the first Dai Syedna Ali Bin Molaya Walid in all writing 18 kutubs !!!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/

10jStbt83JW_gHx1M-49bxgy1Ghpl8iIwFIMLgtEj4iw/edit? hl=en&authkey=CIT836oF

This then, my fellow trekkers, is the beauty of OUR DEEN !

This is the symmetry, the confluence that the Spiritual Masters and in this 21st century the awakened scientists. are trying to unravel.

Let me share with you just one example of what I have referred earlier as ‘illuminative’ Knowledge.

‘Information is not matter, although it is imprinted on matter, it comes from elsewhere, from an intelligence’

This is a Spiritual Truth but we need a philosopher and a Scientist

like Stephen C Meyer of Cambridge University. To prove this point,

he used to demonstrate to his class by holding two computer disks.

One full of software and other data The other – a blank. Now, the mass of both is same, but one is blank and the other contains a lots and lots of information. Outwardly

both are same but the difference , and a big one that too, is in the contents.

On account of the Crusades and the ravages of Mongols, many

valuable Arabic Books were destroyed for ever. Just one example : Kitab Al Insaf by Bu ali Sina (The Book of Impartial Judgment)

which investigates 28000 questions – The manuscripts of Insaf disappeared at the sack of Isfahan.

This is one small example of the extent of Intellectual Activity of the Muslims – Persians and Arabs in particular during the glorious

epoch. However , many thousands survived and like our Doat Kiram sahebs of Yemen and later in India, Doat Kirams and hudood fozala kiram shaebs, some devoted their entire life, in the study of I’lm of Ale Muhammad (SA)

Just two glowing examples. Syedi Ameen bin Jalal, whose quest for

acquiring I’lm was so focused, that we mumineen know that even the

‘water’ in the his lamp, turned into oil, so that the radiance of Fatemi Uloom, be preserved for posterity. Another name, just one from hundreds of savants , is that of Syedi Abdulkader Hakimuddin Moula (RA)

However, very unfortunately after the Renaissance and Industrial

Revolution, as detailed in my 3rd Trek, during 19th and 20th Century, when English Education held sway over the minds of elite class, a

definite wedge began to develop between Spirituality and Science.

Islam was grossly misrepresented. Original enquiry and intellectual pursuits became confined to selected few, who were seekers of truth, but they were hedged with skeptism and materialism all

around, and retreated in their secured shell. The time, it seems, had not come.

However, on the other hand, there were very enterprising souls, who managed to read the original surviving Arabic and Persian Texts, a few noted were German Scholars. Translations in different languages, slowly but surely started to appear.

I salute their enterprising works, which were avidly read and

reflected upon, by the growing un-biased intellectual community of Western Philosophers, Educationists and most importantly

Scientists, actively pursuing to understand the mystery of Universe.

On the occasion of the 100th Milad Mubarak, I had made

honourable honourable mention of few of the pioneering authors

and their works, which helped in revitalizing of the Islamic Theology and Philosophy.

Rudolph Strothmann ( 1877-1960)

Louis Massignon ( 1883-1962) A Guide to Islamic Literature (1933) compiled by W. Ivanow. A Russian Scholar of repute.

History of Islamic Philosophy – Henry Corbin Ismaili Thought in the Age of al – Hakim (SA) 1999 Publication by Paul E Walker.

Seyyed Hossein Nasr. A widely read modern renowned Ismaili Scholar

A few of his Books : Tradition of Islam in the Modern world.

Ideals and Realities of Islam.

Science and Civilization in Islam – Harvard University Press 1968 Ismaili Literature – a bibliography of Sources and Studies – Farhad Daftry.

The Library of the Institute of Islamic Studies in London contains

valuable original documents and Manuscripts, which are providing rich reference material.

From mumineen point of view of interest, it has the oldest illuminated copy of Rasail – 44 /1040 AH of Ikhwan us Shafa. It also has a

manuscript of Syedna Ali bin Hanzala (RA) 6th Dai – a number of

copyist – the last is one Gulam Husyn Mulla Fidahusian Biyawari – 1931 AD

My niyat behind bombarding you will all the above Names and Book References, is to just make you understand, more importantly to make you aware, how True knowledge of Tawheed, for the

understanding and expounding of which, our Duat Kiram and

huddod fozala kirams, worked relentlessly and in seclusion, has

finally found a niche, amongst the seekers of not accumulative but ‘illuminative’ knowledge in all streams of intellectual pursuit.

My fellow trekkers and educated friends, who have been avid

readers of modern day Philosophers and Thinkers like – Louise

Hay, Haisch Bernard, Deepak Chopra, Rhonda Byrne, Echart Tolle etc: I humbly seek an answer from you.

Have you read or heard of the Book by Dr. Najmuddin Saheb – Ameerul Jamea ?

‘A Philosphical Discourse by His Holiness Dr. Syedna Taher Saiffudin ‘ Published by Al –Jamea-tus- Saifiyah.

In his commentary Dr. Najmuddin Saheb an erudite scholar of

Fatemi Philosophy, citing reference to Ikhwan –us- shafa , states

that ‘ Philosophy is a three tired pyramid, the three tiers comprising of:

Love of Sciences The comprehension of the facts of Creation to the best of human ability

Practice by words and deeds of the knowledge so gained.

The most renowned exponent of deeds reflecting words – ‘ibadatayn’ was Syedna Hamid al Din Al Kirmani (RA) https://docs.google.com/Doc?

docid=0AUOrKa48emnMZGdydnA4dmJfNzZ0NjN3bnFoZw&hl=en &authkey=CJq0iv8K

Friends, I have just made a few references, and Insa Allah during our last and final trek! I will try to reflect on the convergence of

Spirituality and Sciences, resulting from pioneering researches and reflections done by modern day Philosopher Scientists and Thinkers.

Ken Webler is just one example of a Biochemical Scientist, trying to understand the Spiritual Truths, resulting in ‘ A Brief History of Everything ‘

My Blog Post : http://mindmints.blogspot.com/2010/06/brief-history-of-

everything-ken-wilber.html From my personal perspective, how these modern day marvels of

cutting edge Science has helped me, in gaining more insights in my

understanding of the Spiritual Truths learnt by attending ‘sabaks’.

A presentation of ‘DNA Molecule’ made by me, has to wait, as I feel, it’s time has not come, although I have shared it with a few, who I know are taking Haqiqat sabaks, and fully comprehend.

Spirituality and Science are converging like never before. I hope to reflect and share on them, during our final trek Insa Allah.

I had been blessed with ziyarat of Yemen Doat e Kiram (RA) and had shared my experience on the Blog.

For those who have not exhausted themselves by the reading of this blog, may well log on to the following link.

http://mindmints.blogspot.com/2008/10/climbing-up-mountzimarmar-yemen.

After taking a breathtaking repose and rest at Al Khaif ul Nayeem, we finally end our trek at an all encompassing, ecstatic and magnificent point, where the heavens open up.

Hope our QUEST undertaken in true spirit and purpose, has finally made us stand on the threshold of awaking and enlightenment.

We mumineen are so blessed and fortunate to be in possession of that TRUTH –

OUR MOULA (TUS). He openly declares that ‘mumineen tame fikr

na karo, Imam Husain na gum ma bas ek ansoo nikali do – maru kaam thai gayoo’

During the historic and most memorable, meavi milad vaaz mubarak, the Husaini tara, who we mumineen are so blessed to be witness to, said : ‘ mumineen mari tadbeer ma – tamne zamin thee a’smani

bannava ma, mane yaari a’po,jeh chhe teh Moula chhe, Moula

duniya ane akherat ma olkhee lese’ So let us reach out to him rejoice and celebrate,

In this post let us try to understand some of the scientific

discoveries, that are helping us to understand better the Spiritual

Truths. The latest scientific research is moving away from materialism to spiritualism.

We are now in the Aquarian Age, and with each passing year the

Religious Truths of Monotheism, will find credence and acceptability

by new discoveries in Quantum Physics. The Universe forming out

of the BIG BANG was at odds with the Religious Truths, but with the latest M Theory, although I am not a student of science, and my

knowledge is very limited, I think and there is a gut feeling, each new

scientific discovery is inching closer to the understanding of Tawhid.

The M Theory was propounded first by Edward Wittens, this

Theory is based on tiny strings vibrating in 10 dimensional space

time. Now for me personally this 10 dimensional space time is very

exiting, when it gives scientific credence to the Theory of emanation (fadl) originally propounded by Plotinus (204 to 270 BC) in Enneads.

Central to Plotinus metaphysics, is the process of ceaseless

emanation (fadl) and out flowing from the THE ONE. Plotinus gives metaphors, such as the radiation of heat from fire, fragrance from a

flower, or light from the sun. Now the M Theory postulates, that tiny strings vibrate in 10 dimensional space time. https://docs.google.com/document/d/

1evDs5RqhWiWIL1UiSW6E7SjFFW3i_csBcI9PHT7HNg8/edit? hl=en&authkey=CKugzf0P

Most of the Scientist are in agreement that with the help of this M

Theory, many paradoxes are being solved. Just one example – why

the force of Gravity is so weak. Now the scientist are of opinion that as Gravity passes through several dimensions, it becomes weak.

Science has taken a long road from Einstein’s Theory of Gravity

replaced by The String Theory to be followed by the Super String Theory in 1980 and with exiting and verifiable discoveries in

Quantum Physics, and the latest M Theory, as stated above.

Now let me take up the BIG BANG theory, literary by it’s horns,

which is at odds with the Spiritual Truth. This theory in the past was a very soar point, a thorn in the flesh, in establishing a symmetry between Spirituality and Science.

The problem is that, we get attached to words, and start believing in them. Recent scientific discoveries are proving that there was no

BANG – BANG in the BIG BANG. Now that very thing is somewhat of a solace to me.

My friends let me share with you the truth behind the misnomer BIG BANG (Book Ref: Code Name God – The Spiritual Odyssey of a Man of Science by Mani Bhaumik. Ph.D)

The idea of Cosmic Explosion, kicking off the expansion of the universe – this idea was first conceived by George Lemaitre – a Belgian priest, and the British astronomer Fred Hoyle, in jest, coined the term BIG BANG. Mark the words – ‘in jest’

So the truth is that the term was coined in jest, we all latched on to it, as any thing theatrical, appeals to each and every one of us.

BIG BANG is more appealing that the Spiritual Truth – the fact that it was ‘huboot’ (darkness, murk and gloom) that descended

because we in the ‘roohani A’lam’ did not listen to Moulana A’shir – Aqa Moula (TUS) farmave chhe ‘ La’la (roshni) chali gaiyee – woh A’lam to’ noor nu A’lam chhe – waha kem rehvaye – hayula wajood ma avaoo.’

The COBE data has confirmed that the universe is made up of 4.5 per cent ordinary matter, 25 per cent dark matter of an as yet

unknown composition, and more important about 70 per cent of mysterious factor known as dark energy.

What I understand is that all the Scientific discoveries pertain to the understanding of this material reality. We were eased out of the

Paleroma, darkness engulfed, material reality, which the scientists

are trying to understand – hayula – total body came into existence, largely on account of the ‘rehmat’ of Moulana A’shir, who did the

tadbeer. So there was no BANG – BANG. Now Quantum Science, is proving it too.

Scientists are now saying conclusively that ‘noise’ requires a medium to carry the sound waves. It was an ‘explosion of space’ (easing out from the Roohani A’lam is what I understand) and not an explosion.

Scientists Penzias and Wilson says, that we can listen to the energy

of creation, and this energy is every where. If you look at the static

on your T V channel, which should be not any receiving channel, you

will see dots beginning to dance. which according to Mani Bhaumik – ‘we are looking at the very ancient fingerprint, because a

percentage of that static is a microwave remnant of the birth of the universe’ (hayula)

I personally found the scientific predictions not going against my

spiritual believes (Note: I am talking about my self only – my quest) once I did away with the notion of BIG BANG and tried to

understand how ‘hayula’ came about – the tadbeer of Moulana A’shir. With this notion in mind, I found scientific discoveries validating some of my spiritual concepts.

With rapid advance in Quantum Physics and decades of laboratory experiments and observations made by powerful COBE satellite,

the predictions agree with the observational data to an astounding degree of accuracy of one part per billion. I would be a fool not to take into consideration, or turn a blind eye to all this scientific established fact.

The Scientific fact : By one second after the BIG BANG ( I see it not as a BANG but as tadbeer of Moula A’shir on receiving ‘fadl’

emanation from all the roohani asmaan – the Intellects above him in Al’m ul Ibda, with this concept in mind always, the scientific facts become easy to understand) the temperature had fallen to ten

billion degrees, and the universe was like a giant thermonuclear

reactor gradually cooling by expansion. (hayula wujood ma ayu)

Prof: Alan Guth’s GUT ( grand unified theory) pioneering work

came from his study of the first blink of the awakened Universe,

where the symmetry was intact and reality was far smaller than the head of a pin.

The universe’s essential traits were established as early as one hundred millionth of a billionth of a billionth of a billionth of a

second from its inception (Book page 158) I am not saying this – the observed data by Scientists, is stating this, which has helped me to understand, not wholly, but to a certain extent, the Spiritual Truth of Quran Ayah ‘ kun – fayakun’ “BE” -and it is!

Now let us see how the recent scientific discoveries are making

renowned scientists, into spiritual thinkers, affirming the Spiritual Truths, which have been there for centuries.

Eminent physicist Freeman Dyson also finds that ” the universe in some sense must have known that we are coming”

John Wheeler, one of the most thoughtful scientist of our time,

concludes from his extensive studies of Quantum physics that “It is

incontrovertible that the observer (Moulana A’shir according to me) is a participator in genesis.”

Mani Bhaumik states – The Observer ( Moula A’shir ne duniya na hawala chhe – so states Syedi Sadik ali Saheb) That’s

consciousness, and we are conscious agents, vehicles for

manifestation of a potentiality that was there from the start. (roohani A’lam ma apan bhi hata -gunah na sabab gira)

Quantum physicists have demonstrated beyond any reasonable

doubt, that the ‘observer’ and the ‘observed’ are fundamentally

connected, their relationship is interactive and participatory. This than my young friends is the Spiritual Truth.

The most vivid experiment is called the entanglement or the non locality experiment, and how particle phycists, are now able to achieve quantum teleportation. In one of my earlier post, I had written in detail about this experiment.

Now let me share with my young friends, my reflections and

observation made during the meavi milad mubarak vaaz, and it is

based on my knowledge derived from quanum physic experiment,

referred above. Click on the link, before reading on my observation to get a complete idea of my spiritual concept based on scientific facts.

A very humble Milad tribute to my Moula. https://docs.google.com/document/d/

1gznGXGAlK_3zg4Xjv4mm6o2nSF3K15nfWR9np6TFsJI/edit? hl=en&authkey=CIPL4rYD

The world wide community of mumineen may have surely noticed,

the outpouring of emotional feelings of our Moula, at the end of the vaaz, when he said how he wished, that he could be able to do ‘

mua’naqo’ ( a noble Fatemi tradition of embrace, which in common parlance, we refer to as – gale lagavi devu)

How did our Moula achieve this impossible feat, he did achieve it, and I will show you how.

With the help of ‘ quantum teleportation’ that is by telling us all to

do matam e Husain, by superimposing on all of us, the roohaniyat of matam, and thus although great distance separated each of us, our Moula was able to realize his wish, of granting all of us the ‘sharaf’ of ‘muanaqo’. You all may have observed, that while sada’t kiram

sahebs were doing ‘mua’naqo’, Aqa Moula (TUS) was doing matam

himself, and extolling all of us to do ‘matam’ in a sense, he was giving us all the ‘sharaf’ of ‘mua’naqo’ on his 100th Milad. This is what. I have observed and reflected. The symmetry of Spirituality and Science.

Both elementary force particles and elementary matter particles are merely excitations of their corresponding underlying field, which makes the quantum fields, in a sense, the breeding ground of

material creation. Scientists are now stating conclusively, that the quantum fields, is in a sense, the breeding ground of material

creation. (The spiritual truth is that Moulana A’shir, is the giver of

Forms) Excitations of the underlying fields results in formation of electrons, neutrinos, protons.

Cosmology points to a likely scenario : A single field emerged

(tadbeer of Moulana A’shir, as I understand) at the origin of the universe, already containing within it self, the blueprint of the

physical universe, just as a human genome contains the plan for an entire human.

Such and other dramatic scientific discoveries, have made the Materialistic Theory that had held sway for more than four

centuries, completely redundant. The Intellectual Spirit of Islam, the preserved compilations of our Doat e Kiram, huddod fozala kiram

sahebs, the studies and translations by the European Scholars, in

the later part of the 19th and during 20th Century, has played a vital role.

Way back in 1930 – Astrophysicst Sir James Jeans wrote – ‘ The

universe begins to look more like a great thought, than like a great machine’

Let me conclude this series of THE QUEST,the sixth written during Milad e meavi and republished as an act of Hamd and Shukr for the Azeem ne’mat of Azrahul Noha wa Aweel. From the blessed month

of Sehrullah A’li Qadr Muffadal Moula (TUS) started the tadbeer, which at the onset I could not fully comprehend, but as the months

passed, and I received the sharaf of hosting ‘matam majlis’ at home, and attending a few at mumineen homes, I became a witness of the

far reaching import of my Aqa Moula’s tadbeer, which will have a far

lasting effect.

I conclude with the Nashihat of Syedi Sadik ali Saheb. “ Tawhid ehne khaiye

Jeh chhe Khuda na muka

gar chhe Khuda nathi yeh pan jan jeh Khuda chhe’

‘ AS ABOVE, SO BELOW ‘ The Spiritual truths remain unchanged for centuries.

Asgar Fakhruddin

www.hikmaah.comm