Notes from Prison - 3

(3rd part in this ongoing series: more pearls from Alija Izetbegovic's treasure chest, 'Notes from Prison, 1983-1988)

-They were not Arabs, but they wrote in the Arabic language: Abu Nives, one of the greatest poets of Arab poetry, was Persian. Ibn el Mustafa, also a Persian, was the author of the most beautiful Arab prose (second century after Hijra). Sibenshi, the famous systemizer of Arab grammar, Ibn Sinna and the great scientist El-Birouni were also Persians. Ibn Rumi was of Greek origin, as well as the geographer Jakub, while Ibn-Kufi (Spanish chronicler), Ibn Hazm (theologian and writer) and Ibn Kuzman (great poet) were of Visigoth origin [Francesco Gabrielli, The History of Arab Literature, p.11]

In the first centuries of Islam, the predominance of Arabic language was absolute. The only exception to it was the Persian national reaffirmation movement in the tenth and eleventh centuries, first in poetry and then in prose. The complete separation of Persian literature from Arab happened only recently. The predominance of the Arabic language was everywhere due to the predominance of the Qur'an in spiritual life.

-Considering the relationships between the Arab-Muslim and Spanish-Catholic communities in the medeival Spain, Ortega Y Gasset said: "It is a real shame that the relationships that existed between these two communities have not yet come to light. We must admit that our Arabists (scientists who study the Arab world), led by Ribero, have made some important steps in the attempt to get a clearer picture of the way the Moors and the Spanish lived together. However, unless this issue is approached from deeper layers, it will not be possible to read much further."

Gasset believes that lack of knowledge or poor knowledge also characterized the relationship between Europe and Islam in general - "ignorance of the fact is one of the big realities of the history of the West" (Gasset in his preface to Ibn Hazm's Dove's Necklace)

-With the exception of the Mayan culture, ended by forceful death, all other cultures in history died gradually as a consequence of aging, the slowing down of life rhythm, some kind of sclerosis, that is, of internal changes. This process can be followed most clearly in Roman civilization, where the invasion of barbarians was just a coup de grace for an organism that had been in the state of agony for two centuries. The Arab civilization was not an exception to this rule. It is up to historians to establish what this culture suffered from, to examine the causes of its decline, in which colonial subjugation was not the reason for its fall but rather a consequence of its internal descent. Anyway, does the Qur'an not say: "Verily, never will God change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls)" [Qur'an 13:11]. It could be said that this rule has the power of natural law in the life peoples and their movement through history.

It is a Gift

I won't be posting for a while, so I thought I'd leave you all with a beautiful prayer.

It's taken from Sh. Muzaffer Ozak al-Jerrahi's "Adornment of Hearts," page 137. It's listed as his gift 'to dervishes and friends:'

Allahumma ya mufattihu fattih umuruna ala-l-khayri

wa-llahu khayrun hafizan wa huwa arhamu-r-rahimin

(translation: O Allah, O Opener! Open the way for establishing our affairs in goodness

Allah is the Supreme Guardian, the Most Merciful of the merciful)

The Sheikh recommends that whoever recites this invocation seven times after their morning prayer, Allah will make his life prosper.

May we all benefit from this invocation. It may bring light, to our darkest hours.

Ramadan leaves Middle Earth

All good things...must come to an end.

For Muslims around the world, the end of Ramadan culminates in Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the two major Eid holidays. It's a time for celebration, to rejoice in our blessings. Eids are festive occasions where people love to congregate for prayer, visit relatives & loved ones, and have feasts in exuberance. Music (yes!), dressing up, kids hankering elders for "Eidee" money/gifts. Who says Muslims don't know how to have fun?

Spiritually, it may be cause for sadness. Sh Nuh in his "Ramadan and You" lecture relates the tradition where Rasulullah (saw) informs us that 'the fiends are manacled' in this holy month. Those fiends being, the minions of evil. He also advised to throw ourselves into performing good deeds. A Naqshabandi murid related from his sheikh that it's as if Allah gives us a blank check for `amalus-salihaat. Little wonder then, why Ramadan is the Month of Mercy.

But was it truly a Rahma to those who suffered earthquakes, floods or natural disasters? And these are only what's reached us via the mainstream media. Who knows what quiet earthquakes erupt in people's lives, in families, in unknown households, or in far off lands we least expect to hear from?

One of Abdul-Hakim Murad's latest contentions, reads thus:

His name in our age is al-Sabur

Al-Sabur means the Most Patient, the Most Forbearing. And given the kind of unpredictable, massive fitan we've been having in our world, patience has become a buzzword on our lips. Easy advice to offer others, but extremely difficult to practice. Especially on ourselves.

But nothing good ever comes easy. I wrote an earlier post on Rajab, Ramadan and Tolkein where I mused on how Gandalf the Grey wizard was Rajab, and Ramadan was Gandalf the White. From the movie standpoint, it's apparent that "grey-Gand" is more rooted in the Shire of the Hobbits, more folksy in his ways, even provincial when contrasted with Saruman. To me, grey-Gand represents a kind of village Friend of God (Wali) that is accessible, simple and full of love. And the `amir (leader) of the Fellowship of the Ring.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw) tells us that Rajab is the Month of God & that Ramadan is the month of the ummah (community). In the Two Towers film, Gandalf the White appears from the darkness of Fangorn forest, but is changed. He does not even initially recollect his former 'grey' past, only aware that his mission is unfinished & that it is why he's been sent back to Middle Earth.

The Battle for Helm's Deep ensues, where elves and men fight alongside each other, against the relentless siege of evil unleashed by Sauron and Saruman. Anyone who's watched the Two Towers will not fail to appreciate the sheer grandeur of those war scenes. Or of the shots where the women and children are shown, tugging at our heartstrings. The fear in the eyes of the warriors for good; and yet, they fight on, with patience. Gandalf the White fights valiantly, alongside legions of soldiers of Rohan. And the bounty of Providence, where fate provides the seemingly outnumbered with formidable allies, as God says in the Qur'an of those who TRULY are conscious of Him:

"...from sources they could never imagine..."

But what does Gandalf the white say, at the end of this?

The Battle for Helm's Deep, is over. But the battle for Middle Earth, has just begun.

Indeed, this month has passed. No more special ease with worship. The fiends will be unleashed again, and we shall be left to our post-Ramadan `anfus (selves). Scary thought, isn’t it?

In the Fellowship film, Gandalf the Grey advises Elrond, father of Arwen, the elven chief of Rivendell to place the hopes of victory in the hands of Men. What does Elrond say in reply?

"Men are weak...it was because of Men that evil was allowed to survive...there is no strength left in them"

Do we prove him wrong? Do we prove ourselves wrong, and strive to improve ourselves and those around us? To contribute, and to leave this world a better place?

Or will we continue to have our heads in the sand, and remain victims of circumstance?

Ya Malik, Ya Hakeem. Keep us strong & wise. And ready for battle against all dhulm.

Eid Mubarak, everyone! Spare a moment for me in your prayers.

This is 'Dedo'

Alija Izetbegovic was affectionately known as 'Dedo' (grandfather in Bosnian) by many Bosnian Muslims. He passed away from this world on October 19, 2003.

Some excerpts from his preface to Notes from Prison: 1983-1988:

-what the reader is about to embark upon (and perhaps read) is my escape to freedom. To my regret, this, of course, was not a real escape, but I wish it were. This was the only possible escape from the Foca prison, with its high walls and iron bars - an escape of mind and thought.

-I could not speak, but I could think, and I decided to use that possibility to the maximum. At first I had silent discussions on all kinds of things and I commented on the books I was reading and the events taking place outside. I then started taking notes, secretly at first, but I then became quite "arrogant" - I sat, read and wrote.

-the value of these thoughts, therefore, is not in the thoughts themselves, but rather in the circumstances they were written in. On the side of the wall there was the total silence of the prison, and on the outside there were inklings of a tempest that was to become a hurricane in 1988 that would crush the Berlin Wall, sweep away Honecker and Ceausescu, destroy the Warsaw Treaty and shake the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. I had an almost physical sensation of the passage of time and its phases changing right before my eyes.

-these are thoughts on freedom, the physical and the inner, on life and destiny, on people and events, on books read and their authors, on imagined, unwritten letters to my children- in other words, on everything that could have crossed a prisoner's mind during those long 2,000 days (and nights).

May God Almighty expand his grave, and raise him as a just ruler on the last Day.