AN INTRODUCTION TOSPIRITUAL DETERMINISMEssential Knowledge for Today

Omar Zaid, M.D.

Insight III

Kuala LumpurSep 2012

Premise:

Islam Is Not A ReligionIt is Revealed Divine Guidance for

Beneficial & Successful Living.As such, there are absolute rules that govern both effort and outcome over which man has no say whatsoever.

These laws pre-determine the consequences of man’s success or fai lure .

The results of failure

Benefit Harm

Positive

Thought & Action

Spiritual Law Negative

Thought & Action

Principles of Spiritual Determinism

FEAR OF GOD -- OBEDIENCE TO GOD -- REMEMBRANCE OF GOD

Inverse Componentsopposites

Ibn Khaldun

on the importance of

Divine Laws

DIVINE LAWS affecting men ARE ALL FOR THEIR GOOD.

Bad laws, on the other hand [inverse] all result from

[a] stupidity [ignorance]; and [b] from Satan [suggestion],

in opposition to the predestination [pre-determination] and power of God.

Divine Laws GOVERN the actions of all responsible Muslims.

- Ibn Khaldun

THE MUQADDIMAH The Introduction and Book One of the World History,

Kitab al-Ibar, p. 132; Vol. 2. P. 212, Ibn Khadun,

Key Words:

Divine Law : rules that govern (guide) by God’s Power

Good : Man’s Benefit (here & Hereafter) = positive effect

Inverse : Bad Law or leadership (governance) invites negative or opposite (inverse) effects

Allah’s Predestination : outcome is predetermined;

meaning divine laws are DETERMINANTS -- as are their negative or inverse consequences.

Allah’s Power : Implication is that man’s choice has no effect on the outcomes of these determinants.

Ibn Khaldun on Leadership & The loss of Dominion

man is a natural leader by virtue of the fact that he has been made a representative (of God on earth).

when a leader is deprived of his leadership and prevented from exercising all his powers, he becomes apathetic

apathy comes over a people when they lose control of their own affairs and become instruments of others and dependent upon them.

Hope diminishes and weakens the institution

Consequences

through apathy - when group feeling disappears under the impact of defeat: • Civilization decreases • Business and other

activities stop.• Strength dwindles

People become victims of anyone who tries to dominate them

and prey to anyone who has the appetite.

The group that has lost control (leadership) of its own affairs continues to weaken and disintegrate until it perishes (decays).

Key Words & Concepts: Representative (of God on Earth): LeadersExercise of Power controlDominion control Apathy carelessnessDependent (defeat) enslavementInstruments of Others enslavement

Hope Diminishes no jihadWeak helplessGroup Feeling (unity) identity lost or

confusedVictims blame others /

pityDisintegrate/Perish/decay destruction

Key Words & Concepts: Representative LeadersExercise of Power controlDominion overcome

all challengers

Apathy carelessnessDependent (defeat) enslavementInstruments of Others enslavement

Hope Diminishes no jihadWeak helplessGroup Feeling identity lost or

confuseVictims blame others / pityDisintegrate/Perish/decay destruction

Divine Law

Good

Inverse = Harm

Predestination

DETERMINANTS

ALLAH’S POWER

LOSS OF WHICH IS THEREFOREALLAH’S JUDGMENT

Life is Limited byDivine Laws for man’s benefit

Divine Law’s have Inverse Effects

For Man’s HarmWhen not Obeyed

Peace &SecurityAre ForfeitThis is an autonomous result

Spiritual Determinism

LEADERS LEADERS LEADERS

“Where is the God of Mohammad?”

Answer (in truth): Those claiming to be His representatives are defeated because they neglect the

reality of Spiritual Law and God has abandoned them (i.e. judged them) as promised.

Why? Because the sunnah of Allah swt never changes.

Ibn Khaldun’s Observation

The defeated party is impressed by the respect it has for the victor. They erroneously assume that their subservience is due to the to the perfection of the victor rather than their own misdeeds.

The vanquished can always be observed to assimilate themselves to the victor in the use and style of dress, mounts, and weapons; indeed, in everything… it is a sign of their defeat and the dominion of others.

The premise for Muslim defeat and consequent assimilation is what I callSPIRITUAL DETERMINISM

What are SPIRITUAL DETERMINANTS ?

• Metaphysical FORCES DIVINE POWER • That ESTABLISH SPIRITUAL LAWS• Which ABSOLUTELY OVERRIDE MANKIND’S WILL

DETERMINE results of man’s actions BENEFIT or HARM They actually fix predetermined consequences [fate] this is to say: the direct result of our actions

Hence, Muslim Leaders are best advised

to understand these principles & laws

before

administering their duties.

There are Three Principles or

Pillars of SPIRITUAL DETERMINISM

These principles Establish all SPIRITUAL LAW

These principles were defined by the Prophet(pbh) on the day he entered

Medina They encompass and describe the entire

Medina Experience, Constitution & ‘Group Feeling’

Benefit Harm

Positive Thought &

Action

All Spiritual Law(s)

Governing Men

Derive from

Negative

Thought & Action

Principles (Pillars) of Spiritual Determinism

FEAR OF GOD -- OBEDIENCE TO GOD -- REMEMBRANCE OF GOD

SPIRITUAL DETERMINISM First PrincipleFEAR OF GOD (MEDINA

SPEECH)

… ”My words cannot be changed nor am I indeed unjust to the slaves.” (Q 50:29) Therefore FEAR HIM IN THIS WORLD AND THE WORLD TO COME -- in the seen and the unseen --

since who fears Him, God grants him redemption for his sins and FAVORS HIM WITH GREAT REWARD. This person alone is HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL. Fear of Allah saves man from HIS WRATH, His PUNISHMENT and ANGER. This will brighten the faces of people and elevate them on the Day of Judgment.

Fear Allah, WALK ON THE PATH OF VIRTUE AND PIETY.

Key Words

Fear

Seen

Unseen

Success

Walk

Phrase: ‘ THIS PERSON ALONE ’

Conclusions regarding Principle One: FEAR OF GOD

1) When established in the heart, it is the ground or basis for all sober contemplations [taffakur] leading to truth.

A) Result BENEFIT -- Activates Positive Aspects of Spiritual Laws: HUMILITY & HEALTH RULE = leads to RIGHT DECISION MAKING & RIGHT ACTION: Wholistic / Tawhidic, sustainable, far-sighted, eco-socio-friendly.

B) It is the metaphysical ground upon which all responsible decisions are made.

2) When not established in the Heart:

A) Result HARM -- Activates Negative Aspects ** of Spiritual Law : PRIDE & CORRUPTION RULE = Wrong decision

Wrong action irresponsible, non-tawhidic purview (myopic),

e.g., materialist, consumerism, reductionist enemy of Allah.

** inverse corollary of Spiritual Law opposite force that causes harm

SPIRITUAL DETERMINISM: Second Principle OBEDIENCE TO GOD (MEDINA SPEECH)

DO NOT SHOW any SLACKNESS in obedience to God.

Allah has revealed the Book for your teaching and has made the right path clear for your Guidance so that TRUTH can be DISTINGUISHED from FALSEHOOD. [ i.e., discerned ]

Just as Allah has shown you His FAVOR (grace), likewise, you should obey Him in right earnest.

LOOK UPON HIS ENEMY AS YOURS and exert your best

for winning His favor (Grace).

God has ordained that those who are to be destroyed will be swept away and those who are to survive, after the clear signs have come to them, WOULD LIVE WITH INSIGHT and on the STRENGTH OF EVIDENCE .

Key WordsSLACKNESS DUE DILIGENCE

TRUTH DISTINGUISHED DISCERNMENTFALSEHOOD

FAVOR GRACE

HIS ENEMY JIHAD

LIVE WITH CORRECT CHOICEINSIGHT

This passage defines the right path for correct decision making:

a. the attentive and firm application of man’s will towards CHOOSING WHAT IS GOOD BY MEANS OF CORRECT MORAL DISCERNMENT.

The faculty of DISCERNMENT actively SEGREGATES benefit from harm

This faculty is only acquired as the result of OBEDIENCE TO GOD Obedience to God is the direct result of FEARING GOD

b) Obedience demands assiduous (‘do not be slack’) attention to the ACQUISITION OF KNOWLEDGE;

c) Acquisition of knowledge requires DUE DILIGENCE & STUDY ;

d) Which leads to knowing & avoiding God’s Enemies

Conclusion:

Slackness (laziness) in gaining knowledge & skill (no due diligence)

causes a lack of Discernment one cannot tell right from wrong

Because one is ignorant ( incompetent ) cannot be guided

because they have not improved faculties of insight and skill

cannot be obedient cannot be on the ‘right path’ because

they cannot effectively serve the Truth.

If you do not serve the Truth ( have ability to be obedient ),

the result is ?? HARM WILL SURELY COME

HARM

SPIRITUAL DETERMINISM: Third Principle REMEMBRANCE OF GOD (MEDINA SPEECH)

No power is of any avail except the Power of Allah. Therefore, remember God as much as you can and live for the Hereafter.

The man whose relation with God is based on sincerity, Allah will help Him against evil. None will be able to harm him [protection].

Allah’s command is supreme over the people [Authentic Authority]. But people cannot command God.

Allah alone is Master of all men and men have no share in His lordship. Therefore, keep your relation with Allah on the right footing.

Key Words & PhrasesPOWER Grace (Favor)

REMEMBER Seen & Unseen (Tawhid / Wholism)

SINCERITY No Slackness Diligence (work)

MASTER OF ALL Humility (Fear & Sense of Shame)

RIGHT FOOTING Walk Discernment / Insight /

(Right Choice Thought & Action)

HEREAFTER Unseen

COMMAND IS SUPREME Law cannot be circumvented

(No Escape : cat seeks opportunity)

Hadhrat Abu Musa Ash’ari ra relates that the Holy Prophet said, “The comparison between a person who remembers his Lord and the one who does not do so, is like that of the living and the dead.”

“It is the remembrance of Allah which encourages you to undertake the striving.”

Once, the Holy Prophet saw came out of his house. He saw some people engaged in Prayer in the Mosque. Some others were sitting in a circle talking of faith. He joined the latter group and said, “What these people are doing is better.”

This shows that public proclamation is sometimes superior to remembrance in private.

Conclusions Regarding Principle Three

The establishment of this ‘right footing’ of remembrance in a person’s life leads the spiritually sober person to choose treasures in heaven rather than the ‘goods and chattels of deception’ (materialism, consumerism).

They humbly ‘remember’ the ‘Power’ of Allah and seek His favor (grace), initially out of fear, and later out of both fear & love (i.e., out of the experience of guidance which brings conviction and greater sincerity).

Those who sincerely remember Allah live their lives for the Hereafter and in so doing they discipline themselves to diligently choose (discern) what is ultimately and absolutely beneficial: i.e., what is ethical and moral in the ‘here and now’.

LEADERS LEADERS LEADERS

Three Principles

Fear, Obedience, RemembranceAvoid Inverse Effects

MaintainPeace &Security

Spiritual Determinism

Thank You

Peace & Security in Palestine, circa 1900