The Power to See Beyond: Our Intellect as Gateway to Faith 30th April 2019

The Power to See Beyond: Our Intellect as Gateway to Faith

Epigraph (Reading Time: 7-9 minutes)

Only homo sapiens possess fully operative, fully functional intellect. This intellect has enabled us to transcend our biological habitat and exhibit capabilities unknown in the animal kingdom. We enjoy a distinct moral reasoning. And an aesthetic appreciation. And, more importantly, we can see beyond and infer correctly by evaluating the unseen through the lens of intellect. We are a species that does not (should not) insist on empirical evidence to believe, but rather through the power of correlating empirical evidence with faith.

"[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded." – Qur'an 38:29

Reading time: 5-7 minutes

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In response to an atheist who presented the Bible in a humorous light, I was struck by what may be humanity's most myopic declaration: "I believe what I see." This approach fundamentally contradicts the very essence of homo sapiens— "wise man"—and abandons the intellectual prowess that defines our species.

The Gift of Intellect: Humanity's Unique Domain

The singular differentiating factor between the animal kingdom and humanity is our possession of intellect. This faculty is uniquely human. Can we dismiss it as a fluke, a one-in-a-trillion chance occurrence that mysteriously emerged eons ago?

If intellect were merely an evolutionary accident from some primordial Big Bang, how did only one species develop this capacity among over a million living beings? If intellect arose through random processes, wouldn't we expect at least a few other species to have developed similar cognitive abilities? Perhaps we would share our world with beings resembling the character Na'vi from Avatar, competing with us intellectually. [The Na'vi are a fictional extraterrestrial species featured in James Cameron's film Avatar (2009)].

At least one other species, a monkey, should have been competing with us in morality or intellect, or formed a housing colony on our lines, or would be a university graduate. But this is not reality. All other creatures live strictly within their spheres of innate abilities—their habitats. Not an iota more, not an iota less.

Only homo sapiens possess fully operative, fully functional intellect. This intellect has enabled us to transcend our biological habitat and exhibit capabilities unknown in the animal kingdom. We enjoy a distinct moral reasoning. And an aesthetic appreciation. And, more importantly, we can see beyond and infer correctly by evaluating the unseen through the lens of intellect. We are a species that does not (should not) insist on empirical evidence to believe, but rather through the power of correlating empirical evidence with faith.

This last faculty defines the very foundation of faith—faith in God's existence, belief in the certainty of the Hereafter, faith in divine revelation to His intellectual servants.

The Sherlock Holmes Principle

Consider the world's most celebrated fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes. We admire his intellectual acumen in solving crimes through reading signs, employing argument, rationale, and logic. Holmes never insists on witnessing the crime itself to apprehend the culprit. His beauty lies in his concluding remark to Dr. Watson: "It's quite elementary, my dear Watson!"

The phrase "It's quite elementary, my dear Watson!" reflects Sherlock Holmes's emphasis on logic and observation, highlighting how reason makes complex truths appear simple. It symbolizes Holmes’s belief that truth becomes clear when approached with a rational mind, much like the Qur’anic call to use intellect in faith. What seems profound often becomes obvious when seen through the lens of reason.

Science Points Beyond Itself

The domain of science relishes empirical evidence. The pondering mind does entertain the question and possibility of ‘who’ arranges these occurrences? The Qur'an guides the pondering intellect towards the element of "WHO". It says He is God, the Creator, the Sustainer, the Provider for us all, and the universe.

‘All that is in the heavens and the earth has glorified God, and He is the Mighty, the Wise. It is He Who has sovereignty over the heavens and the earth. He alone ordains life and death and has power over all things. It is He Who is the First and the Last as well, the Apparent and the Hidden too, and He has knowledge of all things.” Qur’an (57:1-3)

Divine Providence and Accountability

Has God abandoned the universe after creating such a magnificent world? The Divine Scriptures stand contrary to claims of "I believe what I see." They declare that God has not created us in vain, for He is above creating anything without purpose. This points to God being a fantastic Provider—Providence itself.

The Qur'an's main thrust in its message is the reminder of the Hereafter. It tells us that all living beings shall encounter the inevitable "knock" of death on their doors. When the door shall open, the Angel of Death will escort us from this ephemeral world.

[O People!] How can you deny God whereas you were dead, then He gave you life? Then it is He who gives death to you; then after this He only shall give life; then towards Him shall you be returned. Qur’an (2:28)

Life does not end there. An eternal existence begins, directly proportional to our attitudes and actions here.

"(God) inspired it to understand what was right and wrong for it." (Qur'an 91:8)

In reality, whoever comes before his Lord as a wrongdoer, for him is Hell. He shall neither die nor live in it. Contrary to this, those who come before Him as believers, who have done righteous deeds, then it is such people for whom there are high ranks, orchards of eternal residence beneath which streams flow. They shall live in them forever. And this is the reward of those who adopt purity. Qur’an (20:74-76)

Such verses affirm our intellectual capacity through employing the voice of conscience to discern right from wrong, to perceive beauty, and to believe in the unseen through reasoning.

Universal Testimony: The Beatitudes

The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's Gospel opens with beatitudes—blessings rooted in Hereafter consciousness:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven... Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God... Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven." Gospel of Matthew (5:3-12)

These teachings mirror the Qur'anic emphasis on accountability and eternal reward.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!“ (Deuteronomy 6:4)

“Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.” (Deuteronomy 4:39)

Jesus answered, 'It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’ Luke: (4:8)

 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel:

The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’” Mark (12:29-30)

Signs of God - the Provider

The Qur'an reminds us of the prowess of employing our intellect in reading he signs that abound us.

"[They should behold:] Have We not made the earth a cradle

and the mountains [its] pegs?

And not created you in pairs?

And not made your sleep a means of comfort for you?

And not made the night a clothing 

and the day a time for livelihood?

And not built above you seven sturdy skies? 

And not made in them a glowing lamp?

And not sent down abundant water from dripping clouds

that We may bring forth from it grain and vegetation

and gardens of luxurious growth?

All this is proclaiming that surely the Day of Judgement has an appointed time." Qur’an (78:6-17)

The Balanced Path

God calls us to use our intellect to recognize Him. He does not endorse the extremes of 'seeing is believing' or blind adherence to inherited narratives. Neither does He approve of faith driven solely by emotion or rhetorical fervor. God does not guide a person who refuses to entertain and employ the intellect in matters of faith, and places defilement on him.

“And God casts the filth of misguidance on those who do not use their intellect.” Qur’an (10:100)

This is why whoever reads the Qur'an discovers that God presents His signs and bases His belief on our intellectual faculty. His address is for those who employ their intellect - those who reflect, ponder, and use the gift that makes us truly human.

The path to faith is not about abandoning reason but rather employing it fully. When we do, we discover that believing in the unseen is not a leap into darkness but a logical conclusion drawn from the evidence surrounding us—a conclusion as elementary as Holmes' greatest deductions. Presenting the main theme of the Qur’an in advocating the certainty of the advent of the Hereafter, God puts a simple yet logical observation for the pondering mind.

Our intellect, far from being faith's enemy, is its greatest ally in recognizing the Designer behind the design, the Provider behind the provision, and the Purpose behind our existence.

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By Aamir Yazdani

MPhil Islamic Thought and Civilization

 

Tribute to my Father - 29th April, 2012

Seven years since my beloved father passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early hours. My mother was made to go into deep slumber by the angels when they came to take my father along around 7:30am. My mother used to wake up now and then and check on him. But at that time she slept like a log for half an hour. When she woke up her universe had turned upside down. She can never get over that sleep! That particular night I arrived late night from Lahore at 2:30am in the morning. I peeped inside the door of my parents and saw my parents sleeping. It was the last time I saw my father breathing.

I can only thank God Almighty for having my father with me for so many years, where we spent countless hours together, talking, laughing, enjoying his grandchildren (my kids), having myself being corrected by him in my late forties, going to the local mosque where people knew me because of him. Thank you, God for having my father's influence on me and my children for so many years.

Yes, we all have to go. I realized this especially so when I had my father left us seven years back. But the biggest consolation and guarantee is we shall be meeting again. It is but a matter of time. My father's passing away has further firmed my belief in the Hereafter. No one can at least tell me, 'There ain't no life after death'. How can I not meet my father who gave me all the goodness that I have in me? I pray God Almighty keeps him comfortable till we meet again after life and make us enter His paradise together - hands in hand.

The storylines are not over yet. I have yet to tell my father about his favourite grandchildren and what they are doing now. When Waleed got married to our dear Anoop! What Khalid and Ahmed are doing? He would be so so yearning to hear about them! Also about his beloved wife, my dear fragile and old mother! I have to tell him my dear Hureen is looking after her and taking good care. I at times don't see my mother and she asks me where I've been? I just reply inaudibly with a sheepish grin, but Hureen is there with her to exchange the happenings of the day. I have to tell my father that when Hureen takes my mother to the hospital for check-ups the nurses inquire if she is her daughter? When they come to know she is her daughter-in-law they smile admiringly. Why wouldn't they? They are young and find these relationships amusing! There is so much to talk about with my father.

Anon!

Allahummagh firlahu warrhamhu, Allahumma adkhilhul jannata maa al abrar.

Ameen!

Aamir Yazdani

Man from Chitral Attacked by Mob for Alleged Blasphemous 21st April, 2017

News in Dawn Newspaper: Man from Chitral Attacked by Mob for Alleged Blasphemous:

This reaction is contrary to the Quran's teachings. God at all times advised the companions to deal with blasphemous remarks with prudence. Never did God ask the companions to take the law in their own hands. See how the Qur’an approaches to matters of being ridiculed during the Prophet's presence:

1). Qur’an (2:104):
O you who have believed, say not [to Allah's Messenger], "Ra'ina" but say, "Unthurna" and listen. And for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.

PS 'Ra'ina' meant the Shepherd. The non-believers used to address the prophet in a subdued tone as the Shepherd. This has nothing to do with Jesus Christ's being the Shepherd. The context is different here. It was in a ridiculing manner. And God asked to use the word 'Unthurna' which meant kindly look at us with kindness.

2). Qur’an (5:57)
O you who have believed, take not those who have taken your religion in ridicule and amusement among the ones who were given the Scripture before you nor the disbelievers as allies. And fear Allah if you should [truly] be believers.

3). Qur’an (5:58)
And when you call to prayer, they take it in ridicule and amusement. That is because they are a people who do not use reason.

4). Qur’an (4:140)
And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them. Indeed, Allah will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in Hell all together -

5). Qur’an (63:7)
They are the ones who say, "Do not spend on those who are with the Messenger of Allah until they disband." And to Allah belongs the depositories of the heavens and the earth, but the hypocrites do not understand.

6). Qur’an (63:8)
They say, "If we return to al-Madinah, the more honored [for power] will surely expel there from the humbler." And to Allah belongs [all] honor, and to His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know.

Pay heed to the Qur’an, who want to please God and His Messenger Prophet Muhammad (alaihissalam). Each soul shall be held accountable for the reaction against the Chitrali man in the Hereafter.

 

Aamir Yazdani

95 People Killed in a Bomb-laden Ambulance 28th January, 2018

95 People Killed in a Bomb-laden Ambulance 

The Day of Judgement is near! 

Connive, conspire, deceive, implement, lie, mint money, sell arms for a thriving arms industry, manipulate, plunder, loot, pillage, massacre, do ethnic cleansing, spread fascism, spread racism, drive hard the agenda of militancy either Islam based or crusade based - all this leads only to one point - the Absolute Truth of the Day of Judgement - when all actions till the minutest of details shall be brought forth and dealt with the fullest of fairness. 

Quran. Chapter 99: 
"In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

99:1 When the earth is shaken with her shaking,

99:2 And the earth brings forth her burdens,

99:3 And man says: What has befallen her?

99:4 On that day she will tell her news,

99:5 As if thy Lord had revealed to her.

99:6 On that day men will come forth in sundry bodies that they may be shown their works.

99:7 So he who does an atom’s weight of good will see it.

99:8 And he who does an atom’s weight of evil will see it".

 

Aamir Yazdani

The Age-Old Practice of Oral Hygiene: Beyond the ‘Muslim’ Miswak (20th April 2019)

The Age-Old Practice of Oral Hygiene: Beyond the ‘Muslim’ Miswak

⏰ Reading Time: 3–4 minutes

“We sent this revelation to you: Follow the way of Abraham who was fully devoted and was not among the polytheists.”
— Qur’an 16:123

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The use of the miswak as a tool for oral hygiene did not originate with Islam, nor was it introduced for the first time during the era of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It isn't easy to imagine that entire civilizations before his time ignored dental hygiene, only for this practice to be invented in the 7th century.

Rather, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) revived the age-old traditions of Prophet Abraham—practices that, in Islamic terminology, are known as the Sunnah of Ibrahim. Oral hygiene, therefore, is not a uniquely Islamic innovation but a deeply rooted human tradition passed down through prophetic guidance.

Islam places immense emphasis on purification, both physical and spiritual. The Qur’an states in Surah Ash-Shams:

“And [by] the soul and He who proportioned it. And inspired it [with discernment of] its wickedness and its righteousness—He has succeeded who purifies it, and he has failed who corrupts it.”
— Qur’an 91:7–10

This purification of the soul unfolds across three core dimensions that encompass the entirety of our human experience.:

1. Moral conduct (Akhlaqiyaat) – Ethical dealings, integrity, and upright character.
2. Physical cleanliness – Maintaining hygiene as a core part of our faith.
3. Purity of consumption – Ensuring our food and drink are wholesome (tayyib) and lawful (halal).

It is vital to understand that the miswak is a means to an end, not the end itself. Its purpose lies in promoting cleanliness, not in the stick itself. The goal is cleanliness, whether it is achieved through a twig or a modern toothbrush. Just as horses, mules, and donkeys once served as transportation, today we use cars and airplanes—but the function remains the same.

Likewise, using a toothbrush instead of a miswak does not contradict Islamic values; rather, it fulfills the Qur’anic objective of cleanliness and care for the body. The underlying principle remains constant: preserving purity in obedience to divine wisdom.

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Aamir Iqbal Yazdani
MPhil Islamic Thought & Civilization, Pakistan
MSc Irrigation Engineering, UK