Where do We Ail?

The moving and breathing Quran, in the person of the Prophet (SAW), explained this principle of principles.

The Quran, surah ar-Ra‘d tells us:

Allah does not change that which lies with a people unless and until they change that which lies within their selves. (13:11)

The moving and breathing Quran, in the person of the Prophet (SAW), explained this principle of principles in the following words:

“Lo! there is a lump of flesh in your body, if it is right, the whole body is right; and if it gets corrupted, the whole body becomes corrupt; beware this is qalb (the heart)” (Bukhari)

The Quranic text uses for ‘self’ the word nafs in its plural form. Nafs may be rendered as ‘soul’ and ‘psyche’ in English. The hadith the wahy al ghairmutloo, uses the word qalb (heart), always employed in human discourses for the faculty or the sum of faculties representing our impulses, inclinations and thoughts which ultimately determine human behaviour. If the heart’s directions are right, human conduct is right; if the heart is misdirected and polluted, humanity is doomed – individually and collectively.

In other words, in the absence of inner cleansing on the basis of faith in an ever-watchful God and in accountability before Him, moral corruption will reign supreme and consume body as well as the body politic. Only an idiot can dream that you can have the virtues of truthfulness, justice and integrity without such cleansing; castles cannot be built in the air.

It is precisely here that we ail. In personal conduct we stand discredited. Our society suffers from inveterate corruption. We have stumbled and fallen again and again. Our struggles have faltered and crumbled. We have generally failed to resist temptations and withstand hazards. All this because we do not possess an upright and stable character springing from inner transformation. Consequently those who are engaged in the mission of inner purification by instilling genuine faith in the hearts and raising character on that basis, are attending to the root cause of the evil. While we appreciate those who are grappling with the symptoms, our choicest prayers and blessing should go to those who are doing the fundamental work.

Bighair-i dil hameh naqsh-o nigar be-ma‘neest

Hamin waraq ki siah gasht mudda‘a injast.

 (Naziree)