Critical Thinking vs. Tradition

al-Nahl

123. Then We inspired you to follow the sect of Ibrahim, deviating [from other things]. And he was not of those who associate.”

al-Anbiya’

51. And We certainly approached Ibrahim his reasoning from before, and We were knowers about him.

52. When he said to his father and his folk, “What are these likenesses to which you are devoted?”

53. They said, “We found our forefathers being agents for them.” 

54. He said, “Truly, you and your forefathers certainly are in clear straying.

al-Baqara

170. And when it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has descended,” they say, “We follow what we found our forefathers following.” Even if their forefathers do not process a thing, and do not guide themselves?

Ibrahim, or Abraham as he is known in English, is revered as a founder of monotheism in the Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions. In fact, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are referred to as the “Abrahamic” faiths owing to the prominence of this figure. In the Qur’an, Ibrahim has a special position as a role-model for Prophet Muhammad. He sets a beautiful example of combining intellect and intuition with courage to confront ancestral traditions.

In Chapter 16 (al-Nahl) verse 123, Muhammad was told to follow the path of Ibrahim. When I saw this verse my question was, “If Muhammad had the Qur’an as a guidebook, why was he asked to follow Ibrahim?” We find a simple answer in verses 51-54 of Chapter 21 (al-Anbiya’): Ibrahim was given reasoning as well as intuition, so he did not just follow the teachings of his forefathers before him.

Chapter 2 (al-Baqara) verse 170 explains that whenever people are asked to follow the download from Source (Allah), they tend to profess their comfort in following their forefathers, even if they do not process the information. As people have received guidance from many scriptures throughout the history of humanity, human nature has come into play and allowed beliefs and traditions to develop that deviated from the intents of the original guiding messages. Therefore, if we are to be guided by truth, we must use reason to question both inherited and new perspectives, and not blindly believe what our ancestors or others believe, even if they are of our own people. 

These verses emphasize the importance of engaging critically with knowledge to develop well-reasoned faith in the pursuit of true understanding. As Ibrahim was said to undertake this mission, so was Muhammad recommended to follow his example. This connection between intellect and intuition, and the call to use both heart and mind to independently evaluate and process information, remains an essential theme in the messages of the Qur’an.

The Qur’an is a Guiding Light

15. O People of the Book! Certainly Our Messenger has come to you; he clarifies for you much of what you kept hidden from the Book, and he absolves much. Indeed a light from Allah has come to you, and a clarifying Book.

16. Allah guides with it whoever follows Its contentment to the ways of peace, and It causes them to come out of the darknesses into the light, by Its consent, and It guides them to a straight path.

Every time I see a verse beginning with “O People of the Book,” the first person that comes to mind is my Catholic mother-in-law, and then all the various professors who taught me at Syracuse University. I have always felt like despite differences in our religious backgrounds, our approaches to faith and inner peace were similar, and we had a deep kinship in our spirits. Verse 15 speaks to the “People of the Book,” those who understand the Book of Life, regardless of personal origin. The Qur’an appeals to all people, as we all share the experience of humanity.

As human nature is, however, it is normal that over time, people in power have hidden important truths from the public. This is as true in earthly politics as it is with regards to our sacred inheritance as human beings; history is written by the winners, and scriptures have been manipulated by those with various intentions. Surat al-Ma’ida verse 15 calls people out on this tendency and announces that “Allah” (Source, God) claims and confirms the purpose of the Messenger bearing the Qur’an as one who helps make sacred truths (co-creating, manifesting, living the abundance which the Divine has made fundamentally available to all, etc.) accessible once again to humanity. 

Importantly, while verse 15 points out that the light and clarifying message comes from the Book of Life, its direction is open. The message is not restricted to only men or women, Arabs or non-Arabs, or earthly followers of the Messenger Muhammad. It is a broad statement offered to anyone listening who wants to follow a path of peace and harmony, and it causes people to come out of darkness and into light.

Thankfully we still have the original text of Qur’an available today. Although its meaning has not escaped misrepresentation through shallow translation and interpretation, we can still return to the original Arabic text and dig deeper to better understand the universality of its message. Let’s explore the light of the Qur’an as it guides us on our human journey.

Triple P for Progress

What gets you out of bed in the morning? Ideally, the answer is something more nuanced than "my alarm clock." When we have a fire under our feet, we are delighted to dance through life and face whatever comes.

Passion

"Find your passion." "Follow your passion." "Live your passion." Often these alone are easier said than done. Even more, it can feel that our passion eludes us--do we like this, or are we passionate about it? When something becomes a true passion, though, the emotion is unmistakable. Passion is a feeling so strong that it can propel you through anything. When you are passionate about something, it fills you with even more energy than it takes to do it. When your passion is also your job, come Friday evening, you are not desperately trying to escape work for the weekend--you are excited for what new prospects tomorrow will bring. Passion is the exciting feeling of commitment to what keeps us going, because it feeds our souls.

Power

Passion propels us to do more. Feeling excited, curious, inspired, and energized unlocks abilities we might not have known we had. Infused with passion, we become Supermen and Wonder Women, ready to rise and meet any challenge with the best of our abilities and a steady willingness to learn and grow. Passion charges us up and says, "Go forward. You've got this."

Purpose

Our purpose is the reason why we believe we are here on earth. It is a life goal beyond perpetuating our species. Sometimes we plan our purpose, and someone our purpose finds us; either way, if you do not claim your purpose, you risk getting trapped helping others fulfill theirs. Of course, helping others is part of what life is all about, but doing so at the exclusion of reaching your own goals will not help your own soul evolve. Know your purpose, and you will set yourself on missions directing you towards accomplishing the greater goal. Set on this productive path, your commitment will grow stronger, and your output will be of higher quality. When you are fueled by passion, nothing stands in your way that you cannot brush aside. You realize your purpose, and your soul is at peace.