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While man’s idea of himself in the twentieth century was colored mainly by
the materialistic approach, in the last decades, he seems to have been realizing
the spiritual dimension of himself. The number of spiritual circles is tangibly
increasing. Such circles in all countries are coming so popular. It is noticed
that most of the circles avoid being affiliated to a certain religion. Reason
for that, I suppose, is widespread notions that :
- Religions impose on man rigid traditions that contradict sometimes with
reason as well as personal freedom.
- Religions have been causes for wars among nations.
- Religious authority was a direct obstacle on the way of progress in
Europe. Western progress was not possible until secularization took place.
- Countries which still cling to religious traditions now-mainly Islamic-
are not among the most developed.
In the New Age we expect that Revelations are no longer put aside but read
anew. Fresh readings will spread awareness that Revelations were there to guide
man to qualify his spirit for an eternal life with no contradiction whatsoever
with respect of reason, and work for what is best in this life. Some questions
are raised:
Can man make equal and harmonious use of all his talents and reasonability as
well as spirituality ?
Can there be no contradictions between the requirements of this life and
those of the next life?
Is it possible that Revealed teachings do not contradict with reason and
personal freedom?
Could fresh understanding of Revelations be one way of spreading peace, love
and mutual understanding among nations?
We, “A Road Home”, say, “yes, it is definitely possible on one
condition; truthful knowledge is made available”. Truthful knowledge has been
distorted because humankind’s experience of possible interaction between the
“physical” and the “spiritual”; the “human” and the “divine” is extremely
limited. With limited experience false awareness, that “conflict” is
inescapable, has been very widespread.
On one side of the coin, the “divine” looks as the winner in that conflict.
The image of the Divine is just like a dominant power towards which man
“human”, weak as he is, can do nothing but acknowledge its dominance. Out
of fear some people comply with what they think the Divine’s will. This is
generally the way ‘religious’ people in different cultures think and feel. They
create their own image of “God”, and they perceive His commandments accordingly.
In that they are not different from the primitive man except in the cleverness
of enveloping their attitudes by claims of happiness. They dare not show the
“conflict” inside them when they repress natural human needs of inquiry and
reasoning. They just comply to sets of teachings. Yet, however, “conflict” of
different forms and degrees is reflected in their behavior. In the name
of religions and revelations some show superiority on one another, attempt to
impose their beliefs on others by force, invade countries and occupy others’
lands with no right. In the name of religion some people mistakenly surrender to
laziness assuming that God makes everything for them with no effort from their
side. And in the name of religion rigidity, confusion and mental pollution have
been spreading.
On the other side of the coin the “human” seems to be the winner over
the “divine” in that conflict. Achievements of science led several
people claim that everything that is not subject to scientific proof does not
exist, as naturalists put it. Tools of scientific research substitute what the
primitive man and the “ignorant” people term as the power of God, they assume.
They are no longer interested in any Sublime or Divine aspect in life regarding
them as product of mere superstition or “a big lie”. Interest in religion, they
announce is a mere historical stage. They have actually announced “the death of
God”. For many years “Science” has been regarded as the new “God”.
Nevertheless, the earth has never been void from truthful knowledge.
Knowledge, in that sense, is not mere words to be uttered; it is living
experiences of Prophets, Messengers, and sages. There are treasuries of
spiritual guidance in Revelations that are still intact. It is time, we assume,
that humanity start a new phase in which Revelations are read afresh.
Revelations are not mere history of rituals; permissions and prohibitions; or
Prophets’ biographies.
In “ A Road Home” we assume that the relation between the “spiritual”,
“sacred”, or “sublime” and the “physical” or “human is “harmony”,
“integration” and “complementation”. To be able to consider the nature of
harmony between the two levels, one has first to put away any traces of old
concepts that affirm “conflict”. One has also to be able to distinguish between
the authentic revelations and people’s “practices” and “misconceptions”.
This is our objective in “Road Home”; it is an old one since all
Revelations told people to trace back “Truth” not “tradition”. Revelations
were not there to disclose to man the Existence of the Supreme Power; man
discovered that for himself since creation. Revelations were not there either to
urge man to stop reasoning or paralyze his talents. Revelations were there to
guide man to how to achieve “harmony” between the two levels of his existence:
the “spiritual” and the “physical”. Every revelation came to “fulfill” not to
“deny” the previous one. All Revelations refuted groundless beliefs, false
arguments, and misleading traditions that people, ignorantly, dealt with as if
they were integral part of the Revelation.
Belonging to the “Road” goes beyond any limitations of
colors, races, languages, nationalities, or apparent religious affiliation. At
“Home” we start by reading ourselves through reading all meanings and
ideas shared in the spiritual heritage of humanity as expressed by all Prophets,
Messengers, spiritual guides, and sages everywhere on earth. We find Islam
complementing and integrating-not denying- all of them. When we say Islam
we mean what Prophet Muhammad meant. “Prophet Muhammad did not
see himself as separate from all preceding prophets. Nor did he see the Book
revealed to him disconnected from their Books. Prophet Muhammad did not consider
the knowledge endowed to him as distinguished from that of other prophets. Nor
did he regard his own experience as a prophet as superior to those of prophets
or even any good servant of Allah. The knowledge, and wisdom that were endowed
to Prophet Muhammad are available to whoever can follow the path he followed,
learn what he learnt, believe what he believed, guide to what he guided to,
reveal what he revealed, and lead to the righteous path as he did.
(Master Rafea Muhammad Rafea, 1957)
In other words, in “A Road Home” we do not aim at comparing religions,
prophets or teachings to each other, but rather detect the principal meanings
and values that any prophet or sage experienced and see how we can be guided by
them while passing our own spiritual experiences. In so doing we are following
one of the basis of Islam in fact, because a Muslim is not a good
believer until he has faith in all Revelations, Holy Books and Prophets who
preceded Prophet Muhammad. A verse in Holy Koran states,”Say (O Muslims):
We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was
revealed unto Abraham, and Ismael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and
that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the Prophets received from
their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have
surrendered.” HQ 2, verse: 136.
Hence, among all religions and revelations we look for what is common. When
we present our reading of Koran and Prophetic Tradition Sunna we are
equally keen to search for the same meanings in other holy Books or wisdom of
sages. We do not regard them as rivals but representative of one and the same
Truth.
If you share with us the same interest of exploring how Revelations guide us
to strike the “harmony” between what is “human” and what is “divine”, we will be
pleased to share with you your experience.
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