Prejudice, Illusion and Knowledge
Critic:-
Why is there this perception that
Islam is evil and that it is connected with terrorism?
Answer:-
Most of those who have this perception
have never studied the Quran and go by propaganda. They mix up the teaching,
Islam, with people, Muslim who know, understand and practice Islam to various
amount or not at all. They may not even be Muslim but have names thought to be
Muslim. The news media and propagandists concern themselves only with the few
who come to the attention of the law and ignore the fact that these account
only for less than one percent of Muslims and that all other communities also
have their criminals and delinquents. Nor do they want to know, or are
informed, of the causes for that behaviour.
There are, of course, some
non-Muslims who read the Quran and other Islamic literature in order to select bits
that they can interpret in order to attack Islam. They have some kind of
prejudice against it, perhaps because they support some religion or ideology
which they fear is vulnerable from the spread of Islam.
People interpret things according
to their various assumptions, intelligences, knowledge, motives and the efforts
they make. This is also true of reporters and journalists that spread
information in the society. They tend to examine things selectively and
superficially usually for sensationalist purposes and to sell newspapers for
profit and not for the sake of truth or virtue. And readers read them cursorily
with much concentrated study. Many non-Muslims and also Muslims misinterpret
the Quran owing to the fact that they have been conditioned mentally by a
non-Muslim culture and education, particularly the dominant Western ones. These
have their own attitudes, assumptions, modes of thinking, and values that are
not the same as those on which the Quran and Islam is based.
There is
a difference between reality R, experience E of it, and description D. When
speaking of perception, a person’s awareness or consciousness, this can
refer to any of these three. So we have three levels of Consciousness Cr, Ce,
Cd. (This loosely corresponds to the differentiation in the Quran between
feeling, seeing and hearing 17:36, 23:78) Reality is much more extensive than
experience and that is greater than description. R>E>D. Real things do not exist in isolation
but are connected with each other. Experiences, too, are connected with each
other and are interpreted in terms of other experiences. There are many more
experiences than we have concepts. Descriptions of things, therefore, use
concepts that are common to many experiences. They are abstractions of common
experiences. E.g. something is described as “red” because red is a
common feature of many things. But each experience is distinguished from others
because they have their own combination of features or elements.
The real
is transmitted via a medium M (e.g. light) to a person P who translates it into
an experience. The experience therefore depends on the nature of these
three. E = R, M and P, where P
refers to the abilities, motives and actions of the person. And that experience
must be converted into a description via another medium L (e.g. language or
system of concepts). It is also interpreted according to the abilities, motives
and actions of the person P that direct his attention. The description
therefore depends on these three. D
= E, L, P.
We have
“knowledge” when perception corresponds to all the features of
which an object, event or situation consists. In fact, we do not have
perception of all the features but only partial perception. (a) Different
people have different sets and amounts of perception. (b) But a community may
have some common perceptions. (c) Some features may be regarded as more
important than others because it is the conditions or context that determines
this and these may be common to various places and times or change. We have
various Degrees of Knowledge.
Human
beings do not see Reality as it is, but have (1) original experiences E(o) that
are recorded in the memory and (2) these are recalled as images in the mind and
constitute secondary experiences E(i).
(3) We can be conscious of these and deliberately manipulate them in
thought. But thought is not the same as consciousness and these are mutually
exclusive – thinking stops awareness and awareness stops thought because
thought is an activity and consciousness requires receptivity. However, thought
can be experienced and constitutes E(t). We Human beings have the capacity (a)
to perceive but also (b) to process the data of experience by analysis,
association and synthesis and (c) to create and invent, which consists of the
power to re-arrange the data of experience.
We have
“Illusion” when some real thing is experienced in a poor medium
e.g. in dim light or in dim consciousness that restricts perception or is
judged on the basis of inadequate knowledge, but the addition of fantasies based
on fear or desire to replace the missing data. We have illusion for instance,
when a rope is mistaken for a snake owing to fear. Illusion is
misinterpretation. It is not difficult to see that Illusion and Knowledge are
relative terms.
We have
“Prejudice” when some idea is fixed in the mind owing to habit
formed by repetition, social or cultural conditioning, or self-suggestion,
self-interest, emotional attachment or trauma. New experiences are then
interpreted in terms of these past ideas. This dulls consciousness and traps
one in a vicious circle that stops further development, though it increases the
power and efficiency of the person to deal with his surroundings as long as
conditions remain static and repetitive. This happens to everyone and is the
hazard that life on earth, the physical environment provides. In order to
restart development or deal with changing conditions, it becomes necessary to
break the previous habits of thought, motivation or action, and develop new
ones or to go to a more general underlying level of conscious functioning. New
attitudes, assumptions, motives and modes of thought and behaviour as well as
social and physical environments have to be provided. This is usually provided
by Religion.
Muslims
are required to follow only that of which they have knowledge 17:36-37. This is
because human welfare and development requires that they should adjust to
Reality in thought, motive and action. That alone can benefit them. The Quran
warns against Illusions and Prejudices in numerous verses such as 2:120, 3:185,
4:27, 4:119, 6:32, 6:56, 7:127, 18:29, 25:43, 28:50, 29:64, 47:14-16, 54:2,
57:20, 67:20.
The life
of the world is regarded as mostly fantasy, prejudice and illusion and
constitutes deception and self-deception that leads to futility if not
destruction. Everyone, in the end dies.
If we
can describe a System S1 accurately by say, 20 elemental statements, then we
have S1(t) = 20e + u. Here u stands for unknown or uncertain factors that might
exist. Any particular individual
may, however, perceive and describe that system by say, 6 true elements and 5
false elements. We then have S1(d) = 6e + 5f. + (u). He may or may not
recognise that there could be something he doe not know or is uncertain of. The difference between the reality and
the perception is then S1(i) = 14e + 5f + (u).
Critic:-
So if the Quran is the Word of God
and the Quran can be misinterpreted, then are you saying that Allah is a poor
communicator?
Comment:-
This is like asking: is Einstein a
poor communicator, because millions of people do not understand his Theories.
But obviously those who make the effort to understand do.
Critic:-
Einstein was not a perfect
omnipotent being, and comparing him to such is nonsensical.
Comment:-
You have confused yourself. I am
speaking about communication which requires a source, a medium and a recipient.
Einstein was able to present his ideas mathematically which many people
understood. But there are many people who do not. - Do you blame Einstein for
this or do you note that people understand according to the efforts they make?
Who would you blame if a reader took sentences out of a book and put them
together to say something other than what the author intended or gave different
meanings to the words in the book? The reader or the author?
Critic:-
Understanding is different from
agreement. Those who make the effort may agree with one of the various Islamic
sects out there, but anyone can understand the basic tenets of the faith. There
is nothing in the Quran that is particularly difficult to understand.
Comment:-
No. There are three ways of using
the word "understanding", the shallow, the deep and the personal. You
can understand the words or you can understand what they refer to in relation
to other things. Thirdly, you can understand things with respect to yourself -
that is, to "stand under".
In the past humanity did not
understand nature and the Universe as they do today or so it is claimed. But
even so different people have different kinds and amounts of knowledge about
it. Though people might know about Global Warming some take it more personally
and seriously than others and act accordingly. There is a difference between
knowing, understanding and being conscious of.
It is not true that everyone
understands the Quran to an equal degree. As indicated above, understanding
depends on their training and the foundations of knowledge that people have and
on their abilities, motives and the efforts made. You can see from the articles
on this site that many people have not understood and are confused. The purpose
of Islam is human development and not spoon feeding.
Critic:-
The purpose of Islam - like the
purpose of all religions - is human control.
Comment:-
That is your prejudice. There we
are: we differ in our understanding.
Critic:-
But getting back to the point - If
all religious texts have been misinterpreted then Allah has a limitation - he
cannot produce a religious text which is perfectly clear to all people. All
writing produced by humans has the capacity to be misinterpreted, which is
further evidence of the real origins of the Quran.
Comment:-
Again, we see that you have not
understood.
That which Allah, the Creator,
produces is by definition Truth and that implies that all things form a
self-consistent system, a unity. We do not understand things in isolation but
in relation to other things. It is human limitations that cannot see the whole
and therefore, because all have partial knowledge, and each has different parts
there are differences of opinion and misunderstandings.
Consider a system S consisting of
elements e1, e2, e3, e4..........e100......>
If one person P1 knows e1, e2, e3,
e4, e5
Another P2 knows e4, e5, e6, e7,
e8
Another P3 knows e10, e11, e12,
e13
Another P4 knows e7, e8, e10
Another P5 knows e4, e5, e6, e7, e8,
e9, e10, e11, e12, e13, e14
Now work out the various
relationships between the understanding of these people:-
P1 and P2 overlap and can both
agree and disagree
P2 and P3 are mutually exclusive
and do not agree.
P4 has less knowledge than the
others but he can be a bridge between P2 and P3.
P5 includes the knowledge of P2,
P3 and P4 and can agree with them, but they will disagree with him. They will
be unable to understand him.
It is also necessary to consider
that (a) some of these elements are facts (b) some may not be true but are
fantasies or illusions or misconceptions; (c) some may be composite consisting
of several elements; (d) some are linked with others; (e) they can be given
different amounts of value, emphasis or importance; (f) they can be arranged in
different ways and patterns. But all these could be reduced to elemental
statements.
As
indicated before, if we can describe a System, object, event or condition, S1
accurately by say, 20 elemental statements, then we can indicate this by S1(t) =
20e + u, so that u stands for something unknown or uncertain but possible. Any particular individual P1 may,
however, perceive and describe that system by say, 6 true elements and 5 false
elements. We then have S1(d1) = 6e + 5f + (u) – he may or may not
recognise that his knowledge could be incomplete or wrong.. The difference
between the reality and the perception is then S1(i) = 14e + 5f + (u). The
perception or opinion of another person P2 might be S1(d2) = 9e + 3f + (u),
giving an illusional difference of S1(i) = 11e + 3f + (u). The difference
between these two persons is S1(i) = 3e + 2f.
When
comparing two systems S1 and S2 we must know not only the similarities but also
the differences. It is also necessary to compare the systems with other systems
S2 and S3 etc. It is, for instance, possible to come to a wrong conclusion
about S1 being similar to S2 when it could also be similar to S3 or S4 in some
ways and different in other ways. We have to consider the set of Systems to
which the systems under consideration belong.
S1 will
often be different under different conditions C1 and C2 etc. It may behave
differently and show a different set of elements. The conditions also have
elements and can be regarded as systems at a higher level.
In Islam
Knowledge can have three levels:- (a) What one has heard or learnt from
hearing. (b) What one has seen or experienced. (c) That which has affected one
and produced some transformation in being and behaviour. (See Quran 17:36, 2:7,
6:46, 11:24, 16:78, 108, 23:78, 32:9, 46:26, 67:23).
Again,
Knowledge can mean:-
(1)
Knowing the elements as above. These refer to “facts” and knowledge
at this level is generally known as “Information”. The three levels
above apply. In general there are really no facts that have not been interpreted.
When, for instance, we speak of a chair, or having seen a chair as a fact, we
are speaking of having experienced a set of sensations which we relate to other
sets of sensations and abstract certain common elements that give us concepts
by which we judge that set of sensations. The chair is not only related to
ourselves as something to be sat on, but also to other kinds of furniture that
forms the class to which it belongs.
(2)
Knowing the relationship between the elements. This refers to “meaning”
and to “understanding”. As already indicated Understanding can
refer to the verbal description or to the relationship between the experienced
objects or to the relationship of the experiences to the person. It can be
argued that nothing is known except by the relationship it has with other
things. We, therefore, have a Meaning Field in which things have a position.
(3)
Knowing the function of a thing with respect to the system or pattern of which
it is part. This refers to “value” and to
“consciousness” – (con = together, sciousness = awareness)
That system will itself be a part of a greater system and so ultimately it
refers to the function of things with respect to Allah, the ultimate Unity and
the self-consistency of existence. It can be argued that nothing exists except
by its function or purpose that brings it into existence.
(Knowing
is mentioned in the Quran in verse 2:230 and many others. Understanding is
mentioned in 2:269 and many others. Awareness is mentioned in 2:152, 16:13,17
and many others. In general, Awareness is an attribute of Allah 4:35, 6:104
etc. However as the Spirit of Allah is in us this bestows consciousness on us.
32:9)
Consciousness
can expand and this changes Knowledge. If a person living in a city is
concerned only with his own immediate affairs then he has a limited experiences
and a limited horizon. If he were to go up in a rocket, then the further up he
goes the wider his field of vision and he can see his area as part of the town
and that as part of a country, which can be seen as part of the planet earth
and so on. A person, who concentrates his attention on an object, perhaps
because fascination or greed contracts his consciousness, cannot see the
pattern or wider picture, the forest because of the trees. A self-centred person
cannot be aware of the needs and experiences of others. To be conscious of the
system or pattern, it is not necessary to know all the elements that go to make
it up because the parts generally contain clues about the whole. But having
discerned the system it is possible to predict the parts because of the need
for self-consistency.
We can
regard these as the scientific, philosophical and religious aspects of
knowledge. In general, though all three can be found to various degrees in
each, the emphasis in Science is on facts and information, the emphasis in
Philosophy is on meaning and understanding, and the emphasis in Religion is on
value and awareness.
As we
can see from the schema above everyone has partial knowledge and the degree of
knowledge varies. People acquire their knowledge mostly by accident of their
life and restricted interest and attention in a restricted environment. The
Educational System is a more deliberate way of providing knowledge. Science is
a more conscious way of increasing knowledge, of expanding the series of
elements. But the series of real elements R(e) is much greater than the
series of elements known to Science
S(e), otherwise science could not expand knowledge which is progressive
penetration into R(e). But S(e) is greater than the series of elements known to
any particular person P(e). But we note from the verse below that the Quran
recognises a much greater series of Absolute elements A(e) which refers to the
fact that the Universe is evolving and creativity continues.
“Say: Were the oceans ink for the Words
of my Lord, the ocean would surely fail before the Words of my Lord fail; aye,
though We brought as much ink again!” 18:110
Science,
however, does not only expand the series of facts, but also tries to discover
the relationship between them and constructs Theories that describe patterns
and systems to which the facts belong. Nevertheless, it provides verbal
descriptions and external applications rather than experiences or changes in
the nature of man. Nor does it deal with all facts but only a certain set of
facts mainly those that are quantifiable and measurable and fit into the
scientific conceptual system. It does try to understand nature but its purpose
is application in technology. There are other ways of gathering, interpreting
and arranging facts for other purposes as happens in Art, Commerce, Industry,
Crafts, History, Law, Politics,
Social Interactions and Self-Knowledge for instance. Religion is
interested in values and human spiritual development. In order to live in a
manner beneficial to ourselves, that is, in adjustment to Reality, we need
correct perception and ideas, but also correct motives and actions and there
are types of knowledge associated with these. However Science is progressive,
does and could change.
Critic:-
"Misinterpretation" of
Islamic scripture seems to occur more prevalently than that of the scripture of
other religions.
Comment:-
How can you say this with any kind
of justification? You would have to know all scriptures and know the un-misinterpreted
version. But we know that people keep misinterpreting the Quran.
Critic:-
In Islam, God is believed to be
omnipotent. If God is omnipotent, he can certainly make his final word to all men
for all time not subject to misinterpretation, or at the very least less
subject to misinterpretation than other scripture. If this is true, then it is
only logical to conclude that the Quran cannot be the final word of an
omnipotent God.
Comment:-
Bad logic!
(1) If God is omnipotent then he
can do anything including allowing people to misinterpret and fantasy and
invent.
(2) Are you unable to see the
difference between being able to do and choosing to do or not to do.
(3) What makes you think He must
conform to your idea of what He can do or should do?
Obviously your assertions are not
true.
Man has been given the creative
power to invent - i.e. to re-arrange.
The same faculty that has good
uses can be misused. But eventually man is judged by consequences. It is a
common observation that man can invent and that he learns from consequences,
though people can invent and learn to different degrees.
Critic:-
If God can give man powers to
invent and misinterpret, then, how can anything said by this God be useful?
When something can easily be misinterpreted by not being clear enough or
unambiguous, it is pretty much useless.
Comment:-
I am sure you can work this out
yourself: - if you were not so negativistic.
God is the creator of all things -
Truth refers to that which He has created. Human beings have been given the
faculty to perceive the Truth, but also to Invent and they have been given the
power of Discrimination as well Guidance. They are tested by how they apply these,
and are compensated accordingly. Why else would man be created?
"Misinterpretation" and
"ambiguity" refer to human beings not to God.
Critic:-
Muslims
like other religious people accept the teachings of the Quran or more often
those of their clergy or other authorities on blind faith. Why must any Muslim
who leads an ordinary life not be able to perform his or her own ijtihad,
interpretation whenever itjihad is needed?
A Muslim:-
There is
nothing in the Quran that forbids such a thing. In fact, the Quran rather
firmly insists that it is clear and that each Muslim must understand it. In
Islam, as everywhere else, the best course remains – To QUESTION AUTHORITY.
Comment:-
From the
Islamic point of view, faith does not mean “blind faith”, but it
refers to insight and the confidence to base one’s life on it. It is true
that each Muslim must seek knowledge and understanding. But that includes learning from scholars.
But it is not the word of scholars that is to be accepted. They merely point to
some truth which must be understood by the student himself.
"And follow (or pursue) not that of
which you have no knowledge; verily, the hearing, the sight, and the heart, of
all of these it shall be asked (to give an account). And walk not on the earth
proudly (insolently); verily, you can not rend the earth asunder, nor can you
stretch to the height of the mountains." 17:36-37
We would
not need an educational system at all if it were possible for each individual
to know all the laws and processes of nature and human societies and make all
the needed calculations required in their life.
Yes, it
is correct to question authority. But, though it is not guaranteed that an
authority, scholar or expert is always correct, it is much more likely that a scholar
will be closer to the truth than a non-scholar and certainly much closer than a
speculator with prejudices and little knowledge.
But this
phrase has several meanings. It could mean: - (1) To ask authorities about
facts. (2) Not to take their word for it, but seek an explanation or proof. (3)
Not to assume that one has understood things they way they understand it. (4) To
criticise authorities destructively with cynicism and disrespect. This is not
the Islamic style. As the Word of Allah is Truth, those who have knowledge are
to be honoured.
The word
"authorities" also requires clarification. Does it refers to:- (1) Someone
who has been put in charge by a government, organisation, sect, company or
power holder? (2) Some charlatan or self-proclaimed authority who the naive
accept and follow. (3) Someone who belongs to a particular founder by genetic
descent or is a initiated disciple by succession. (4) A person who has acquired
qualifications based on certain criteria including knowledge, experience,
virtue and ability. (5) An expert who is recognised by a community of other
experts. In general, Islam recognises the last three.
However,
because Islam has no priesthood and organised Church with central authority,
people tend to make their own interpretations, often based on subjective
desires driven by commercial or political interests or follow those of others
they take as leaders, and this does lead to acceptance of misinterpretations.
Critic:-
I am not suggesting that this
failure, i.e. misinterpretation, if it is so, is limited to Muslims. But it is most
common to Muslims. They find justification for their actions in the Quran,
Hadith & Sira and the actions of Muhammad. You can not find that
justification in the holy books of other religions and their founders. So with
other religions, if it occurs at all, it is an anomaly. With Islam, it is not.
Comment:-
Certainly, Muslims are required to
obey the commands of God in the Quran, but they are required to understand them
also. Misunderstood commands cannot be said to be the commands of God. But why
is misinterpretation an anomaly in other religions and not in Islam? Why is the
very small percentage of Muslims who indulge in bad actions not an anomaly? And
why are those who do bad actions regarded as Muslims anyway? Why is terrorism
say by the IRA in Ireland
not Christian terrorism? Why is it that terrorism by the Israeli and US
government is not Jewish and Christian Terrorism? How do you define evil anyway
-Is retaliation against terrorism and invassion evil? If so punishing criminals
is also evil.
The Psychopath running the US
government, who regards himself as a Christian and is so regarded by millions
of Americans, kills 650,000 Iraqis. Is he and his henchmen not terrorists?
Critic:-
Reminder: What happened first! -
the destruction of the Twin Towers in New
York on September 11 with a loss of life of over 2500
people. The Iraq
situation is a direct result of American reaction to 9/11. And that was 19
Muslims.
Comment:-
What did Iraq have to do with 9/11? Everyone
knows there is no connection. Nor did the Afghanis have anything to do with it.
Those who perpetrated the action were Arabs and most of those died and were
arrested.
How do you justify destroying
whole countries for the acts of the few? When someone commits a criminal act
does your law require the whole city to be destroyed?
It is
now known that the invasions of Afghanistan
and Iraq by the USA and Britain were not based on
information provided by the Intelligence Services, but that on the contrary
pressure was exerted on them by those who controlled the governments to provide
them with material that would justify actions based on the motives they already
had. This consisted of distorted interpretation of selected events. Thus an
illusion was created that cost hundreds of thousands of lives and much
destruction and suffering. Indeed, many incidents are deliberately caused for
which the blame can be placed on the opposition or innocent people or to
provoke them, in order to justify action against them. Apart from the fantasy
created by the means of entertainment, a web of illusion is deliberately spun
by the media and by commercial and political interests to such an extent that
it is not possible to believe much of what one is told, but nevertheless
deceives even those who manufacture it. It is so difficult to get at the truth
that most people do not even try or it is in their self-interest to accept lies
as truth. The Iraq war, for
instance, is presented to the US
public as a noble cause. In fact, it was seen as something from which much
political advantage and wealth could be made. Many US companies, in which those who
run the government had shares, made huge profits and thousands of US citizens
became millionaires from the manufacture and supply of arms and ammunition,
oil, reconstruction work, security services and so on.
There
can be little doubt that much of the poverty and the consequent disease,
ignorance, misery, political chaos, civil wars, massacres, crime, torture
atrocities, wastage of resources and environmental damage throughout the world
is due to the political and economic policies of Governments supported by the
deception created by the prejudice and illusion manufacturers and the apathy,
ignorance and self-deception of people.
Where
such injustices exist based on muddled and hypocritical thinking you cannot
blame people for thinking that they are fighting a global evil. There are, of
course, several ways of doing so and different sets of people may prefer
different methods. But there is ignorance
and also prejudices and illusions connected with perception about the nature of
this evil. And that prevents
appropriate solutions to be proposed quite apart from making it difficult to
implement them. The proposed solutions may well increase the problem.
Critic:-
According to the Muslims, Islam is
a complete way of life. And if that "complete way of life" includes
terrorism, then Islam has got an image problem, to say the least!
Comment:-
There is no terrorism in the
teachings of Islam. It requires only self-defence against terrorism and
attacks.
"Images" are produced by
the media, publicity agents, political spin doctors, and propagandists. They do
this by selection, exaggeration, invention and interpretation of events and
reporting them in a manner calculated to appeal to the emotions, to fears and
desires, by-passing the rational faculty and objective perception. There is
always a motive behind it, to manipulating information in order to control
people and make them support someone, usually a politician, or some interest or
cause he champions or to create antagonism and opposition to something that is
seen as a threat to that interest or cause.
Islam is feared in the West and
elsewhere because it is incompatible with corrupt cultural, political and
economic systems and threatens the wealth, power and prestige of those who have
gained these through corruption. It tends to arouse guilt feelings which can
only be overcome either by reforming or attacking and destroying the source.
The Prophets were persecuted for that reason. Islam has been under attack ever
since its beginning and has nevertheless made converts.
In fact, much greater worldwide
terrorism is caused by the US government and those it controls, because it has
much greater wealth, technology and organisation behind it and maintains
military bases all over the world designed to intimidate and bully nations,
than any caused by voluntarily organisations most of which are merely reacting
against the terrorism of the US and its puppets. Indeed, as is well known, most
of these groups were set up, financed and even trained by the US as part of their terrorism
against other nations. It is unlikely that counter-terrorism will cease until US
terrorism does.
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