Al-Wasatiyyah
( Intermediacy ), of Islam is the divine leading path. It is the path that by
which Allah honoured with it humanity to enable them bear just witnesses over
themselves and perform their obligation with faithfulness, while superseding
each other in populating and constructing the earth.
[
thus have we made
of you an Ummah justly balanced that ye might be witness over the nations. And
the messenger a witness over yourselves]
(sura 2-143).
Knowing each other is a major objective of
the Islam Wasatiyyah (Intermediacy)). It is the mutual culture to perform
faithfully, the obligation of superseding each other in this universe.
(
Mankind ! we created you from a single (pair) of a male and female. And made you
into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (Not this ye may despite
(each other).
verily,
the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is ( he who is ) the most
righteous of you ) sura
49-13.
In
the message order of Islam Wasatiyyah (Intermediacy)), man remains the
focal point of all created beings in their motion, while performing their
mission to populate the earth and maintain peaceful life.[ behold, the lord
said to the angels "I will create A vicegerent on earth] sura 2-30.
The dialogue, then will be the best and the
wisest way to achieve Wasatiyyah (Intermediacy)), to realize our
knowledge to each other and to discover the universal mutuality among the cross
cultures.
[And
dispute ye not with the people of the book, except with means better]
sura29-46.
[Speak
fair to the people;] sura 2-83.
The sanctity of human life and dignity,
environmental security, justice and rational development shall remain the
criteria which govern the correctness and safety of the civilized performance on
earth.
[
we have honoured the sons of Adam ; provided them with transport on land and
sea, given them for sustenance things. Good and pure; and conferred on them
special favours, Above a great part of our creations] sura 17-70.
As for
social administrative, political orders and mechanism, they will all remain as
creative means. People shall continue to compete on that basis to achieve the
noble goals and objectives of the vital mission of human existence in life.
[
to each is a goal to which Allah turns him. Then strive together (as in race)
towards all that is good.]
sura 2-148.
Man, as per the methodology of Islam
message, is a vicegerent on earth. He is commanded by his lord as a human being,
irrespective of his religion, nationality, race, gender or colour, to achieve
two goals:
1. Construction and Inhabitation of Land
2. Performance of Justice.
All the created beings are subjugated to him
to perform their responsibilities to achieve these two noble objectives. Man and
all beings (animal, plant, all living things and matter) from Islam perspective
towards the universe and life, are in the path of worshiping Allah in this
universe [there is not a thing but celebrates his Praize] sura 17-44.
They are also engaged in an integrated
comprehensive strive to inhabit and construct of the earth, in all aspects of
life in the favour of all. This states clearly that man and all created beings
are partners in three objectives:
1. Worshiping of Allah.
2. Inhabitation and constructing of earth.
3. Achieving virtues.
This emphasizes accurately the relationship
between man and the created beings around him. It is a relationship of harmony
and peace. It is not a relationship of contradiction and clash. A relation of
coordination and integration, not dispute and split. It is a coordinated, and
integrated and balanced relationship. It aims towards noble objectives and
common goals. It is man who is responsible to adjust and maintain the movement
of integration and balance among the created beings and to realize and preserve
this civilized noble system. In accordance with a scientific, leading
methodology, not to contradict or affect the accurate balance of the divine vice
regency in earth. That methodology which is based on the accurate balance
between the creative movement and technological advance in materials, means and
skills from one hand, and between respect and commitment to the values,
principles and moral from the other. All that are meant to achieve positive
results in favour of human dignity, safe environment and secured human life.
Allah honoured Man by placing him in a
midmost position among the created beings and enables him by making him a
vicegerent in earth. He has chosen and prepared him to bear the responsibility
of maintaining the balance of the performance motion of regent ship objectives.
Allah (s.w.t) established rules to perform the responsibility of his grand
guardianship. Among the salient and important ones are the following
1. Glorify human intelligence and adopt it
as a criterion for responsibility and main source of truth determination and
correctness of knowledge.
2. Evaluate the prestige of thinking and
contemplation in the universe and creative beings. Reveal their secrets,
understand their codes and try to invest them.
3. Respect the freedom of man and his right
to choose and believe.
4. Confirm the neutrality of the matter and
all other beings before the man's hand in order to perform his mission in vice
regency, as they are obedient to all except among the ignorants.
5. Glorify justice and the right of everyone
to enjoy life and its beauties without deduction or despise.
6. People are equal partner in the basic
needs of life such as water, food and energy.
7. Respect and preserve the environment as
it is home of all beings. It is their bedroom and their security refuge.
Similarly, the creator diversifies the
creatures in characteristics and talents to enable them performing the grand
vice regency. As his divine wisdom decided:
1. Diversification of human race and its
potentialities.
2. Diversification of other creative beings
and their characteristics.
3. Diversification of cultures.
4. Diversification of environment and
geographical features
5. Diversification and characteristic of
wealth.
6. Universal diversification of all means,
potentials & skills.
This diversification is a result of Allah's command, so as to be an easy
base to establish the principles of integration and cooperation among man kind
to strive, all in performing faithfully the mission of vice regency in earth.
This diversification shall be a source to raise the spirit of competition among
them in the fields of creation and civilized development. It is also to avoid
any retardation in means of performance and creativity to develop various fields
of inhabitation and construction of the earth. If some people retarded, some
developed, if some failed, others succeeded, if some cultures did bad, others
did good, and thus the vehicle of performance, creativity and development
continues towards achievements of its noble objectives to inhabit and construct
the earth for the welfare of all. This diversity shall be a cause to establish a
base of the need and necessity among the people and communities. No one can get
along without the other. (Individuals or communities) and among them shall be a
need for mutual life in which a common international system shall prevail.
In order to achieve this grand
diversification in cultures potentials, methods and skills, and in order to
prevail the means of harmony, integration and cooperation in the various
universal fields of this diversification, Allah has established general rules
upon which there are certain regional and international parts that govern and
regulate human life, in conformity with their efforts, and by which their will
are articulated on cooperation and competition to achieve the common and mutual,
national and human objectives. It is for the welfare integration among all types
of regional and international diversification.
The salient principles are:
1. Dialogue: to assure due respect to human
intelligence, diversity of views and acceptance of diversification.
2. Mutual Acquaintance: a way to understand
and discover mutual understanding.
3. Check one by another: to confirm
cooperation and mutual support among nations to attract good and to avoid bad.
4. Competition: To fairly compete in all
fields of good, creativity and cultural development.
5. Subservience: exchange of benefits,
skills and means to achieve objectives and mutual interests.
In order to realize these general principles to achieve mutual security,
Islam Al-wasatiyyah (Intermediacy) deflected the words of cultural human
speech from addressing its national and regional concerns to address the
horizons of its global and universal human ambition. It has established general
and comprehensive principles to articulate mutual human culture. A culture that
respects peculiarities of religions aqnd not confines itself to the dialectics
of its own advantages. Culture which does not bargain to over rule others, or
violate their sacredness. It respects their integrity without sacrificing their
principles and their noble targets according to a just methodology and fair
objectivity. For the sake of all that, Islam Al-wasatiyyah (Intermediacy)
has introduced two pacts; a pact of regional citizenship and a pact of global
citizenship.
First:
pact of regional citizenship:
This pact, or the national social contract,
is based on values and principles that originate the agreement and constitutions
of common citizenship in a frame work of diversified faith, race & culture.
It is similar to El Madina Al-Munawarah pact which has the following salient
constitutional features.
1. All citizens are of one nation,
irrespective of their faith or race.
2. Freedom of faith and culture are granted
for all.
3. Peculiarities in faith are respected and
the right to refer to them in personal religious affairs is granted.
4. Solidarity and integration among all
during, war and peace.
5. Combating the enemy and preserving the
sovereignty of the country is a common responsibility.
6. Advice and consultation is the base of
cooperation and discussion on the common responsibility.
7. All citizens are like one soul in
respecting their dignity and their security.
Second:
pact of global citizenship:
This pact or the global social contract is based on collective values
which form the basis and source to draft and develop global pacts along the
changing time, place and conditions. This is established in the pact which is
well known among the Moslems by its name "Khutbat hajjat al-wadaa' "
speech of Farewell Pilgrimage
That
speech which originated and established the first global pact in human history,
in the framework of religious cultural, racial, gender, and color diversity.
This incident goes back to more than fourteen centuries ago, when the Messenger
of Mercy, the accomplisher of all noble morals. That set of in morals which was
brought by all Messengers and Prophets before him. The speech in which he has
addressed all mankind, at the day
of Arafa in his last pilgrimage
(Peace Be Upon Him). He said:
1.
Oh people, your Lord is one
2.
Oh people, your father is one
3.
Oh people, your blood and wealth are sacred
4.
Oh people, Allah has judged that no riba (usury)
5.
Oh people, the number of months with Allah is twelve months, four of them
are sacred
6.
Oh people, Allah forbade himself from injustice and made injustice
forbidden among your selves.
7.
Oh people take good care of women, they have right upon you and you have
right upon them as well.
He,
who studies carefully these seven pillars, finds easily and clearly that they
are establishing to draft an opened human mentality, and a global balanced and
comprehensive culture. They aim to change people from dialectics on particularities and
details to objectivity in dealing with collectiveness and commons. As the latter
are basis which are consistent with human nature, which originated his conscious
and behaviour while dealing with the other and with the universe around him.
This
issue involves many concepts. Some of them are mentioned bellow:
§
Oh
people, your Lord is one. This confirms the oneness of the faith origin. It
shall be the comprehensive base of religious, spiritual and cultural movement of
the human mind in all aspects of life. It shall be a solid base to the freedom
of man and servitude to none but Allah. This also emphasizes the absolute
equality in rights and obligations among the human beings. They are all equal
without any discrimination as by race, religion, gender or color.
§
Oh
people, your father is one, this confirms the oneness of the human family to be
a base of fair global culture. It denies any racial discrimination among the
people as they are all from Adam and Adams is from dust. Being as that, it shall
be a solid base for Al-wasatiyyah (Intermediacy) established methodology,
which emphasizes human fraternity, raises its value, magnifies its sacredness
and establishes respect to their welfare unity.
§
Oh
people, your blood and wealth are sacred similar to the sacredness of your this
day (day of Arafa – the day of the declaration of these seven pillars – the
best day of time to Allah). In your this month (Dhul Hajjah, one of the sacred
month, where man, animal, plant and environment are protected form any
aggression). This is to confirm the divinity of human life and his belongings,
irrespective of his nationality, religion, gender or color, and in conformity
with Qur’anic noble rule (if any one killed a person not in retaliation of
murder, or (and) to spread mischief in the land – it would be as if he killed
all mankind). Thus, it became established and solid base for peace culture and
security among people, and similarly, a just source to purify the upbringing
generation from the vocabulary of war and aggression culture, and also to
decline the destined conflict among different cultures, to take a firm stand to
deny and resist the militarization of culture and technology against the
accounts of culture dialogue, understanding and secured coexistence among the
communities.
§
Oh
people, Allah has judged that no riba. This is to emphasize protection of the
poor and not to exploit the impoverished, to encourage kindness and mercy among
each other, to resurrect values of solidarity and support among them.
§
Oh
people the number of months with Allah is twelve months, four of them are
sacred. This is to confirm that the relationship among people is by Allah
judgment and that it is based on security, peace and development, it is not a
relationship of terror, wars or destruction. It should be based on believe and
emotions to establish the culture of peace, security and sustainable wise
development among people, and to be a followed methodology in maintaining their
welfare through the movement of inhabitation and construction of land for the
benefit of them all.
§
Oh
people Allah forbade himself from injustice and made it forbidden among
yourselves. This is to emphasize that injustice is the root of every evil and
mischief and a source of hatred and enmity. It is the vicious enemy and most
destructive to people’s security and peaceful living. It is the dangerous
originator of war and aggression culture in the universe. This great principle
emphasizes that justice is the base and origin of all virtues and source of
security and peace and the strongest guard to effectively protect people’s
life and welfare. It is the main factor in their settlement, and sustained
development and betterment of their life.
§
Oh
people, take good care of women, they have right upon you and you have right
upon them as well. This emphasizes the right of women to be honored, respected,
to raise her role and regarding her divine mission in brining up new
generations, raising and preparing them. It is also recognizing her noble and
basic mission in the process of vice regency as a complementary partner with the
man in holding the responsibility of inhabitation and construction of land, and
maintaining a decent life and secured coexistence among communities.
No
doubts that the meanings and the directive guidance mentioned above, which were
included in the values and principles of that great pact. Pact of regional
citizenship and Pact of global citizenship out of the Islam Al-wasatiyyah
(Intermediacy) series of facts, indeed, emphasize the due care and concern of
establishing the basis of Al-wasatiyyah (Intermediacy) just culture that
respects the differences and
details, and magnifies the comprehensive and common, in a framework of rational
methodology. A methodology that changes the people from zones of dialectics and
peculiarity discrepancies, to zones of cooperation and competition based on
comprehensive basis. All that is to
make people’s minds and concepts integrate and complement with efforts and
skills towards achieving the higher goals and divine universal objectives of the
mission of vice regency on earth. In assurances to this general course of Islam
Al-wasatiyyah (Intermediacy), the wholly Qur’an and purified Sunna (prophet
teachings) mentioned established rules originating this course and call for it.
Some of them are:
1.
No coercion in belief
2.
To you be your way, and to me mine.
3.
Strive together (as in race) towards all that good
4.
The best among people is he who serves the people
No
doubts, that the followers of any religion, sector philosophy are proud of their
beliefs and have reasons which make them stuck to their faith. Each of them has
his advantages that make them different from other faith, support the argument
on supremacy right of his belief. Qur’an explained this complexed situation
and the reality of people on the issue of belief and resolved it clearly and
explicitly.
§
(If
thy Lord had so willed, He could have made mankind one people, but they will not
cease to dispute. Except those on whom Lord Hath bestowed His mercy) …
Sura 117-118
§
(If
it had been the Lord’s will, they would all have believed. All who are on
earth with thu then compel mankind against their will to belief) Sura 10-99.
§
Those who belief (in the Qur’an) those who follow the Jewish
(scriptures) and the Sabians, Christians Magians and poly theists.
Allah will judge between them on the Day of Judgment. For Allah is
witness of all things) .. Sura 22-17.
§
(To
each among you have we prescribed a low and an open way. If Allah had so willed.
He would have made you. A singe people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He
hath given you. So strive as in race, in all virtues. The goal of you all is to
Allah. It is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute).
…..Sura 5-48.
One
who carefully studies these clear verses will easily understand that the Al-wasatiyyah
(Intermediacy) of Islam ensures the religious and cultural diversities among
mankind. It also ensures that the whole matter is to Allah who judge them on
their dispute in the Day of Judgment. As in the earthy life, they are all called
by Him (SWT) to benefit from these diversities to compete in the path of virtues
and away from dialectics of discrepancies and dispute. It is competition in the
field of work and its quality, which is more useful in earthy life. That is to
prove and support the right which every group claims. This also means clearly to
turn with people from dialectics, dispute and confrontation to the wide horizons
of fair competition and cooperation in work, for the benefits and welfare of
all. Thus, help all the community to take their responsibility of faithful vice
regency and for the sake of wise inhabitation and construction of the land, in
order to achieve just and secured coexistence among communities.
In
order to achieve this principle of competition and cooperation and for the sake
of establishing the culture of mutual and common interest, the Islam Al-wasatiyyah
(Intermediacy) emphasized collective rules and principles, some of them are:
1.
Without any exceptions, all people are partners in the mission of vice
regency on earth.
2.
Land inhibition and construction and application of justice are two basic
objectives of vice regency mission.
3.
People are partners in the global wealth
4.
Land and environment are the home of mankind. They should be preserved.
5.
Human life and dignity are sacred and they are the core of secured
coexistence among people
6.
The sacredness of security and human peace, regionally and
internationally are one un-dissected unit.
7.
Knowledge and virtues are united and complementary to safe civilized
movement
In
order to articulate these virtues in the human conscious, Islam wasatiyyah
(Intermediacy) have conjugated them in religious and spiritual education to the
man. It emphasized on basic foundations to build behavioral and cultural
structure for human generations such as:
1.
Devoted faith to Allah to ensure the freedom of man and to set him free
from any worshiping but to Allah.
2.
Honoring the parent’s obedience to ensure the unity of family and its
role in safe social structure.
3.
Prohibits aggression on the right of marriage without legal excuse.
4.
Prohibits awful deeds (such as adultery, etc)
5.
Prohibits aggression on the sacred life of the man
6.
Prohibits aggression on the wealth of the orphan
7.
Just in transactions shall be a must (obligatory)
8.
Justice in performing witness shall be obligatory and without
discrimination.
9.
Fulfillment of promises and contracts shall be a must.
10.
Faithful performance to execute the mission of vice regency in land shall
be a must (obligatory).
These
ten comprehensive issues form a base for an intern tonal pact of values. In
their light many generations can be raised and educated. Their individual and
social behaviors and responsibilities can be formulated. The correct conscience
and behaviour for individuals will always remain the solid base for healthy and
trustworthy communities. To quote the famous words of Confucius who said (if
home is established on healthy basis, the whole world will be safe and
secured.). The Messenger of Islam, before more than fourteen centuries, in brief
and eloquent manner declared his mission and the missions of Prophets before him
that (I have been sent to accomplish the noble virtues). Indeed the law of
virtues remains the most effective secured and justified one. It governs and
regulates the human movement in various fields of life. The disturbance and
suspensions of these virtues or acting against them will create serious danger
that threatens the smooth movement of vice regency on earth. In fact modern and
ancient history have clearly proven that. In fact the contemporary life confirms
and supports this fact. The wholly Qur’an have told us about ancient nations
and civilizations that evolved and were very advanced in fields materials, means
and skills. They have produced huge and tremendous movements and artifacts that
are still a witness for their civilization and development. However, they have
fallen destroyed and became extinct due to their moral backwardness and lack of
values or by abandoning or acting against these values. Take for example. Eram,
who were tall, like lofty pillars. The like of which was not created in the
land. That was a witness to A’d people for their creativity and manufacture,
but they have transgress beyond bounds in the land and made there in much
mischief. As a result they have been tormented and destroyed. Also there were
pharaoh who had the stakes (pyramids) which showed the brilliance of
architecture and the perfection of engineering which were and still scientific
puzzles and many specialist of our contemporary time wonder and admire.
Nevertheless, their owners and manufactures have made mischief and evil so they
have fallen victims of their own misjudgment, their evil deeds and their
lack of values. Finally, they were declined and vanished. The same can be said
to the people of Saleh and their cities and people of Shuaib, Thamoud, Lut and
others, along the history. Those whose cultural movements have been disturbed
when they lagged behind in morals and virtues compared to their scientific and
technological advance. The Holy Qur’an has told us about the result of this
conflicted relationship between the materialistic achievements and moral
performance in the movement of Vic regency on earth. (Have they not travel in
the land and seen what was the end of those who were before them? They were
superior to them in strength, and in the traces (which they left) in the land.
But Allah seized them with punishment for their sins. And none had they to
protect them from Allah. That was because there came to them their Messengers
with clear evidences (proofs and signs) but they disbelieved (in them). So Allah
seized them (with punished). Verily, He is All-strong, severe in punishment)
…Sura 40, 21, 22.
The
current situation has submitted its testimony on the hazard of imbalance between
science and values in the flow of the contemporary civilization. This testimony
has been delivered by prominent political leaders who were leading the two
largest contemporary empires. The first one is Michel Gorbatchev, The President
of the former USSR, in his book (perestroika), referring to the
destruction of their empire, and all the materialistic movements of
civilizations they have acquired on the accounts of moral values and on the
account soc the humanity of the man. He was trying to avoid that fall when it
was too late, by saying:
§
(Our
rockets can reach Haley Comet and are able to fly to Venus in an amazing
precession, but in spite of all this scientific and technological victory, we
find acute shortage to utilize these scientific achievements to serve the
economical needs. Most of the Soviet domestic appliances are of low quality.
Unfortunately that was not all about it. In fact the fall started gradually in
our ideological and virtual values. The corruption began to prevail in our
general behavior and the high rate of consumption of alcohol, drugs and crimes)
pp. 18,19))
§
(Our
mission today is to raise the individual sprit, respect his internal privacy and
give him psychological support, while we are trying to activate all the
intellectual and cultural abilities of the community to work in forming a
socially and spiritually active individual, righteous and has a vigilant
conscious) p.29.
§
(The
world is not living under nuclear threats only, but in an atmosphere of
important social problems still unresolved. It lives under pressure resulted
from scientific and technological advancement and complicated international
problems. The humanity is facing problems which were never before. The future
will remain evolved in danger unless we find mutual solutions), p.80.
§
(But
along the years of our heroic and glorious history we have failed to give due
care to the private rights of the woman. Her needs as a mother and a wife and
her educational role for the children cannot be replaced. The woman works in the
field of scientific research, in production and services, participates in
cultural activities. She can hardly find time to cater for her daily affairs at
home, raising the children, and in addition to that, creates a good family
environment. We have discovered that most of our problems, in the behavior of
our children and our youth, in our moralities, culture and production are
partially resulted to our loose family relationship and to our loose position
from family responsibilities. This is contrary to our sincere desire which is
politically approved to equalize woman with man in every aspect of life. Now, in the Perestroika process, we
have started to overcomes this situation, and for this reasons we have serious
discussion in the media and public organizations at work, and at home about what
we should do and how to reconsider the service of woman in the hard labor that
affects her health. That was a heritage of war in which we have lost huge
numbers of men. We have now started to treat this problem seriously.One
of the most persistent social mission for us, and also important to our campaign
against the alcohol, is that we have to improve the health of the family and
support its role in the community. P.138-139.
[In
confrontation of this serious problem which Gorbachev has spoken about, he was
trying at the same time to cope rationally and deal with the tragic situation
which his country and/all the world have reached and try to warn them that they
have no way but to promote with the collective responsibilities which will save
from destruction and collapse which threaten them all. He said:
In
spite of all contradictions in the worlds of today and diversification of social
and political systems, and in spite of all the options which was experienced by
various countries through the history, this world is considered as one unit and
we are all passengers of one ship called earth. We have not let it sunk as there
will be no Noah ship again. Thus, after having selected quotations from the
testimony of Michael Gorbachev, the President of the fallen Soviet Union as a
result of disequilibrium in relationship between components of science and
values, we are going to explore quotations from the testimony of President
Richard Nixon, the former President of the United States of America, from his
famous book (The Historical Chance). He says:
·
[America is moving
down in spiral way towards scientific and technological illiteracy. Not because
the Americans have lost their abilities towards science but because the type of
education they have became obsolete. We are not upbringing new generation
neither in small poor huts inside the cities nor in the middle or higher social
classes in the rural areas which we call them MTV generation. The striking
ignorance of many of today's generation is not because they lack intelligence
but because their intelligence is not properly used. They live in the world of
pop music which produces loud music that affects the ears. The TV shows pictures
which are too fast to follow and successive pornography pictures. Now slogans
and posters are printed on shirts, before they were stuck on cars but remained
out of any significant meaning]. P.259
·
[The richest country
in the world cannot accept to be a consumer of drugs almost equal in amount to
the consumption of the entire world collectively, in spite of the fact that its
population is not exceeding 1/20th of the world population. The
riches country in the world should not have the highest crime rate in the world
and the number of death is twenty times as much as those who were killed during
the same period at Gulf war]. P.267
·
[The richest country
in the world should not accept to have class of gangsters that make life in our
cities unsafe to unbearable degree. Solving these problems need innovative
ideas, not only that but also to re-innovate our beliefs in the principles that
made us as today]. P.268
As in
his book, “Victory Without a War”, 1999, President Nixon has said :
·
[In the 20th
Century we have advanced in technology further than in politics, the thing which
we should not let it happen in the coming century, in order to minimize the
chances of war eruption and to increase the participation in welfare of peace].
P.327
·
Once Stalin asked
sarcastically despising the influence of the Church in the world events. He
said, “How many troops are under the command of the Pope?” This comment is a
proof of his disability to understand the world and what influences the world.
History, at the end is decided by ideas, not weapons. P.331
·
Within this context,
the Indian great poet, Taghour, was speaking to one western intellect, “It is
true that you have flown like birds, sink into the sea like fishes, but you
failed to walk on earth like human beings”.
·
John Steinbeck, the
American writer, said: The problem of America is that it is wealthy and has too
many, but it has no comprehensive spiritual message. We need a blow to make us
awake from our wealth. We have conquered nature but we did not conquer
ourselves.
·
Mr. John Foster
Dallas, former US Secretary of State, said : The matter is not related to
materialistic affairs as we have the largest international production in
materialistic things, what we lack is right strong beliefs as without having
that, whatever we have remains little.
·
Mr. Eden, the famous
British Prime Minister said: What is strange and funny is that countries and
states spend millions of pounds to protect itself from destructive weapons that
they fear, and spend nothing to control that.
·
Mr. Alexis Carrel, the
Nobel Prize Laureate, in his book, “Man, The Unknown” said : Our
awareness of life and how a man lives is latter than our awareness with
materials. It is that late awareness that had the bad effect on us.
·
Professor Good,
Division Chief of the Philosophy at London University, said : Nature has given
us power which is eligible for the great people, but we are using it by
mentality of children and beasts. This variation between our amazing scientific
victory and our shameful social childhood, we are facing them in every corner of
our life.
·
Roosevelt, the former
USA President, said: The important is not what we have in order to be a great
nation; the important is how we use what we have!
·
James Baker, former
USA Secretary of State, in a long article [Lack of Values Cost her a lot),
published in Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, issue # 5730 dated 10.7.1994, by license from
(Losangelos Times) wrote: The deterioration of our social values was the cause
of raise of explosive corruption in America. 73% of the Americans are worried
that the nation is suffering from moral deterioration. They have the right to
worry as for some estimation. The crime only, cost the American economy more
than six hundreds billions of dollars and the abusage of wealth and corruption
costs more uncountable billions. But the human value which is paid as price of
death, destruction and aborted hopes are far expensive, and it occurred with
bitter variations due to our weak immunity. The crisis in our contemporary
values goes back to sixties when the cultural relativism and moral sexuality.
America started its cursed experience in social sexuality before thirty years
and in order to criticize this action might need three other decades. Baker
concluded in his article that “It is the personal responsibility that made us
strong nation. But the continuation of the moral deterioration will turn us to a
weak nation.
·
Confucius has famous
words. He said: Government should do three things to the people – order, food
and weapons), he was asked once if you were asked to drop one of those three
which one you would drop first? He said the weapon. He was asked again, if you
are to choose between food and order, which one you would drop? He said: I would
drop food!
Confucius
was right and to the point in this accurate behaviour. He has chosen to
sacrifice weapon and food for the sake of order, because, like people of wisdom,
he knew that weapon without order is mere destruction, when there is no order
then there is no food and development discontinues.
·
Finally, all those
mentioned testimonies submitted by notable leaders are warning to the danger of
disequilibrium in the scale of relationship between the motion of science and
technology, from one side, and the motion of construction of moral behaviour and
conscious of human on the other. These testimonies came in support to the
methodology of Islam wasatiyyah (Intermediacy) which assures the
importance of keeping accurate balance between the motion of scientific and
technological creativity, and the motion of construction of spiritual values in
human conscious. The lack or disequilibrium in this equation will produce
destructive results that hinder the flow of civilization in this universe. Thus
the moral values will remain the basis to regulate and control the mission
motion of vice regency, in order to have a positive contribution to realize
properly this vice regency in inhibition and construction of the universe.
Construction that maximizes the sacredness of human life, protects it from any
aggression, alleviates its honour and freedom, preserves the environment and
implements fair justice without any mischief and to cater for people welfare,
respects their rights and regulates their duties without any discrimination.
But
how to reach with people and communities to this scientific rational mentality
so as to take the burden of the responsibility of vice regency, and to achieve
positive and safe inhibition and construction to the universe?
No
doubts the starting point should be to strive hard to make the will and
intention of all nations and communities to come together and set the cultural
dialogue to be a method and a solid base to realize, in principle, each culture
to know the other. The aim should be to explore goals, objectives and mutual
international culture to be a base of collective international work program. By
this, human dignity can be restored, the welfare and interest of its community
can integrate, stability and safety can be achieved and coexistence, just and
secure will be maintained.
A
careful study on what was said about Islam wasatiyyah (Intermediacy), its
series of virtues, comprehensive principles and pacts, will show that it came
within the context of due care of its divine, just and wise wasatiyyah
(Intermediacy) to alleviate the mind and human responsibilities from its earthy
individual, national and regional concerns, towards his communal and
international concerns. This process is much dependent on cross-cultural
dialogue, based on Al-wasatiyyah (Intermediacy) of Islam. This Al-wasatiyyah
(Intermediacy) magnifies and alleviates the role of mind and considers it a
source of truth establishment. Al-wasatiyyah (Intermediacy) that portrays the
positive knowledge frame to the motion of the man in the universe. The dialogue
as per Islam wasatiyyah (Intermediacy) is based on the solid belief on
the value of mind.
Islamic Shari’ah rule is stating that: There is no credibility to any
belief or faith or responsibility in the absence of mind, or with any defect in
its functions. Based on that, the Islam wasatiyyah (Intermediacy), states
that dialogue is a religious obligation, moral principle and urgent civilized
method. It is considered as a wise and rational way to achieve one of the most
important elements of Islam wasatiyyah (Intermediacy), i.e., exchange of
knowing each other among the cultures within certain rules and mechanism. Some
of them are:
1.
To respect freedom of choice
2.
To respect divergence of opinions
3.
To respect diversity of culture
4.
Importance of knowledge, understanding and know-how in debating issues
5.
Command the art of reasoning and proof
6.
Command the skills of presentation
7.
Equivalence with the mentality of the counterpart in the dialogue
8.
Command the language of dialogue (debate)
9.
Avoidance of opinion transcendence
10.
Commitment to the best words
11.
Prohibition of defamations and insults
12.
Honour the dialogist and respect his confidentiality
13.
Confirm that the attempts to achieve fact is a mutual objective
14.
Show of intimacy and cordial treatment
15.
Respect the elder and be humble with the junior
16.
Good appearance and dress
17.
Choice of time and place
And
before all of that is to assure to the other dialogist the unwillingness and
disinterest to gain a victory over him or conquer him, and assure to him that
the aim is mutual understanding to explore the common factor and to work
together to achieve common goals.
Based
on the above
mentioned principles, Al-wasatiyyah
(Intermediacy) of Islam adopted the cross-culture dialogue to achieve the
following:
First:
Realization
of knowing each other with the aim:
1.
For people to know how to deal with each other and how human dignity
shall be respected by all.
2.
Discover common values and consider the cultural divergence for the sake
of realizing safe coexistence.
3.
Work together to prohibit aggression, oppression and mischief among
people.
4.
To assure that the family, based on legal marriage between a man and a
woman, is the nucleolus of construction of a safe and secured community.
5.
To assure that family is the basic unit of the civil social community and
it is the most competent source to form responsible productive generations.
6.
To assure that the mutual responsibility in all aspects of life is based
on fair and just integration between man and woman.
7.
To work together to perform the divine justice among all nations,
irrespective of their race, gender, faith or colour.
8.
Work together to readjust the balance between human rights and duties to
end the state of disturbance between production responsibilities and moralities
of consumption, which threaten the flow of civilization at present.
9.
Strive together to help the poor to free themselves from the hard
conditions which affect the human dignity and human brother ship.
10.
Strive together to end the phenomena of double standing criteria in
dealing regionally or internationally.
11.
Strive to remove the cultural, social and political elements of the
international violence and terrorism phenomena.
12.
To assure the importance of moving together, in peace and wise
understanding, to protect the human communities from catastrophes, poverty and
disease.
13.
Strive to put an end to moral deterioration and family decay and to
uphold the propagators of war culture and technology of mass destruction weapons
to save the humanity from the crimes of demolition and destruction.
14.
To assure the unity of the human family in order to articulate the
principle of human brother ship.
15.
All creative beings are under Allah’s care. The best of them to Allah
is who serve them best.
16.
People are partners to benefit from the wealth of the universe, within
due respect to the rights of ownership.
17.
Civilization (culture) in its materialistic aspect is a common
accumulative human heritage.
18.
The diversified products of civilization are fruits of cultural
diversification.
19.
Cultural competition is the source of good and secured civilization.
20.
Cultural diversification is an urgent necessity for cultural integration.
21.
To assure that the fair balance between science and technology movement
from one side, and religious and moral values from the other side, is the right
way to restore the human dignity, preserve the environment and maintain secured
coexistence.
22.
Safe coexistence is a fruit of integration and cooperation among
cultures.
23.
To assure that internationalization and globalization are together and
are complementary. Internationalism is values, principles and pacts while
globalization is norms, mechanisms and agreements to deal with mutual interests.
Internationalism without globalization will remain expectations and ambitions
while globalization without a just (fair) international system will turn to
uselessness and destruction.
24.
To assure that the dialogue and cooperation between cultures is an urgent
need to protect all people from mischief and to bring to them welfare.
25.
To assure that the spiritual and religious values will remain the basic
element and the active one in realization of better life to the humanity.
26.
To assure that extremism and terrorism are counter to the spirit and aims
of religion.
27.
To assure that the spiritual and religious values do not call for hatred
and do not justify blood drain.
28.
To assure that self-defense is a religious obligation and a divine civil
right, sponsored by all international laws and agreements.
29.
Regional and international securities are complementary and combined.
None shall be breached in favour of the other.
30.
Mischief is prohibited among individuals and communities, as it is the
source of every evil.
31.
To assure the sacredness of the human and it is equivalent to the
sacredness of the entire humanity.
32.
To assure the sacredness of the human dignity and freedom as they are
gifts of Allah.
33.
Respect the safety of the environment and to prohibit its damage as it is
considered the common home of human and all created beings.
34.
Respect belongings and privacy of the man.
Second:
Sending
a collective message through a dialogue addressed to the following:
1.
Tyrants and mischief: reminding them that, justice is the method and will
of Allah.
2.
Killers and war lovers: reminding them that, peace is a name of Allah.
3.
Lovers of mass destruction weapons: reminding them that, war is a game of
death and a journey to a definite hell.
4.
Professional manufacturers of chemical and biological death weapons:
reminding them that, science is mercy of Allah to humanity for life and growth.
It is not for destruction and holocaust.
5.
All people: assuring that, the bright side of human history will not be
made by war or bullets. It will be made by dialogue and good words.
6.
People of wisdom and peace lovers: reminding them that, the world of
today is burning. It is our duty to run hastily to pour, at least a drop of
water, to extinguish this professional international holocaust.
Third:
In order to shift ourselves and the others, through dialogue, from the dialectic
fields on forms, shapes and means, to the fields of cooperation and competition
towards the common goals, objectives and mutual culture, and in order to realize
the inhabitation and construction of land, Islam wasatiyyah (Intermediacy)
has given this issue the utmost care, as it is an active centre in the wise
human performance, along the movement of the international civilization. Thus,
in its mutual cultural presentation, it focuses on the collective goals and
comprehensive targets to achieve welfare and security of the people. It has left
back the issue of forms, shapes of systems and means and mechanisms to the
people's choice and culture. Every nation has her cultural characteristics, her
norms and traditions. Every nation has her skills, abilities and experience that
lead her to choose the best and suitable to her affairs and conditions. The
consideration of these affairs represents the highest degree of respect to the
human cultural diversity and is of the topmost treatment of human privacy and
characteristics. It is a respect to his options in life within a framework of
commitment to values, principles and comprehensive mutual human culture. It is
within the standards of safe and secured coexistence among international
communities. This approach of dealing with people and their difference is closer
to rational and scientific approach. It is more objective, realistic and in
conformity with human dignity respect, and with the appropriate consideration to
the diversity of cultures and their details. It is the easiest method and most
acceptable and welcomed among the nations and communities. It concentrates on
the collective and comprehensive which is not at all disputable. It is not
likely that there is someone who refuses justice or dare publicly to oppose
justice in principle. The same can be said to freedom equality, human dignity,
human rights, obligations, security, peace, stability, development, food,
health, clothing, lodging, safe environment, secured coexistence and other major
goals and objectives of the man. Islam wasatiyyah (Intermediacy) have
summed up all these in super wholesomeness and made them base of mutual culture
which it calls for. All that is for the sake of realizing fair and secured
coexistence among the people and communities, i.e., to provide the following:
1.
Justice in the globe for all without discrepancy.
2.
Social security, regional and global.
3.
Religious and cultural security to all.
4.
Moral security among individuals and communities.
5.
Economical security for individual, community and global.
6.
Intellectual security and research creativity.
7.
Environmental security, regional and universal.
8.
Food and health security.
9.
Peace and mutual development.
10.
Scientific and technological security.
11.
Political and diplomatic security.
12.
Security of media.