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Rebecca :
The subtitle of Gems of Wisdom Heart of Gold is Inspiration from the past for people of the future. To whom is this book directed?
Javed :
The book is directed to the youth. Interestingly it was a group of high schoolers who helped me come up with the subtitle.
Rebecca :
I was surprised at how familiar are many of the quotes & sayings you include. We forget that our numbering system was invented by Muslim forefathers. Could you tell my readers a little history of Muslim Thought?
Javed :
That's a really tough question as Muslim thought I think is multi-dimensional. On the one side it is heavily inspired by the revelation of the Holy Quran and the sayings and examples of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). After this as Islam spread to the East and West it passed on, improved and invented in the fields of science, philosophy, mathematics, literature and arts. Unfortunately in the past most of the European writers and historians have not credited the contribution of the Muslims to civilization and infact due to their bias have labeled this period as the dark ages whereas in fact this was a golden period of enlightenment.
Rebecca :
What are the three most important things we need to know in order to live a life of religious confidence?
Javed :
I am not a religious expert but just from a pragmatic standpoint broadly it's to believe in God, his revelations/Messengers and the hereafter. To know there is a Creator and our relationship to His creation, to know the common message and guidance given to humanity and to know there is accountability are all guideposts which help in lifes journey.
Rebecca :
What is the one major misunderstanding Westerners have about Muslims?
Javed :
There are so many to pick from, but let's pick the most basic. Islam and
Muslims are portrayed as some alien religion and people who don't have any connection with the other major monotheistic religions. In fact the Holy Quran emphasizes this point that Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) as the last messenger and the Quran as the revelation reaffirm the revelations and message of the previous Prophets (eg: Moses and Jesus), so Jews and Christians should not feel alienated from Islam.
Rebecca :
One of the Gems from your father is: Every one who smiles at you is not a friend. In America we smile all the time & hold much value in looking people in the eyes, in what ways can we bridge the gaps between our cultures?
Javed :
First, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) use to smile a lot and one of his sayings says to the effect that smiling is also an act of charity, which we are encouraged to do. So everything must be taken in context. So the deeper meaning here is to just to understand that there can be many things behind a smile, it may be love, embarrassment, anger,.you get the picture. Now how to bridge the cultural differences? Reading Gems of Wisdom Heart of Gold may help. Seriously though, having an open mind without making judgements would be a great start. As with anything if you want to learn about something you have to go to the source. Get to know practicing Muslims, read a translation of the Holy Quran or one of the many books written by Muslim Americans (eg: What Everyone Should Know About Islam and Muslims by Suzanne Haneef or Struggling to Surrender: Some Impressions of an American Convert to Islam by Jeffery B. Lang) as they can present things from both cultures perspectives.
Rebecca :
In the Wisdom section it is written: be grateful to him who points out your defects. Now that is a tough one to embrace! Would you explain it?
Javed :
There's a Prophetic saying that says to the effect that “we are mirrors of one another”. A mirror reflects both the good and the bad, the complement and the criticism.
Feedback especially when it's negative is hard to take. At that moment its probably very difficult to fully appreciate what somebody is saying as we get into the “fight or flight” syndrome. However, given time if you reflect on what was said you may in many cases be able to understand the spirit of what was said. So the acceptance process may take time but in the end you are better off so “be thankful”!
Rebecca :
In the Heart section it is written: in Style versus Substance you state: that Michael Hart, in his book, The Worlds most Influential People, recognizes that Muhammed (Peace Be Upon Him) was the most influential person in the world yet inspite of the 1.2 billion people who follow Islam, when does Western Literature ever quote Muhammed (Peace Be Upon Him) or the great Caliphs or even Muslims of the modern era. Why are people in the West afraid of quoting the wisdom of great Muslims, ancient or modern?
Javed :
My perception is that historically there has been a lot of animosity due to the Crusades, for example. Whenever a culture feels threatened by another culture it finds some way to demonize it, and we are seeing this even today as now the “Evil Empire” has moved from the Soviet Union to the Muslim World.
Besides the perceived threat, ignorance and apathy also play a role. In the West and even more so in the US we are a very ethno-centric society. There is this belief that all great things emanate from here, and if not it can't be important. Even if you look at something like the news coverage or how geography is taught in school, it is very much US centric. So these are things which have built up over time, but as Muslims start to play a greater positive role in society I think and hope that this will change for the better.
Rebecca :
In the Gold section it is written in The Muslim Youth in America: Problems and Solution by Maha Ezzeddine: “It is time for Islam to be carried throughout the world...Living in North America, we are assaulted from all sides by pitfalls and snares of this life. Numerous diseases seek to infect the beauty of walking on the straight path...” I am an immigrant myself & am glad of the freedoms & responsibilities I have found in this nation, in what ways does the Muslim faith buffer its youth against the evils of modern American life?
Javed :
I can't speak for Maha but let me try and put things in perspective. Every culture has its strengths and weaknesses. We need to build off the strengths and address the weaknesses. The Muslim faith has five pillars, declaration of faith, the five times daily prayer, fasting in the month of Ramadan, paying the poor due once per year, and going on Pilgrimage once in a lifetime if the individual can afford it. A Muslim who performs these actions as obedience gets many secondary benefits. The daily prayer builds a connection with God and as it is spread throughout the day a conscious prayer will keep the individual in-check when he or she is not praying. Similarly, fasting teaches self-control. Paying the poor-tax teaches generosity and sharing. The Pilgrim experiences the meaning of sacrifice. When you realize there is a purpose in life, and you know your role in it, in terms of what to do and what not to do, that goes a long way in providing this buffer.
Rebecca :
One more question: what are the things about Westerners that Muslims like the least & the most?
Javed :
I can't speak for all Muslims, at a personal level though the feeling is that Westerners, due to their emphasis on individuality, have reached both great highs and lows. In one sphere they have reached new heights through innovation by allowing the individual to excel. In the other by putting too much emphasis on individuality everyone has his or her own standard for what is right, the wants of the self are over the needs of society which leads to many social diseases.
Rebecca :
Thank you for bringing such an accessible collection of Muslim thought & wisdom to the reading public. Gems of Wisdom Heart of Gold deserves to be in every public library in the Western world, all the better to be taught & understood. Is there something else you would like to say?
Javed :
I hope and encourage all those who get a chance to read the book and more importantly to get to know Muslims and the religion of Islam. Islam has a long history in the United States which can be traced back to the native Indian Americans as well as a good percentage of the slaves that came to the US. It's a been pleasure writing the book and I hope that it will inspire you all to the better way.
Just wanted to say a few words of appreciation. Thanks for taking the time & making the effort to review Gems of Wisdom Heart of Gold. I hope this builds great PR for both of us & that RebeccasReads becomes a popular & de-facto site for insightful reviews, as well as drum up business for you on the Editorial front.
Please thank your husband for putting up a very appealing web site.
“Go gather gems of wisdom and find the true serenity and happiness which can only result with those who have a heart of gold.” - Javed
Rebecca :
Do check out my review of Gems of Wisdom Heart of Gold - you will be fascinated!
(Published January 21, 2001)
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