Assalamu 'alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
My life often fluctuates between moments of extreme objectivity and moments of extreme subjectivity, and both have often been very beneficial for me, and sometimes detrimental. Objectivity promotes the scientific rational side and subjectivity the artistic, emotional and spiritual side. Objectivity is about reasoning and subjectivity is about feeling and experiencing. At the risk of being too general, I would say that the seat of reasononing is the mind and intellect and the seat of feeling and experiencing is the heart and the soul. The Qur'an, we find, addresses both the intellect and the heart, and while 'aql (reasononing) is associated with the mind and intellect, fiqh (deep understanding) as well as shu'ur (feeling) is associated with the heart. Coupled to these instruments are the 5 senses which play a very pivotal role in supplying the heart and mind with the raw materials in order for them to engage in their respective activities.
The Qur'an is replete with verses that urge us to exercise and utilise all these instruments in the service of knowing and worshiping Allah. There are numerous verses that invite us to reflect, to look, observe, listen, journey into the land, etc. etc. All of these activities serve a very important purpose which is to know Allah and His Attributes and Most Beautiful Names that are manifested and reflected not only in the universe but also in ourselves.
Often we use our minds and hearts to deal with matters of day-to-day living, and we often make vital decisions based on them. Our decisions are not always right or within our so called "realm of control" (if we are ever in control) which is why we resort to al-Istikharah or we say as the Qur'an teaches us: وأفوض أمري إلى الله إن الله بصير بالعباد , [And I refer my matter to Allah. Truly, Allah is sees (everything) concerning His servants]. The latter is more when you find yourself in a really difficult situation and you have no way out from it, then you appeal to Allah.
While my situation is not as grave, I'm nevertheless at a cross-roads, and hence the question: To be or not to be? I've decided that blogging is not the best forum or medium for what I wish to get across, and for I what I have in mind vis-a-vis Arabic. Also, my engagement in blogging has been very intense and all-consuming over the past couple of weeks, and it's not as if I don't have other work to do. It's just that this is something I like doing, and I can't seem to do it in moderation. So it's an all or nothing situation. Add to that the fact that since mine is still a young blog and not as established as other blogs I thought it won't be great loss (if at all). Moreover, blogging is new to me and holds too many unknowns, so I think it's better for me to err on the side of caution, and call it a day in the world of blogging.
As to my 2 or 3 readers (who have coomented from time to time), I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have. You have my email, and so as not to disappoint you, we can work something else out if you wish - something less intense and less consuming, insha Allah. Finally, I ask Allah to remove the dunya from our hearts, crown our efforts with ikhlas and grant us all a حسن الخاتمة (good ending):
My life often fluctuates between moments of extreme objectivity and moments of extreme subjectivity, and both have often been very beneficial for me, and sometimes detrimental. Objectivity promotes the scientific rational side and subjectivity the artistic, emotional and spiritual side. Objectivity is about reasoning and subjectivity is about feeling and experiencing. At the risk of being too general, I would say that the seat of reasononing is the mind and intellect and the seat of feeling and experiencing is the heart and the soul. The Qur'an, we find, addresses both the intellect and the heart, and while 'aql (reasononing) is associated with the mind and intellect, fiqh (deep understanding) as well as shu'ur (feeling) is associated with the heart. Coupled to these instruments are the 5 senses which play a very pivotal role in supplying the heart and mind with the raw materials in order for them to engage in their respective activities.
The Qur'an is replete with verses that urge us to exercise and utilise all these instruments in the service of knowing and worshiping Allah. There are numerous verses that invite us to reflect, to look, observe, listen, journey into the land, etc. etc. All of these activities serve a very important purpose which is to know Allah and His Attributes and Most Beautiful Names that are manifested and reflected not only in the universe but also in ourselves.
Often we use our minds and hearts to deal with matters of day-to-day living, and we often make vital decisions based on them. Our decisions are not always right or within our so called "realm of control" (if we are ever in control) which is why we resort to al-Istikharah or we say as the Qur'an teaches us: وأفوض أمري إلى الله إن الله بصير بالعباد , [And I refer my matter to Allah. Truly, Allah is sees (everything) concerning His servants]. The latter is more when you find yourself in a really difficult situation and you have no way out from it, then you appeal to Allah.
While my situation is not as grave, I'm nevertheless at a cross-roads, and hence the question: To be or not to be? I've decided that blogging is not the best forum or medium for what I wish to get across, and for I what I have in mind vis-a-vis Arabic. Also, my engagement in blogging has been very intense and all-consuming over the past couple of weeks, and it's not as if I don't have other work to do. It's just that this is something I like doing, and I can't seem to do it in moderation. So it's an all or nothing situation. Add to that the fact that since mine is still a young blog and not as established as other blogs I thought it won't be great loss (if at all). Moreover, blogging is new to me and holds too many unknowns, so I think it's better for me to err on the side of caution, and call it a day in the world of blogging.
As to my 2 or 3 readers (who have coomented from time to time), I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have. You have my email, and so as not to disappoint you, we can work something else out if you wish - something less intense and less consuming, insha Allah. Finally, I ask Allah to remove the dunya from our hearts, crown our efforts with ikhlas and grant us all a حسن الخاتمة (good ending):
اللهم افتح لنا بالخير واختم لنا بالخير واجعل عواقب أمورنا بالخير بيدك الخير إنك على كل شيء قدير
6 comments:
Subhanallah, I wasn't expecting you to end the blog this soon!
Jazak Allah for the wealth of information you posted on here.
Masha Allah, you young ladies have yourselves done some sterling and splendid work on your own blogs. Your Ramadhan posts were particularly inspiring, and kept people's spirits up. I'm looking forward to your uplifting posts and timely reminders during the Hajj season. So don't any of you get ideas about quitting blogging too soon!
Insha Allah, all of the best with all your endeavours, and may Allah grant you tawfiq in whatever you do.
Unfortunately that's one less blog of value on the Internet :-(
Lately, I have seen quite a few good Muslim blogs being shut down since the Authors do not have the time or the see the need to continue blogging.
My point of view has always been that blogging is a medium which we Muslims can use to spread the word of Allah in multiple forms. But then, nothing happens as we wish; only Allah's will prevails.
Ibn Uthman, I will miss your blog and hope that you will continue to visit mine and help it make better.
May Allah provide you with what is best in the Hereafter and in this World
Dear Sheikh,
I cant believe your shutting your blog...just when Ive starting looking at it and benefitting.
Looks like Ill be needing the live renditions of your wisdom in the future.
Yusuf Jha
Assalamualikum wrahmatullah,
Hayakallah
I used to have an account on lisaanul arab forum many years ago until it closed down and have been looking for something that can match its likeness.
Alhamdulillah today I found this blog but realise that it has been closed too.
As you mentioned that a main reason for you closing this beneficial blog is due to it being time consuming, I wanted to ask if perhaps you are wiling to consider running live classes online. It will allow you to to impart that knowledge that Allah has allowed you to acquire, in a more time bound and easy manner in-sha'allah.
Some online learning platforms include wiziq, paltalk free conference call just to name a few that are commonly used and are free. It will allows you to schedule classes according to your own availability and put time restrictions on how long each lesson will be and when you will conduct them for your students.
Granted permission I would like to be a student in-sha'allah, and can offer to help with admin duties if required to facilitate this should you be willing.
May Allah benefit us with what we know and teach us that which will benefit.
Your response would be greatly appreciated. Allahu yahfadhukum
wassalamualaikum wrahmatullah
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