Dr Muhammad Maroof Shah

Reading Bayman’s Tribute to the Grand Master of Sufism. Saints and sages we have around us and we don’t bother to meet them or at least read them to taste something of their Presence. Saints constitute irrefutable proof of religion and mysticism. They convert by presence. They conquer hearts and sages conquer minds as well. They have beyond words richness of being to share and that is a treasure that benefits everyone including atheist who enters into a dialogue or relationship with them. A Superman is so high above average humanity that Nietzsche despaired of seeing one in his lifetime. He cried that it was so sweet to follow but where is the Master. But there are such Masters, Iqbal retorted. And in our midst today. If you doubt, know the grand Master Kahyan as reported by one of the gifted writers and students of Sufism Bayman in his classic essay paying  tribute to  him  and his classic The Teachings of a Perfect Master: An Islamic Saint for the Third Millennium (to be read al

The saint breaks the shell of the cocoon called ego to make the birth of Man possible. The most compelling proof of  the Divine that impresses even the atheists is the presence of a saint. Albert Camus, the atheist, described Simone Weil, a saintly figure for secular times, “the only great Spirit of our times” and visited her shrine – her room – before going to take Nobel Prize. Eyes that have not seen God or what, in human form, reminds us of God (saint) have not seen anything. The irresistible Ramana, one of the greatest sages in recent history, has said “The true birth is only the birth in the Self.” Saints alone are truly born and the rest are still struggling to be born against the hard cocoons of ego. “There is only one misery . . . not to be saints” as Léon Bloy said. And “What the Church is sent apostolically to do is to make saints, i.e., to make humans completely human.” If “The meaning of life is to become a saint” we must strive to imitate saints. Indeed, for the Secula

Engaging with Russell on Ethics, Religion and Mysticism “There is a little wisdom in the world: Heraclitus, Spinoza, and a saying here and there—I want to add to it, even if only ever so little.” Bertrand Russell Bertrand Russell has been quite popular and influential figure in a host of disciplines and continues to be widely read and admired as a philosopher and mathematician and loved or criticized for certain political, religious and other opinions.There is much insight and beauty in much of what he wrote. One can sift the best of him and appreciate that in turn in light of the best we have from the world of sages. We especially note key to the wisdom of the best minds– Heraclitus and Spinoza – he recommends for us. Let us, first, note certain nuggets where he has largely stated collective wisdom of humankind in his inimitable style.       For Russell “The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.” “I have believed in the value of two things: kindness and clear th

Is Shia-Sunni Division in Islam to be Lamented or Celebrated? Is it possible to conduct an impartial inquiry or trial to see where the truth lies in Shia- Sunni polemics? There are obvious difficulties. Taking both terms in general without commenting on extreme intra-sectarian developments later, let us see how we could proceed. This trial can’t be decisively decided on the basis of history where facts and interpretations mix, passions and ideological lenses colour narratives and the whole enquiry is inherently open ended. It can’t be in the court of (exoteric) theology because that is what is precisely to be judged and it can’t relinquish its own limitations to accommodate the other. It can’t be in legal or even philosophical courts that remain inconclusive given how inconclusive have been prolific polemical works. The jury or court must be acceptable to any neutral believer or analyst as well and its verdict such that could be validated somehow by anyone who bothers to take necess