I have been spending much of my free time listening to lectures on halaltube.com
In one such lecture, Nouman Ali Khan preaches that, according to Surat-al-Baqarah, questioning in Islam constitutes unbelief. <http://www.halaltube.com/nouman-ali-khan-do-you-intend-to-question-the-messenger>
“Questioning,” in Khan’s view, consists of asking too many questions or too fundamental questions about Islam—and could come from either Muslims or non-Muslims. The only permissible questions, according to Khan, are ones that ask about applications of Islamic principles to specific situations. Khan's view disallows virtually any “why” question. He belittles critical interpretation while furthering the hegemony of a groveling attitude towards the text.
I found this lecture incredibly disheartening. Since I started reading about Islam, I have kept a little notebook (several notebooks, at this point) in which I maintained a running list of questions that have occurred to me as I have read the Quran and books about Islam. When I get an opportunity to ask someone one of these questions, I welcome and cherish that interaction and their responses. Questioning—and especially the asking of open-ended questions—is a rhetorical strategy that opens up potentials and ways of meaning. Questioning incites commentary and dialogue. Questioning inspires and insences and instigates. Questioning can ensure continuous renewal and reevaluation of purpose, as articulating a response to the question can reaffirm positions or lead to new areas of questioning.
As a student and a critic, I doubt that I could be part of any institution or knowledge community that closes off the possibility for questioning.
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ReplyDeleteQuestioning ideology is part and parcel of the freedoms we enjoy in the West. I am not willing to give up those freedoms.
ReplyDeleteAddendum: ...for ANY religion, philosophy, or ideology.
ReplyDeleteQuestioning—and especially the asking of open-ended questions—is a rhetorical strategy that opens up potentials and ways of meaning. Questioning incites commentary and dialogue. Questioning inspires and insences and instigates. Questioning can ensure continuous renewal and reevaluation of purpose, as articulating a response to the question can reaffirm positions or lead to new areas of questioning.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, it doesn't surprise me to hear someone argue that. Regrettably, Muslims today do not seem to have inherited the rigorous intellectual tradition that the Jewish people have perfected.
i can see how arriving at a station where a person has addressed all the doubts in his mind and is completely at peace with himself is an ideal to strive for.
ReplyDeletegiven that a significant portion of the qur'an is written in the form of questions and their answers i find it difficult to accept that questioning in itself is an act of unbelief.
some relevant verses i can think of:
(049:014)
The desert Arabs say, "We believe." Say, "Ye have no faith; but ye (only)say, 'We have submitted our wills to Allah,' For not yet has Faith entered your hearts. But if ye obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not belittle aught of your deeds: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
(002:214)
Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? they encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried: "When (will come) the help of Allah?" Ah! Verily, the help of Allah is (always) near!
peace