Sufi Champion's League...

Dear Friends

On paper the Sufi path in fact any serious spiritual path looks and feels like ‘a piece of cake’...However, an iron will coupled with nerves of steel and a bona fide teacher are vital to survive let alone flourish and taste eternity...The following are known as the 7 Mevlevi advices and I can think of perhaps only a handful of my associates who only meet several:

‘’In generosity and helping others be like a river

In compassion and grace be like the sun

In concealing others faults be like the night

In anger and fury be dead

In modesty and humility be like the earth

In tolerance be like the sea

Either exist as you are or be as you look’’

If you have actualised all 7 you are playing / operating in the Sufi Champion’s League...you are a Sufi Messi in my books! : )

Ciao

Faisal

Spiritual Alchemy...

Dear Friends

According to spiritual alchemy the worker and his/her inner work change.  I always found this a very challenging concept to comprehend.

However, this morning I was watching a cookery show. It was the final. All the 3 contestants had been through a tough process of selection and testing. I marvelled at how they had changed. Suddenly I thought that’s it! Here was a clear example of spiritual alchemy. The contestants had definitely changed as they were more refined cooks. Crucially their ‘work’ namely the food had transformed into Michelin star standard!

Perhaps life including all its trials, tribulations, even rewards and our role is one grand alchemy.  And we ‘get’ more out according to our level and intensity of participation. Thus for any real engagement with life (including with God) we cannot be forced rather encouraged and nurtured. Consequently authentic humanity is helping our fellow wo(man) realise their potential and transform into gold...Inshallah / God Willing!

Carp Diem...Seize the moment...

Faisal

Ps – I feel the concept of alchemy is going to become the touchstone of my teaching practice...and is a useful mechanism to keep the bigger picture in view...

A pilgrim returns...

Dear Friends

My little brother arrived several days ago after completing a spiritual pilgrimage of Konya, Turkey, the final resting place of Mevlana Rumi. He remains deeply ‘intoxicated’ and has been making me rather tipsy as well!

His tales of pure Sufi jamming especially Sema (whirling Dervishes) with the Mevlevi Dervishes has reignited my passion for the path which had begun to hibernate, like water disappearing in the desert.

Bro! This one’s for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB_qsKGjTrg&feature=related

POWER TO THE HEART!

Faisal

Ps- I too went to Konya in December 2008 and Mevlana mended my broken being...

Dare to peel onions?

Dear Friends

One of the joys of travelling is meeting people from different backgrounds.  Recently I met a German executive and it occurred to me that deep down we share a common humanity that is masked by colour, creed and gender. If we are brave enough to peel this ‘onion’ the results are potentially life changing...

In my humble opinion it begins with language that has to be deconstructed. We meet friends for coffee but drink tea or cocoa. We have all kinds of coded language for business, fraternity, romance, politics and popular culture that will vary across the globe.

This is where the role of the ‘business counsellor’ , diplomat, perhaps even spiritual teacher  becomes crucial in building bridges of common understanding that enable mutual trust, confidence and ultimately transcendence.

A highly evolved example is the great Sufi sage Ibn Arabi who uttered 800 hundred years ago:

My heart has become able
To take on all forms.
It is a pasture for gazelles,
For monks an abbey.

It is a temple for idols
And for whoever circumambulates it, the Kaaba.
It is the tablets of the Torah
And also the leaves of the Koran.

I believe in the religion
Of Love
Whatever direction its caravans may take,
For love is my religion and my faith.

Salaam / Peace...

Faisal

Pensions...

Dear Friends

As the British public sector is being slashed in the wake of the global down turn pensions are a source of serious cooler chat. Personally I don’t expect even a state pension and I am more than happy to work till the day I die...

The adage ‘olde is gold’ springs to mind...There is so much to see, do, learn, experience and change...As I do not believe in re-incarnation this life is no dress rehearsal...

It occurred to me today that my life is like a river and upon death it will merge with the primal source...So I want to keep flowing and working...

Happiness is a journey not a destination...

Ciao

Faisal

RE:search...

Dear Friends

I will formally begin my research career this September as I embark on a Doctorate of Business Administration. It feels as if this will be beginning of a journey that I begun when I graduated in 1997.

Back then I intended to pursue a post grad degree in Theology but backed out at the last minute due to my reading of Karen Armstrong’s seminal A history of God. I was puzzled why Armstrong lacked any strong faith although on paper she had appeared to master many. I figured I did not want to end up confused...Little did I know that I would still end up confused! : )

The word research is composed of two syllables, re and search.

re is a prefix meaning again, anew or over again

search is a verb meaning to examine closely and carefully, to test and try, or to probe.

Together they form a noun describing a careful, systematic, patient study and investigation in some field of knowledge, undertaken to establish facts or principles. Research is a structured enquiry that utilizes acceptable scientific methodology to solve problems and creates new knowledge that is generally applicable.

It is a great pity that very few Muslims especially in the Muslim World have embarked on this noble mission to create new knowledge and push the frontiers of the mind. Some analysts blame the piestic tendencies of Sufism especially Imam Ghazali’s insistence on the inferiority of rational discourse.

Personally I believe the problem is rooted in poverty – How can someone with an empty stomach start rationally thinking let alone conduct research? It is no wonder that the promise of rivers of milk and honey coupled with wide eyed houri’s peddled by the Mullahs motivates and inspires the poor, down trodden and suicide bombers.

On the other hand it is heartening to read that several Turkish and one Egyptian have entered the top 200 global Universities. The Turkish revival is no doubt due to the vision of Kemal Ataturk the Father of modern Turkey who singlehandedly reformed the rotting Ottoman Empire.

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2010-2011/top-200.html#score_OS%7Csort_region%7Creverse_false

I leave you with some food for thought:

. “...Say: ‘Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know?  It is those who are endowed with understanding that receive admonition.’”  (Qur’an, 39:9)

“Do they not travel through the land, so that their hearts (and minds) may thus learn wisdom and their ears may thus learn to hear?  Truly it is not the eyes that are blind, but the hearts which are in their breasts.”  (22:46)

Salaam

Faisal

The 3 R's...

Dear Friends

This is my kind of faith:

‘’Catholic: In order to become a new self according to God's wish, one has to go through transformation through reflection, reconciliation and reform.’’

Source: http://www.anthonyyeong.com/index.htm

In Islam the 3 R’s namely reflection, reconciliation, and reform are supplied in abundance through the practice of Sufism...This spiritual alchemy is best described by Rumi who says:

I died as a mineral and became a plant;
I died as a plant and rose to animal;
I died as animal and I was a man.
Why should I fear? When was I less by dying?
Yet once more I shall die as man to soar
With angels blest. But even from an angel
I must pass on: all except God must perish.
When I have sacrificed my angel soul,
I shall become what no mind ever conceived.

Die before you die...That is the challenge and reward of Sufism...

Salaam

Faisal

A Questioning faith...

Dear Friends

During my under grad days I was a great devourer and devotee of Marx however his stance on religion prevented me from blossoming into a full blown Marxist. Since, graduating I have travelled the world, read widely and been exposed to many cultures. And now I am back in the class room...

Now upon deeper examination of the Muslim world, based primarily on my experiences, the pristine religion of Islam has not only become an opiate it has also transformed into a tool of oppression and mechanism to arrest development of the masses.

I am horrified that people like Dr. Zakir Naik and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf are considered role models for young Muslims and are inspiring droves of Western Muslims into becoming ‘scholars’.  The latter wannabe scholars forget the wisdom of our Prophet that ‘Poverty leads to kuffar / unbelief’, consequently today Muslims rank at the bottom of most global socio-economic indicators. Thus poverty is neither holy or sexy...

Religion is supposed to unite but the Sunni-Shia divide continues to fester. Muslim on Muslim violence is at unprecedented levels and global conspiracies are the only intellectual response to the challenge of the west.

Islam promised much but Muslims have delivered little in the last hundred or so years.

The aforementioned was swirling in my mind as I caught a taxi to visit a placement student today. I rarely talk to cabbies / taxi drivers however, we struck up a conversation and religion entered the communication. The cabby was a non-practising British Pakistani Muslim however; his observations shook me to the core.

He felt that we should all live in peace and harmony and rather than referring to a religious identity we should merely state our location such as Manchester. He went on to discuss his trials and tribulations with his personal faith and that he did not consider Quran to be the absolute truth.

After years of study he still felt perplexed and confused with certain theological issues such the ‘permissible beating of wives’. Usually at this point I would interject and give a sermon. However I sat mesmerised by his brutal yet refreshing honesty and stated that he should keep questioning and explore Sufism which emphasised a personal and direct relationship with God. For him orthopraxy / right conduct was superior to orthodoxy / right thought which I totally endorse as well.  He ended by saying that he wanted to enjoy his life but within limits.

WOW! MAMA MIA!!!!

THERE IS HOPE FOR US MUSLIMS! IT IS THIS KIND OF QUESTIONING FAITH THAT IS NEEDED !!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4VK9_CfOLQ

Ciao

Faisal

Au Revoir..."Until we see each other again"

Dear Friends

Yesterday I attended a function arranged in the honour of our outgoing Dean of the Business School. Christine Booths' speech was deeply reflective and I appreciated the fact that she acknowledged so many colleagues, friends and family who all helped to 'open doors'.

She mentioned a useful and interesting model entitled 'No regrets by Sunday' as a way of implicitly measuring success. Thus we should take each day as it comes and try our upmost to realise all our goals / ambitions.

The road to success is always under construction…

Cheers

Faisal

The Queens visit to Ireland...

Dear Friends

The current Queens visit to Ireland is full of poignancy and symbolism and proves that if nations are brave enough they can move forward and heal the past. This is an excellent example for nations such as Pakistan and India who have been mired in decades of  mistrust and blood letting. There is even talk of and proof of engagement with the Taleban in Afghanistan which is dampening the whole clash of civilisations thesis.

Conflict is always resolved with dialogue and proves the utter futility of war. Even if a nation wins they still have to live and work with the loser. On the other hand war could be viewed as the price of peace and thus a necessary evil that serves as painful reminder when guns do the talking. Personally I do not know and merely hope for a global future of peace, reconciliation and goodwill.

Thanks

Faisal

England calling...

Dear Friends

I am back! Very jet lagged and groggy...As usual when I am away and all the fun and games / fireworks start on my blog! : )

I have to write a report about my trip and will duly post...In the mean time all I can say it was a fabulous trip and I managed to meet my objectives of connecting with Chinese academics and engaging with students. I have a feeling this trip will prove to be a personal turning point and augurs well for the future. Inshallah  / God Willing...

In a nutshell China is very much open for business and means business...The Chinese are a deeply hospitable and forward looking people...

Slm

Faisal

Ps- I have no intention of replying or engaging with the negative comments and hope that the individual concerned can do something more constructive with their time.

China calling...

Dear Friends

I am flying to China this weekend on a University sponsored weeklong trip. I am really looking forward to engaging with fellow Chinese academics and prospective students. Also this will be a golden opportunity to experience authentic Chinese culture and broaden my horizons.

This trip is very important for my spiritual development as Muslim Tradition recommends that:

‘’SEEK KNOWLEDGE EVEN IF THOU HAST TO GO TO CHINA’’.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32OGBFAVfG4

I am to learn...

Faisal

Becoming a Man...

Dear Friends

Fatherhood is one of the greatest blessings that a man can receive.

My baby daughter is such a joy. I used to think that fatherhood would clip my wings now I want to see the world with her and above all through her eyes. Believe me caring for her is beyond words...(Although my wife feels she already has me wrapped round her tiny finger!)

My respect for women has increased immeasurably especially mothers (my own Mother happens to be my Sufi Teacher!). My wife has sacrificed a lot…I always remind her that heaven is at her feet not mine!

When ever I see Zahra I am reminded by the exquisite track…Tuhje mein rab dihkta hai / I see the divine in you…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e1ZDRef_zY&feature=related

Cometh the hour…Cometh the Man…

Cheers

Faisal

Osama Bin Laden (D. 02/05/2011)

Dear Friends

Osama bin Laden is no more!

This will provide some comfort and justice for the victims of the families of US 9 /11, UK 7/7 and SPAIN 3/3. However the conflict continues as the Osama-esque ideology remains alive and kicking.

The real celebration will take place when the extreme Salafi-Wahabi school of thought permanently retreats into the mountains. This will happen in my life time as the Muslim Arab Spring has been conducted by largely secular and media savvy Muslim youth...

The following is a sobering reminder that:

All wars are civil wars, because all men are brothers.Francois Fenelon

Salaam / Peace

Faisal

'Gratitude is the best attitude'...

Dear Friends

We owe thankfulness to God, not sour faces.
—Rumi , Mathnawi, I.1525

So true!  : )

Faisal