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Islamic Duties / Re: The real purpose of ablution
« on: October 17, 2013, 01:57:48 AM »
Salaam.
You said:
“I did some research and found that ablution mostly isn't about physical cleansing but more about freeing your mind of thoughts. Why? It's because when you wash your face with the water, your heart rate lowers which in turn makes you more relaxed. The phenomenon is called "mammalian diving reflex.”
Thank you for the scientific revelation. I am always waiting for such information, in order to pounce upon it and devour it. It is my passion.
Ordinarily, I have always profoundly felt the salutary effect of washing the face with water. What a world of difference washing makes to our mental state apart from the physical benefits! Nevertheless, water is such a blessed thing! “And We send down from the sky water charged with blessing…” (50:9-10-11).
The following is partly the result of my reflections on certain remarks in Thafseer Bayanullinnas (urdu) by Kwaja Ahmeduddeen of Amritsar, India, written during the 2nd quarter of the last century :
In Al Quran there are two remarks praising cleanliness in general: 2:222, & 9:108.
Of course they are general statements.
After all, with respect to every human being, the need to clean oneself from extreme filth arises every day. And the extreme importance of such cleanliness, everyone recognizes unequivocally. Therefore the Quran doesn’t mention it in so many words.
According to the above mentioned Thafseer, Wudu is especially for congregational prayers, and, even there, it is only optional.
It is speculated, not without reason, that over and above man’s natural habit of cleansing himself of extreme filth, he is being asked to present himself as much as possible fresh and glowing in public especially while performing congregational religious service.
Moreover, the numerous masail (issues and solutions) much adored in the corridors of religion, are man-made, and irrelevant to changing times. Habitual repression (in the name of ‘guarding’ Wudu) of the poisonous filth that collects in our intestines may cause leaching of harmful germs and other poison into the bloodstream, and thus pollute the whole body.
Thayammum does impart a degree of freshness.
I have seen flocks of birds in the woods performing dust-bath in the evening before retiring for the night, during summer, when water is scarce.
Also, earth is a convenient, universally available - although not a thorough - aid for cleansing in an emergency, like in a parched countryside, until water is made available.
Thayammum also is, like Wudu, described as a consummation of the basic cleanse, and the basic cleanse is not described in so many words.
The traditionalists would have it that that is where the importance of hadees becomes manifest!
Instead, this is where the dire need to use our God-given intellect becomes manifest:
“…And He puts filth upon those who do not use their intellect.” (10:100)
This stand of the Qur’an is diametrically opposite to what religious leaders would have us believe: that we should not question religious injunctions, for they are beyond human intelligence!
Of course, man-made interpolations into virgin religion are straightaway detectable by the intellect.
Allah is categorical that even virgin religion should stand the test of intelligent inquiry.
Throughout the Qur’an, Allah appeals to our intelligence.
So God bless your quest to find the rationale behind Wudu and Thyammum.
Regards,
A. Ismail Sait.
You said:
“I did some research and found that ablution mostly isn't about physical cleansing but more about freeing your mind of thoughts. Why? It's because when you wash your face with the water, your heart rate lowers which in turn makes you more relaxed. The phenomenon is called "mammalian diving reflex.”
Thank you for the scientific revelation. I am always waiting for such information, in order to pounce upon it and devour it. It is my passion.
Ordinarily, I have always profoundly felt the salutary effect of washing the face with water. What a world of difference washing makes to our mental state apart from the physical benefits! Nevertheless, water is such a blessed thing! “And We send down from the sky water charged with blessing…” (50:9-10-11).
The following is partly the result of my reflections on certain remarks in Thafseer Bayanullinnas (urdu) by Kwaja Ahmeduddeen of Amritsar, India, written during the 2nd quarter of the last century :
In Al Quran there are two remarks praising cleanliness in general: 2:222, & 9:108.
Of course they are general statements.
After all, with respect to every human being, the need to clean oneself from extreme filth arises every day. And the extreme importance of such cleanliness, everyone recognizes unequivocally. Therefore the Quran doesn’t mention it in so many words.
According to the above mentioned Thafseer, Wudu is especially for congregational prayers, and, even there, it is only optional.
It is speculated, not without reason, that over and above man’s natural habit of cleansing himself of extreme filth, he is being asked to present himself as much as possible fresh and glowing in public especially while performing congregational religious service.
Moreover, the numerous masail (issues and solutions) much adored in the corridors of religion, are man-made, and irrelevant to changing times. Habitual repression (in the name of ‘guarding’ Wudu) of the poisonous filth that collects in our intestines may cause leaching of harmful germs and other poison into the bloodstream, and thus pollute the whole body.
Thayammum does impart a degree of freshness.
I have seen flocks of birds in the woods performing dust-bath in the evening before retiring for the night, during summer, when water is scarce.
Also, earth is a convenient, universally available - although not a thorough - aid for cleansing in an emergency, like in a parched countryside, until water is made available.
Thayammum also is, like Wudu, described as a consummation of the basic cleanse, and the basic cleanse is not described in so many words.
The traditionalists would have it that that is where the importance of hadees becomes manifest!
Instead, this is where the dire need to use our God-given intellect becomes manifest:
“…And He puts filth upon those who do not use their intellect.” (10:100)
This stand of the Qur’an is diametrically opposite to what religious leaders would have us believe: that we should not question religious injunctions, for they are beyond human intelligence!
Of course, man-made interpolations into virgin religion are straightaway detectable by the intellect.
Allah is categorical that even virgin religion should stand the test of intelligent inquiry.
Throughout the Qur’an, Allah appeals to our intelligence.
So God bless your quest to find the rationale behind Wudu and Thyammum.
Regards,
A. Ismail Sait.