Muslims activists struggle each day.
Whether its democracy, feminism or technology, they try to say how Islam had the first this or that…
But what is their purpose? What’s the idea?
To show us how we ended up with -this- before them?
Didn’t Islam bring something different?
Something better than -this-?
from Foundation for Science Technology and Civilization – Jan 2007
However again during the reign of Sultan Ahmed III (1703-1750), which is during the Tulip Age, there is strong evidence both in the Surname (chronicle) of Mehmed Hazin and the Surname of Vehbi, as the witnesses of the era, that Ibrahim Effendi, the dockyard architect, had invented the submarine which was called “Tahtelbahir”. Seyyid Vehbi compared this submarine invented by the architect Ibrahim Effendi to an alligator, and tells in his Surname that during the circumcision ceremony that Sultan Ahmed III held for his sons, while the sultan, the viziers, and the sultan’s sons were watching the shows in the coastal palace in Aynali Kavak, the alligator-like submarine slowly emerged on the water and moved slowly to the sultan, and after staying on the sea for half an hour, submerged in the sea again to the great surprise of the public; then emerged one hour later, with five people walking outside the mouth of this alligator-like submarine with trays of rice and zerde (dish of sweetened rice) on their heads. The book Surname-i Humayun of Seyyid Vehbi, which explains the technical information concerning this sub-marine submerging in the sea and the crew being able to breathe through pipes while under the sea, demonstrates to us the first Ottoman trials of submarines were successful. The Surname of Mehmed Hazin, who told of the events of October 1, 1720, during the circumcision ceremony of the sons of Sultan Ahmed III, related that a fish-like submarine was present; however, his secrets were buried with him.
Although it is mentioned by Bahaeddin, the historian, that the first submarine was used during the Seljuk period against the Crusader knights in the siege of Akkah in 1150, it is understood that the submarine built by Ibrahim, the architect, in the Ottoman era during the reign of Ahmed III was more developed and could stay under water for one hour. Considering that the British tried to build a small submarine half a century after Ibrahim and failed, it is obvious that the Ottoman success in this field is most notable. However in 1776, the submarine developed by the American scientist David Bushnell was a success. The sketches of a submarine project in the archives of the Stockholm Military Organization are interesting for the assessment of all the technical developments of the era.
References:
Seyyid Vehbi : Surname. Suleymaniye Library, Hamidiye 952, foliea 171 b
Mehmed Hazin: Surman, Bayezid Library, Nureddin Pasa, 10267, folio 132 b
Saban Dogen, Musulman ilim onculeri ansiklopedisi, Istanbul 1984, s. 205
Flack, N.D. Diving vessel by the Ms. Day London 1775
Fledhaus, F. M.: Die Technik Ein Lexikon der Vorzeit, der geschichtlichen Zeit und der Naturvolker. Munchen 1970 sp. 1122.
Often when we hear of hadith discussing knowledge we think of it to mean either one of two things, knowledge of dunya (technology, medicine, etc), or Fiqhi knowledge. Sheykh Effendi is reminding us that when we are told to seek knowledge in China, we should reflect on what that knowledge is. In this regard I have chosen to excerpt a small part from an early treatise on Sufism regarding knowledge:
–
Hatim al-Asamm said: ” I have chosen four things to know and have discarded all the knowledge in the world besides.” He was asked: ” What are they ?” ” One,” he answered, “is this: I know that my daily bread is apportioned to me , and will neither be increased nor diminished ; consequently I have ceased to seek to augment it. Secondly, I know that I owe to God a debt which no other person can pay instead of me; therefore I am occupied with paying it. Thirdly, I know that there is one pursuing me (i.e. Death) from whom I cannot escape accordingly I have prepared myself to meet him. Fourthly, I know that God is observing me ; therefore I am ashamed to do what I ought not”
The object of human knowledge should be to know God and His Commandments. Knowledge of “time” (ilm-i waqt) and of all outward and inward circumstances of which the due effect depends on “time”, is incumbent upon everyone. This is of two sorts: primary and secondary. The external division of the primary class consists in making the Muslims profession of faith, the internal division consists in the attainment of true cognition. The external division of the secondary class consists in the practice of devotion, the internal division consists in rendering one’s intention sincere The outward and inward aspects cannot be divorced. The exoteric aspect of Truth without the esoteric is hypocrisy, and the esoteric without the exoteric is heresy. So with regard to the Law, mere formality is defective, while mere spirituality is vain.
–Kashf Al-Mahjub of Al-Hujwiri: “The Revelation of the Veiled” : An Early Persian Treatise on Sufism
There has been an attempt at criticizing traditional Islam, which we understand as Islam as defined by the madhabs, schools of Aqida, and the various Sufi Tariqats. The particular character which has attempted this criticism is one who has engaged in extreme personal character assassination, which already speaks volumes about the capacity of showing tolerance and understanding from this individual.
As far as the specific points raised I would break them down to the following:
1) Taqleed equates to not-thinking
My Response:
Taqleed is actually about thinking. In fact, it is about thinking very clearly about the world, and the roles and responsibilities of people. Taqleed is about recognizing the world is indeed full of many different types of people. It is about respecting the process of learning, the manners of being a student, the authorization of teaching.
Unlike the world of the pseudo-scholar, looking to seek some means for a quick path from an unknown past, to believing layman, to Ustadh. Traditionalism is about recognizing the difficult road in learning about the principals of Islamic Law.
Some people are teachers, others are students of knowledge, others still are publishers and distributors of their work, others still are listeners and readers. Taqleed is all about respecting the final group as people and believers, and even possibly: those loved by Allah. The modern day approach of forgetting those people, or enforcing some type of inferiority complex on them is one that is abandoned by taqleed. In fact, Taqleed is about empowering them with the ability to follow qualified opinions, in the plural, and having them feel confident about the Islamic life that they lead.
The alternative leads to tossing them to the side as irrelevant to the conversation of Islam. Leaving them confused about each and every issue in their own lives, as they are not educated in the sciences of Shariat.
2) Taqleed involves separating from the primary sources of Islam
Response:
Not at all. Taqleed is actually about connecting ourselves to the primary sources of Islam by realizing that text on paper doesn’t stand on its own. It is key to understand that there is indeed an interpretive process with any text, it occurs automatically in everyones mind based on the knowledge they have learned in their lives, the context of the society around them, the prejudices they have. This process is one where the nafs and lack of knowledge can easily become involved and corrupt.
Taqleed is therefore the *absolutely* necessary first step in getting the interpretive context of the source texts of the first three generations.
3) “Traditionalism” is a vague term
Response:
When I generally see Muslims using traditionalism they are speaking of the Islam which is contained within the Sunni four Madhabs, the two schools of Aqida, and the orthodox Sufi Tariqats. Hope that clears it up for anyone confused on the subject.
4) Traditionalism equals perennialism
Response:
See above definition of traditionalism in the Islamic context, perennialism has been explicitly excluded by everyone who understands the above definition of Islamic traditionalism.
5) Traditionalism focuses on classical texts and in times past
Response:
Indeed it does, focusing on classical text is one means with which we can, as a community disconnected from the interpretative traditional of scholarship, bring back that context and interpretation. This is within a contained pluralism, with clear boundaries but also clear freedom.
6) Traditionalists leave the first three generations of Muslims for times such as growth of al-Andalus.
Response:
Not at all. We find the classical texts, the people of al-Andalus, of Ottoman times, as people who continued the tradition of carrying Islam to us. We respect their sacrifice, their knowledge, and their authority in correctly portraying to us the beliefs of the first three generations. We respect their interpretative tradition, the methodologies that they used to come to conclusions as being ones inherited from the first three generations of Muslims.
7) Traditionalists are not focusing on becoming scholars
Response:
This is true, we don’t believe everyone needs to be a scholar. We believe the few which can carry that heavy burden are to be commended, and we pray that they find means to achieve that goal through the proper means.
8 ) Traditionalists use post-modern tools to perform analysis of Salafis
Response:
(Chuckle: post-modern is a word that brought a great deal of trouble)
As far as the concept: Possibly. Who said traditionalists could not adopt modern ideas and techniques? Rather the idea is that tradition connects us to the past so we can move forward.
The flag was dropped when we lost authority (and respect for it) in Islam, and it needs to be picked up in order to carry the march forward. Having everyone independently start knitting their own leads to many banners and a confused discourse, and no one left to do any actual work.
9) Traditionalism is a place for the exhausted intellectual to escape into
Response:
Possibly. Best to find clarity as a means to escape from confusion. Islam might be an escape for the unbeliever in this regard.
10) Traditionalists reject the University system for an Islamic education. An Eastern university system is frowned upon by traditionalists.
Response:
Not at all. Most traditionalists have great respect for Islamic institutions of learning, including universities. At the same time, universities are still contingent to the traditional ijazaat system when it comes to being an authority on Islamic Law to actual Muslim laypeople.
At the same time, education at most universities is based in secularism. The subtle affects of secular teachings about knowledge have infiltrated most of the world, including those who think there is a means outside of the traditional to be considered an Islamic scholar. In the West, Universities also teach Islamic studies, and the professors are often atheists or other non-Muslims.
Should Muslims now consider a degree granted by these institutions equivalent to a qualified ijazaat in fiqh? The university doesn’t distinguish between believer and non-believer.
In terms of spiritual teachings, this is completely divorced from the university, whose goal is outer knowledge, not inner.
11) Taqleed caused Muslims to stay away from technological advancements
Response:
Buying into western propaganda about Muslims.
In what way did Taqleed cause us to stay away from technology? It was during a time which respected taqleed that we found not everyone had to focus on being a scholar of Islamic Law. The Ottomans developed winged rockets, had advanced architecture. The scientific and social achievements of Andalus are well known, a type of steel was developed which we still cannot mimic today.
In fact I would suggest the complete opposite is true about Taqleed. We find that the technological achievements greatly fell with the absence of authority in Islam, which is indeed what Taqleed is all about.
==
I have more to say on this subject, but that will be for a later time inshaAllah.
During this weekends sohbet Lukman Khwaja raised an interesting fact that many people are not aware of. The fact that during Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent’s time, rocket science was being developed and shown to the Sultan. This is certainly interesting as the Ottomans are sharply criticized by some for falling behind in technology.
“Evliya Celibi’s anecdote of Lagari Hasan Celebi flying with a seven winged rocket of his own invention is still more interesting, and is as follows:
“Lagari Hasan Celebi: The night Murad Han’s daughter, Kaya Sultan, was born as brilliant as a star, and there was an infant ceremony. Lagari Hasan had invented a seven winged rocket using fifty okka (140 lbs) of gunpowder paste. In Sarayburnu, he mounted the rocket before the emperor. His students lit the wick. Lagari said ‘O my sultan! Be blessed, I am going to talk to Christ’, and he ascended praying. He lighted the rockets he took with him, illuminating the surface of the sea. When the big rocket ran out of gunpowder, he splashed into the sea while landing. Thereon, he swam and came before the sultan naked. He kissed the ground and joked ‘O my sultan! Christ sends his regards to you’. He was granted a sack of silver coins, and was enrolled as a cavalry soldier with seventy silver coins for his salary:
Then he went to Selamet Giray Khan in Crimea, and died there. The deceased was a close friend of mine. God bless him”
Lukman Khawaja pointed out that while the Ottomans had this technology, Sultan Suleyman ordered for it to be covered up, as he, even back then, realized the harm that would come when nations like today were to have access to such technology. He realized then that if this type of knowledge fell into the hands of the wrong people, they would destroy not only each other, but all of humanity with it. And this is where we are today.
Today nations are desperate, yet they cannot stop the spread of nuclear weapons, as they attempt to follow Sultan Suleyman’s example.
People mistake wisdom, earnestness, clarity and goodness for backwardness. This is something that needs to be reevaluated.
the truth on 
m.a.kidwai,CME/IND.RLY.(retd.) on 
