RARENESS IN CREATIVENESS
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم
IN THE NAME OF GOD, the MOST GRACIOUS the MOST MERCIFUL
RARENESS IN CREATIVENESS
By: Wahba Mahmoud Diyab
The Rareness in the Creativity –or shall we say the absense of creativity- is wide clear in the Arena where we see: the Ordinary and Traditional Politicians, the Armo-Politicians, the Armed-Rebells Politicians, the Swaying grab-chances flyers, and the City Circumfraneous Battalion composed of RDFs (Retired Defense Forces), who all are inventing courses to be the opposite to the Great Goal the Sudanese People looking for – The Unity, the One United Sudan! We all know that man was created though he was in the best of moulds, but (some men) fell from Uinty when his will was warped, and he chose the crooked path of Discord, and sorrow and pain, selfishness and degradation, ignorance and hatred, despair and unbelief poisoned his life, and he saw shapes of evil in the physical, moral, and spiritual world, and in himself. So if we look for patterns of human beings whose main trouble is their tendency to become trapped in the ‘triviality of everydayness’, in the suffocating world of their personal preoccupations. And every time they do this, i.e., (The Framelike Agreement versus The Political Agreement), as a distraction toys, they forget the immense world of broader significance (The Sudanese People) that stretches around them. And since man needs a sense of meaning to release his hidden energies, this forgetfulness from the so-called leaders would push the people into depression and boredom, the sense that nothing is worth the effort.
It is a well-known phaenomenon that ‘we judge the artist by his highest moments, and the criminal by his lowest moments’; for creativeness involves a certain mental effort, but destructiveness doesnot! So then, the important question about us human beings (Sudanese People) is not how far we are capable of being disoriented and demoralized, – losing self-control- but how far we are capable of going in the opposite direction, of using our intelligence for creativity and organization?!
I will humbly borrow an article written some-time ago, which was heralding to the leaders, who are dwelling in Malta:
THE ADORABLE THINKING PREVENTS DEMEANOUR SINKING
Positive thinking –I believe- is a difficult task, but it is the virtue God has bestowed on us, as we see this in Surat Al-Isra /the Journey by Night 17:
وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آَدَمَ وَحَمَلْنَاهُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَاهُمْ مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَفَضَّلْنَاهُمْ عَلَى كَثِيرٍ مِمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًا (70)
And indeed We have honored the sons/children of Adam; and provided them with transport on land and sea; and We have given them for sustenance things which are good and pure; and conferred on them special favors above a great part of Our Creation. (70)
Definitely man was given pre-eminence above much of God’s Creation, and owes higher responsibilities. So if he did use his abilities of thinking will see the mercies of God provided to him and to remember to thank Him. The distinction and honor conferred by God on man are recounted in order to enforce the corresponding duties and responsibilities of man. He is raised to a position of honor above the brute creation; he has been granted TALENTS by which he can transport himself from place to place by land, sea, and by air, plus all the sustenance and growth of every part of his nature are provided by God; and the greatest gift of God is his spiritual faculties, which raises him above the greater part of God’s Creation. Shouldn’t we then realize the noble destiny and prepare ourselves for the real life in the Hereafter?!
This prelude is to remind the individuals who are striving to find a mean to drive the stagnant situation in which our country in now, so let us see Surat Al-A’la/The Most High 87:
فَذَكِّرْ إِنْ نَفَعَتِ الذِّكْرَى (9)
Therefore give admonition in case the admonition profits the hearer. (9)
It is wonderful the ways of God in creation, and the love with which He guides His creatures’ destinies; He gives them means by which to strive for MATURITY by ordered steps, and reach the end most fitted for their natures. God’s Law is just and easy, and His Grace is ever ready to help; let us look to the Eternal Goal with hearts and souls of purity, and glorify His name. In this changing, fleeting world the word of God is always true, and will remain –through all the ages- ever the same. The everlasting Truth is that: MANKIND HAS THE NATURE OF GOOD WHICH IS CREATED WITHIN HIM.
The people we select as candidates to shoulder responsibility: let us firstly avoid:-
THE MORE EAGER AND LESS DISCERNING, WHO SAYS:
* IT IS NOT WHAT I HAVE; IT IS WHAT I NEED.
*IT IS NOT WHAT I HAVE; IT IS WHAT I HAVE TO DO WITH WHAT I HAVE.
The real people whom we must select as candidates to carry the huge responsibilities assigned to them who says:
*IT IS NOT WHAT I NEED, BUT IT IS WHAT I HAVE.
Those categories we see them in Surat Al-Imran 3:
Those [the Believers] to whom the people [the hypocrites] said to them: “Verily, the people [the Pagans] have gathered against you -a great army- therefore, fear them!” But it only increased their Faith; and they said: “God Alone is Sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs for us!” (173)
الَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ (173)
So they returned with Grace and Bounty from God, no harm ever touched them, and they followed the good pleasure of God; and God is the Lord of bounties unbounded/Lord of great bounty. (174)
فَانْقَلَبُوا بِنِعْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ لَمْ يَمْسَسْهُمْ سُوءٌ وَاتَّبَعُوا رِضْوَانَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَظِيمٍ (174)
Glorious are those who knew no fear.
We are over-looking a major pillar in the pillars of life, which is the ECONOMY. Identifying the word in itself will take you to various routes, for if you want to give the true meaning of the word ECONOMY: It is; the management of a household, or of money matters, and judicious expenditure of money, thrift, saving, a system of rules or ceremonies. FRUGAL: economical in the use of means, sparing, spare, and thrifty. And the vital importance of the money God had revealed many strict rules in the Qur’an, and the longest verse in the Qur’an (282 Al-Bagara) beside others is addressing the fortunes; but we take one example from Surat Muhammad [PPBUH] 47: Also see Surat Muhammad (The Prophet PPBUH) 47, verses 36-37 and notes:
إِنَّمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَإِنْ تُؤْمِنُوا وَتَتَّقُوا يُؤْتِكُمْ أُجُورَكُمْ وَلَا يَسْأَلْكُمْ أَمْوَالَكُمْ (36)
The life of this world is but play and amusement, and if you believe and guard against evil He will grant you your recompense, and will not ask you –to give up- your possessions. (36)
إِنْ يَسْأَلْكُمُوهَا فَيُحْفِكُمْ تَبْخَلُوا وَيُخْرِجْ أَضْغَانَكُمْ (37)
If He were to ask you for all of them, and press you, you would covetously withhold, and He would bring out all your ill-feelings. (37)
(Notes verses 36/37: Amusement and play are not bad things in themselves. As preparations for the more serious life, they have their value. But if we concentrate on them, and neglect the business of life, we cannot prosper. So we must use our life in this world as a preparation for our spiritual or inner life. The complete self-sacrifice –if voluntarily offered- has a meaning; it means that the person’s devotion is exclusively and completely for the Cause (of God). But no law or rule can demand it. And a mere offer to kill yourself has no meaning. You should be ready to take risks to your life in fighting for the Cause, but you should aim at life, not death. If you live, you should be ready to place your substance and your acquisitions at the disposal of the Cause. But it is not reasonable to pauperize your-self and become a hanger-on for the Cause. Moreover, the inborn tendency to self-preservation in an average man would lead to concealment and niggardliness if all were asked for the Cause, by Law, and there would further be a feeling of bitterness and rebellion.
But in our ordinary understanding that WEALTH IS FOR SERVING and not for hoarding or show. Let us avoid the arrogance, jealousy, spite, and hatred which will be the cause of failure, and leads to the illusionary path of darkness, as in verse 72 from Surat Al-Isra’a/The Journey by Night 17:
وَمَنْ كَانَ فِي هَذِهِ أَعْمَى فَهُوَ فِي الْآَخِرَةِ أَعْمَى وَأَضَلُّ سَبِيلًا (72)
And whoever of those who were blind in this world will be blind in the Hereafter and most astray from the Path. (72)
On the Day of Judgment the CHILDREN OF LIGHT will receive and peruse their record, and will render joyful thanks to God for His Mercies. But what of the CHILDREN OF DARKNESS?! They had already been blind in this world’s life, and they will not receive the LIGHT OF GOD’S COUNTENANCE! On the contrary they will find that the longer the time they travelled –in transgression- the farther away they have gone from the RIGHT PATH.
I may say to my Sudanese People be patient with perseverance, as in Surat Al-Bagara 2 verse 153, and note:
O’ you who believed! Seek help with patient Perseverance and Prayer; for God is with those who patiently persevere. (153)
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ (153)
As in verse 45; an additional meaning implied in [Sabr= صبر] is self restraint. In Al-Haggani’s Tafsir he defines Sabr as; following Reason and restraining Fear, Anger, and Desire. What can be a higher reward for patience, perseverance, self-restraint, and constancy than that God should be with us? For this promise opens the door to every kind of spiritual well-being.
Let us Surat Al-Imran 3 verses 186-200, and notes:
You shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions/wealth and properties, and in your personal selves; and you shall certainly hear much that will grieve you from those who received the Book/Scripture before you (Jews and Christians) and from those who ascribe partners to God/worship many gods. But if you preserve patiently, and be pious/guard against evil; then verily, that will be determining factor in all affairs (that is from the great matters which you must hold on with all your efforts). (186)
لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِي أَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا أَذًى كَثِيرًا وَإِنْ تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ (186)
And (remember) when God took a Covenant from those who were given the Scripture/Book [Jews and Christians] to make it known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it; But they threw it behind their backs, and purchased with it some miserable gain! And indeed vile was the bargain they made/worst is that which they bought. (187)
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَكْتُمُونَهُ فَنَبَذُوهُ وَرَاءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَاشْتَرَوْا بِهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ (187)
Think not that those who rejoice/exult in what they have brought about, and love to be praised for what they have not done, do not think that they can escape/rescued from the penalty/ torment, and for them is indeed grievous penalty/torment. (188)
لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَا أَتَوْا وَيُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يُحْمَدُوا بِمَا لَمْ يَفْعَلُوا فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّهُمْ بِمَفَازَةٍ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ (188)
To God belongs the dominion of the Heavens and the Earth, and God has power over all things. (189)
وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ (189)
Verily, [behold] in the creation of the Heavens and the Earth and the alteration of night and day, there are indeed Signs for men of understanding. (190)
إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآَيَاتٍ لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ (190)
Those who remember God/celebrate the praises of God standing, sitting and lying down on their sides, and contemplate and think deeply on the wonders of creation of the heavens and the earth; (saying) our Lord You Have not created –all- this without purpose/in naught, glory to You (Exalted are You above all that they associate with you as partners) Give us salvation from the penalty /torment of the Fire. (191)
الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَى جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَذَا بَاطِلًا سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ (191)
Our Lord! Verily, whom you have admitted to the Fire, Truly, You have disgraced/covered him with shame. And never will wrongdoers/ transgressors will find any helpers/supporters. (192)
رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ مَنْ تُدْخِلِ النَّارَ فَقَدْ أَخْزَيْتَهُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنْصَارٍ (192)
“Our Lord, Verily, we have heard the call of one [Muhammad PPBUH] calling –us- to Faith ‘Believe in your Lord’ and we have believed. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins, and expiate from us our evil/iniquitous deeds, and take to Yourself our souls/make us die in the company of the righteous/the pious/reverent. (193)
رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا يُنَادِي لِلْإِيمَانِ أَنْ آَمِنُوا بِرَبِّكُمْ فَآَمَنَّا رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الْأَبْرَارِ (193)
“Our Lord! Grant us what You promised to us through Your Apostles/Messengers save us from shame/and do not disgrace us on the Day of Resurrection/Judgment: for You never break Your Promise”. (194)
رَبَّنَا وَآَتِنَا مَا وَعَدْتَنَا عَلَى رُسُلِكَ وَلَا تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ (194)
So, their Lord accepted of them (their supplication and answered them): “Never will I allow to be lost the work of any of you, be they male or female. You are –members- one of another, so those who emigrated and being driven out from their homes, and suffered harm in My Cause, and who fought, and were killed/ slain –in My Cause-, Verily, I Will expiate/blot out from them their iniquities/evil deeds, and admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing beneath, a reward from the Presence of God, and from His Presence is the best of rewards”. (195)
فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ أَنِّي لَا أُضِيعُ عَمَلَ عَامِلٍ مِنْكُمْ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَى بَعْضُكُمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ فَالَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا وَأُخْرِجُوا مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ وَأُوذُوا فِي سَبِيلِي وَقَاتَلُوا وَقُتِلُوا لَأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ وَلَأُدْخِلَنَّهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ثَوَابًا مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ عِنْدَهُ حُسْنُ الثَّوَابِ (195)
Let not the strutting about/free disposal and affluence of the disbelievers throughout the land deceive you. (196)
لَا يَغُرَّنَّكَ تَقَلُّبُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فِي الْبِلَادِ (196)
Little is it for enjoyment; then their ultimate abode is Hell: and worst indeed is that place for rest/what an evil bed to lie on. (197)
مَتَاعٌ قَلِيلٌ ثُمَّ مَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ وَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ (197)
On the other hand, for those who fear their Lord [and being pious] are Gardens with river flowing beneath (Paradise); therein are they to dwell forever. A gift from the Presence of God; and that which is in the Presence of God is the best bliss for the righteous/pious believers. (198)
لَكِنِ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا رَبَّهُمْ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا نُزُلًا مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ وَمَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لِلْأَبْرَارِ (198)
And there are –certainly- among the People of the Book/Scripture- [Jews and Christians] those who believe in God, and in the revelation [revealed] to you, and in the revelation [revealed] to them, bowing in humility to God; they will not sell the Signs/Verses of God for a miserable price/gain. For them is reward with their Lord. Surely God is swift in account. (199)
وَإِنَّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ لَمَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ خَاشِعِينَ لِلَّهِ لَا يَشْتَرُونَ بِآَيَاتِ اللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا أُولَئِكَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ (199)
O’ you who believe! Endure/preserve in patience, and constantly vie in such perseverance, be stationed and strengthen each other; and fear God, so that you may prosper/be successful. (200)
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَصَابِرُوا وَرَابِطُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ (200)
(Verse 186)- Not wealth and possessions only – or want of them, are the means of our trial. All our personal talents, knowledge, opportunities, and their opposites; in fact everything that happens to us and makes up our personality is a means of our testing. So is our Faith: we shall have to put up for it many insults from those who do not share it.
(Verse 187)- Truth {God’s Message} comes to any man or nation as a matter of sacred trust. It should be broadcasted and published and taught and made clear to all within reach. Privileged priesthood at once erects a barrier. But worse; when such priesthood tampers with the truth, taking what suits it and ignoring the rest, it has sold God’s gift for a miserable ephemeral profit: how miserable, it will learn when Nemesis comes. See Surat Al-Bagara 2 verse 101 and commentary.
(Verse 188-189)- A searching picture of the worldly is wise. They may cause mischief and misery to others, but gloat over any glory it may bring them! They may trample down God’s Truths, and enthrone false standards of worship. They may take credit for virtues they do not possess and seeming successes that come in spite of their despicable deceptions.
(Verse 190)- See please Surat Al-Bagara 2 verse 164. The two items mentioned here are just brief symbols recalling the six or seven mentioned in the other passage. And those too are but brief symbols and reminders of the glorious majesty of God and His goodness to man.
(Verses 191-2-3-4)- This is –in all postures- which again is symbolical of all circumstances, personal, social, economic, historical and other. It is the thought of Salvation that connects all these glories with men. Otherwise man would be miserable, contemptible creature in these beauties and wonders of Nature. With his high destiny of Salvation he can be lifted even higher than these glories! The Fire is a symbol of penalty. We pray for salvation from the penalty.
(Verses 195-6-7-8-9) – In Islam the equal status of the sexes is not only recognized but insisted on. If sex distinction -which is a distinction in nature- does not count in spiritual matters, still less of course would count artificial distinctions, such as rank, wealth, position, race, color, birth, etc. Here in verse 198, and in many places elsewhere, stress is laid on the fact that whatever gift, or reward, or bliss will come to the righteous, its chief merit will be that it proceeds from the Presence of God Himself. “Nearness of God” expresses it better than any other symbol.
(Verse 200)- The full meaning of (Sabr) is to be understood here as: Patience-Perseverance-Constancy- Self-restraint- refusing to be cowed down. Theses virtues we are to exercise for ourselves and in the relation to others; we are to set an example, so that others may vie with us, and we are to vie with them, lest we fall short; in this way we strengthen each other and bind our mutual relations closer, in our common service to God.
Falaha= Prosperity, here and in other passages is to be understood in a wide sense, including prosperity in our mundane affairs as well as spiritual progress. In both cases it implies happiness and the attainment of our wishes, purified by the love of God.