God, Love-sick Fools and Knowledge - good manners will get you everywhere...

10. No words necessary

Words are a necessary medium

For the transmission of ideas,

But no words are necessary

For the transmission of experiences.

Though you may find us scouring books,

Know ye that what we look for

Is not contained in the books,

But in the heart of believers

In whatever form that they may be wearing.

.......................

Experiences. I find the experiences of people fascinating. Jews, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Gnostics, and even Atheists. God is Truth (Haqq), so my brethren often tell me, but the experiences of all people are truths too. To them. In a world where every Adam and Eve has his/her own little opinions often cast as truths, it is always good to listen with an open heart and mind. Because somehow, even if you cannot agree with their ideology, there was something in their experiences and the books that they read, and the leaders and teachers that they listened to, that fashioned their views.

Courtesies. Whether you say you believe in God, or you do not believe He exists, there is a history and tradition behind that opinion. And you must always be courteous (Adab) with people's history, for that is who they truly are... even more so than what they are actually saying at any given moment.

A Feeling. But that is all about 'knowledge',. Amongst my friends (I have a few, sinners the whole lot of them!), they hold no real opinion, and their belief in God is not an opinion, but more a feeling. Oh, it can be couched in intellectual metaphysical terms of course, but if you force them to a corner, they will say, "I am in love... in love with God and  His Prophet, and that is to me True Love by any other name..."

Its hard to argue with such people, you see. How can you debate with love-sick fools? Better to leave them to their own devices, lest you get infected. Hehehe.

So I try not to judge people by their opinions. I am much more affected by their manners and kind courtesies. Such people, I truly admire, in whatever form of faith that they believe.

Have a lovely Sabbath, sunshine.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way