Thread to preach Pervezi school of thought
Time to understand islam and quran in light of real world realities
Scientific Method Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA86dYxrg4Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYPapE-3FRw
Scientific measurement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfcmXWF9AdY
Richard Dawkins- Growing up in the Universe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYb-c4mavzM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iN8b4Z0ypQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKMv5f9IRZM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktUOSC5skVc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3emN8-4jgRs
The Origin of the Human Mind by Martin Sereno
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rconzwB422s
Civilization how it came about by Dr David Neiman
cradles of civilization
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7f_EFqsH2A&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mtr8_4rIfg&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9hbqK5zZzc&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw1D1waMRrE&feature=fvwrel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTsSJ-3rf4Q&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvjAJIZZSGA&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS_gI1ODrp0&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCCjfR3iPts&feature=relmfu
Civilization 2 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEow07oohUo&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eElacb3lDOs&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-lL1suywa0&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwoPOpdiEJs&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNIHZFzNAxI&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOOaB1-cfUI&feature=fvwrel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dncDUehNs4U&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SuUE7epAXg&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM1nOGKlVbQ&feature=relmfu
Genesis 1.1 - Cosmology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLK7-fdGOuk&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X26rBLqchf0&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B4NgkuhwkI&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwmvgmyrdnU&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKeZMap4ZHw&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXvQsmmynaQ&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBsGYtmJcHY&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEXQocQKHYc&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSTbcRJloqg&feature=relmfu
Islam is knowledge based deen and knowledge cannot be obtained unless we understand the importance of language ie how it evolved in sense natural sounds that became meaningful words for communication. How prototype language developed from concrete meanings for words to conceptualised meanings for words and how communication became contextualised as time went on and people learned more and more ways to express ideas clearer and clearer.
Here is how languages came about and developed and continues to develop with time.
Dr Jeff Elman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1pbnWcabMY
http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/26_meaning.html
http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/26_roots.html
My point concerning language is that arabic language is unique among languages today that are in normal use since time long past. Its sister languages have become obsolete. Even hebrew language that came to being along with arabic and aramaic are no longer known other than by experts and hebrew is being reconstructed and the old testament has been obtained from the translations of the original. This is very much obvious if people look into copies of the bible like king james version in english. Therein we can find foot notes telling us a) about lost text in the bible and b) lost meanings of the words. However in copies of later versions of the biblic text has been repaired.
Regardless the study of hebrew language due to being very closely related to arabic gives us muslims insight into development of arabic as well as to how it is supposed to work.
After study one should realise why revelation of the quran was in arabic and not in any other language. It is because root system links us to the past or origin of the language and modifications help us keep the language alive and useful for the future.
The special feature of root based languages is that concrete meanings attached to the roots can be modified through concepts without losing the original sense because modifications can be explained by reasons without the need for changes in the actual text that needs to be explained.
The original meanings given to roots remain unaffected by grammatical changes that modify roots into words for their use in sentences. The roots change into words known as derivatives of roots eg if we take word islam, it is derived from root SEEN, LAAM and MEEM. This root had many derivatives as well as meanings but the real meaning of this root is only one ie the state of rest or peace. All other root meanings are conceptualised meanings ie thye relate sane root through an explanation. This is very important point to remember because this is where scholars of islamn get confused. They fail to distinguish between concrete meanings of roots and their derived root meanings. This is why they think root chnaging its meaning when we derive words from it by way of inflections in order to make a word from root usable in a sentence. However in actual fact root keeps its meaning no matter what and concepts could be modified as the need be. Such points will become clearer as I explain the ideas.
These modifications of roots are necessitated by use of words in a sentences for a set purpose. A word may be used as a noun in a sentence and that has to be either a subject or an object regardless direct or indirect or an adjective. The same happens in case of form ie to indicate singularity or plurality or in case of arabic duality as well. Since sentence must also indicate gender so words must be modified for that reason also eg their masculinity or femininity is to be expressed by the sentence. Likewise there are others reasons for such inflections or modifications. No matter whatever the changes are made in root to form words from it the derived words keep their concrete or reality based root meanings or meanings based on concepts related to roots. Many people become confused and think root changes meanings with such modifications but it does not.
http://www.ancientscripts.com/ws_regions.html
http://www.ancientscripts.com/arabic.html
http://www.indiana.edu/~arabic/arabic_history.htm
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Arabic-1635/root-Stems.htm
The main difference between later languages and the ancient languages in terms of words is that older languages used words for their meanings that came about naturally eg word MUM, AMMA for mother etc. It is still baby language ie babies call their mothers mum mum ie supplier for their food. It seems that babies when made this noise the mothers responded and so over a period of time people began to call their feeders mothers. The word became more and more important with time as human race realised role of mother more and more and that is how came about word ummah=meaning mother or nation.
In later languages words are used as labels rather than as naturally occurring purposeful sounds by humans to name things or their actions etc not due to their meanings but just to give things names for example. It is therefore very important point to realise how in original languages words were based upon concrete meanings fit for the purpose. Older languages have become obsolete save arabic language because most languages had not have the reasons to be preserved to stay alive or that they were over run by later civilisations. The importance of words and their real meanings is not realised unless people see the need for it. Since less and less number of people see the need for knowing about language in detail so the problems arose among people on basis of words because of their lack of knowledge about the purpose of language and how it ought to work.
Even hebrew became obsolete and is being reconstructed through help of sister languages like aramaic and arabic etc. In this way if we look at the quran it is a unique book in ancient language that is still spoken and written and understood the same way as it was at the time of its invention before the revelation of the quran. This makes arabic language a unique language in the world today. All this is due to preservation of the quran otherwise arabic as a language was not any better than hebrew for example. Hebrew became obsolete because earlier divine books no longer survived or those who followed them accepted the quran and so there was no need seen to preserve the language for other reasons. Moreover those jews who did not accept islam it was better for them to let go the book they had and its language because otherwise they could not oppose the quran as Toraat was just like the quran only in hebrew language. This is why the quran tells us that jews knew the quran was from same source as toraat because they were identical books with exactly the same purpose and structure in sense of use of language and the message. The present so called toraat is not that God sent toraat but some of our molvies do not know that so they still take the current first five books of bible as toraat. Although old testament's first fives books are not that toraat it is set of books like hadith books attributed to moses and so there is still a lot of similar information in it as there was in the original toraat. The same is true in case of ZABOOR and INJEEL or any other scriptures given to other messenger eg scriptures given to ibraheem or for that matter to noah.
The other reason the original divine scripture do not exist today is because there were always conspiracies against divine messages and messengers so once followers gave up following the true message scribes could get rid of it because there were not many who wrote copies of those scriptures. Rulers and priests have been together in converting deen in to religion in order to separate state and religious affairs. So separation between state affairs and affairs relating God is not new rather all rebellious people always fought against the divine message as much as they could. Kings ruled over people in the name of country and priests ruled over people in the name of God. That is how we ended up with ideologies and rules and regulations for states and ideologies, rules and regulations for religions. More about this later.
Let us now see what is special about arabic language that all muslims and nonmuslims must know. The special thing about arabic is how its roots have been attached various meanings from which are created words for the language to be used in the sentences. There are four different reasons whereby words are given meanings. a) concrete root meanings that arose through natural sounds which were used for naming things b) derived root meanings that lead back to concrete meanings by way of reason. c) meanings given to words for grammatical reasons so that they fit the sentences and d) meanings given to words that are used as labels for names of things or their actions without any real sense ie it is just like we name our children without knowing the meanings of the words today but this was not the case in times long ago. poeple used to call their children with names which meant something in some sense eg fox or hawk or stone etc.
Let us take root SEEN, LAAM and MEEM. This three letter combination is called root or MAADA. In this case the root has various meanings eg peace, safety, security, tranquillity, rest, completeness, submission, commitment, acceptance, ladder, staircase, give up, give in, surrender, receive, free from obstacle or problem or trouble, hand over, resign and the list of meanings keeps going on.
The question is, when a word has so many meanings does it then not become difficult to understand the message? My answer is that it does not because whatever we say, we say it in a context so people who send and receive messages they can make sense of them due to presence of a context and a purpose in the message. It is because people ignore the purpose and the context of the message that they make a mess of the quranic message when they translate it. The quran cannot be translated on word for word basis because we may not be sure of the purpose and context of the message at a time or that we may not be able to find words for words that could replace each other 100%. This is why the religions that have lost original scriptures in original languages and try to reconstruct them through translations cannot do so. Therefore the quran has the huge advantage over other scriptures that are no longer in original languages or in original text and word structures. This is why no matter how hard jews try to reconstruct hebrew bible it is never going to be like original unless they seek help from the quran but then if they do that why not just follow the quran instead?
Let me now draw attention to word roots and their meanings. Roots in actual fact do not have different meanings but it appears that they do. Why? Because original meaning is driven home each time when we apply the so called other meanings through explanations. Let me explain this by means of an example. ROOT SLM has various meanings as explained under root SEEN, LAAM and MEEM. The very basic purpose behind any root meaning is to get things in that state of being or take action to make something to be in that state of being. The basic meaning of root slm is state of rest ie no disturbance. The root combination is used for different purposes in a sentence ie we derive various words from it in order to use them in a grammatical sentence. This means we use words as names and if they are names then they are either subjects in a sentence or they are direct or indirect objects. Other variations occur because we want to show various forms eg singular, plural and in case of arabic duality as well. The other reason for change is to show gender difference eg masculinity or femininity. Then there is variation to show tenses eg simple, participle and past participle ie to show past, present or future as well as how complete the being is or the action is. All these variations to root are called inflections or derivatives of root or its variations. Other than that as explained the basic meanings of roots do not change due to derivatives ie slm root sticks to its meaning peace or rest no matter whatever the derivatives.
For example, take the derivative salam=ladder, the question is, what does word ladder mean? It means means to an end which is peace or rest because once ladder is put in place to do something and after you have completed the set out task you will be at rest nothing more to do in this regard so you are in peace. ASLAM, submit= once the person has submitted the rest state is achieved and so the task set out is complete. So one can see how no matter what the meanings we give to seen, laam and meem root the end result is always peace and rest. It is because the things is at rest ie in state of rest or action is taken by some one or something to get it in state of rest or it is gotten into state of action because it was already at rest. So one can see how object is or is made to be in relation to root sml. This is why those who do not understand how arabic language actually works get confused about understanding the quran. This is main reason some people argue word islam means peace and others say it means submission. neither realise that end result of both the meanings is same ie peace and rest ie no disturbance or trouble. Whatever the meanings it has something to do with peace/rest ie either it brings the thing back into state of rest or that it force it out of state of rest. It all depends which way the meaning should be taken but that becomes clear from the sentence in which the word is used eg disturb the peace or create the peace. Word peace keeps its sense no matter what the sentence. Likewise in arabic language a root keeps its meaning no matter what the senstence is conveying.
It should also be realised that unless one understand this idea very clearly one is unlikely to understand why the quranic text can be given different meanings and such person should never translate the quran and even if any does his translation is not likely to be correct. Most objections are why muslims keep changing translations of the quran? The answer is simple that even though God is perfect and so is his message but understanding of humans is neither perfect nor can it ever be. Humans are creatures created to be able to learn so if they were born already knowing everything, why would they need divine guidance? Moreover if they were born totally ignorant and not capable of learning then why would they need guidance when they could not benefit from that? This is why the quran is the way it is and people are the way they are and through step by step interaction things improve from human standpoint ie knowledge of people about things changes with time and effort and that is why you yourself did not see things when you grew up as you did when you were a baby. You kept changing your ideas about things because new information about things kept forcing you to change your opinion about things. This also knocks out the objection that if the quran is perfect word of God why it needs people to explain it. It is because God is already knowing things so he makes statements based upon his knowledge therefore they are as they should be ie absolutely true but people have yet to learn things about which he is talking to them so as they learn things they keep on changing their opinions about word of God till they know better or find the God intended meanings of words. All this is natural and those who discourage study of the quran or start fighting over differences of opinion lack education. It is because they do not realise the purpose of the quran. Its purpose is to educate people through their own individual efforts by way of their interaction with it like children interact with their parents and society and rest of things in their own environment in order to learn things step by step just like interaction between parents and children. Parents tell kids something and when kids understand that much then they are told next things and then the next. The quran being the last message of God for humanity it contain all that people will ever need for their guidance. These are very fundamental points that people ignore when they read the quran but if they ignore these points then they are unlikely to know what the quran is all about.
The real advantage of the root system is ability of the text based on this system to be understood correctly at all times without the need for change in the actual text with time. What does this mean? It means the quranic text can never be proven wrong. It is because the text based on root has the ability to change the meanings to give rise to different concepts to readers according to their individual ability of understanding things.
Why the quran needed to be like that? It is because the quran needed to be understood at the time it was revealed as well as till the end of the time so all the changes that ought to occur during this period of time and due growth of people from childhood to adulthood. The quran is fixed in its text and concepts because it is word of God but people who read the quran are not Gods and they are born knowing nothing and they keep on learning and so their understanding of things changes with time and growth of their life experience and thereby knowledge so this idea takes care of all such variable factors. Showing clearly the uniqueness of arabic and quran combination as well as how divine revelation and human reason go hand in hand.
Unless people learn to use the quran this way the quran will prove useless for them no matter what. I will keep on explaining concepts individually till I bring them all together to show how they work together without any problem.
Coming to grammar, it is a very complex issue and has various aspects eg we can have sign language, spoken language or written language. It has symbols representing sounds or signs which we give name letters. Each language has its own set of alphabet. These letters are brought together to represent sounds or signs we take for words.
We use phrases, clauses and sentences to represent spoken words.
grammar therefore is a field of knowledge which tries to make sense of how people make sounds or signs and use language and what do they mean by them. Therefore we categorise these for various reasons eg we group words in to nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, conjunctions, determiners, prepositions etc. This tells us about functions of words in our speech.
The other thing is we break down parts of speech into phrases, clauses, sentences and paragraphs etc. This helps us define parts of speech for various reasons eg to determine meanings for words in state of action and in state of inaction. All actions are time bound hence the need for definitions because some actions complete, other do not and yet others keep going etc etc.
All this when it is reduced to writing, we come up with loads of punctuation marks to indicate how words were used in speech in order to convey the moods for example or pauses and stoppages etc.
Going back to grouping of words, it becomes a very complex thing as we open up each of the elements in the group eg take nouns for example, there are various reason why we group them in to subgroups eg we group words used as nouns for ideas or for actual things so we call them abstract nouns and concrete nouns. This helps us to know whether we are talking about solid objects or mere concepts. For example, word chemistry is categorised as an abstract noun and word used for labelling an object eg word chair is categorised as a concrete noun. This tells us one noun is merely a label for an idea because we cannot touch chemistry because chemistry is not an object. On the other hand word chair is a concrete noun because we have an object and we want to label it by a word.
Likewise we name things for lots of different reasons so we end up with lots of different kinds of nouns or categories of nouns.eg pronouns, common nouns, collective nouns, proper nouns, genitive nouns, title nouns, numeral nouns, compound nouns, simple nouns and I can go on and on.
We categorise nouns origin wise, complexity wise, tangibility wise, gender wise, number wise, countability wise, usage wise etc etc.
Same when we come to breaking down of sentences in to groups. We categorise verbs on basis of whether these words are used in sentences or are they on their own. On their own they are in there indefinite form or infinite form. However when they are used in sentences then they are broken down in to four basic forms eg simple form, continuous form, perfect form and perfect continuous form. In various grammar books these categories are named differently but they mean the same thing.
These four categories are further divided in to groups on basis of time eg past, present and future. So we end up saying past simple, present simple and future simple eg I went, I go, I will go sort of thing.
Coming to sentence constructions, we have grouping based upon nature of sentences ie polarity wise sentences are either negative or positive, structure wise they are responsive, interjective or informative. combination wise they are simple, compound, complex and compound complex. Mood wise they are imperative, interrogative, declarative and subjunctive and so on.
A sentence could have various constructions eg
1)subject+predicate
2)subject+predicate+object
3)subject +predicate+adverbial
4)subject+predicate+object+adverbial
5)subject+verb+indirect object+object
6)subject+verb+object+indirect object
7)subject+verb+predicate
8)subject+verb+object+predicate
and so on.
Each language has its own construction and structuring of sentences but the basic ideas remains the same.
The complexities of grammar very clearly show that it is not the grammatical rules that decide the meanings of the words but that we are simply trying to decode them in to grammatical rules the way they are spoken or used and that is when we find that not all uses of a language fit a grammatical category so we have exceptions to rules of grammar.
This is like we are walking along and we come across a space ship in a field and then we try and investigate what it is, where it has come from and how it might work etc etc. It is same problem as why we are here if you like. When we were born we saw people talking and we just wanted to make things a bit understandable so lots of our works are only and only for that reason and cannot be taken 100% decided. We are simply trying to come up with ideas and see which one can take us further than we already are. This is how language experts decode ancient languages meaning wise and we see that they make sense so we accept their explanations as proofs.
So I would not discourage anyone from trying whatever comes to one's mind instead I would encourage it because one of us may be able to help us further our understanding of things from where we stand.
So please encourage each other and we will all be fine. Remember rome was not built in a day so we should keep up the good work for better understanding of things.