1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:08,769 A Summary of the Concepts of Ahl al-Sunnah 2 00:00:08,769 --> 00:00:12,339 The reality of the human being 3 00:00:12,339 --> 00:00:16,339 The human being as his father Adam, peace be upon him, was created 4 00:00:16,339 --> 00:00:21,339 A handful of clay and a breath from the spirit of Allah 5 00:00:21,339 --> 00:00:24,339 Thus, if he clings to the earth and sticks to the clay, 6 00:00:24,339 --> 00:00:30,339 desires enslave him, rendering him incapable of fulfilling his complete potential. 7 00:00:30,339 --> 00:00:33,340 Therefore, Islam—as we have previously mentioned— 8 00:00:33,340 --> 00:00:36,340 does not abandon the human being to his desires; 9 00:00:36,340 --> 00:00:38,340 yet at the same time, 10 00:00:38,340 --> 00:00:42,340 it does not suppress them or waste their energies, 11 00:00:42,340 --> 00:00:46,340 but rather regulates, purifies, and refines them. 12 00:00:46,340 --> 00:00:50,439 As for the person who neglects his clay-like nature 13 00:00:50,439 --> 00:00:52,439 and focuses solely on the spirit, 14 00:00:52,439 --> 00:00:55,439 he falls into forbidden monasticism— 15 00:00:56,439 --> 00:01:01,439 "and monasticism they innovated; We did not prescribe it for them"— 16 00:01:01,439 --> 00:01:03,439 detached from the reality of life, 17 00:01:03,439 --> 00:01:08,700 falling short in fulfilling the role entrusted to him to inhabit and build the earth. 18 00:01:08,700 --> 00:01:12,700 For this reason, Islam addresses the human soul 19 00:01:12,700 --> 00:01:16,700 as a body, mind, and spirit— 20 00:01:16,700 --> 00:01:20,700 integrated and interconnected in a single entity— 21 00:01:20,700 --> 00:01:24,700 where the function of one component is never isolated from the others. 22 00:01:24,700 --> 00:01:28,700 Through this integration, the features of the righteous person are defined, 23 00:01:28,700 --> 00:01:32,700 and two things are simultaneously guaranteed: 24 00:01:32,700 --> 00:01:38,730 First, the utilization of all human energies in cultivating the earth, 25 00:01:38,730 --> 00:01:41,890 without neglecting any of them; 26 00:01:41,890 --> 00:01:45,890 second, the attainment of inner equilibrium within the soul, 27 00:01:45,890 --> 00:01:49,890 as well as within the reality of practical life alike. 28 00:01:49,890 --> 00:01:53,750 Idealistic Realism 29 00:01:53,750 --> 00:01:59,299 The idealistic realism through which Islam nurtures the human being 30 00:01:59,299 --> 00:02:03,299 is that which considers his nature as previously explained, 31 00:02:03,299 --> 00:02:08,300 then constantly summons him to ascend toward higher pursuits, 32 00:02:08,300 --> 00:02:13,460 charging him to strive for the perfection that lies within his capacity. 33 00:02:13,460 --> 00:02:17,460 The realistic path for his upbringing and treatment 34 00:02:17,460 --> 00:02:20,460 is to present a complete vision before him, 35 00:02:20,460 --> 00:02:25,460 constantly training him to ascend toward it and draw close to it 36 00:02:25,460 --> 00:02:31,099 through every possible avenue and to the utmost of his ability. 37 00:02:31,099 --> 00:02:37,180 Man possesses two types of capacity: physical and intellectual. 38 00:02:37,180 --> 00:02:43,180 Physical capacity is the energy of the body connected to the senses, nerves, 39 00:02:43,180 --> 00:02:46,219 and physiological functions. 40 00:02:47,219 --> 00:02:52,219 No one knows its exact location or essence, 41 00:02:52,219 --> 00:02:56,219 yet it is defined as conceptual thinking, 42 00:02:56,219 --> 00:03:01,219 which comprehends universal concepts, abstract meanings, and supreme values— 43 00:03:01,219 --> 00:03:07,219 such as justice, truth, virtue, beauty, and so forth. 44 00:03:07,219 --> 00:03:12,280 Man shares physical capacity with animals, 45 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:18,280 whereas intellectual capacity distinguishes him from them, as animals do not possess it; 46 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:24,280 thus, it is considered a uniquely human capacity. 47 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:29,379 The contemporary world, led unfortunately by the West, 48 00:03:29,379 --> 00:03:34,379 utilizes this intellectual capacity in only a single realm: 49 00:03:34,379 --> 00:03:40,379 the realm of worldly science, with its various theories and practical applications. 50 00:03:40,379 --> 00:03:50,379 While this is undoubtedly a vast domain that opens immense, renewed horizons toward material progress and prosperity, 51 00:03:50,379 --> 00:03:57,379 the scope of this intellectual capacity is far broader than the field of secular science alone. 52 00:03:57,379 --> 00:04:01,379 It encompasses the most elevated aspects of the human being: 53 00:04:01,379 --> 00:04:07,379 creed, virtues, morals, and numerous other values. 54 00:04:07,379 --> 00:04:10,379 All these dimensions must be engaged, 55 00:04:10,379 --> 00:04:16,379 and this capacity must be applied within them in a sound and disciplined manner, 56 00:04:16,379 --> 00:04:20,379 so that secular scientific advancement remains guided, 57 00:04:20,379 --> 00:04:27,050 and human conduct in worldly life is properly regulated overall. 58 00:04:27,050 --> 00:04:31,100 Between Individualism and Collectivism 59 00:04:31,100 --> 00:04:37,100 Western capitalism is founded upon human individualism, 60 00:04:37,100 --> 00:04:40,100 expanding the boundaries of the individual's autonomy, 61 00:04:40,100 --> 00:04:45,100 leaving him free to act in many matters 62 00:04:45,100 --> 00:04:50,100 even to the point of harming others and harming himself, 63 00:04:50,100 --> 00:04:53,100 giving free rein to desires and caprices, 64 00:04:53,100 --> 00:04:56,100 thereby destroying values and morals, 65 00:04:56,100 --> 00:05:02,199 and refusing to recognize anyone's right to direct or regulate his conduct. 66 00:05:02,199 --> 00:05:07,199 Communism in the East is founded upon human collectivism, 67 00:05:07,199 --> 00:05:10,199 expanding the scope of the collective and the state, 68 00:05:10,199 --> 00:05:13,199 while restricting individual initiative, 69 00:05:13,199 --> 00:05:16,199 thereby suppressing all individual freedom— 70 00:05:16,199 --> 00:05:22,389 whether in ownership, employment, belief, and so forth. 71 00:05:22,389 --> 00:05:25,389 Islam, however—the religion of natural human inclination (Fitrah)— 72 00:05:25,389 --> 00:05:31,389 affirms both the individual and collective aspects of man. 73 00:05:31,389 --> 00:05:34,389 It does not view them as contradictory tendencies, 74 00:05:34,389 --> 00:05:39,389 but rather recognizes that human nature makes one an individual integrated into the collective— 75 00:05:39,389 --> 00:05:44,389 innately individual, yet innately inclined toward the group. 76 00:05:44,389 --> 00:05:49,389 Islam addresses these two tendencies as fundamental inherent traits, 77 00:05:49,389 --> 00:05:52,389 rendering them mutually supportive, 78 00:05:52,389 --> 00:05:56,389 such that one complements the other without conflict. 79 00:05:56,389 --> 00:06:00,670 A Child's Perception 80 00:06:00,670 --> 00:06:05,670 We often assume that a child is a tiny creature lacking perception and awareness; 81 00:06:05,670 --> 00:06:10,670 however, in reality, a child possesses an extraordinary capacity for perception and absorption, 82 00:06:10,670 --> 00:06:13,670 both conscious and subconscious— 83 00:06:13,670 --> 00:06:17,670 a capacity far greater than we might think. 84 00:06:17,670 --> 00:06:22,670 Even if a child does not fully comprehend everything he sees, 85 00:06:22,670 --> 00:06:27,670 he is nonetheless influenced by all that he observes and senses around him. 86 00:06:27,670 --> 00:06:31,670 For he possesses two highly sensitive faculties: 87 00:06:31,670 --> 00:06:35,670 the faculty of absorption and the faculty of imitation. 88 00:06:35,670 --> 00:06:40,670 Working together, these allow him to absorb information—whether subconsciously or with partial awareness— 89 00:06:40,670 --> 00:06:47,769 and subsequently imitate what he absorbs, also subconsciously or with partial awareness. 90 00:06:47,769 --> 00:06:54,769 Thus, although a child does not grasp the abstract meanings of values and principles as adults do, 91 00:06:54,769 --> 00:07:02,769 he nonetheless constructs within himself a foundation upon which those future principles will be built. 92 00:07:02,769 --> 00:07:08,769 If the role model is righteous, the foundation will be sound, 93 00:07:08,769 --> 00:07:13,800 and there is a high likelihood, by Allah's leave, of the child's righteousness. 94 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:21,800 Conversely, if the role model is corrupt, the foundation the child constructs will be unstable and warped, 95 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:24,800 resulting in a greater probability of his corruption.