WEBVTT 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:08.769 A Summary of the Concepts of Ahl al-Sunnah 00:00:08.769 --> 00:00:12.339 The reality of the human being 00:00:12.339 --> 00:00:16.339 The human being as his father Adam, peace be upon him, was created 00:00:16.339 --> 00:00:21.339 A handful of clay and a breath from the spirit of Allah 00:00:21.339 --> 00:00:24.339 Thus, if he clings to the earth and sticks to the clay, 00:00:24.339 --> 00:00:30.339 desires enslave him, rendering him incapable of fulfilling his complete potential. 00:00:30.339 --> 00:00:33.340 Therefore, Islam—as we have previously mentioned— 00:00:33.340 --> 00:00:36.340 does not abandon the human being to his desires; 00:00:36.340 --> 00:00:38.340 yet at the same time, 00:00:38.340 --> 00:00:42.340 it does not suppress them or waste their energies, 00:00:42.340 --> 00:00:46.340 but rather regulates, purifies, and refines them. 00:00:46.340 --> 00:00:50.439 As for the person who neglects his clay-like nature 00:00:50.439 --> 00:00:52.439 and focuses solely on the spirit, 00:00:52.439 --> 00:00:55.439 he falls into forbidden monasticism— 00:00:56.439 --> 00:01:01.439 "and monasticism they innovated; We did not prescribe it for them"— 00:01:01.439 --> 00:01:03.439 detached from the reality of life, 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:08.700 falling short in fulfilling the role entrusted to him to inhabit and build the earth. 00:01:08.700 --> 00:01:12.700 For this reason, Islam addresses the human soul 00:01:12.700 --> 00:01:16.700 as a body, mind, and spirit— 00:01:16.700 --> 00:01:20.700 integrated and interconnected in a single entity— 00:01:20.700 --> 00:01:24.700 where the function of one component is never isolated from the others. 00:01:24.700 --> 00:01:28.700 Through this integration, the features of the righteous person are defined, 00:01:28.700 --> 00:01:32.700 and two things are simultaneously guaranteed: 00:01:32.700 --> 00:01:38.730 First, the utilization of all human energies in cultivating the earth, 00:01:38.730 --> 00:01:41.890 without neglecting any of them; 00:01:41.890 --> 00:01:45.890 second, the attainment of inner equilibrium within the soul, 00:01:45.890 --> 00:01:49.890 as well as within the reality of practical life alike. 00:01:49.890 --> 00:01:53.750 Idealistic Realism 00:01:53.750 --> 00:01:59.299 The idealistic realism through which Islam nurtures the human being 00:01:59.299 --> 00:02:03.299 is that which considers his nature as previously explained, 00:02:03.299 --> 00:02:08.300 then constantly summons him to ascend toward higher pursuits, 00:02:08.300 --> 00:02:13.460 charging him to strive for the perfection that lies within his capacity. 00:02:13.460 --> 00:02:17.460 The realistic path for his upbringing and treatment 00:02:17.460 --> 00:02:20.460 is to present a complete vision before him, 00:02:20.460 --> 00:02:25.460 constantly training him to ascend toward it and draw close to it 00:02:25.460 --> 00:02:31.099 through every possible avenue and to the utmost of his ability. 00:02:31.099 --> 00:02:37.180 Man possesses two types of capacity: physical and intellectual. 00:02:37.180 --> 00:02:43.180 Physical capacity is the energy of the body connected to the senses, nerves, 00:02:43.180 --> 00:02:46.219 and physiological functions. 00:02:47.219 --> 00:02:52.219 No one knows its exact location or essence, 00:02:52.219 --> 00:02:56.219 yet it is defined as conceptual thinking, 00:02:56.219 --> 00:03:01.219 which comprehends universal concepts, abstract meanings, and supreme values— 00:03:01.219 --> 00:03:07.219 such as justice, truth, virtue, beauty, and so forth. 00:03:07.219 --> 00:03:12.280 Man shares physical capacity with animals, 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:18.280 whereas intellectual capacity distinguishes him from them, as animals do not possess it; 00:03:18.280 --> 00:03:24.280 thus, it is considered a uniquely human capacity. 00:03:24.280 --> 00:03:29.379 The contemporary world, led unfortunately by the West, 00:03:29.379 --> 00:03:34.379 utilizes this intellectual capacity in only a single realm: 00:03:34.379 --> 00:03:40.379 the realm of worldly science, with its various theories and practical applications. 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, 00:03:50.379 --> 00:03:57.379 the scope of this intellectual capacity is far broader than the field of secular science alone. 00:03:57.379 --> 00:04:01.379 It encompasses the most elevated aspects of the human being: 00:04:01.379 --> 00:04:07.379 creed, virtues, morals, and numerous other values. 00:04:07.379 --> 00:04:10.379 All these dimensions must be engaged, 00:04:10.379 --> 00:04:16.379 and this capacity must be applied within them in a sound and disciplined manner, 00:04:16.379 --> 00:04:20.379 so that secular scientific advancement remains guided, 00:04:20.379 --> 00:04:27.050 and human conduct in worldly life is properly regulated overall. 00:04:27.050 --> 00:04:31.100 Between Individualism and Collectivism 00:04:31.100 --> 00:04:37.100 Western capitalism is founded upon human individualism, 00:04:37.100 --> 00:04:40.100 expanding the boundaries of the individual's autonomy, 00:04:40.100 --> 00:04:45.100 leaving him free to act in many matters 00:04:45.100 --> 00:04:50.100 even to the point of harming others and harming himself, 00:04:50.100 --> 00:04:53.100 giving free rein to desires and caprices, 00:04:53.100 --> 00:04:56.100 thereby destroying values and morals, 00:04:56.100 --> 00:05:02.199 and refusing to recognize anyone's right to direct or regulate his conduct. 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:07.199 Communism in the East is founded upon human collectivism, 00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:10.199 expanding the scope of the collective and the state, 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:13.199 while restricting individual initiative, 00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:16.199 thereby suppressing all individual freedom— 00:05:16.199 --> 00:05:22.389 whether in ownership, employment, belief, and so forth. 00:05:22.389 --> 00:05:25.389 Islam, however—the religion of natural human inclination (Fitrah)— 00:05:25.389 --> 00:05:31.389 affirms both the individual and collective aspects of man. 00:05:31.389 --> 00:05:34.389 It does not view them as contradictory tendencies, 00:05:34.389 --> 00:05:39.389 but rather recognizes that human nature makes one an individual integrated into the collective— 00:05:39.389 --> 00:05:44.389 innately individual, yet innately inclined toward the group. 00:05:44.389 --> 00:05:49.389 Islam addresses these two tendencies as fundamental inherent traits, 00:05:49.389 --> 00:05:52.389 rendering them mutually supportive, 00:05:52.389 --> 00:05:56.389 such that one complements the other without conflict. 00:05:56.389 --> 00:06:00.670 A Child's Perception 00:06:00.670 --> 00:06:05.670 We often assume that a child is a tiny creature lacking perception and awareness; 00:06:05.670 --> 00:06:10.670 however, in reality, a child possesses an extraordinary capacity for perception and absorption, 00:06:10.670 --> 00:06:13.670 both conscious and subconscious— 00:06:13.670 --> 00:06:17.670 a capacity far greater than we might think. 00:06:17.670 --> 00:06:22.670 Even if a child does not fully comprehend everything he sees, 00:06:22.670 --> 00:06:27.670 he is nonetheless influenced by all that he observes and senses around him. 00:06:27.670 --> 00:06:31.670 For he possesses two highly sensitive faculties: 00:06:31.670 --> 00:06:35.670 the faculty of absorption and the faculty of imitation. 00:06:35.670 --> 00:06:40.670 Working together, these allow him to absorb information—whether subconsciously or with partial awareness— 00:06:40.670 --> 00:06:47.769 and subsequently imitate what he absorbs, also subconsciously or with partial awareness. 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, 00:06:54.769 --> 00:07:02.769 he nonetheless constructs within himself a foundation upon which those future principles will be built. 00:07:02.769 --> 00:07:08.769 If the role model is righteous, the foundation will be sound, 00:07:08.769 --> 00:07:13.800 and there is a high likelihood, by Allah's leave, of the child's righteousness. 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, 00:07:21.800 --> 00:07:24.800 resulting in a greater probability of his corruption.