First Massage of Enlightenment
Thinking
By: Ph, D. Mubarak Arshid Al Qufaidi
Member of International Enlightenment
Association
Headquarters: London – United Kingdom
If darkness predominates, light shall
be of an urgent need. Our communities nowadays tend greatly to adopt old
solutions in facing the current challenges and the miserable life. In fact, our
communities in a real need of enlightenment to deal with their challenging
conditions. One century before, cultural and political elites were busy in
finding an answer to “why west was able to achieve such advancement and why we
failed in doing so? Today, our elites are busy about silly issues such as
“suckling of adults”, “circumcision of females”, “doctrine radicalism” and
identity disputes!
The teachings of Islam state that
logic thinking is a must.
Enlightenment is way to escape from
the characterized limitation in our brains, souls and bodies. Such limitation
was created due to the darkness of religious and ideological references.
Enlightenment is the recovery of the man to his own light the use of which
shall enlighten the facts of existence.
Arkon defines enlightenment as it is
the liberation of the brain by using all tools including the criticism of the
brain itself.
There are many other definitions of
enlightenment all of which have a common meaning about abandonment the
sanctification of ancestors and get rid of thinking about their past issues.
Leoderdo Encyclopedia (1751): Symbol of new
lights
When did enlightenment age start?
Enlightenment started in Europe in
the eighteenth century. It was acquired this name to be distinguished than the
previous dark ages. Enlightenment has begun when Europe decided to wake up from
long sleeping and to give the brain its freedom to discover, invent, create and
make scientific and civilization miracles driving the humanity into a
qualitative movement entirely different than what had been achieved in previous
civilizations. The Saudi creative thinker, Ebrahim Alblehi, one of the best who
defined the unique characteristics of this civilization in 30 not known before
changes, said that “the current civilization is very exclusive”. Past
civilizations excluded man and erased his personality converting man into
repeated duplicate of his ancestors. Man in such civilizations was change
resistant and programmed to be just a cell in the body of the tribe or the
country losing the ability of independent thinking.
Sanctification of ancestors and being
bigoted to the heritage without any reviewing or criticism was the predominant
approach. The movement of the communities was governed by the idea the nothing
is left for new generations to do since everything has already done by
ancestors. Man was only nature dependent for thousands of years. Enlightenment enabled
man discovers his latent potentialities in thinking, invention, initiation,
creation and skillfulness. Thus, man turned to be dependent on his own
mentality and skills. Man became of renewable un-depleted source of energy.
This is the most important achievements of enlightenment, man resources became
the greatest assets of the nations. The American author Kelver in his book “world shall never feel hungry” says
that man became able to invest his intelligence.
Did our civilization make use of
enlightenment thinking? Is there any contradiction between religion and
enlightenment?
In our civilization, enlightenment in
our civilization did not find a good environment. However, religion is not
responsible for that. All religions are enlightening massages aimed to guide
man to get out of surrounding darkness and illusions and to refine his conduct
as in the ten advices. Islam in particular is a massage for enlightening the
human mentality for thinking and reviewing the heritage of customs and
traditions. Islam massage was received by people the most dominant criteria of
them the sanctification of ancestors and the worship of their heritage without
thinking. The teachings of Islam state that logic thinking is a must and that
imitation and following without thinking and reviewing are sort of omission and
inability. Islam was an open invitation for people to seek the freedom of two
governing powers; namely the political and religious. It is stated in Quran
that nobody is to be enforced to believe, these words mean thinking is the only
way to chose. For five centuries, Islamic civilization witnessed great
renaissance the pillars of which were enlightenment and reasonability, perhaps
Ben Roshed was the prominent thinker in that period of time. Qurtoba, as said
by Garode in his book “Qurtoba is the capital of thinking” was the beacon of
enlightenment for the whole world from ninth century to thirteenth century. In
that time, one cannot be considered educated unless he knew Arabic. In that
time, as said by Hashem Saleh in his important book “obstructed history: why
has enlightenment project failed in
Arabic world”, religion and philosophy were like un-detachable twin.
International age of enlightenment:
preliminary painting of Isaac Newton’s book “mathematical principles of natural
philosophy”
Now what is our need for
enlightenment thinking? And what is the role of the youth? Obliviously, our
communities suffer from the features of religious and doctrine radicalism,
violence and mutual hate. In my opinion this is due the omission of
enlightenment thinking in orientation and educations platforms. On the hand,
enlightenment thinking does not find good environment or the needed support
where the opposite way of thinking has the support of TV channels, forums and
parties.
Spreading of enlightenment thinking
should be the first mission of thinkers, educators, media, and civil community
and human rights organizations with the support of religion enlightened
scientists. Man must be considered the higher key value and the logic
reasonable thinking should be the judge in all matters of the life. Youth
should play their role in enlightenment movement. They must have open minds for
all political, ideological, cultural, religious and doctrine currents within
the one homeland they belong to. Youth should listen to all points of view,
comply with dialogue morals and avoid charging the other by disloyalty or
infidelity. They should read and educate themselves however whatever they read
and listen should be subject to criticism and deep thinking. They should adhere
to the concept of citizenship with the priority above any belongingness or
loyalty. Citizenship is the legitimate product of enlightenment thinking.
By: Ph, D. Mubarak Arshid Al Qufaidi
Member of International Enlightenment
Association
Headquarters: London – United Kingdom
Second Massage of Enlightenment
Thinking
By: Ph, D. Mubarak Arshid Al Qufaidi
Member of International Enlightenment
Association
Headquarters: London – United Kingdom
Writing on enlightenment thinking in
Europe does not mean I adopt or promote it. Oppositely, I have many differences
with it in some aspects. However I introduce to Arabic world reader because it
is the predominant thinking in Europe since the age of renaissance until now.
In order to understand Europeans and make useful dialogue with them, we have to
comprehend their thoughts. At this point, I find myself have to mention the
opinion of Todorof (we shall talk about him later) on religions; teachings of
Islam in particular do not restrict the freedom of the people, in contrary
emphasize such freedom within the same context of being free to abandon idols
worship or worship of another man “O People of the Scripture, come to a word
that is equitable between us and you – that we will not worship except Allah
and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead
of Allah”. Meanwhile, there are some aspects of enlightenment thinking can be
adopted. The most important of which is that people is the source of all powers.
Without enlightenment thinking, no democracy would not exist.
Why we always need enlightenment:
Tezfetan Todorof:
Defining enlightenment in few wards
includes some risk as this movement has started since many centuries in many
countries almost in the same time and faced be opponent thoughts. In contrary to what many
often think, enlightenment cannot be reduced in one current only. In fact,
enlightenment is a product of a period of formation rather than a product of
un-proceeded initiation. Enlightenment involves a thinking heritage evolved in
Europe by the end of middle ages. The components of which have been formed in
the renaissance age and the seventeenth century. It shaded the importance of
both rationalism and empiricism considering that knowledge for nations is fixed
laws rather than just a history. Also, it emphasizes multi cultures and not to
consider one civilization only and the importance of rational thinking,
sensation, body, soul, arts, sciences, nature and artificial. It adopts the
trends of cultural creativity, philosophy, science, arts and laws. However,
such ideas soon turned to ground facts leading to the independence war in
United States and French Revolution. So, the definition of enlightenment should
be simple as possible with considering all exceptions. France considers itself
the mother of enlightenment thinking where its development was actually started
across Manch Sea (in Britain or Italy) and acquired its deepness in Germany.
However, France was simply the point of launching such thoughts worldwide
because the simplicity of Voltaire in explaining such thoughts. Thus, it would
be said that the main part of enlightenment is European; Montiscio has roamed
in many European countries; Voltaire stayed in England, Hume was from Scotland
and Pakarian was Italian and they both lived for long times in Paris. Most of
them have been oppressed in their own countries due to their provoked ideas. If
one would reduce the cultural heritage of enlightenment in a very simple
manner, the maximum value
should be given to the
idea of independency and the right of thinking in spite of the restrictions
imposed by the approach of using one way of thinking and emotion as the case in
Christian religion; this is as to religion. Such liberation from the
ideological restrictions would result in great success; this is as to law,
education and art. Independency became the common demand of people so that one
can live his/her life in the way he/she wants not in a way determined by
others. People own sovereign and can place the laws governing their life and
elect their rulers and representatives. One authority in a country should not
transgress the other authorities; freedom of individuals should restrain
freedom of the group and vice versa.
Fearing of not achieving the public
interest restricts the excessive personal desires. Meanwhile, independence
demand is not absolute and should be in compliance with the public aim which is
achieving the welfare of the people. In other words, it is the recognition of
equal dignity for all people or what we call it human rights.
Darkness and reductionism
Since being emerged till today,
enlightenment is under huge threats by enemies entirely refusing it who
represent various currents (Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Hindu). Generally,
the refuse to establish the laws on absolute human rules; a government should
not interfere in the believes of its citizens and knowledge should be
independent. The second threat is mush worst as it comes from those who adopt
enlightenment partially and ignore the other parts trying to establish new
dogmatic. So, if we name the first threat “Darkness”, the second would be named
“reductionism”.
In the eighteenth century, some were
thinking that the history of a nation is given in a straight line equation
adopting an optimistic social attitude thinking wrongly that better education
and good government may eliminate all human evils. Jan Jack Russo, the French
thinker who lived in Geneva was aware of the tragedy of the human situation
that cannot be underestimated and meanwhile did not ignore the fact of profit
and loss acquired with whatever improvement and emphasized good and evil are of
the source.
Concealed Balancing:
Past examples on reductionism include the suppression of
freedom of individuals by totalitarian regimes claiming that this is the desire
of majority instead of expressing the fact of the desire of the rulers.
Totalitarian regimes usually govern the economy to the political theories so
that the needs of people have never been satisfied. Instead of maintaining some
of enlightenment thoughts, the soul of which is affected dramatically by losing
the comprehensively. However, the substantial principles of enlightenment
remained stronger than any time before. This is proven by the ability to
defense Darween theories, condemnation of fortune for the security of the
state, wars aimed for the spreading of enlightenment respecting of multi
cultures with maintaining of principal values and considering economic success
a way but not a purpose and accepting of several political currents within one
country and between countries each other. This is achievable but with the
condition that such heritage is not reduced in mere words without linking and
the concealed balancing arising between various aspects of human life is
maintained.
By:
Ph, D. Mubarak Arshid Al Qufaidi
Member of International Enlightenment
Association
Headquarters: London – United Kingdom
Third Massage of Enlightenment
Thinking
By: Ph, D. Mubarak Arshid Al Qufaidi
Member of International Enlightenment
Association
Headquarters: London – United Kingdom
Renaissance age paved the road for the start of the thinking
liberation, and scientific development in Europe. The renaissance movement
spread in Europe led to a general interest in philosophy, science and the
development of rationalism. Therefore, renaissance age did not only mitigate
the obstacles against rationalism but also without doubts was the base upon
which has been built the principles and fundamentals of enlightenment in
Europe. In such period of time, Europe started to adopt new thinking and new
methodology built on respecting the rationalism distinguishing between man and
other creatures. The interested thing is that this age represented in complete
dependence on rationalism in explaining physical and human issues synchronized
considerably with the age of absolutism when kings had obtained absolute powers
on their kingdoms without interfere of churches or objections of the
parliaments, King Louis XIV was a clear example in France. Actually, there was
a cross connection between the two ages without definite grounds. The roots of
enlightenment thinking had very different reference then that of the age of
absolutions. The roots of Enlightenment age are referred to the stage of mental
and emotional liberation born in renaissance age, further to the spread of
European culture and the interaction with other civilizations in the entire
world after the age of discoveries and with the beginning of the ages of
colonialism. This had resulted in a mixture of thinking extended the human
conceptions and thoughts. Some historians added one element explaining the
emerging of such current which was the economic reviving within the middle
category due to the trading revolution and the beginning of the industrial
revolution. Such category often is the post of all kind of development
movements either ideologically or economically. All these factors triggered the
age of enlightenment in Europe.
Historical and ideological resources
indicate that the God further of this current was the French philosopher Reniat
Decart, Ezak, Neweten and John Lock respectively. Decart built his key
philosophy on the facts approved by rationalism which was considered the basic
tool to reach the truth. The philosophy system of Decart depended largely on
educing to prove the existence of the self then the existence of Allah.
Actually, the age of enlightenment
depended on a number of basic posts as summarized by a historian in the
following:
First: Rationalism is the only tool
that has no mistakes to reach the truth. The supporters of this thinking
considered that the senses are the first steps through which one can
conceptualize the natural phenomena.
Second: The world around us moves
mechanically in a way that can be changed by man. However, rationalism is the
basic tool allowing man to understand such steps with passage of time. The
supporters of this idea had disputed among themselves in their handling the
religion and its role. Some of them refused to believe in religion which
considers man one of the creatures, others contended that and considered
rationalism is an approach to the creator and not vice versa.
Third: The thinkers and artists of
that age were entirely convinced with the importance of simplification in
everything saying that the increase of ideological and religions complications
would decrease their values.
Fourth: This generation refused the
role of the Catholic Church and the effects of absolution. They considered both
of them the main reason of human unhappiness. The existence of some sort of
combining both led to the ages of darkness.
Enlightenment thinking has been
affected greatly by the spending of the scientific discoveries started during
the first industrial revolution firstly in England then in all Europe. One of
the most prominent thinkers and scientist affected the ideological and
scientific movement was Ezak Neweten who discovered the ruled of gravity upon
which there was great change in the thinking approach to become more accurate
and less flexible connected entirely with nationalization and refusing the
emotion and its role. Then, there were important scientific discoveries;
Electricity by William Gelbert, the idea of the compunction by Lafwazet and
many other discoveries in medicine, engineering, biology and other scientific
branches.
Perhaps the most important result of
enlightenment product is the strict compliance of nature laws by majority of
thinkers and philosophy. Therefore, the artistic and ideological movements had
lost the human momentum born due to renaissance movement. The controlled
mechanically way of thinking eliminated the human factor. Artists and
architects did not seek innovation, they returned back to the past trying to
find out the future and depended on the roots of European thinking and art represented
in Greek and Romanian art and architecture. This led to the appearance of the
new classical school but not in the traditional forms. Sculpture had become of
no place in art and Baroque Architecture spread in Europe followed by the
architectural movement known as Rococo in France in trying to renew the classic
architecture thinking through introducing more dynamic visions in a more luxury
appearance to match the absolution of the Kings of that age to appear more
powerful and greatness through this kind of architecture. This attitude has
affected the art also which was controlled in the drawings of Roben 2, Van Deek
and Digo Filazkeer who used traditional art lines excluding ornamentation and
without a focus on nature as it was the case in renaissance ages. However, some
great artists such as Rembrandate and Joya refused to comply with this
attitude.
In spite of the continuity of the
population derived the enlightenment thinking and its age which extended for
longer times than renaissance age and romantic age which followed that thinking
stage, the impact of enlightenment age in culture and art did not lost for long
time even with its logic and thinking pillars.
Hypothetically, the main reason
believed the ignorance of the human element is that man is emotional creature;
logic and rationalism are not alone controlling his acts. This was the key
drive for the appearance of the Romantic Movement to challenge this current and
its human dryness. Rationalism is not only the source of happiness for man.
By: Ph, D. Mubarak Arshid Al Qufaidi
Member of International Enlightenment
Association
Headquarters: London – United Kingdom
