Allacentric Blog: The Tragedy of Humanism Sayyid Muhammad al-Naquib bin Ali al-Attas (born September 5, 1931) is a prominent contemporary Muslim philosopher and thinker from Malaysia. He is the author of twenty-seven authoritative works on various aspects of Islamic thought and civilization, particularly on Sufism, cosmology, metaphysics, philosophy and Malay language and literature. (Source) By Sayyid Naquib al-Attas “Humanistic philosophy and the gradual process of secularization together with the rise of secular philosophy and science, made tragedy, instead of religion, the exaltation of man. Fear must be purged not by faith in God, but by the banishment of God from the realm of creation; self pity must be purged not by remembrance of God, but by pride in humanity and defiant acceptance of the human predicament. The causal factor in tragedy is no longer the old Greek Fate nor the God of religion, but social and individual conflicts, biological heredity, the psychology of the unconscious, defeat by frustration, man confronted by the mystery of the universe, the eternal quest of man, and the absurdity of life. Freedom of the will becomes a firm belief because it helps in the perpetual struggle against obstacles that prevent from reaching the goal. But the goal is evershifting. Can Sisyphus ever be happy in having eternally to push the stone up the hill where at the top it is destined to roll down again?” (p 100-101 of “Prolegomena to the Metaphysics of Islam” by Sayyid Naquib al-Attas) Attas’ book is hard to find in print, but is available at Kazi: Prolegomena to the Metaphysics of Islam – Sayyid Naquib al-AttasThe Tragedy of Humanism
2010 October
The Tragedy of Humanism – Sayyid Naquib al-Attas – Allahcentric
- October 12, 2010
- News
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Advice for Students of Knowledge Overseas: A Meeting with Dr. Ingrid Mattson – By Ustadh Abdullah Misra – SeekersGuidance Blog
- October 7, 2010
- Islam
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Most Western religious students studying overseas intend to return home to help their communities. However, after years of immersion in a foreign culture, students may find themselves out of touch with the Muslim community and the broader society. These students must know the issues of the day, what is expected of their role, and the condition of their community in order to be effective teachers. Dr. Ingrid Mattson tell us what realities students can expect to face, and how to prepare for them….
Last week, SG team members Faraz Khan, Salman Younas, and Abdullah Misra had the opportunity to sit with Dr. Ingrid Mattson while she was attending a conference on Islam and the Environment in Amman, Jordan.
The questions that the group sought her advice on included: what can students of the Islamic sciences who are overseas expect to encounter upon returning to the West? What should they know, and what can they do to prepare themselves for a life of teaching and service in the North American Muslim community?
Over the next two and a half hours, Dr. Mattson offered profound advice, with relevant examples and penetrating wisdom. Below are snippets and summaries of her advice: