:sl:
format_quote Originally Posted by
Khalid Saifullah
1) ADVANCED WESTERN EDUCATION EVENTUALLY MAKES YOU SO ARROGANT THAT YOU START WORSHIPPING YOUR INTELLECT WHICH LEADS TO REJECTING ALLAH;
I came from prosperous, highly educated family. Since before I could read, my father already bought me American published children dictionary, in English. I haven't able to read. So, my father read those books for me. Then my father gave me more, and many, book of knowledge which all of those books were American books, mostly translated in Indonesian language. Also, mostly of my children stories books were European books.
My father educated me in the way that close to Western way which he motivated me to ask, questioning, seeking answer, and understand. Not just swallow what taught to me. Yes, he also taught me that my future depend on my own effort.
Then, did this Western influence made me reject Allah?. No!. But indeed, I can feel that I am more rational and logical than some other Muslims.
2) ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENT GIVES YOU A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY, SUCH THAT YOU DOUBT THAT ALLAH TA'ALA IS THE TRUE PROVIDER AND CONTROLLER
In the past Muslims were strong because they were economically prosperous and scientifically advanced. Read again about the Golden Age of Muslims. But now?.
I am really sorry if I must say that your statement actually created by some religious leaders who afraid would lose their cultural hegemony if people were open minded, and began to critical toward them.
As Muslims we must believe that Allah is the true provider and true controller. But we must not believe it in incorrect understanding. Yes, my economic study found that there are many poor Muslims who believe that they would not able to improve their life quality because Allah has arranged they would get only small sustenance. So, they have no motivation to improve their life level. This is wrong mindset, of course.
That is different than what my Islamic teachers taught me that Allah will give sustenance only if we are willing to do effort to gain sustenance. If we do an effort, In Shaa Allah, we will get help from Allah in the form of easiness. This is what “Allah is the provider and controller” mean.
Allah will not change people’s life if people themselves don't do effort to change themselves.