‘Irfan and Wasim

Our story is very similar. ‘Irfan is probably slightly more privileged because of being closer to the fountain of knowledge. I may be more in advantageous position in some other respects. He will, however, right away take to modern education – most probably. And might have more chances of developing a scientific and rational outlook. I got some exposure only at the Master’s level in the AMU. I am the last and fourth sibling in my family and belong to the first generation that took to education. Not all my siblings were that lucky, though. I am aware of the grassroots. Please do not assume that I am out of touch with reality. I am not out of touch with reality. I have lived it. Therefore, whether you call me ‘Irfan or you call me Wasim it is one and the same thing. You may also reverse the order.

                                       

There is no problem till here. The problem starts when ‘Irfan becomes Wasim. It is yet another matter that ‘Irfan does not become Wasim miraculously as we tend to assume – sometimes. We only see the end result and do not always try to see the process. Wasim, therefore, wasn’t airdropped as the Department Chair of Islamic Studies in Preston University Ajman. Anyway, when the same ‘Irfan – about whom we are so much concerned and are mobilizing all sorts of resources (and most deservedly so) – becomes a Wasim we hardly listen to him. We oppose him, instead. There is not a problem in doing so. But we should not forget that in ‘Irfan (later Wasim) we have invested a lot of our resources and time and it is now his duty to suggest and share. We want him to stop sharing and stop thinking. We want him to only do. We want him to do the easier job. We should actually ask him to do the most difficult job on earth (thinking). What a paradox!?

By doing so to ‘Irfans (i.e. Wasims) we are delaying the renaissance. This is not a problem either. The problem is that by delaying our renaissance we are perpetuating or expediting someone else’s renaissance who may not have those beautiful ideals to turn the world into a veritable paradise as we have and as we should.