‘Lolls Out The Tongue’

“Relate to them the story of the man to whom We sent Our Signs, but who then cast them to one side: so Satan overtook him, and he went astray. If it had been Our Will, We should have elevated him with Our Signs, but instead he inclined to the earth, and followed his vain desires. His similitude is that of a dog: if you chase him away, he lolls out his tongue, or if you leave him alone, he (still) lolls out his tongue. That is the similitude of those who reject Our Signs; so relate the story; perchance they may reflect.” (Al A‘raaf, 7: 175-176)

When challenged from outside it causes the ‘lolling out of tongue’ – may be due to comparative weakness – and still understandable. Why does he ‘loll out the tongue’ even if there is no threat (chasing) from outside? Due to internal weaknesses. It aptly applies to the situation of Muslims in the world today.

Why do we need to go back to this Book, in the first place? Because this is the only manual which is of cosmic view and available in its pristine form. Which could be applied to all times and climes. In other words, this is the only book which is a-temporal (not confined to a particular time) and a-spatial (not confined to a particular space). The major issues are the issues for it. Not the minor ones. Guidance and inspiration for eternity.

Received an email a few days ago suggesting, “Your emails are out of frame. Can you adjust?” Wondered about it for a while and then responded: “Thanks indeed for your comment. I am sorry, I will not be able to adjust my emails. I am not even trying to. Because, in fact, we do not need to adjust any of our things. Our things are perfectly alright. We only need to adjust the world, the country, the RSS, the BJP and the communal forces etc etc.”

In fact, we need more ‘out of frame’ emails. We need it on a daily basis. Because we need to see the mirrors on a daily basis. If we did not have those ‘out of frame’ writings in the past we wouldn’t be able to write even the ‘adjustable’ emails today. It is a world of asbaab (causes) and Sunnat Allah (the standard practice of Allah). We cannot change the laws of nature. However, by utilizing those laws of nature we may bring about some betterment in our situations.

This is why we need to turn the searchlight inward – in order to address the internal weaknesses. This is where we have to revisit our periodicals, our schools and our Universities. Not without a vision statement. Not without channellizing the resources. Not without prioritizing. Not without focusing on the wildly important. Not without keeping the Book of Almighty at the center.