Can human being attain “self actualization†without the help of “Revelation�
Were human being left alone without any Guidance from God would they be able to achieve the purpose of their creation?
Please comment.
Razi Khan
Self-actualization and Divine Revelation
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Mohammed Rafi
Self-actualization and Divine Revelation
It is not possible for humans to lead a good life without proper guidance. By birth we are dependent on others for many things. Human relationships need some kind of direction. Whatever happens around us should open our eyes to a better understanding of life. We are the only creatures who have been given the freedom of choice. Animals, birds and insects need no guidance or direction. They lead their lives according to their instinsts. Ours is a combination of instincts and intellect. That is why knwledgte and education are extremely important otherwise there is no difference between us qnd qaimals. We'll be even worse thah animals as they do not have the freedom of choice. It is upto us to choose the gidance we like. That is why there are so many religions in the world. When we judge the Quran and Quranic guidance in comparison to others, it becomes clear that it is the best guidance for us. All other religions do have their positive values, but in totality it is the Quran that is the best. This opinion has to be independent and cannot be forced on anyone like rhe Mullahs are doing in present times. All this depends upon on how mush importance you give to life and values.
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bkanwar2
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Self-actualization and Divine Revelation
Dear brother, Salamun Alaikum
Thanks for asking such an important question. Before we go any further, let's look at what the common understanding of the term “self actualization" is? Below is the definition from Wikipedia
"Self-actualization is a term that has been used in various psychology theories, often in slightly different ways (e.g. Goldstein, Maslow, Rogers). The term was originally introduced by the organismic theorist Kurt Goldstein for the motive to realize all of one's potentialities. In his view, it was the master motive - indeed, the only real motive a person has, all others being merely manifestations of it. However, the concept was brought to prominence in Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory, as the final level of psychological development that can be achieved when all basic and meta needs are fulfilled and the ‘actualization’ of the full personal potential takes place".
Either be it realization of one’s potentialities and/or achievement of psychological development, the paramount question is how we do it. Putting it simply and scientifically; to achieve a result in a scientific experiment, one needs the following:
A hypothesis to test. Here this will be: Is man capable of achieving self-actualization (perfecting one's potentialities and/or psychological development) by himself?
Right here relevant questions that come to mind are.
Does man know all his potentials? If not, who can tell him best. Does man understand his psychology completely?
As a physician, I can say that despite spellbinding progress in all disciplines of Medicine including psychology, we know less than 10% for the questions in consideration.
If man does not know all his potentials, then the next questions will arise: Can we gain knowledge of this? Are we capable of gaining this knowledge? The answer is a resounding YES, because Allah says so in the Qur’an 2:31.
However, this brings up another important question: What is knowledge? I will not go into the philosophical discussion as that is not the purpose of our discussion.
In the Quran, the only knowledge that is considered real is what one can acquire via his/her perceptual senses i.e. hearing, sight, smell, taste and touch and the ability to analyze the data in the brain via our intellect. Hence, according to the Qur'an, our perceptual senses and the faculty of analysis (Fou'ad) will be questioned.
17:36 And you shall not follow blindly any information of which you have no direct knowledge. (Using your faculties of perception and conception) you must verify it for yourself. In the Court of your Lord, you will be held accountable for your hearing, sight, and the faculty of reasoning.
However, our senses are not without limitations and they cannot process all information/data that is around us.
Furthermore, in our brain (CPU) there are two conflicting forces, intellect and emotions. (Uncontrolled emotions=Satan, 50:16-18). We are born with a tendency to fall victim to our emotions 4:28. So, analyzing the data in the brain is not easy due to these limitations.
Thus, it becomes obvious that the machine that appears to be self-sufficient and capable to a certain degree is far from being perfect. This machine is equipped with tools to acquire data, but again the tools have limitations. The CPU has to analyze that data input but has a major virus=emotions to corrupt the input and results of the analysis. How could this machine get to self-actualization without some extrinsic help to overcome these limitations in a limited time span=life.
Hence, the second source of knowledge recognized in the Qur'an is Wahi=Divine Revelation of knowledge. In Allama Iqbal’s words, Wahi will economize human effort to achieve self-actualization in the short life span.
Badar Kanwar
Thanks for asking such an important question. Before we go any further, let's look at what the common understanding of the term “self actualization" is? Below is the definition from Wikipedia
"Self-actualization is a term that has been used in various psychology theories, often in slightly different ways (e.g. Goldstein, Maslow, Rogers). The term was originally introduced by the organismic theorist Kurt Goldstein for the motive to realize all of one's potentialities. In his view, it was the master motive - indeed, the only real motive a person has, all others being merely manifestations of it. However, the concept was brought to prominence in Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory, as the final level of psychological development that can be achieved when all basic and meta needs are fulfilled and the ‘actualization’ of the full personal potential takes place".
Either be it realization of one’s potentialities and/or achievement of psychological development, the paramount question is how we do it. Putting it simply and scientifically; to achieve a result in a scientific experiment, one needs the following:
A hypothesis to test. Here this will be: Is man capable of achieving self-actualization (perfecting one's potentialities and/or psychological development) by himself?
Right here relevant questions that come to mind are.
Does man know all his potentials? If not, who can tell him best. Does man understand his psychology completely?
As a physician, I can say that despite spellbinding progress in all disciplines of Medicine including psychology, we know less than 10% for the questions in consideration.
If man does not know all his potentials, then the next questions will arise: Can we gain knowledge of this? Are we capable of gaining this knowledge? The answer is a resounding YES, because Allah says so in the Qur’an 2:31.
However, this brings up another important question: What is knowledge? I will not go into the philosophical discussion as that is not the purpose of our discussion.
In the Quran, the only knowledge that is considered real is what one can acquire via his/her perceptual senses i.e. hearing, sight, smell, taste and touch and the ability to analyze the data in the brain via our intellect. Hence, according to the Qur'an, our perceptual senses and the faculty of analysis (Fou'ad) will be questioned.
17:36 And you shall not follow blindly any information of which you have no direct knowledge. (Using your faculties of perception and conception) you must verify it for yourself. In the Court of your Lord, you will be held accountable for your hearing, sight, and the faculty of reasoning.
However, our senses are not without limitations and they cannot process all information/data that is around us.
Furthermore, in our brain (CPU) there are two conflicting forces, intellect and emotions. (Uncontrolled emotions=Satan, 50:16-18). We are born with a tendency to fall victim to our emotions 4:28. So, analyzing the data in the brain is not easy due to these limitations.
Thus, it becomes obvious that the machine that appears to be self-sufficient and capable to a certain degree is far from being perfect. This machine is equipped with tools to acquire data, but again the tools have limitations. The CPU has to analyze that data input but has a major virus=emotions to corrupt the input and results of the analysis. How could this machine get to self-actualization without some extrinsic help to overcome these limitations in a limited time span=life.
Hence, the second source of knowledge recognized in the Qur'an is Wahi=Divine Revelation of knowledge. In Allama Iqbal’s words, Wahi will economize human effort to achieve self-actualization in the short life span.
Badar Kanwar
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Mohammed Rafi
Self-actualization and Divine Revelation
I have just seen the Dutch movie and feel that such Mullahs and Muslims are responsible for the reaction. The producer is totally ignorant of Islam.
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shahalam66
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Self-actualization and Divine Revelation
We must ask another question. Can human being attain self-actualization with the help of 'Revelation'?
This is a pertinent question that we must ask most of mullahs who claim custodianship of keeping the property of God's revelation.
This is a pertinent question that we must ask most of mullahs who claim custodianship of keeping the property of God's revelation.
shahalam
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mrazik
Self-actualization and Divine Revelation
Dr. B.K. Anwar’s post “In Allama Iqbal’s words, Wahi will economize human effort to achieve self-actualization in the short life spanâ€.
Revelation or Wahi economize human effort means it only acts as catalyst. In other words if human being were left alone they would have realized their purpose of creation, say not in 50,000 years but in 500,000 years but ultimately they would have realized after numerous trial and error approach. Human being would have realized what the purpose of their creation is, what our permanent values are, what should be their socio-political and economical system...etc.? Is it so?
Revelation or Wahi economize human effort means it only acts as catalyst. In other words if human being were left alone they would have realized their purpose of creation, say not in 50,000 years but in 500,000 years but ultimately they would have realized after numerous trial and error approach. Human being would have realized what the purpose of their creation is, what our permanent values are, what should be their socio-political and economical system...etc.? Is it so?
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UmeAimon
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Self-actualization and Divine Revelation
Salam everybody,
It’s programmed in the system of those selfless souls to be discovered only. The “human being†reached the self actualization level long time ago. It was the point when Allah SWT sent His revelations to him the very first time ïŠ due to His kindness. The revelations that came on the chosen ones become religion, the Deen for the rest to follow.
The revelations are the favors that the Almighty Allah bestowed upon the mankind. Their purpose was only to give this self actualization a form that incorporates itself in a human society so the whole mankind benefits because that is it’s very foundation in the first place. That is how the Deen was made easy for the majority who just like to follow and thus help them attain the truth by giving them simple and direct orders.
Otherwise this self actualization would not have benefited the humanity because of the selfish desires that exists within all and which hold back most of us from seeing the truth, and as the war between the good and evil would have continued, the chances of good prevailing would have decreased to minimum till the end. Everything Allah does is for some great purpose.
My thoughts only!
jazakAllah,
UmeAimon
It’s programmed in the system of those selfless souls to be discovered only. The “human being†reached the self actualization level long time ago. It was the point when Allah SWT sent His revelations to him the very first time ïŠ due to His kindness. The revelations that came on the chosen ones become religion, the Deen for the rest to follow.
The revelations are the favors that the Almighty Allah bestowed upon the mankind. Their purpose was only to give this self actualization a form that incorporates itself in a human society so the whole mankind benefits because that is it’s very foundation in the first place. That is how the Deen was made easy for the majority who just like to follow and thus help them attain the truth by giving them simple and direct orders.
Otherwise this self actualization would not have benefited the humanity because of the selfish desires that exists within all and which hold back most of us from seeing the truth, and as the war between the good and evil would have continued, the chances of good prevailing would have decreased to minimum till the end. Everything Allah does is for some great purpose.
My thoughts only!
jazakAllah,
UmeAimon