Knowing: The sequel



It has been said: "The unexamined life is not worth living." But it's not only examination, introspection, and thoughtfulness, that makes life worth living. We would have to add to Socrates' meditation that to "drink in" and imbibe that meaning at the heart of the contemplative exercise, that is what gives life its value and increases quality over quantity. We pick up the thread where we left it the week before last with the second theme of our four-point programme for the positive Muslim agenda. We spoke of faith, the first of the four points, and how its dynamic is gratefulness. Currently we've been speaking of "intimate knowing" and how it's based on a consciousness of four dimensions of being; the personal world, which demands self-knowledge; and the second, the world of dominion (mulk), the opaque material world. This week we will unveil the angelic world (malakut) and the sovereign realm (jabarut).

The angelic malakut is the space of existence just beyond the opaque veil of the physical world. It is the space in which the angels operate. The human soul, our intellectual reasoning, the life of the mind also function in this unseen space. Our ability to explore abstract theoretical concepts is an intangible yet present and accountable reality. Anger, love, bewilderment, confusion, and resolve are all unobservable to the five senses. What we see are the effects of these driving emotions. This is what it means for a thing to be intelligible as opposed to tangible. Grace (barakah), spiritual reward (ajr), divine success (tawfiq), divine support (madad), all of these are essential forms of sustenance that we receive from beyond the unseen.

The fourth of the consecutive levels of existence is the sovereign realm. Early Muslim culture coined the term jabarut to denote the dimension from which the presence of Allah could be beheld. In one narration: "Those of the heavens (malakut) seek out the divine presence just as do those of the earth (mulk). Even if the angels don't see Allah, we all witness the effects of His names and attributes in the world around us."

In a narration of the compendium of Muslim we find: "His veil is of light, were He to lift it, the splendor of His countenance would incinerate everything in the path of His gaze." We read in the Quran that: "To Allah belongs the East and the West, so wherever you turn there you will find the countenance of Allah." To whatever the direction a person turns their face and body, their heart is always facing Allah.

In chapter 33 we are told that: "Allah has not made for a man two hearts in his breast." So that heart can only have room for One beloved. This is the "love supreme". It is interesting to note that one of the wives of John Coltrane was a Muslim woman. Happening upon one of his companions one morning, the Prophet asked him how he was. "I awoke this morning a true believer," the man said. "Every statement has its reality; what is the reality of your statement?" the Prophet inquired. The man responded saying: "I have become disinterested in the material world, I fast my days, and stand in prayer vigil by night; and its as if I am seeing the throne of my Lord." To which the Prophet said: "You have understood, now stick to it."

Jihad Hashim Brown is director of research at the Tabah Foundation. He delivers the Friday sermon at the Maryam bint Sultan Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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The Facility’s Versatility

Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
 
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
 
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
 
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
 
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
 
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket

MATCH INFO

Europa League final

Marseille 0

Atletico Madrid 3
Greizmann (21', 49'), Gabi (89')

The specs

Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder MHEV

Power: 360bhp

Torque: 500Nm

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Price: from Dh282,870

On sale: now

Everton%20Fixtures
%3Cp%3EApril%2015%20-%20Chelsea%20(A)%3Cbr%3EApril%2021%20-%20N.%20Forest%20(H)%3Cbr%3EApril%2024%20-%20Liverpool%20(H)%3Cbr%3EApril%2027%20-%20Brentford%20(H)%3Cbr%3EMay%203%20-%20Luton%20Town%20(A)%3Cbr%3EMay%2011%20-%20Sheff%20Utd%20(H)%3Cbr%3EMay%2019%20-%20Arsenal%20(A)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Brief scoreline:

Tottenham 1

Son 78'

Manchester City 0

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Director: Venkat Prabhu
Rating: 2/5
Joker: Folie a Deux

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson

Director: Todd Phillips 

Rating: 2/5

LIVING IN...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

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Playing records of the top 10 in 2017

How many games the top 10 have undertaken in the 2017 ATP season

1. Rafael Nadal 58 (49-9)

2. Andy Murray 35 (25-10)

3. Roger Federer 38 (35-3)

4. Stan Wawrinka 37 (26-11)

5. Novak Djokovic 40 (32-8)

6. Alexander Zverev 60 (46-14)

7. Marin Cilic 43 (29-14)

8. Dominic Thiem 60 (41-19)

9. Grigor Dimitrov 48 (34-14)

10. Kei Nishikori 43 (30-13)

Company%20profile
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Thank You for Banking with Us

Director: Laila Abbas

Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum

Rating: 4/5

More from Armen Sarkissian
The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol

Power: 154bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option 

Price: From Dh79,600

On sale: Now

ICC T20 Rankings

1. India - 270 ranking points

 

2. England - 265 points

 

3. Pakistan - 261 points

 

4. South Africa - 253 points

 

5. Australia - 251 points 

 

6. New Zealand - 250 points

 

7. West Indies - 240 points

 

8. Bangladesh - 233 points

 

9. Sri Lanka - 230 points

 

10. Afghanistan - 226 points

 
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now

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