From the category archives:

Culture

Second Chance at Renaissance

by Drima on March 14, 2009

Editor’s note: The following is a guest blog post by J, a Finnish friend of mine. He’s one of the few people I know in real-life with whom I deeply enjoy discussions about meditation, mysticism and philosophy. I don’t necessarily agree with everything he says in this short piece, but thought it relates well to the topics discussed here. (Pic Source).

This is a story about the rise and fall of a great civilization and how its ruin may hold the seed for humanity’s greatest hopes.

The Golden Age

Towards the end of the Umayyad Caliphate the Islamic Empire had established itself as one the largest empires in human history. The Muslim civilization became a cradle of intellectual development with cities like Baghdad and Cordoba as the crown jewels.

Much of the knowledge from ancient civilizations, Greece, India, the Byzantine Empire, and many more, was stored and translated by Muslim scholars. Thinkers such as Ibn Sina , Ibn Rushd, and Al-Ghazali pushed the boundaries of science, philosophy, and spirituality.

This aptly named Golden Age, a renaissance before the Renaissance, lasted for over 500 years. A perfect storm of Mongol hordes and repeated Black Death epidemics left the empire in tatters, and a marginalization of ijtihad cast a further shadow on Baghdad’s role as the world’s intellectual centre.

The European Renaissance

Throughout this period Europe had lain in relative obscurity with constant warring taking its toll and religious fundamentalism rooting out most freethinkers. However, all of this was about to change as classical texts and Muslim scholars started pouring in, seeking shelter from the vicissitudes facing the Muslim civilization.

It is with this background that we must look at great men like Leonardo, Copernicus, Galileo, and Martin Luther, who forever changed the course of history. The European Renaissance had become the heir of the Golden Age of Islam.

The Tragedy of Modernity

At first the newly unshackled human creativity and reason engaged curiously with religion, art, and science. But soon science started eating its way into the other cultural spheres, pushing true mystics such as Meister Eckhart out from the mainstream discourse.

And herein lies the true tragedy of modernity. Spiritual rapture and transcendent realization were placed into the same category as religious dogma, which then inevitably led to the disenchantment of our world and the crisis of meaning we face today.

A Second Chance?

Sadly, the Western civilization is unlikely to ever have a second chance at Renaissance. The baby has been thrown out with the bath water and the culture now faces the arduous task of recovering or, more often than not, importing, the wisdom and practice of mysticism.

Yet there is a glimmer of hope in this story. Many Muslim countries are now coming to terms with a clash of the religious and scientific cultural spheres. A second chance at Renaissance? How will you answer the call?

{ 4 comments }

The AccoLade - Saudi GIRL Rock Band

by Drima on December 3, 2008

Listen to them here. Not bad at all. For the full story, go here. Most amazing of all is that they’ve never lived outside of Saudi Arabia. I say rock on to them! :)

{ 3 comments }

13 Year Old Somali Victim of Rape Stoned to Death by al-Qaeda’s Cute Friends (Post Updated)

by Drima on November 3, 2008

Warms up your heart, doesn’t it?

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A 13-year-old girl who said she had been raped was stoned to death in Somalia after being accused of adultery by Islamic militants, a human rights group said.

Dozens of men stoned Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow to death Oct. 27 in a stadium packed with 1,000 spectators in the southern port city of Kismayo, Amnesty International and Somali media reported, citing witnesses.

To all those idiots out there supporting al-Qaeda, this is the kind of shit you’re going to end up with if they ever get to rule your neighborhood.

I understand you may have your own “kinder” interpretation of Sharia, but the kind featured above is precisely what they’ll be busy shoving down our throats. I’m sure you’d love to see your daughters or sisters go through similar “holy” trials if they too get raped and can’t produce four witnesses to confirm that the crime took place, right?

Disgusting.

For the zillionth time, Sharia is NOT holy, and never will be. I speak in practical terms, because Sharia’s enforcement requires an initial interpretation of religious scriptures - both activities ultimately being the product of fallible humans, people just like you and me.

So please dear Muslims, don’t fear criticizing Sharia. Go ahead. Feel free to tear it apart where appropriate if you wish to do so, and if anyone pushes the “hey, how dare you criticize God’s law?” argument in your face, you know what to do.

Even God’s laws or so-called laws require interpretation, something which is inevitably exercised by imperfect, fallible bearded men (rarely women in case you haven’t noticed), many of whom are just power-hungry morons who hide behind a veil of piety to shield themselves from criticism.

Cool?

Now excuse me while I go and continue puking.

UPDATE: There are a number of legitimate questions from fellow (albeit traditionalist) Muslims which have popped up in the comments section. While I responded in a comment, I thought it would be better if I added it here in the post to make it more visible.

[click to continue...]

{ 57 comments }

Sarah and Amina Said…

by Drima on October 27, 2008

too little, too late.

{ 6 comments }

Drima and Marriage

by Drima on October 21, 2008

A recent conversation between my mom and I went like something along the following lines. Believe me, I tried compromising as much as I could but still, no conclusion was reached.

Drima: You do realize, there’s a high possibility I won’t end up with a Sudanese girl.

Mom: But why?

[click to continue...]

{ 37 comments }

Keep Preaching Al-Ansari!

by Drima on September 22, 2008

Abd Al-Hamid Al-Ansari is one of my favorite liberal Arab intellectuals. Believe it or not, he’s also the former Dean of Islamic Law at Qatar University.

Next time you hear people asking you “where are the moderates,” show them this video.

Don’t say they don’t exist. We’re everywhere, but we need to start “shouting” louder.

Enjoy and yaaay to liberalism.

The last bit about Germany is interesting too.

{ 8 comments }

“Honor” Killings and Lovely Progressives

by Drima on July 10, 2008

Here’s Irshad Manji with a rant about a disgusting practice that still sadly continues today.

I’ve also blogged about how progressive non-Muslims contribute to such injustices. In the name of showing cultural “sensitivity,” they often tolerate the intolerable. Read this commentary.

Read it all here.

Contrary to popular misconceptions, “honor” killings are not an Islamic thing. They’re cultural and take place even in Hindu and Sikh communities.

{ 26 comments }

I’m Loving Marwa Rakha

by Drima on June 14, 2008

She’s been blogging for a while now over at GV and I’m totally digging her writing which focuses on many of the retarded things and blatant double standards in our patriarchal culture. Check out what she has to say here and here. Oh and don’t miss this post about her revealing, unpleasant “encounter” with a popular Muslim televangelist.

{ 7 comments }

Rape Has Nothing To Do With How Women Dress

by Drima on June 2, 2008

Good response to an absolutely disgusting statement. I hope this idiot is paying attention.

(hat-tip: Muslimah Media Watch)

{ 5 comments }

“We Love Hijab”

by Drima on May 24, 2008

Dear hijabi/conservative Muslim sisters in da house, I have a little present for you. It’s called ‘We Love Hijab‘ and I’m finding it quite amusing. Maybe you will too.

Speaking of hijab, Ali has another amusing post about it.

{ 2 comments }

Manji On Cultural Relativism, Neo-Cons and the Post-Modern Left

by Drima on April 19, 2008

Irshad Manji has a solid point.

President Bush, are you reading?

{ 26 comments }

Gay Africans and Arabs Come Out Online

by Drima on February 22, 2008

Andrew Heavens has written a superb piece on Arab and African gay bloggers. It mentions fellow Sudanese blogger Ali who is gay and tells the story of my post’s aftermath.

I believe that the coming out of Arab and African gays online is a good thing. It’s a wake up call to all the naive ones out there who think such people don’t exist amongst them. Plus, it’s extremely interesting reading their thoughts. Say hello to the real world.

[click to continue...]

{ 19 comments }

Happy Valentine’s Day, Westoxification All the Way!

by Drima on February 14, 2008

Have a good one people! And don’t get too excited. You might end up being caught by the religious police. :P

{ 7 comments }

Yes, We Men Can’t Control Ourselves

by Drima on February 14, 2008

Remember Hanan al-Turk’s cute hangout spot? Well now she has more to say:

She said she doesn’t allow unveiled women into her salon because she would be aiding them to sin: “Unveiled women coming out of my beauty center will arouse men and I can’t be part of that.”

It’s one thing when chauvinist bearded men blame a raped a women for getting raped because she was dressed up in sexy clothes. However, it’s another thing completely when a woman gets brainwashed with that kind of garbage and agrees with it. Next week she’ll probably tell us she’s also a feminist.

Excuse me while I go and bang my head on a wall.

(hat-tip: Sandmonkey)

{ 6 comments }

Another Blog About Sudan Discovered

by Drima on January 22, 2008

Just like Andrew Heavens and Rob Crilly, Blake is also a freelance journalist who spends a lot of time in Khartoum. He’s got two interesting blog posts.

Israel and Sudan: No surprise there really. Her reaction is rather representative.

Men Mustn’t Cook: He sounds like the typical super traditionalist uptight Sudanese male. Yeah, did you hear that women? YOU do all the cooking and cleaning. Besides being a baby-making machine, that’s your purpose in life. Now stop reading this blog and go bake me some cookies.

{ 4 comments }