Untold Facts

Belief in Monotheism and Self-restrain is not Obscurantism

Belief in the Almighty Great Creator is almost a common spiritual persuasion among average human beings. However, worshiping the Creator through icons or imageries though almost common in many formal religions, Islam holds on very seriously and doggedly to direct praying to the Almighty Creator having none of icons or imageries in between in any form. That is how the Muslims during the period nearly one millennium and a half have maintained the pure tradition of monotheism. That however did not mean that Muslims being followers of pure monotheism resorted to intolerance of other religions that practice one or the other form of polytheism.

Belief in monotheism is not only a religion but also a complete life system from private to family to social to political and of international dimension for the Muslims. One may not agree to the way and may term such notion of belief as obscurantism or extreme conservatism, but the fact remains that many would not leave and have not abandoned the belief for the so-called openness or progressiveness. In fact, the Muslims immensely prospered as long as they maintained the purity of belief in monotheism and declined as they gradually shied away from pure monotheism or in other words, shifting their allegiance from sovereignty of the Great Creator to emperors, Badshahs, Nawabs, feudal lords, etc. There are good many reasons for the conservativeness so far as monotheism is concerned.

First, it is only pure monotheism that can secure human equality and dignity, as the individual Muslims are required to do, through surrender and submission of every action through practicing self-restrain (TAQWA) for the Divine pleasure or in other sense under the sovereignty of the Creator that no other concept of sovereignty could fairly do.

Secondly, for firmly establishing dignity and equality in family and in greater society, mutual respect and love between souls as the self-restraint men and women would normally do is a prerequisite that can in turn secure freedom and liberty of each and everybody in society irrespective of caste, creed, religious belief, socio-economic status etc. all taking safe shelter under the umbrella of the sovereign monotheist Absolute Power. There is no doubt that the Muslims as a group or divided in nation states could not maintain the teachings of equality and dignity in reality, but many among them did not abandon the lofty idea. And hence there is the critical need to look for monotheism. Anything of the like of polytheism remains thus a serious anathema among the overwhelming size of the Muslims, no matter if one would term them as conservatives or bigots or obscurantist.

Thirdly, the essence of becoming a good Muslim is TAQWA or self restrain in everyday life situation that can only be attained through complete surrender to the will of the Creator having attributes of the Absolute Great, the Omniscient and the Omnipotent. Worshiping any icon or imagery, no matter, even if done so for visualizing the real creator staying behind is just an aberration of the real truthful monotheist Entity.

It is said that human civilization has advanced a lot with advancement of science and technology. But it is ironically true that millions of people all over the world have no freedom- no freedom from hunger as food though available in market but no money at the disposal of the hungry to buy them from open market, no hygienic living provisions as the poor can not buy materials, etc. to make a hygienic home, no freedom from threat from the black money holders and muscle power, no freedom of expression for various controls in operation for their everyday worries, etc. The main reason being the stronger is so arrogant against the weaker that could obviously prevail in the absence of the shade of pure monotheism that in turn brought in continuing unhealthy competition in the oppressive scenario of the free market economy operating viciously in the absence of ethics and morality.

Thus it is the only option that monotheism in the pure form has to be established all over human society that can be done by the Muslims having full Taqwa or restrain in every dealings. That in turn would demand that making small gods here and there in sculpture form is certain to make aberration in the culture of monotheism that has to be avoided in all Muslim countries and societies. Fortunately, all Muslim countries having negligible exception maintain this cultural tradition based on pure and undiluted monotheism for it is only the firm belief in monotheism that can ensure equality and dignity of human beings. Only some careless guys could term such scope for ensuring equality and dignity among people as bigotry or obscurantism.

M.T. Hussain
Dhaka-1206