Yesterday I had my lunch break with an old lady (65 years old) and a friend. She finished her Master degree in history and she told that there were possibilities that she would get a PhD degree based on three articles she published. Well, I was very happy for her and she seemed very proud of herself and relieved for coming out of the shadow of her siblings. She is the oldest daughter of very respectful family here in Denmark. Her father was the first person who conducted brain surgery, and one of her brothers is a famous film director. Despite all of their successes, all the family members are down to earth people and participate various humanitarian organisations.
Some how our conversation turned into cultural education and we discussed if it was reasonable to expect an African child in Africa to learn first a European tongue before he even mastered his mother tongue, and I know some places in Africa have changed this old fashioned colonial system. My friend, on the other hand, saw no problem at all and thought it was justifiable, and gave me an example of her colleague who is also a historian. After her colleague fished her study, she sought a position to teach in Zambia, and since the country has no history (she is telling that to my friend) the only thing she could do was to teach the children the history of non other than the famous German Chancellor, Bismarck! Well, I honestly did not know what to say. I was beyond shocked. How do you respond to that? My initial thought was, how can someone give a PhD degree to a person who believes that countries in south of Sahara have no history, and I was particularly shocked that it was my friend. I mean, what have she read all the years? It was indeed an reminder to me that title and wealth are not similitude with knowledge.
And our conversation turned into sadness. My friend continued how important for her was to get the PhD degree and to able to publish articles to see her name written on, because since she has no children it would be something she will left behind after her death. I thought this was much worse than what she said before. As a Muslim, our faith is based on that the Life in Hereafter is better than the present [Qur'an 93:4]; a Hereafter where you will not get older and never die, SubhanaAllah, May Allah (swt) Have Mercey on us, ameen. Certainly, we Muslims don’t believe that we should neglect the present Life, but it is an opportunity to prepare ourself to do good deeds, because when you will stand front of your Creator that Day, your thoughts are not concentrated on titles,fame or a PhD degree. For many Muslims (rich and poor) when they get old, they are often generous to help the orphans, set up schools or build a mosque. There is a well known Hadith our beloved Prophet(PBUH) taught us:“When the son of Adam passes away, all of his deeds are stopped except for three. Some kind of charity that is continuous, or knowledge which the people are benefiting from, or a righteous child who is praying for him.”
SubhanaAllah.
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Good post Gess. SubhanAllah. It’s astonishing that someone who is going to recieve a Phd in History can say “Zambia has no history”! I mean the obvious question becomes, look at the people they exist. Maybe her age explains it.
It’s the problem with Europe, they dont believe in reproducing but just filling up their own egos. I mean what is the shelf life of some articles you write going to be after you die. 10 years, 20 years, maybe 100 years if your lucky?
Comment by mtakbar May 14, 2008 @ 6:04 pmI don’t thing it has to do with her age, Akbar. Let me give you a grim example. During the cartoon crisis in Denmark, we had no television in our home and we had no idea how serious the situation was, so we acted ‘normal’ and continued our daily life. One morning I showed up at my laboratory, and I was confronted with my lab technician who poured non-stop how underdeveloped the Arabs were, and the only things these Arab can think of are food and a place to sleep on. It is hard to put words on how she acted that day, but I never knew that a person in 21st century can have such a view — basically describing other human beings as sub-humans and animals.
And just last Friday, there was an article from leading newspaper — similar to Sunday Times — brought a coverage on a PhD thesis, and it was about what Islam says about Devil. I am telling you, Bernard Lewis would failed right away the thesis. One of the thing the article mentioned was that Prophet(PBUH) left Mecca because he could not handle the powerful women in the city.
So, don’t be surprise to read these kinds of view like my friend believes in. Also, my whole life in Denmark, whenever there was a topic on television about Africa,you can be sure 100% on two things; wildlife documentary and wars. Still today since I can remember, every Monday there is wildlife documentary on television.
A journalist told me for not long time ago that the Danish people will never believe in historical facts unless they are made a Hollywood movie about them. So that means alot Danish people go around with the view that the native Americans had exactly like dances with wolves film.
It shows how far apart we are –the two cultures, and for me it is impossible to make conversation about my religion.
Comment by gess May 15, 2008 @ 3:09 pmYou’re a sister? WHAT? I was shocked when a first found this out…you write like a brother, masha Allah
Comment by thewahhabimisanthrope May 16, 2008 @ 6:55 pmAs Salaamu Alaikum Gess, Remember the the first racist Shaitan was only concerned with ana (self).
The European mindset is echoing that thought.We as Muslims are the best we enjoin right,forbid wrong, and speak truth to power fearing only Allah(s.w.t)
(Believers are) those to whom people said, “The people have gathered against you, so fear them.” But that merely increased their faith and they said, “Allah is enough for us and the Best of Guardians.” So they returned with blessings and bounty from Allah and no evil touched them. They pursued the pleasure of Allah. Allah’s favor is indeed immense. (Surah Al ‘Imran, 173-174)
Comment by IBN ABDUL HAQQ May 16, 2008 @ 11:09 pmSalaam TWMA, and welcome to my humble blog,
Alhamdullilah, I am a Sister and I like to know why you think I write like a Brother?
Salaam Dear Ibn Abdul Haqq, and nice to have you back, brother
Comment by gess May 17, 2008 @ 9:46 amSimply put, because you write well (small joke).
But besdies that, too post-Modern for me. I say that as a Carr-ian. I don’t find the views of decontructionists like Arkoun et al very compelling, or even tolerable- not that that’s what you are
This blog is cool masha Allah.
Comment by thewahhabimisanthrope May 17, 2008 @ 1:14 pmI bet you have Fanon, Foucault and Said on your shelves
I deliberately avoided the ‘cultural studies’ route because I wouldn’t want to be construed as an FOB! Plus, everyone knows lit faculties have no disciplinary integrity…the whole ‘interdisciplinary’ myth is just an illusion they use to hide their lack of training in other fields :O
Comment by thewahhabimisanthrope May 17, 2008 @ 1:23 pmYou shouldn’t be shocked. The phenomenon of obscuring histories to mere insignificances is too common and has been done in the past without any fear. It’s the best way to make people less human. The Africans were made into beasts because the white-centric academia made them into people who had no past thus they could be easily seen as less human and done away with.
Comment by Aboo Talhaa May 18, 2008 @ 4:55 amModern Western “civilization” is based on a conspiracy against Allah. The “Enlightenment” refers to the rebel angel Lucifer, the “light bringer”, who represents rejection of spiritual and natural laws in favor of human “reason.” In practice, “reason” is whatever the rich and powerful want rationalized.
Comment by IBN ABDUL HAQQ May 18, 2008 @ 7:18 pmAs’salamu Aleikum TWMA
Jazak Allah khair for your kind words, and my blog gets better because people like you who dare to comment. I appreciate all kinds of comments, because they were are a window for me and indication how I am doing, and more importantly, I get a chance to learn.
Hmm, no, I don’t have any books by Foucault but thank you for introducing to me.
Well, I would not advice you to avoid ‘cultural studies’, but everyone should be careful, and part of studding at higher education places is to be independent and gain bird-eye-views (the same others like Edward Said did), and I know it is hard to do that, particularly if you study science, because people have idea that science is not cultural which far from the truth.
Comment by gess May 21, 2008 @ 12:13 pmhttp://gess.wordpress.com/2007/08/26/western-mathematics-the-secret-weapon-of-cultural-imperialism/
As’salamu Aleikum Aboo Talhaa, and thank you for commenting
How many times you try to deny and whitewash, you can’t hide the facts on the ground.
As’salmu aleikum Ibn Abdul Haqq,
Comment by gess May 21, 2008 @ 12:29 pm