Clarifying the term Mafaaheem, Maqaayes and Qanaa’aat (Concepts, criteria and convictions) =========================================================== I came across this explanation from one of the carriers of the Dawah and thought that it would be beneficial to translate and share: The Mafaaheem: The Mafaaheem are Afkaar (thoughts) that have a reality for them in the mind and I say ‘in the mind’ in case it is imagined that every thought that has a reality represents a concept (Mafhoom). This is a widespread error because not every thought that has a reality for it is a Mafhoom (concept). This is because every thought that exists amongst humankind has a reality; otherwise they would not have become thoughts in the first place. Despite this these thoughts are not concepts for everyone. So socialism has a reality attached to it but it is not a concept in respect to the Muslim, and Democracy, pluralism and the separation of the Deen from life are all thoughts, however they are not concepts except for the one who pictures its reality in his mind. As such Khamr is Haraam in respect to the Muslim, this Fikr (thought) has a reality for it which the non-Muslim can comprehend however it will not be a concept for him because it does not fit with the reality that exists in his mind. At this point I will pause at the point about the existing reality in the mind and I will say: That the Fikr (thought) about the universe, the man and the life generate within the human thoughts that formulate for him a collection of principles by which he understands the reality. So the person who believes in Allah and abides by His commands will have generated in him (i.e. in his mind) that Khamr is Haraam. Therefore this is the existing reality that is in the mind and as such the thought about the prohibition (Hurmah) of Khamr fits with that which is present and existing in his mind. And when he reads, thinks and studies about Democracy for example then this would not fit and be in line with the reality present in his mind. It will therefore not become a concept that he holds and following on from that it will not have any effect upon him even though it is a thought and not imagination or fantasy. The Maqaayees (criteria/measures): The Maqaayees are principles that the thoughts and actions are brought before so as to know the extent of their conformity to the viewpoint in life. The Maqaayees in Islaam are only two, a criteria for thoughts and a criteria for actions. The measure or criteria for Afkaar (thoughts) is Imaan (belief) and the measure for actions is the Halaal and the Haraam. The Qanaa’aat (convictions): The Qanaa’aat are Mafaaheem that have surpassed the study of the conformity of its thought upon the existing reality present in the mind, in respect to the human. It has surpassed the stage of the thought and reached the stage of Al-Badaahah (obviousness). There is therefore no need to study and examine its conformity upon the reality like it is in respect to other thoughts. Examples of this include the prohibition of going to judgement to other than Islaam, the obligation of obeying the parents and the prohibition of Zinaa amongst other matters. These Mafaaheem, Maqaayees and Qanaa’aat collectively constitute a system of consensus amongst a collection of people. If they receive them, accept them and want their life to proceed in accordance to them, they would then be in need of a system that undertakes their application and protects its continued existence within the society, and this has been called the Dawlah (State). [From the culture of Hizbuttahrir]
Posted on: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 17:09:13 +0000
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