Before talking about various sensory systems created by Allah (vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch), modern secular psychology usually starts by talking about sensory threshold and sensory adaptation. Sensory threshold refers to the smallest amount of energy needed for a person to consciously detect a stimulus 50 percent of the time it is present.  In other words, just enough for us to detect the slightest sensation (image, sound, smell, taste, or surface), 50% of the time. For examples:

1. Sight: A candle flame 30 miles away on a clear, dark night. Read the rest of this entry »

Allah had given us the five senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell, skin senses) and sometimes the 6th sense. The amazing structure of these sensory organs and how they process the sensory information with the help of the brain are so amazing that any sane people will conclude that these must be created by a supreme being (i.e. Allah).  And these sensory organs should be used to obtain hidayah (divine guidance) and to search for the Truth (about God and world).

Unfortunately, when we read any secular textbook on biology and psychology, they do not really help us in increasing our iman and `amal because of their disconnection with religious and spiritual context.  Thus the need to review the philosophy of sensation and perception from Islamic perspective.

Badri (2003) believes that there is no need to Islamise areas of psychology which are in the realm of exact sciences such as physiological psychology, neuropsychology, behaviour genetics, and psychopharmacology.  He specifically said that we do not have to Islamise psychophysics or the physiology of sight and hearing, and the anatomy of eye and ear. In the case of sensation and perception, the structures and processes of sensory organs are already “Muslim” (submitted to Allah) by force (idtirari).  They submit to Allah according to Allah’s law of nature just like other animals, plants, and inanimate things (Al-Qur’an, 3: 83, 13:15, and 41:11).

Fortunately, unlike biological psychology, the area of sensation and perception (also known as psychophysics) seldom contain direct philosophy of secular theoretical approaches in psychology (although the authors may interpret the findings using one or more of the contemporary psychological perspectives. However, some degree of Islamisation work is still needed here in terms of Read the rest of this entry »

Muslims show many different ways of celebrating the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW.  Some Muslims celebrate by organising processions filled with the chanting of Salawat (blessing) to Prophet Muhammad.  Some Muslims celebrate just by organising religious talks to remind the Muslims of the mission of Prophet Muhammad SAW and to follow his sunnah/path.  And some Muslims even celebrate by NOT celebrating it at all.  If all are done out of their love of Prophet Muhammad SAW, I believe (and I pray that) they will receive reward proportionately from Allah based on the love itself and their correct prioritisation of `amal/ activities.  This writing is inspired by one of the Friday sermons delivered by Shaikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi.

Do you know that even some secular people believe that celebrating Valentine’s day is too ceremonial and does not necessarily show the degree of your love to your loved ones?  The roses, chocolates, and romantic dinner, according to them, can be very superficial, and the effect may just fade away very quickly the next few days - though it ‘may’ help reviving (at least temporarily) the feelings of love that is already deteriorating.  The most important thing, according to them, is to show your love always to your loved one, and especially by doing things that he/she likes and avoidng doing things that he/she dislikes.  Note: By the way, I’m not encouraging celebrating Valentine’s Day at all.  It is just used for comparison purpose.

So, what do you think is the ‘best’ way to celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW?  Shouldn’t it be the same thing?  Read the rest of this entry »