In October 2023, when Javed Ahmed Ghamidi visited Malaysia, he met with Ph.D. students at the International Islamic University. The students asked various questions about his thoughts. At the end of the session, he was asked what advice he would like to give to students of religion. After necessary editing and additions, his response is as follows:
I myself am in need of advice. However, there are three requests that I present to you with great respect.
1. Become true seekers of knowledge.
Whether you are a layperson or a scholar, a teacher or a student, an elder or a youth, always consider yourself a student. When a person thinks that they have studied enough, gained mastery over many sciences and arts, and have become a great scholar, the door to knowledge closes for them. This arrogance makes them indifferent to the pursuit of knowledge. Therefore, you should never fall into this delusion. You should remain a true student until the last moment of age and the final breath of life.
A true seeker of knowledge accepts knowledge based on its merit. Prejudices, inclinations, and desires do not obstruct his path. He does not concern himself with whether accepting something changes the beliefs he held, contradicts what he has previously said, or exposes a weakness in his knowledge. He also does not pay attention to who is speaking; whether they are considered small, great, supporter, or opponent. He listens to everyone and focuses on what is being said rather than who is saying it. In this matter, he does not let pride, arrogance, or a sense of superiority get in the way.
A true student welcomes differing opinions. He welcomes criticism.
In reality, it is easy to accept agreeable opinions; everyone embraces them willingly. But the question is, what attitude do you display towards opposing views? Have you dismissed it without hesitation, averted your gaze from it, or have you welcomed it? Welcoming does not mean accepting something without thought. The intention is that you become fully prepared to contemplate it wholeheartedly and stand in the hope that perhaps a new reality might reveal itself to you. My teacher, Maulana Amin Ahsan Islahi, when he was writing his exegesis Tadabbur-e-Qur’an, used to say that the day I open the Qur’an in the morning and encounter a difficult verse, I say, “This is indeed a day!” This meant that now some secret will unfold, now some revelation will occur, and now some truth will become clear. I believe that the same approach should be adopted when faced with differing opinions.
It is unfortunate that we, as Muslims, have abandoned this approach and lost this awareness. As a result, we have been deprived of knowledge. Whether it is our scholars, our laypeople, our religious individuals, our secular individuals, our teachers, or our students, this is the condition of everyone. This is not merely a matter of religious knowledge; in politics, economics, society, history, law, and every field of knowledge and art, we fall prey to this same approach. You can speak on any of these topics, and it will become evident how rigid we are about our established opinions and how emotional we become about our preconceived notions.
Therefore, my advice to you is to always be prepared to welcome knowledge and embrace differences. All my students are aware of this fact — Mr. Manzoor sitting here is a witness — whenever there is a critique on our thought, my only question to them is whether they have read this critique. The reason for this is that if a student is not awakened by the critique made on them, then they can hardly be called a student. When you read criticism attentively, one of two outcomes will occur: either it will become clear that your perspective is correct, thereby increasing your confidence in your stance, or a new truth will be discovered. If a new truth emerges, what could bring more joy to a student than that? It is precisely this pursuit that a student embarks upon. We should be grateful to the critic and appreciate them for opening a new window of knowledge for us.
There is no doubt that instead of criticism, the style of disparagement, and instead of dialogue, the style of debate is often adopted in our society. Sometimes, one encounters a situation where the other person does not use a pleasant tone, shows contempt, or sits in judgment of your knowledge. In such situations, one should overlook and refrain. This is what the Qur’an describes in the manner of wa-alladhīna hum ʿani al-laghwi muridūn meaning that people of faith keep away from futile and pointless matters.
2. Develop a Passion for Truth Within Yourself
The essence of the dignity of truth is exactly as articulated by our teacher, Maulana Amin Ahsan Islahi, in his distinctive style: that even if a person’s shadow abandons them, they should remain steadfast on the truth. The Qur’an uses the expression Qiyam bil Qist (establishment of justice) for this. It indicates that the commitment to truth surpasses the loyalty to parents and kin. Consequently, it is stated that if truth and justice require testimony against one’s parents and close relatives on any occasion, there should be no hesitation in providing it. It is mentioned in Surah An-Nisa:
يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا كُوۡنُوۡا قَوَّامِيۡنَ بِالۡقِسۡطِ شُهَدَآءَ لِلّٰهِ وَلَوۡ عَلٰٓى اَنۡفُسِكُمۡ اَوِ الۡوَالِدَيۡنِ وَالۡاَقۡرَبِيۡنَ….
Believers! Adhere to justice bearing witness to it for God even if this evidence is against yourselves, your parents, and your kinsfolk…. (4:135)
Here, in comparison to familial relationships, the dedication to truth is emphasized, and in Surah Al-Maidah, the prioritization of dedication to truth over national pride is highlighted. It is stated:
يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا كُوۡنُوۡا قَوَّامِيۡنَ لِلّٰهِ شُهَدَآءَ بِالۡقِسۡطِ وَلَا يَجۡرِمَنَّكُمۡ شَنَاٰنُ قَوۡمٍ عَلٰٓى اَلَّا تَعۡدِلُوۡا ؕ اِعۡدِلُوۡا هُوَ اَقۡرَبُ لِلتَّقۡوٰى اِنَّ اللّٰهَ خَبِيۡرٌۢ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ
Believers! Stand up for God bearing witness to justice and your animosity for a people should not induce you to turn away from justice. Be just; this is nearer to piety. And keep fearing God because God is well aware of all your deeds. (5:8)
In both these places, bearing witness alongside the establishment of justice is deemed necessary. It is not enough to solely remain steadfast on the truth and justice, but to go further and bear witness to it as well. This testimony is to be given within one’s home, among one’s circle of friends, and, if the need arises, at the national and international level as well. The purpose is that if your emotions, interests, and desires attempt to deviate you from the path of truth, you should stand firm on the truth. When the opportunity to acknowledge the truth arises, humble yourself before it; if there is a need to express it, do so without any embellishment; and if it demands testimony, fulfill its demand, even at the risk of your life. Truth demands this integrity, this honor, this support.
3. Adopt the Language of Knowledge
Generally, we speak in the language of emotions. This elicits reactions that turn differences into opposition. Instead, we should adopt the language of knowledge. The language of knowledge is characterized by patience and forbearance. It does not engage in debates but encourages dialogue. One listens to the other attentively first, then presents their perspective in a simple and scholarly manner. In this approach, a person neither opts for avoidance nor becomes emotional, neither loses their temper nor rolls up their sleeves, but instead presents their arguments with full confidence and patience. If the audience does not agree, no judgment is passed on them; rather, one tries to find an alternative method of conveying the message with courtesy. If criticism is intended, it first involves articulating the other’s viewpoint, and in such a manner that the person whose stance is being expressed might exclaim that they could not have articulated it better themselves.
When you become capable of understanding and accurately expressing another person’s viewpoint, you can benefit from their criticism and make your criticism useful for them. However, if you form an opinion about someone else’s position before even listening to or reading their viewpoint, and instead derive it from your own perceptions rather than their statements, and begin to critique it based on your own ideas, this means you have chosen the language of authority and debate over the language of knowledge and dialogue. As a result of this, accusations of disbelief and denial are issued, propaganda is born, and the environment of blame, defamation, conflict, and strife is fueled. Therefore, if you adopt the language of knowledge, you will be able to acquire knowledge yourself and also convey it to others.
Always keep these three things in mind. This is my request, this is my message.