THE POWER OF IDEAS

Hassen Vally
hassenvally@hotmail.com

Abstract

In the past seventy years, encapsulates the life of the author, Muslim societies and others have experienced significant changes. In the South African context where the author was born, political change a worldwide phenomenon. The peaceful transition from Apartheid to a democracy and Nelson Mandela after twenty seven years of castration the world watched on Television the famous “Walk to freedom.”
The Political environment in South Africa and major worldwide race for power supremacy between the two superpowers USA and Russia has ramification in the Muslim world. The cold war between the superpowers takes a turn when Russian invasion of Afghanistan turns into a humiliating fiasco and subsequently the world witnesses the disintegration of USSR in 1991 and emergence of independent states around Russia as evident today. Significant to the paper is predominantly Muslim states mushrooming out of the once only communist federation of 15 states, six republics has a Muslim majority.

In 1979, The Islamic Revolution in Iran under the spiritual leadership of the Ayatollah Ruhallah Khomeini for many Muslims across all divide embrace this as a defeat to the yoke of imperialism, westernism and those clients of the super-powers in the Muslim  world. With a mixture of religious fervor Muslim were drawn into nostalgic moods of past Muslim glory and power.

The impact was shaping the lives of many Muslims worldwide with these geo-political happenings amidst the political hegemony of the west. There was a strong undercurrent in the Muslims world and among those who were living in the west. There were whisperings, debates, writings and strong galvanization against critics sparking a new wave in the Power of Ideas for resurgence, revival and more strongly Islah/reform in the Muslim faith and practice.

The Apartheid regime had traumatic impact on the lives of those it separated and classed as non-whites. Muslims in South Africa has made a great contribution in the freedom struggle. From their active participation in the movement, generous financial support, to prison incarceration, deaths in detention and gruesome torture a price paid dearly by a small community of Muslims who arrived here 350 years ago. The author in response to the political rhetoric that Muslims made no substantial contribution to the freedom struggle, overnight responded with a twenty eight page tribute to the contribution and legacy of Muslims in South Africa. An epic journey of toil and struggle that blooded the soil of the land with blood of many of its children martyred in the post 1994 era.

The Growing up in an Apartheid segregated State posed a dilemma whether education can facilitate social change. The year is 1964. Apartheid is well entrenched in the South African society. On 12 June 1964 the infamous Rivonia trial the court sentenced eight of the “convicts” to life imprisonment. Seven were incarcerated on Robben Island Prison. The youth faced a dilemma with no known precedent in history. The freedom struggle took a new momentum and the education imperative, posed the question: freedom first then education or education than freedom. It smack in the face that how can you have normal education in an abnormal society. Bantu and Indian education inferior to the white education. There was no choice in reality; no education and private schooling were the privilege of the few.

Those that were active made own choice. The author’s journey began in search of meaning. The scepter of authority brandish fear with force and the voiceless coerced into submission to the draconian laws of Apartheid. This submission also a product of education where the clarion call was for preservation of ones heritage, culture and religion clustered into a nice package labelled separate development. On the other hand education outside the system exposed its inhuman concepts and digressive negative change. Education dispels ignorance, enlightens and shows the true colors of oppressive laws. In the narrative where the author goes on a never ending journey of self-education. Bringing the best of teachers with the best in knowledge within the reach, disposal and convenience of the seeker. The source the universal book, the textbook, the curricula all within the covers of the book. The seeker is in his teens, daring, unafraid and challenging but not suicidal because the system is inhumane, life is cheap and might has no empathy.

This self-study focuses on the life journey of the author amidst world crisis in his search for Faith. Meaning and Identity. The impact of self-education, the power of reading, reverence to teachers and self-expression as the fruit of learning by recreating and reshaping the seeds. There is will always be our own exploitation in expression of what we perceive and comprehend. The search for faith, meaning and identity is going out of our self to understand and observe the reality of the world and the makings of great people who lose themselves in order to be immortal. This learning by feeling that being free our actions and thoughts are our self-expression. The objective is daring but challenging in search of our own meaning amidst the challenges of faith and identity. The author too found his calling, the search and rationale for teaching, guiding, leading and being true to one calling in the very first verse revealed in the Quran: “Iqra, read in the name of Thy Lord.” My journey has come to this point. This paper is my testimonial, resume and plea before God and His creation as a harvester and gather of seeds of knowledge and profound wisdom. May God and you treat me kindly I am neither originator, nor creator but only a harvester of other great minds, souls and thought.

Keywords: Nelson Mandela. Walk to freedom, Islamic revolution, revival and reform, Apartheid, between conflict and encounter, education in abnormal society, freedom first education after, wisdom in knowledge,