The Iqbal, Junoon and Sufi Diaries is a Marriage Made in Heaven

...At least to me!

Music is a controversial topic in Islam. So is Sufism, to some. The poet Iqbal has been classified as blasphemy by others. What does that mean? Islam is solely dependent on a person’s relationship with their creator. A level of consciousness and perspective will vary from person to person and that is a testament to the Creator of itself.

So when era changes, societal norms and boundaries have shifted within paradigms and the application remains consistent proves one thing: the souls must become alive!

For me, that is the fervor of the fusion of Sufi Rock that is Junoon. The blend of culture, tradition in a background of guitar and tabla was the best way to carry a message. The awaam “public” is now awake. A new political party of Tehreek-E-Insaaf (PTI) is in place. To have a Junoon reunion now was only lacking. To see them reunite was EVERYTHING, to all of us, who had been yearning for that lost part of ourselves.

The use of khudi (oneself) and its use by Junoon and Iqbal is synonymous with the spirit as alluded to in the Quran. It is that divine spark present in every human being, and began in the first of humankind and will last until this world ends and will be taken into the next. Self-destruction is when life and its true purpose is not realized. For him, the aim of life is self-realization and self-knowledge.The stages through which the "self" has to pass before finally arriving at its point of perfection, enabling the knower of the "self" to become a vice-regent of God is what he charts as an evolution. Pakistan evolved in its vision and in it understanding of Islam with music.

Iqbal, the "spiritual father" and Junoon the "carrier of the message."  PTI put it all in place. Feed your souls, be visionary and lead by example. Apart from independence ideologies, let’s all be free to explore concepts of submission to Allah and following the path of Prophet Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him.

Be an advocate, sip your chai (tea), ghoom (spinb) on after zamanay ke andaaz (the ways of the world) and begin to ab to jaag (to wake up). After all, Pakistanis are some of the most woke folk you will ever find and can be found in any corner of this world.

The letter W in Focus: Weighing the Scales Against the War on Terror and Bridging the Gap with the #MeToo

Lets’ focus on the letter W or و in Arabic and be wowed by these ten results:

1. W is for Dubya. If you ever perform a Google search on that term it means derogatory term or nickname for George W. Bush. It goes so far as to quote in Urban dictionary:

Did you know that the stock market dropped again today because Dubya made a speech? .. Did you ever realize that the first letter of war is Dubya! ... #dubya#george w bush#idiot#facist#president#pig#texas#mass-murderers 

2. W is also for the Weapons of Mass Deception. If a decision were to be made today in a court the finding would be: “Beyond reasonable doubt, I dub Dubya as being highly exploitative in the finding of Weapons of Mass Deception.”


3. W. Bush is also ranked as one of the W for worst of all time Presidents. Only W has been greeted by somebody having a shoe thrown at him.

4. W is for We. We also know this being skeptical about about claims that are not backed up by evidence is a moral virtue. For a moment, even if just a brief moment, let’s travel back in time. What if the Iraq invasion and WMD narrative was implemented prior to September 11 taking place? Would that change anything? Would your level of trust in a Government be undermined more had events been played in that order?

 5. W is also for World Public Opinion.org. A poll taken by them is a collaborative project of research centers in various countries managed by the Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland, College Park, polled 16,063 people in 17 nations outside of the United States during the summer of 2008.

They found that majorities in only 9 of the 17 countries believe al-Qaeda carried out the attacks. 46 percent of those surveyed said al-Qaeda was responsible, 15 percent said the U.S. government, 7 percent said Israel and 7 percent said some other perpetrator. One in four people said they did not know who was behind the attacks. Of those who said the United States was the perpetrator, Kull says many believe it was an attempt to justify an impending U.S. invasion of Iraq. It found that 49 percent of New York City residents and 41 percent of New York state citizens believe individuals within the U.S. government "knew in advance that attacks were planned on or around September 11, 2001, and that they consciously failed to act."

 6. W is Why should we trust? Statistically not all Americans trust their Government and neither do the Pakistanis. Americans point to the Pakistanis as having lack of security, intelligence and resources, while Pakistanis point the finger right back and feel that they are in no position to even dare say that to us. The hypocrisy is present.

 7. W is Weighing Scales in courts of law. Kavanaugh is the bridge between Dubya and Trump. He was around when the riveting legal saga sparked by the George W. Bush administration’s decision to create a legal black hole at the U.S. Navy base there in which to imprison hundreds of men captured in Pakistan and Afghanistan in the aftermath of 9/11. Eventually, once the Bush tenure ceased and Guantánamo was promised to be closed by Obama. The military commission that is supposed to try the accused 9/11 perpetrators has yet to set a trial date after six years, there has seemed nothing to say.

Since his inauguration, President Trump has permitted the release of one Guantánamo detainee, leaving an inmate count of 40, down from 780 at its peak.

There’s no one on the D.C. Circuit who has played a larger role in defending the legality of the military commissions than Judge Kavanaugh. He responded that he was "not involved" in "questions about the rules governing detention of combatants." There was not a sufficient basis to initiate a criminal investigation.

Yet when accusations pertaining to him and sexual assault came forward, one thing became clear: Kavanaugh’s judicial and evidentiary standard shifted. Evidence mattered when it did not when it came to detainees at Guantanamo Bay. In law, we know that every criminal has the right to a fair trial. Burdens and standards should not shift based on the skin color of a person, as that undermines the rule of law for everybody.

The beyond reasonable doubt must remain. The whole of America still remains divided over the #metoo. She has otherwise remained mute for much of the Presidency and sends subliminal messages via clothing.

 8. W all leads to White Supremacy, or does it not? If anything ever became transparent under the Rule of Trump it was, white supremacy of white elite males only. Class, gender and skin color matter.

In retrospect, the Civil Rights Movement was a distraction and a divider and its fight has been dismissed and erased post-Obama. Slavery had never been abolished, nor had colonialism. It has shifted form. The imperialist mentality is still there.

Black singers and entertainers were taken, targeted and exploited for services and used to distract the masses. When the following became blind, their purpose was used to mislead. Presidential pardons only exist for a few. When Bin Laden worked for them, he was a freedom fighter. When against, a terrorist. The same with Saddam. The list continues. Majority of felons are black. Majority of cops killed by them are black. Arming white men with guns continues, despite public opinion growing against it. Dr. Aafia Siddiqui was wronged when it came to being implicated with charges of gun possession. Common sense dictates that a woman of her size is incapable of even carrying the rifle that she was claimed to have been holding. White terrorism continues on all fronts. The public demands transparency, accountability and equal rights. Quit with the hypocrisy.

 9. W is for women. Women account for fifty percent of the population. Their contribution to society is significant. You may know one as a mother, sister, wife, daughter.

Jinnah has said, “No struggle can ever succeed without women participating side by side with men. With faith, discipline and selfless devotion to duty, there is nothing worthwhile that you cannot achieve. No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you.”

 Yet, they are being held back in wages, duties and capability. Naomi Wolf has cited that it the beauty myth, an obsession with physical perfection that traps the modern woman. There is the fuelling of images of hope, self-consciousness, and self-hatred as she tries to fulfill society's impossible definition of "the flawless beauty."

This also is the area in which women get dominated and bullied into thinking they are less superior. Women are more likely to rush to pursue the next makeup line instead of equal pay for equal work. They also have been silenced into taking sexual assault and harassment in the fear of losing job, position and power. The only areas where women earn more money than the average male are in areas of entertainment and where their images are sexually exploited and used.

Now women are feeling more capable o f taking a stance with the #metoo but even that is still a shift in mentality that will take time.

Accordingly, women are lead down a path of not fulfilling their true leadership potential. If you compare the time of the Prophet Muhammad and his wife Khadija, no wonder many Muslim women still yearn for that kind of relationship, love and respect in their ordinary lives. That was the time of where society, was in its peak. Where women’s rights were recognized. Where a woman marrying a younger man, with more business acumen was looked to and respected. She did not have to meet any beauty standard. Look at the current First Lady, a woman known only for her beauty and fashion. Her marriage to Trump is one of convenience. Is this the standard that we continue to want to send?

10. W stands for Wrong. Do not wrong us and other minorities. We all demand accountability and to stand equal before the law. Do not exploit in the media or in the movie industry. Do not shut the borders to the needy, when the rich are well and capable of housing the mess of displaced citizens that are caught in a poverty trap. Even where Pakistan wanted to help one of its citizens obtain justice, many of the funds were embezzled.

The narratives need to be set right. Majority of us want peace, with no exploitation. It’s time that we started working on the wrongs to set them right.

An elitist, entitled mentality, has got to go. It has to start with all of us, collectively. Do not let triangulation sway you. Do not let media manipulation and the political spin stories make you self-doubt what was said or feed hate. Let’s take a moment to reflect on words taken from Prophet Muhammad’s last Sermon:

 “All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.” 

 We have to work towards that, no excuses.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Find out What It Means to Be ….

American in Trump’s Era with the Death of Aretha Franklin

Respect, just a little bit
And find out I'm gone (just a little bit)

It’s as though Aretha Franklin knew her tunes would play out the way her life did. She was a single mother in a time where raising boys by herself was frowned upon.  She also took to singing the blues when she had been raised in the Church and was a recipient for condemnation because of that. Even though her father supported her, the community did not.  Whatever intent was in her heart, only God knew. Money, power and status was an issue for those trying to come out of a slave cycle.

The struggle of being black and of being a strong woman in the church who has seen much harm inflicted on herself and those around her is only something that she experienced.  She lived the civil rights movement in her music and developed a connection to people that were around her and with God in her gospel tunes. That is why she will forever be known as the Queen of Soul.

Aretha did not leave behind a will and became a part of the 7 out of 10 people who do not plan their estate, knowing that she wanted to be eternal.   All of that aside, she also had one of the most talked about funerals for a long time.

The backdrop of the current American political landscape was already divided, but she sought to unite peoples on a front.  Aretha’s funeral brought everyone together. This was even mentioned by one of the guests. They all outta leave and go and vote right after the event was the sentiment at the time. Aretha would be disrespected if you did not register to vote.  Then, slowly, events started to turn towards the DISRESPECT.

President Trump did not attend either funeral of two hailed American icons, nor was he invited. His Presidency was criticized knowing that he was not invited there with reason.

Ariana Grande’s performance and dress is what some have classified as a sign of disrespect.  Her dress is what many Aunties in the church rated as not being appropriate for venue. Not the best performance, but Aretha wanted the "God is a Woman" singer to be there.   The tweets and memes started to trend with talk of the size of her ponytail in comparison to the length of the dress. She later gained the sympathies of people when a Bishop made derogatory comments about her background or name sounding like an item from a Taco Bell, menu; then he proceeded towards the questionable touching of her.  The gaze of Bill Clinton during her performance has been circulated across the internet as well. A twitter storm followed, this time using the #respectAriana.

Others questioned Obama’s lack of presence as a disrespect.  He was present at a white Senator’s funeral whose running mate was Sarah Palin, but not for the woman who sang at his inauguration. To the some in the black community, for him to say she uplifted the masses was not enough.

Another Pastor talked about the need to respect each other, but then went on to talk about how the black community disrespects each other and that change was required in order for a faction to change.  He should have stopped it there. The speech continued to a point of including commentary that was disrespectful. Another prominent Minister of the Nation of Islam was not even even given the chance to speak.  His seating placement was so far to the left that the awkward body language was noticeable. Aretha did feature on this month's cover of the “Final Call” magazine and also helped save a mosque from being harmed.  Again, the disrespect that was given to him.

One thing became apparent.  The division. The media circus ensued.  It came back to haunt and the coverage received was more negative than the one present at Senator McCain’s, where his daughter stood before the podium and talked of America’s greatness and where one of the only circulation of photos includes the ex-President Bush handing candy to Michelle Obama. The stark contrast of the white man was sitting next to a black woman, handing her candy. To some, it looks like an adult handing a child candy as bait. To others, a nice gesture.  We all know that giving respect earns respect.

Why are we seeing two different versions of America?                
               
America, I Say a Little Prayer for You

(in my Aretha voice)

Punjabi Vibes: A Cultural Obsession with Jugni

'Jugni' has a double meaning in Punjabi folklore. A literal translation is 'female firefly', while its meaning has also been construed in the Sufi circles to signify ‘light’. It has become more of a cultural obsession made linguistically into a Sufi song initially sung by Arif Lohar’s father, Alam Lohar, recently performed with a ‘chimta’ (traditional instrument which is tong-like in shape and made of brass jingles) and to the modernistic backdrop of Coke Studio.  Then, there are the Uncle Ji (Ji is a suffix used in order to give respect) tales of how they used to study in the post-Colonial era of the Pakistan and India separation, by using fireflies captured in jars as a source of light during periods of load-shedding which becomes the discourse of table-talk in a chai setting. Load-shedding action is to reduce the load on electricity provided by light, especially the interruption of an electricity supply to avoid excessive load on the generating plant. For that reason, it is boasted as to the great lengths they used to achieve the pursuit for the want of study and subtly hinted as to how we, the foreign born, have it very easy when it comes to learning within the English-medium language, as our first language, and, having easy access to electricity.  After all, the first command of the Quran is to read, “Iqra.” The second generation abroad-based Punjabi may think, “What better way to read, when surrounded by firefly light?" Right?

Ironically, during periods of load shedding was when the light by jugni was sought. In the darkest moments and when most needed.  A mystical experience as well as physical.  Everything is attracted to sources of light.  All of this could have happened, as difficult as it may have been!

In the spiritual journey context, the term signifies the whole of existence having little value until the Infinite Light of the True existence is cast into one’s heart; in a similar way to the firefly having light that never ceases to exist. The light of a firefly disappears at the time of dawn to reappear at night.  The essence always remains within. That is true beauty if we consider it more closely.  The creatures are of a dim light and created out of clay, though the more luminous fire is able to characterize it better.  These are the basic elements that are referred to in the Qu’ran which are cited as at the time of earliest of creation.  The slightest meditation, invocation or prayer is a release between the light and dark, to show that all things are relative. The amount of light one carries is always changing.  To carry it is in its spirit.  Early writings on Jugni are thus spiritual in nature and relate to one's understanding of the world and one's relationship with God. The term has been introduced from the teachings of Baba Bulleh Shah and popularity spread even to the screens of Bollywood.

Jugni can also be understood to all mystics who seek within.  Upon entering the inward self, the Guide heads toward the Unchangeable Light. Only this is able to purify.  The Light motif is used across most world scriptures and in all present within the sub-continent. Guru Nanak talks of the Unseen Supreme Being which can be seen via an inner light, Sufi mystics talk of Allah (God) being veiled by Light and the Gita talks of becoming what we see.  Hence, the mere contemplation of Light has an ability to transform into that energy.  

For such reasons the popularity touches the hearts of many Punjabis.  It has has become part of the defining moment in spirit and age.  It was also sung during a Jubilee celebration in Gujranwala, which followed a period of when Jubilee celebrations began in India when people started to wake up (jaagna) and became a movement of jugni.  The Sanskrit word ‘yug’, meaning life or being. It also means eternity or era. For that reason, the term extends across to all and is still relevant.

Since human institutions have failed us in trying to limit the findings of God, this is one of the only ways nothing will disappoint. When we open ourselves to the domain that is spirit, God’s gifts become abundant.  Jugni can contextualize the state of being woke, present in the moment and of a Guiding Light that leads us forward. Bring that light within.  Illuminate the world.  I’ll end this with the following quote:

    "Those who enshrine the Beloved in their hearts have both worlds at their command. Lovers remain completely intoxicated in the ecstasy of their love for the Beloved. They offer their souls to the Beloved while still living, and thus immortalize themselves in this life and in the hereafter." (Hazrat Sultan Bahu)

Transcend all boundaries.  Become immortal.  Bring light to the table.  Let it flow.

In a World full of Malalas, be your own Chaudhary!

Malala Yousafzai defied the Taliban in Pakistan and demanded that girls be allowed to receive an education. She was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman in 2012, but survived and went on to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. The push of Pakistan towards a western model in education leaves many questioning.  There is a perception that a focus of organizing children and creating a reliable, predictable environment leads to obedient citizens without the ability to use critical thinking.  Compulsory schooling has once been looked upon as a branch of industry and even a tool of governance by a former, award-winning teacher, John Gatto. Furthermore, traditions become abandoned in favor of:

“Limitless resources, and the people yield themselves with perfect docility to our molding hand. The present educational conventions fade from our minds; and, unhampered by tradition, we work our own good will upon a grateful and responsive rural folk. We shall not try to make these people or any of their children into philosophers or men of learning or of science. We are not to raise up among them authors, orators, poets, or men of letters. We shall not search for embryo great artists, painters, musicians. Nor will we cherish even the humbler ambition to raise up from among them lawyers, doctors, preachers, statesmen, of whom we now have ample supply."​ - Rev. Frederick T. Gates, Business Advisor to John D. Rockefeller Sr., 1913 [1]

Luckily for me, I also had the hand of visiting Pakistan and growing up in a Western world with an ability to challenge and question the teachings that I had been taught by way of curriculum or by media.  My Uncle taught me the virtue of being a “Chaudhary,” and how important land ownership was to the fertile lands of Punjab. The prestigious title and/or surname 'Chaudhary' originates from the Middle East in Asia and means the "holder of four" in its literal sense.  It refers to the status and wealth regarding money and land of a certain small percentage of people from countries such as Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan (and others into which its people have migrated to over the years). Vast irrigation water systems, growing crop and raising cattle were all at the front of a life in what have become remote areas and discarded for the pursuit of a city life (for many.) The contrast was stark and apparent.  What I did not then realize was the access to a rural life was empowering.  I do recall in a visit to Pakistan having rice delivered after being harvested, the taste of fresh poultry and of butter that came in daily from the Buffalo that was close enough to the premises, but hidden behind the cement walls.  Breaking free from British India meant being self sufficient enough to rely on one’s own.  This was true independence and the breaking free of a slave cycle.  

After all, the British came to India and Pakistan in pursuit of spices, resources and to learn of In the  agricultural techniques which were practiced from which modern organic techniques are derived; where the fertilizers and pesticides were obtained from plant and animal products. Organic farming was the backbone of the economy at the time.  Marred by modernity, we all are now in favor of time saving mechanisms, more life spent on the cultivation of a “quality life” in favor of less cultivation of an authentic life.  By authentic, I mean less love and effort in clothing items, food grown and cooked and time spent in work and freeing oneself.  Now we are in the trappings of grocery items at stores, clothes that are manufactured and polluting our minds with idle trivialities.  Money and time appear to be in supply but we are not necessarily feeding with our own hands.  Let’s all take a step back and unlearn some of the lessons learned.  Are we truly free and fulfilled? Who’s hands are we serving? To be in touch with your soul, you need to be in touch with nature of better health and content with less. Therein lies the supply that can be filled over and over.  

Ex- Pat Aussie Musings: The Story of Mateship and of having a Fair Go

‘Mateship’ is an endearing value and characteristic of the ‘Australian way' implicit in the nation’s character which embodies in a 'fair go' egalitarianism. The word 'mate' is used to describe friends, colleagues, even just another person with whom you have just begun speaking terms with. It is speculated that the origins of the word come from the German term "gemate" which means to share a meal at the same table.

Both ‘mateship’ and the giving of a ‘fair go’ tap into the secular creed of the country and evoke a spirit that extends to break barriers. Though its ideology is secular, it is in line with the soul construct of what leads to contentment overall.  To give someone a ‘fair go’ is part of the Australian vernacular  that has often been used to demand or protest in favor of fairness - to be fair to someone by giving them a fair go.  It leaves one with not being ousted by hardship or a demand of backing off from unreasonableness. It also gives support to the party that does not have an upperhand in the matter before them.  A basic request for leniency. Every person endures a battle and is subsequently entitled to a ‘fair go’ as a result.

What’s more is that there has been political discourse and consideration of the inclusion of the term "mateship" in the preamble of the Australian constitution. The proposed change never passed the Senate:  

Australians are free to be proud of their country and heritage, free to realise themselves as individuals, and free to pursue their hopes and ideals. We value excellence as well as fairness, independence as dearly as mateship.

The concept is traced back to early colonial times due to the exposure that convicts had found themselves in. Both men and women closely relied on each other for help. The shared experience, mutual respect and unconditional assistance gave rise to this. Though it has been traditionally used by men, it has also been donned by females in favor of the spirit. It carried through World War I and the Australian Goldrush.  The dynamic changed during that period which included the massive influx of migrants from around the world including Asia, Europe and the Americas. Thus, it can serve as a force to cut down prejudice in race or disparity in wealth.

More recently, during the Sydney siege at the Lindt cafe, mateship was extended in one tweet whereby being Muslim and in the face of terror can also be daunting.  A hashtag and a tweetstorm was borne out of goodwill when an Asian Australian woman pledged to walk in solidarity with another woman who removed her hijab following the news of the siege.  The #illridewithyou stood in contrast with the way in which Americans handled any post terror attack. The response was more measured and a fresh approach welcomed by Muslims across the globe and represented progress.

In the exploration of their similarities and differences such things as attitudes toward equality, approaches to leadership, conversational styles, decision making, and risk taking all give rise to the wanting of the  same opportunities in life. This affords with an education and healthcare systems that provide high quality, world class healthcare and education to everyone. It has shaped a workplace where a higher minimum wage can exist. The welfare system means that streets aren’t full of beggars and homeless people. All of the above-listed, in turn, reduces the crime rate. An immigration system that is skills-based requires higher paid labor. This means most ‘Aussies’ clean their own homes and tend their own gardens, keeping them grounded. Viewing people as mates, reduces suspicion and a pro-gun or violent attitude.  

Patriotism and flag worship serves as a distraction to neighborly needs and that is why Australians do not engage in this behavior.  It needs to be seen that quality of a mateship is an act of being a patriot instead. At the end of the day, everybody demands to be treated fairly and equally.  The concept of mateship and fair go have proven to be timeless and have upheld and will continue to do so. Mateship speaks to many Australians in a way that global political discourse has failed others. It has been able to identify itself for over the course of more than 200 years of white-settler history, farmers, soldiers, laborers,bankers, poets, politicians and feminists.  It is time that its significance spoke to the rest of the world.  It shows a capacity to work together and challenges individualism.  In all things equal, then those who are different are also less dangerous. There is no need for fear mongering as a result.  

Rebuilding A New World Together: In the Context of the Soul’s Natural State

The Joker from The Dark Knight had cut scars into his cheeks, so it gives the impression of someone who is always smiling.  Instead of asking, “why so serious?” it would be a better question, in light of the current global situation, as to, “why so selfish?” This is because those scars would not have been required with the greater presence of selflessness, as opposed to being a force embodying themes of chaos, anarchy and obsession.

Everyday people are enduring a financial crisis, mental health problems, lack of meaningful relationships, stress or just plain being selfish.  People feeling as though their livelihoods are being threatened.  People so painstakingly aggressive, that you continually feel as though you have to defend yourself.  This is even though wealth may be more abundant, meaningful relationships are on the decline.  We are also seeing the effects of social media which encourages the use of that platform. That gives rise to the presence of individuality instead of community.  

We must seek to resurrect values built on relationships and engage in practices that strengthen an ethical life. This could be in the form of solidarity, where we actively share our fate with other people. The dynamic of living in a world of wants and haves has to shift.  We see, we want, we crave.  Living in a material world has no end. A selfish desire is driven by materialism. 

How do we avoid the trap? Don’t be blind to notice those around you. People should be a priority over possessions. Engage in an act of kindness a day.  Make time for somebody.  Watch the miracle unfold.  Make that impact.  Build neighborly relations. It only takes a smile.

Moreover, if one begins to move towards the default “factory setting” in which all humans are created, the moral inclination is towards caring for others and doing good.  The primordial state dictates that the spiritual and moral are interconnected.  This is what accounts for our “moral conscience.”  If it is not corrupted, our moral conscience will be upset when we know we are doing something wrong.  So to exhibit manners and desire reciprocation is only the natural state of the soul.  A concern for entities other than self gives rise to divisiveness.  Such resentment becomes a form of hostility within our self and amongst others.  None else other than a merciless fracking. Everybody is now on the lookout of how it will benefit me? How one benefits has become a bedrock in our society. Social cohesion is vitiated by universal dumping.  The generational gap of being in this together and having a sense of community is now the notion of being at each other’s throats.  

The emergence of a political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole is what part of socialism entails. Socialism assumes that the basic nature of people is cooperative. That nature hasn't yet emerged in full because capitalism or feudalism has forced people to be competitive. Therefore, a basic tenet of socialism is that the economic system must support this basic human nature for these qualities to emerge. It reduces the room made allowable for discrimination. 

The Prophet Muhammad said, “Righteousness is good character, while sin is that which agitates and disturbs your soul and you would hate others to uncover” (Sahih Muslim). The fitrah is like having an internal compass that always points in the direction of good works which bring us closer to God.

Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) writes, “Souls are naturally disposed (majbula) to love justice and its supporters, and to hate injustice and its supporters; this love, which is in the fitra, is what is meant for [justice] to be good.”  The moral values upon which we construct our lives stem from the intuitions which naturally arise in childhood and which are not stamped out by overriding sociocultural pressures.
Thus, it can be seen that a more meaningful life is comprised of ethical, spiritual, and intellectual processing functions by which the external reality is rendered meaningful, and life’s journey towards God is appropriately conceived. It is the natural and inherent needs—not wishes and desires—that are one’s true needs.

The paradox in generosity is when you give, is when you get. There is more to life than what you own and hold onto.  In giving there is receiving.  This reinforces that the universe is abundant, and you move yourself into a prosperous flow.  The best opportunities are the ones you create for others. We know that the state of a person in this world is temporary, and that the world was created in such a manner that there is enough for all to go around.  Let’s break this pattern.  We can do this.