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A Letter from the Desk of the Editor
Shah Nazar Seyyed Ali Kianfar, Ph.D.
In reviewing the notions of right and wrong or good and evil, we notice that the human being faces two kinds of energies in this regard: two forces of good and evil. These energies are born with the birth of human nature; good is rooted in the praiseworthy and moral notions of justice, rights, unity, balance, wisdom, love, compassion, and so forth; while evil may be rooted in a deeper state of selfish desire for self-promotion and power at any cost, while ignoring the need, honor, rights, and peace for the human family.
If we look at the natural mixture of the elements of fire, water, wind, and soil, we may realize that we are offered a range of information inherited from generations, eras and cultures. Some are fueled with constant competition, greed, jealousy, war, and bloodshed–all in the name or for the cause of survival; a battle ground between the consumer and that which is being consumed.
Encyclopedia Britannica writes that the “Human beings are anatomically similar and related to the great apes but are distinguished by a more highly developed brain and a resultant capacity for articulate speech and abstract reasoning.” So perhaps the human being, with a more highly developed brain, and a capacity for more coherent speech and reasoning, is expected to also develop the notions of right and wrong as a way for survival of cultures, nations, ideas, and so forth. Perhaps morality, or lack of it, is only found within human cultures.
In the animal kingdom, for example, no one is looking for justice in the story of a fox that catches a hen and eats her for lunch! We do not portray the fox as guilty and the hen as innocent; we see these incidents as forces of nature–fox is set to hunt and hen is set to feed. No one seeks justice for this act of harm, because we accept this as one of the many ongoing rules of animal nature and animal kingdom. And we are not surprised if at some point the fox is eaten by a larger animal with sharper teeth.
These creatures of nature may not be subject to the notions of good or evil; religions are not for them, as far as we know. They may follow different sets of rules not relevant to human-made logic and systems of reasoning.
Research by scientists, scholars and philosophers about the root of human being is that human being is walking on an extended bridge between abstract rea-
soning and divine character, and that of genus Homo habitation. One is rooted in justice and the other rooted in the unjust, in comparison. According to the Bible and Qur’an, the soul of human being was created on the seventh day; that is marked as the day of perfection. Thus, human being has the capability to pass over the bridge in order to experience and learn about the essence of humanity.
A human being will pass this bridge successfully or he may fall. To achieve ultimate knowledge and meet the state of humanity is to practice being a human according to the divine rule and regulations; laws that have been taught by the founders of all religions. Pure intention and righteous action will help passengers not only pass over the bridge safely, but also contribute and provide a peaceful and just life within any given society.
Human history is saturated with the teachings of teachers of humanity who advise cultures that for a stable community, for the survival of humanity, for a peaceful life offered to all and every member of human civilization, moral actions have to prevail. We also hear from the oppressors of human cultures who advise that in order to rule, humanity must learn to gain power at any cost. Such advice does not necessarily remind humanity of the need and value of moral actions. So, at this crossroad, every human being has to make a sound decision.
The blessing of good action may saturate nations for centuries to come; and the pain of evil action will cause suffering for nations for centuries, and will count precisely on the destiny of man through his journey.
So, whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it. And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it. (Quran: 99:7-8)
Humanity is a mixture of body/soul. This being comes from different aspects of eternity to fashion a mysterious and magnificent potential being, as the perfect model in nature, which includes the substance and power of nature and knows the whole names of the Almighty God. This combination of clay and soul creates an implicit duality/tension, in which the heavier body gravitates toward the world of the
Shah Nazar Seyyed Ali Kianfar, Ph.D., the Editor in Chief of the journal, is the Co-Director of the International Association of Sufism. He is an acclaimed Sufi Master with students around the world, an international lecturer and the author of numerous books including An Introduction to Religion.
senses, and the lighter soul toward the sublimity of Heaven. Each has a different culture, lineage, and language.
During these uncertain times of 2021 when the majority of the population of our world is suffering, whether the pandemic, loss of life, financial difficulties, divisions, wars, and more, the wisdom and the cause of good action become even more valuable. Let us come together and move beyond the field of divisions to our divine origin so we can together and in unity bring peace to this planet and all her inhabitants.
So as Rumi says: “There exists a field beyond all notions of right and wrong, I will meet you there.”
Remember Me. I remember you. Give thanks to Me and do not cover Me.”
