Have a meaningful Aidil Fitri WHY THE FIRST REVELATION TO PROPHET MUHAMMAD IS ABOUT READING AND WRITING

Have a meaningful Aidil Fitri

WHY THE FIRST REVELATION TO PROPHET MUHAMMAD IS ABOUT READING AND WRITING

Reading is not natural; it is a choice we make. While language is native to our species, reading and writing are unnatural acts. Reading and writing are made possible only through the deliberate shaping of the mind. They require practice, schooling and a conscious act to change. Learning to read and write rewire our brain in an immense way. The way we reason, form memories, process signals and how we interpret the world around us. In short, the way we experience reality.

The natural state of the human brain is animal-like, easily distracted, and non-linear in thinking. Our senses are attuned to change; our reactions reflexive. This is important for survival and to reduce the odds of being eaten up by predators; at the same time, not miss out on catching our dinner. To read a book demands unbroken, sustained attention to one single static object – an unnatural process of thinking for humans for the most part of our history.

When we read, our brain must practice ignoring everything else going on around us. We begin to be able to focus on a single task over a long period of time. This is one of the biggest changes in the history of human psychological development. Reading and writing created the modern man.

In the silence of deep reading, humans take trips in their own minds, draw ideas, inferences, analogies, play around with possibilities, visualize and dream – in short, we journey where the usual mind never has been before. Of mathematical formulas, economic models, scientific possibilities, astronomical expeditions, fictional journeys, and artistic beauty. We became a species that can focus with excellence and as such are able to deal with extremely complex problems and opportunities unleashing innovations, creativity, modern processes, and systems and creating the world we live in today.

Reading is also meditative. It calms the distracted mind. But while meditation seeks to empty the mind, reading fills it up. Replenishing it with new ideas, new energy, new spirit. Deep reading becomes a form of prayer that connects one to himself, to his fellow humans, to the world, the universe and to his Creator.

Let us add value,

Peace, anas

- PAK UNGKU -

Royal Professor Ungku Abdul Aziz (28 January 1922 – 15 December 2020). I am privileged to have met him on many occasions while studying at Universiti Malaya. He was always stressing that we read, read and read! Read even if you have 10 minutes in between activities like queuing at the bank or waiting for someone who is late. Thank you, Pak Ungku.