On islamic tradition vs. perennialism - answer for: www.mereislam.info/

As-salâm,

1.) The website * LivingIslam - IslamicTradition *
http://www.livingislam.org/ encompasses a variety of texts:

- Many are from Sidi Gibri F Haddad, which are all listed at:

http://www.livingislam.org/tgfh.html

- Others are about Tradition*/ modern issues quoted from among others Réne Guénon (Shaykh `Abd Al Wahid Yahya), S H Nasr, etc.

These authors have profoundly analysed the modern (and postmodern) mentality of the West and also for example the decadence in religions, generally speaking.

http://www.livingislam.org/trg.html
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http://www.livingislam.org/index.html#mi



2.) *The term Tradition refers to the eternal divine message which has been sent or revealed since the time of Adam.

http://www.livingislam.org/o/pern_e.html#5a


3.) What we consider as perennialism, and not Islamic doctrine is the following definition of perennialism:

"A definition of perennialism would be that it describes the false idea that all world-religions are valid ways to God." And that it does not matter which one religion to adhere to.

http://www.livingislam.org/o/pern_e.html#4b


4.) There are those who follow Tradition, as it has been revealed and preserved in the Islamic tradition.

Then there are the 'traditionalists', those who are inaccurate concerning the question of the validity of other religions.
Just as he from the 'Venezuela News correspondents' seems to suggest when he quotes from Shaykh Muhyi al-Din ibn al-`Arabi:

"Do not attach yourself to a particular creed exclusively so that you disbelieve in all the rest; otherwise you will lose much good: nay, you will fail to recognize the real truth of the matter. God, the omnipresent and omnipotent, is not limited by any one creed."

As we have learned, this quote is authentic and according to the general perspective of Shaykh Muhyi al-Din. The advice of "do not attach yourself to a particular creed exclusively" cannot mean what it seems for some as a license for perennialism. Ibn al-`Arabi certainly did not intend to negate the Sharî`ah. Instead in this quote (which will be elaborated at * LivingIslam - IslamicTradition * , inshah Allah ) he was "addressing an audience for whom the practice of the Sharî`ah was taken for granted and (he was) inviting men to transcend the world of forms."** because it is Islam which reigns today and until the end of times, as we have stated earlier:

"Previous religions have lost their 'salt' and 'strength', they have no validity or actuality left."

http://www.livingislam.org/o/pern_e.html#6a

** Sharî`ah, Tarîqah And Haqîqah, S H Nasr
http://www.livingislam.org/k/trq_e.html


5.) Once perennialism is defined, there is a fine point easily to be missed by those rather crude minds:

"To see similarities with the eternal principles of other religions, which have to be there because the divine message is universal, does NOT imply that one sees all religions as being equally valid and that it would not matter which one to follow!" [OmarKN]

http://www.livingislam.org/o/pern_e.html#4b



Allah knows most and best!

Blessings and greetings of Allah on the Holy Prophet,
his Noble Family, and all his Companions.


ma'a salâm,
Omar K N