Muhammad Asad
Muhammad Asad
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Muhammad Asad was born Leopold Weiss on February 3, 1900, in Pola (now Pula), then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He is commonly known as Muhammad Asad, a name he adopted later in life after his conversion to Islam.
Birth and Death Dates
February 3, 1900 – December 22, 1992
Nationality and Profession(s)
Asad held dual citizenship of Austria and the United States. Throughout his life, he was a writer, journalist, translator, and Islamic scholar.
Early Life and Background
Leopold Weiss was born into an Orthodox Jewish family in Pola, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He received a classical education at a Jewish school and later studied philosophy and literature at the University of Vienna. Weiss's early life was marked by spiritual searching, and he eventually converted to Islam in 1926.
Major Accomplishments
Muhammad Asad made significant contributions to Islamic scholarship through his writing and translations. His most notable works include:
The Road to Mecca: A memoir detailing his journey from Judaism to Islam.
The Message of the Quran: A translation and commentary on the Quran.
* Islam at Crossroads: An analysis of the challenges facing Muslim communities in Europe.
Notable Works or Actions
Asad's writings not only reflected his own spiritual growth but also addressed broader issues affecting Muslims in non-Islamic lands. His work aimed to promote mutual understanding between Western and Islamic cultures.
Impact and Legacy
Muhammad Asad's impact on Islamic scholarship is undeniable. He played a pivotal role in introducing the Quran to English-speaking audiences through his translation and commentary. His writings continue to inspire readers worldwide, offering insights into the nature of faith and spirituality.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Asad's quotes often emphasize the importance of living an authentic spiritual life. His thoughts on faith, morality, and self-discovery remain relevant today, resonating with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Quotes by Muhammad Asad
Muhammad Asad's insights on:
بينت الأعوام الأربعة التي قضيتها في مجتمعات إسلامية أن الإسلام مازال حياً وأن الأمة الإسلامية متمسكة به بقبول صامت لمنهجه وتعاليمه إلا أن المسلمين كانوا مشلولين غير قادرين على تحويل إيمانهم إلى أفعال مثمرة
لو احتفظ المسلمون برباطة جأشهم، وقبلوا التقدم كوسائل لا غايات، لن يستعيدوا فقط حريتهم الداخلية، بل ربما ينقلون للمواطن الغربي السر المفقود لحلاوة الحياة
كنت شغوفاً بالتواصل إلى جوانب حميمية محببة إلى نفسي من الحياة, و أن أقتحم تلك الجوانب دون أن أضفي على نفسي وسائل مصطنعة كما يفعل كثيرون, و أن أصل بنفسي إلى روحية حقيقية كنت أوقن إنها موجودة إلا أنني لم أتوصل إليها بعد.
If one has not been able to experience God by himself, one should allow himself to be guided by the experiences of others who have experienced Him
Konačno, to je pitanje ljubavi, a ljubav je složena od brojnih stvari: naših želja i naše usamljenosti, naših uzvišenih ciljeva i naših mana, naše snage i naše slabosti. Tako je bilo i sa mnom. Islam je ušao u mene. Šutke i potajno, ali - zauvijek.
...to imitate Western civilization in its spirit, its mode of life and its social organization is impossible without dealing a fatal blow to the very existence of Islam as an ideological proposition.
...we must learn -once again- to regard Islam as the norm by which the world is to be judged.
By imitating the manners and the mode of life of the West,the Muslims are being gradually forced to adopt the Western moral outlook: for the imitation of outward appearance leads,by degrees, to a corresponding assimilation of the world-view responsible for that appearance.
There is one thing only which a Muslim can profitably learn from the west, the exact sciences in their pure and applied form. Only natural sciences and mathematics should be taught in Muslim schools, while tuition of European philosophy, literature and history should lose the position of primacy which today it holds on the curriculum.
و هكذا فإن الفرد مهما صحت عنده العزيمة فإنه لن يتمكن بحال من الأحوال أن يصوغ حياته على نحو يتوافق مع تعاليم الإسلام دون أن يصوغ المجتمع الذي يعيش فيه شؤون حياته في الإطار الذي رسمه الإسلام