Ilm, the Essence of Humanity
By Alex Olson
Washington, DC
And I am always
that boy -
slightly bewildered
and lost
but always wide-eyed
with curiosity
at the colors and peoples
of the world passing around me
These are the words of Ambassador Akbar Ahmed from his new book of poetry titled Suspended Somewhere Between. Ambassador Ahmed is the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University and he is recognized as the “world’s leading authority on contemporary Islam” by the BBC. He has devoted his entire career to mend the tumultuous relationship between the West and the Muslim world. Not only is Ahmed a professor at the American University in Washington DC, but he has also taught at various institutions including Princeton, Cambridge, and Harvard. It is clear that knowledge is the soul of Ahmed’s work.
There is no argument that knowledge is shared amongst all of humanity. It is a gift, a test, a discovery. Influential characters in history have demonstrated the importance of intellectual acquisition. Michelangelo is forever remembered for saying “I am still learning” despite his genius standing. Mahatma Gandhi, primarily recognized for his peaceful demonstrations, advised us to “learn as if you were to live forever”. Ambassador Akbar Ahmed stands as one of these influential individuals providing us ilm in his new collection of poetry.
Long has Ahmed’s work been praised and respected but never has he portrayed such an eclectic
collection of memories and discoveries in verse form. The book is split into five divisions, each representing a recurrent theme of ilm that is woven in and out of the poems. The section titled “Pakistan” is where the journey begins. Each reader boards a train that follows the path of Ahmed’s memories. It journeys through the land of “Love” where respiration is restored and tranquility recognized. Next stop is the land of “Islam” where religious connotations are reached and interfaith dialogue breached followed by “Echoes of History” where recollections far and near are analyzed. Finally, the train stops at the “Pensées” where verse is infiltrated by the thoughts of a grown man who has experienced countless horrific sights and numerous rewarding visions. The crucial component of the train is what it is fueled by: ilm.
Ilm is the Arabic word for Knowledge. It is the second most appeared word in the Qur’an after that of God. What does this tell us about the Islamic faith? Why emphasize something that seems to be obvious to all human kind? The answer is simple: it is not obvious that knowledge is crucial, especially in the religious realm. Yet upon reading Ahmed’s work, the mystery of the importance of ilm is slowly revealed. Stanzas such as “the Mao book, the American scheme/the English tweed, the Indian dream/the Mughal drug, the Muslim scream” highlight the brilliance of cross-cultural and interreligious connectivity. Having an understanding of the individuals who populate our surroundings is but one form of ilm that is applicable to all. Ahmed’s train stopped at the “Echoes of History”, describing events that are unimaginable to the curtained public of the West. The gruesome images that Ahmed and so many others had witnessed help produce sentimental words to teach of the terrors occurring across lands. Opening all doors to opportunities and allowing fearful images and stories to be seen and heard all contribute to acquiring the ilm that formulates the human being.
The train may have stopped but the tracks have not. Ambassador Ahmed provides the motivation and the interest to continue to find the ilm that we all must continue looking for. This continuation can be fulfilled through reading Suspended Somewhere Between. Take the train that Ahmed took. Ilm will be brought upon you, and you will bring ilm upon others. It is too important to neglect or forget. We must keep ilm alive.
