Presence Of Mind by Taqiuddin Nabhani

The reality of the problem is that the thinking of the people generally in every country, including the ideological politicians and thinkers, became naturally slow. The remedy is to get rid of this problem from its root, i.e. to get rid of the slow thinking which became a habit until spontaniety was lost. Thus, the problem is slow thinking and consequently (lack of) spontaniety. Slow thinking is the problem. The fact that it became habitual and natural became the problem in its reality. Any question, even if it was an automatic one, was philosophised and thinking about it became prevalent among the people. The problem is not thinking, for thinking is natural and recommendable, even obligatory; for thinking in the issue reveals its hidden aspects and explains its secrets, making the person aware of the truth. Thus, thinking, as such, is beneficial and useful. However, the slowness of this thinking - or the fact that it is used in every question, it philosophises every question and proceeds slowly - is the problem in its reality. Slow thinking became the basis for the people, until they lost spontaniety, so when it is used it is only at the moment of danger. Spontaniety is not only for the moment of danger. It is not inevitable that a measure be taken based on spontaniety. Spontaniety rather comes at the moment of danger and at other times; it might require that a measure be taken or it might not. Therefore, spontaniety should be permanent and in all things. So it is not correct for it to exist only at the moment of danger; it should exist in all situations. It does not require measures in every matter, as some of them need measures and some do not.

Therefore, its presence at moments of danger is not enough; it should rather exist in everything. Thus, spontaniety is necessary in everything. Its reality is that it is quick thinking. So, its problem, i.e. the reality of its problem, is slow thinking.

Slow thinking comes from the domination of the Colonialist West over the country and the domination of its thoughts over the people. Much time passed by the people while they remain involved in slow thinking and they practice it. It has now become part of the formation of their mentality and part of their thinking. Thus, slow thinking became the problem, or the reality of the problem.

So, spontaniety is not the problem, though its loss was the most prominent result of the problem that the people suffer from.

Thinking itself is not the problem either, for it is as necessary to man as life itself, regardless of his level of intellect and his thinking.

The problem is rather the slowness in thinking. Spontaniety is the result of the absence of slowness in thinking. Thinking is the natural process that exists in man. So slowness in thinking is the reality of the problem. This slowness was not natural, nor was it innate, or automatic. It rather came as a result of the domination of the West over the lands and the domination of its thoughts over the people. Therefore, the reality of the problem is slow thinking and what make this problem exist in reality are the domination of the Colonialist West and its thoughts. Therefore, a solution should be focused on the problem itself and not on its symptoms or on what is natural in every human being.

Since it is proven that (lack of) spontaniety is not the problem, rather it is a symptom of the problem, the solution should be focused on the problem and not on its results. Its symptoms are not treated on the basis that they are the problem, nor are they part of the way to solve the problem. Rather the problem itself has to be treated, which is the slowness of thinking. Its treatment requires the treatment of the domination over the people, whether the domination of the West or the domination of its thoughts.

Therefore, understanding the nature of the problem is crucial, so that the solution does not become useless and futile, or focussed on other than the problem. Thus, understanding the nature of the problem is a crucial matter. Since the nature of the problem is slowness in thinking, then slowness in thinking is the basis and it represents the nature of the problem. It is true that the domination of the West over the countries and the domination of its thoughts over the people is the basis, but this basis does not mean that the problem cannot be solved until this domination is removed. Rather, it is possible to treat it while this domination is present, by addressing the thinking itself, moving it from slowness to speed and from deliberateness to haste. The problem is not the domination of the West, though it is the origin of the problem.

Rather, the problem is slowness in thinking; so the problem is what has to be treated, though we should be heedful of its origin. This means that the West, through what it spreads of deception, alongside what it dispatches of deviation in the name of science, culture, civilisation and guidance and other similar names, is the problem and the basis of the problem. However, the domination of the West is only through their imposition of terms or their styles.

So the question is not related to removing this domination; it is rather related to the people, i.e. the aspect is related to the domination. It is true that domination is the origin of the problem.

It is also true that the styles of domination have changed, for other more hidden and more effective ones. However, the problem is the basis, which is the aspect related to the people. This means spontaniety is entrusted to the people. It is charged with them themselves. By the effect of their changing intellect, which develops from one state to another, effort must be focused on it. It is true that domination is the basis, but domination can’t exist without the concepts of the people. So the concepts of the people are what perpetuate the domination, or put an end to it. However, they are not the problem, nor are they the origin. The issue is to change the domination over life. Therefore, relating the matter to the West or to the domination is an escape from the problem. Instead matters must be directed towards the problem, which is developing spontaniety. This is done through the people and not through the domination. In other words, it is through changing the concepts about the matters of life and not through removing the domination.

Thus, changing the concepts is the basis. Therefore, it is not correct to escape from the problem by directing these matters to the domination or to the West. Rather, matters must be directed towards people, i.e. towards changing the concepts, particularly changing the concepts about the crucial matters in life. So in the attempt to create spontaniety, it is not correct to turn towards the West, for it is the origin of the problem. Nor should one turn towards the dominant Western thoughts, because it is these that created the problem. Rather, care must be directed towards the people to change their concepts; the Ummah must be called to work to remove the domination. Thus, the origin of the solution is changing the concepts of the people, not changing the domination.