Be Simple and Embrace Simplicity

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 9 April 2025 "There is beauty in simplicity, in the elegance of a well-crafted sentence that speaks volumes." This statement beautifully captures the essence of the power and magnitude that simplicity holds. It skilfully elucidates how a single, succinct sentence can possess the ability to convey profound meaning and convey a multitude of emotions. In a world often inundated with complexity and verbosity, these words remind us that beauty lies in the uncluttered elegance of well-crafted simplicity. Just as a perfectly composed sentence can captivate our thoughts and stir our souls, simplicity in all its forms has the unparalleled ability to touch us deeply and speak volumes without employing unnecessary intricacies or superfluous ornamentation. Simplicity is avoiding complexity and also redundancy. There's a famous quote in Latin, Dum Dubitat, Mox Remove (When in doubt, just remove): when faced with uncertainty, the best course of action may often be to remove unnecessary elements. In a world crowded with complexity and ambiguity, this calls for a critical analysis of what we truly need and supports the idea that less can be more. Simplicity is an attempt to apply Occam's Razor whenever and wherever it's required. That's why truly liberal and latitudinarian Muslims across the globe have begun to assert that while the word Kafir in Al-Furqan may be a faith-neutral and even an 'innocuous' word, it should be removed from the Book because of its complexity, ambiguity and inconclusively interpretative nature. Be simple and embrace simplicity. Avoid all that may create confusion and complexity. Simplicity is about the unexpected pleasure derived from what is likely to be insignificant and would otherwise go unnoticed. The quick path to simplicity is only a pinkie away. Achieving simplicity in life's complexities may be easier than we think, and often requires minimal effort or a small shift in mind-set. Remember, Squint at the world. You will see more, by seeing less. By adopting a 'squinting' approach, we can streamline our perception and hone in on what truly matters, allowing for a better understanding and appreciation of the bigger picture. It serves as an encouragement to filter out noise and embrace simplicity in our observations and decisions. This principle of simplicity must be applied to all our holy books and scriptures. Remove all what's unnecessary and superfluous in them and retain only that's essential and full of essence. While editing Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi's Masnavis in Persian, the legendary British scholar of Persian and Islamic Mysticism Professor Reynold A Nicholson opined that Rumi's Masnavis had an everlasting appeal because of their disarming simplicity. Rumi himself proudly proclaimed that he retained the pulp of the Quran in his Masnavis and threw away the bones. Words like 'Kafir' and 'Jihad' are the bones in the Quran. They're veritable Kabaab Mein Haddi (a fly in the ointment). Get rid of them. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/simple-embrace-simplicity/d/135098 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism