Monday, December 10, 2007

The word “arif” (wise) comes from the Arabic `arofa - ma`rifat -`arif-ma`ruf whose basic meaning is to comprehend. Comprehending is different from knowing. Knowing is cognitive based on knowledge, observation, or theory. Meanwhile, comprehending is affective, based on direct experiences. For example, a wife had been married with her husband for almost 20 years, but in fact she did not fully know his husband yet. Later, she was shocked after finding out the true identity of man with whom she has been in a same bed for 20 years, since she had been misled by his physical appearance.

Wise character has not only horizontal but also vertical natures. A vertically wise person is said to have achieve the level of ma’rifat, comprehending God (in certain aspects), not merely knowing Him. Since a wise man comprehends his God as the Most Beneficent, then he would be able to endure failures and misfortunes, since perhaps those misfortunes are only trials God gives to him. He truly realises that difficulties are parts of living system. He realises that God had created a law system in which no dark forever, light must come after dark. Similarly, easiness will come after difficulties.

Wise people still will be smiling in time of troubles, ready to be disappointed and sad without any word. On the contrary, unwise people will be easily frustrated, complaining in time of troubles, not ready to be disappointed, and expressing his sadness with abuses. Wise people comprehend themselves, so that they are self-conscious. If a person had comprehended himself, he would comprehend his God, man `arofa nafsahu `arofa robbahu.