The Archetypal Pattern:
For us, the relevance of this ascension is the fact that this event took place one year before the Prophet’s Hijrah (migration) from Makkah to the holy city of Medina which is now his eternal resting abode. Moreover, it was at this auspicious occasion the Prophet (peace be upon him) was given the gift of the Quran (Kalam) – the Book of All Books – perfecting his knowledge (Ilm) on how to navigate worldly and other-worldly matters.
The relevance lies within the fundamental nature of Islam and of the Quran and in the way the Quran views history and in the manner in which it illustrates the history of human civilisations gone before his Prophetic epoch. The Quran is a book of rhythms and patterns both in its sound and construction as well as in its content and meaning. It does not view history simply as a linear process or a sequence of events which succeed one another. Rather it sees history as a pattern or series of patterns which occur over a period of time, and which arise as the result of certain natural laws at work in society and within men. These patterns or rhythms in history are repeatedly illustrated in the Quran, for example, by references to past civilizations which have all followed the same pattern of rise, decay, and collapse. At the same time, the Quran is a book of principles, of truths, which, if they are implemented, will allow men to understand, and perhaps for a time, break free of the repetitious cycles of history.
An Integral Process:
From our Integral GENE-tic and rhythmic perspective, we/iSRA sees a paradigmatic relevance/pattern in the events which form the GENE-a-logical basis for iSRA’s 4E integral process (Ethics, Epistemology, Erudition, Economics & Enterprise) as a rhythmic exploration from Grounding, Emergence, Navigation and Effect (GENE) as developed by Ronnie Lessem and Alexander Schieffer of Trans4m.
Thus, the pattern in the historical events that took place starting from Prophetic Hijrah from Makkah to Medina, following on from the soulful journey, on the night of ascension (Mairaj), thereafter, setting an exemplary tradition of caring and sharing/spiritual Brotherhood (Mawakhat) for the world to follow, forms the praxis of our Hikmah of Soulidarity (wisdom in solidarity) from a perennial perspective.
Thereby, following on from our integral trans-local journey rounds, the relevance of this journey of ascension (awakening integral consciousness) starts with a trans-migrational (pilgrimium) journey – from Makkah to Jerusalem on to the heavenly ascension thereby preparing the Prophet to leave his place of birth onto his journey (navigation) to Medina (a model Islamic city) thereof having a transformative effect globally through Quran (tacit knowledge) and his Sunnah (explicit knowledge).
It is in this light, that Integral Soulidarity Research Academy (iSRA), is born – an archetypal reimagining of the Prophet’s spiritual Journey of Ascension (raising our integral consciousness). iSRA, therefore, aims to act as an integrative R&D platform to invoke the ‘spiritus’ of social dealing in matters of finance, economics & enterprise i.e. journeying through a Trans-migrational (trans-local) approach to Transformation.
Our integral 4E’s praxis (Ethics, Epistemology, Erudition, Economics & Enterprise) explores, together with others, Trans-disciplinary knowledge paths to integral Soulidarity with Universality, as part of my research-to-innovation contribution to my PHD (Process of Holistic Development).
Furthermore, iSRA aims to tune-in to the deeper impulses of a universal calling seeking to invoke the ‘spiritus’ of economics and finance, giving way to a new economic discipline, which I term as the Soulidarity Economy inspired by the Prophetic tradition of Mawakhat (spiritual brotherhood) and Akhuwat Foundation’s (in Pakistan) model of Qard-e-Hasan (benevolent loan), forming a distinctive model of reciprocal endowment coming through Khair (communal goodness) and joy of giving which is ever-present in communities, in our case, the Islamic societies.
Furthermore, iSRA in collaboration with Trans4m Communiversity Associates (TCA UK) along with other organisational & institutional allies and extended communiversities around the world, seeks to further an integrated model of finance & economics which we term as ‘Integral Finance & Economics’ as proffered by Ronnie Lessem & Alexander Schieffer (1). This was conceived after mapping various distinctive models of finance around the world, for example, Akhuwat Foundation in Pakistan (Qard-e-Hasan/Mawakhat model), SEKEM in Egypt (Economics of Love), Economics of Well-being from Canada, Communitalism in Nigeria, Nhakanomics in Zimbabwe, I3 (Integral Impact Investment) Partners and Semiotic Economics in the UK.
Hitherto, in an age of finding alternatives due to crumbling financial systems in Europe and around the world and with all the global hype around ‘ethical finance’, altogether with a new face of Islamic finance emerging in the 21st century, iSRA aspires to integrate the prevailing models with the integral models working trans-globally e.g. in Africa, Asia, Middle East and Europe by working closely with distinctive individuals, institutions/organisations, communities, and bringing all the ‘thinking’ & ‘acting’ together under the banner of a research academy (iSRA) to give birth to a distinctive praxis of solidarity with
Soulidarity in an Age of Integrality.