Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge & Truth — Page 431
CHIRALITY OR SIDEDNESS IN NATURE พ. E FEEL that at the end, the purpose of this exercise needs to be emphasized once again. . The basic issue of discussion is whether revelation can play any role in transferring information from the realm of the unknown to the realm of the known. . Every discussion under different titles in this treatise is invariably related to this issue. In this chapter the relevance may not have been clearly understood, hence the need for further elaboration of this point. We have already pointed out that in the entire comity of religions Islam stands out in its emphasis on sidedness in religious behaviour and conduct. We respectfully draw the attention of the reader that in all other religions the opposite number of right is wrong, not left. . I. IN ISLAM however, the word 'right' is not employed exclusively to indicate goodness, it is also employed to. Aindicate ‘the side' literally. As such, in this context the term 'right' is not used against 'wrong'; it is used against 'left'. This is clearly sidedness. In many Quranic verses right is decidedly mentioned in its preference over the left. . It is these verses which must have provided the guidelines for the Holy Prophets to direct the believers to prefer right over left in day-to-day religious conduct. His established practice was to always commence good things from his right side or by his right hand. The believers are told to perform ablution, for instance, with the right hand first. . When they wear their shoes, they should insert the right foot first. In the seating arrangements at a table, the guest of honour is seated on the right side of the host. At the birth of a child in Islam, the Muslim call for prayer (Azān) should be whispered into the right ear before whispering Al-Takbir in the left. Such instructions were not accidental but were specific down to the minutest detail. According to his instructions and his own personal consistent example, the 420 |