SEEKING SPIRIT
Al-Asmaʿi, ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Qurayb, a renowned linguistic scholar of Arabic of the 2nd century AH, once set out to understand the precise meaning of the Arabic word damdama—a word also found in the Quran: “So their Lord destroyed them for their crime and razed (damdama) their city to the ground.” (91:14)
He was not content with a dictionary definition; he sought to discover the exact context in which Arabs naturally used this word. He could have simply asked a Bedouin, “In what situations do you use the word damdama?” But he knew the answer would be superficial—something he already understood.
What he truly wanted was to witness the word being used in its natural setting—to hear it spoken spontaneously by a Bedouin in real life, revealing its true essence. And such understanding does not come from asking questions. It can only be gained through direct observation of life as it unfolds.
With this goal in mind, Al-Asmaʿi joined a nomadic Arab family. Wherever they travelled, he followed. He stayed close to them day and night, patiently waiting for the moment when a Bedouin might use the word naturally and unprompted. For nearly six months, he wandered with them, and still, he did not hear it.
Then one day, the family set up camp. Inside the tent, a pot of stew was cooking over the fire. The man was inside, the woman working outside. As the pot neared boiling, it began to bubble and overflow. At that moment, the Bedouin man shouted loudly to his wife: “Damdamat!” (meaning: It’s boiling over!)
Al-Asmaʿi leapt up in excitement and exclaimed: “By God, I’ve found it! By God, I’ve found it!”
This incident reflects the kind of passion and perseverance that inspired early Muslim scholars and thinkers to achieve remarkable things. Their efforts were not motivated by fame or reward, but purely by truth and purpose.
Today, while countless activities are carried out, most are fruitless—because modern efforts are often driven by self-interest or the desire for popularity, rather than by a deeper commitment. The spirit of selfless dedication—for the sake of knowledge or a higher cause—has become rare.
Nations can only progress when their people are filled with this kind of determination and sincerity. It was this very spirit of dedication that once made Muslims a powerful and influential force in the world. But today, superficial thinking and self-interest prevail to such an extent that few are willing to “waste time” on what appears to be a “pointless” effort.
This moral decline is, in fact, one of the greatest reasons for the downfall of Muslims in the present age.
Most people today are driven by fear or personal gain—but those who make history are the ones driven by purpose and courage.
