A first-person philosophical and autobiographical work that blends personal reflection with readings from Homer, Plato, Socrates, the Qur'an, and Christian scripture. The author examines freedom, faith, mortality, justice, and the search for meaning while drawing on his own experiences of incarceration, hospitalisation, and isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The text moves between ancient…
This is a first-person philosophical and autobiographical work by Jabril Omar Hakeem Abu Hussein Muhammad. It is presented as a thematic compilation of two source books, with original illustrations and page designs retained. The author addresses readers interested in personal reflections on faith, freedom, justice, and the intersection of ancient and contemporary thought.
Part I, Origins and Inner Life, opens with Chapter 1, Beneath the Surface of Darkness. The author draws on Socrates, Homer, the Qur'an, and biblical passages from Leviticus to examine mortality, the sacredness of life, and the limits of power. He reflects on his own experiences of solitude, family, fatherhood, and celibacy, and considers the example of the monks of Mount Athos.
The author discusses his time in Jacksonville and Saint Augustine, Florida, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on his thinking. He examines the history of American drug policy, including the National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse, and the debate between criminal penalties and social measures. He also considers the role of government, public institutions, and the ideals of democracy.
The author recounts two years and six months in jail, and his experiences as a hospital patient. He reflects on the sheriff's offices of Duval, St. Johns, and Clay counties, and on feeling like a soldier while living as a mental-health client. He discusses his intention to continue his education and his desire to study and write.
The text moves between the Iliad, the Odyssey, Plato's Crito, and Christian accounts of the Incarnation and resurrection. The author examines courage, mortality, and the question of what survives death. He also considers drug trafficking, legislation, street gangs, and organized crime in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and the pressures affecting communities.