When most of us hear the term Materialism we probably
imagine fancy cars, expensive vacations, and credit cards maxed to the limit. Or
the more philosophical amongst us will immediately think of the dictionary definition
which states that reality is based only upon matter. But the materialistic
outlook on life isn’t merely limited to worldly indulgences and matter-based
philosophies. It’s much more insidious
when the materialistic worldview seeps into our subconsious.
More specifically, I’m referring to entire
cause-and-effect mindset and how the entire human race has effectively embraced
it as a fundamental doctrine. Science, the New Age god of the religiously
disinclined, has stated that everything in this world operates on the
cause-and-effect model. This isn’t limited to the laboratories, but has found
its way in everything we say and do.
Our
sustenance comes not from our Creator, but from our monthly paychecks.
Our
success comes not from our adherence to our principles, but from our efforts
and struggles.
We have becomes slaves not of our Lord, but of this
materialistic worldview.
And so, when we decide to stand up and struggle for the
truth in the face of tyranny and oppression, we find ourselves restricted to ‘proven’
tactics and ‘established’ movements. We must determine the odds of victory and
evaluate the calculus of success. We
must choose pragmatism over idealism. We
must compromise and concede for that is the way of the accomplished high
priests of the material world. Our models
of success are no more founded on the anachronistic ways of the Prophets, but on
the avant-garde techniques of today’s global leaders.
So it is when we finally see a breath of 'fresh' air in our political worlds, we see cause for celebration. We have
inexplicably convinced ourselves that political success can only come in the
form of a political party that is born from the same decrepit system that has
been plaguing and ruining our societies.
The examples set forth by our beloved Prophets, we tell
ourselves, are strictly limited to the spiritual realm. Any issues we may have with our political or
economic existence must be dealt with tried and tested methodologies extracted
from our textbooks and institutions. To
suggest that the spiritual world can interoperate in the political is extreme
folly. At least, that is what the secular materialists have taught us so
effectively.
We are so affixed to the cause-and-effect model that we
have lost sight of the power of our Lord. With the 'unparalleled power' of our
modern minds, an ark in the middle of the desert would be foolish, escaping
from a ruthless army and fleeing towards the ocean would be mad, and 313 would
never, ever defeat 1000. We have convinced ourselves (or have become convinced)
that the only way to victory is by our efforts, not by our principles and
beliefs.
Thus, instead of sticking to our principles and looking
to our religion for guidance, we rejoice when political idealists such as Obama
or Pakistan’s Imran Khan tantalize us with their flowery promises of hope and
change. We naively see in them a means of rectifying our broken system. Instead
of realizing that never did a Prophet make change from within the broken
system, we blindly pursue success with political parties.
Would a Prophet ever submit himself to the evil
machinations of modern-day democracy by leading a political party?
It matters not, for those Prophetic examples set forth in
our Holy Book are to be read strictly for spiritual blessings, not for any
practical application.
Sadly materialism is alive and well, even in the more
spiritually inclined amongst us.
12 comments:
Depressing post, bro...true - but depressing.
And so your solution to this is...?
I don't want to sound like a defeatist, but just in line with the book i finished recently, which was about the signs of the Hour - it doesn't seem like anything will change in terms of leaders and politics, because the world is headed for the age of Dajjal. And it's only when the Mahdi and Nabi Eesa a.s. prevail that we'll see that idealistic, peaceful, just society and world we crave so much. ANd even that will only be 7-9 years, after which things go down again.
This world isn't meant to be a place of permanent goodness - as we wish it to be. It's meant to be a struggle of good against bad; and it's only Jannah that is eternally like the world we envision - and politicians talk about in idealistic terms.
This doesn't mean we should give up and just accept the world system as it is now...because our duty is to enjoin good and forbid evil and TRY to bring about that model society and world...even if we know that it'll only come by Allah's will after the enormous trials, and even then, only for a short time.
"And so your solution to this is...?"
Sorry if the above anonymous comment comes accross as unpolite but I just meant to reiterate but the post above said.
I appreciate the post loads. I love your blog but while reading this entire post, I kept thinking to myself, what is the pragmatic point to take away from this post.
Please shed some light on this!
AA-
What's my proposed solution?
First of all, create awareness. Wake up people from their slumber. We Muslims need to stop sleepwalking through life, carrying out the bare minimum 5 prayers/day, fasting, and giving zakat.
We must return Islam to the realms of politics and economics. We must move outlawed terms such as Jihad, Shariah, and Khilafa off of life support and return them to our daily vernacular. We need to speak up against the secularization of Islam where governance and religion are being separated.
And it all starts with education. We need to focus on our circles of influence - self, family, friends. Its not enough that we strive to become 'good' Muslims. We return to the message that Islam is not a religion but a way of life.
Each of us needs to make decisions suited for our personal situation. Some may find resonance with Sh Imran Hosein and his teachings. Some will gravitate towards more political groups such Dr. Israr's Tanzim or Hizb-Tahrir. Some will focus on the economical teachings of the Murabitun. The choice is yours, but let us all do our part to wake up and move outside our comfort zones.
Assalamu alaikum,
Another wonderful post Mash'Allah! I've been reading lately about the Islamic economic system and how it compares to both the capitalist (and now defunct) Communist/socialist systems. Fascinating stuff and very much worth reading; also a strengthener of iman. We are really stuck in a rut as an Ummah due to this materialist way of thinking, where we believe our minds and our efforts will get us out of this rut. That's why it's important that when we give Da'wah we tell people not only about Islam's spiritual values, but also its political, economic, social, etc. values. First we have to educate ourselves by, like you said, attaching ourselves to individuals/groups who do discuss about Islam from a holistic perspective.
Dreamlife I once read two ahadith (said to be mutawatir) that talk about there being a khalifah who dies shortly before Imam Mahdi's appearance. The infighting and trials that occur during that time are due to issues over succession and that's why Imam Mahdi is revealed at that time (to resolve the infighting). If you'd like I can try to find the two ahadiths for you Insha'allah. And you make a good point about how this world isn't meant to ever be a "utopia".
AA- R,
Good comment as always. Just one point. WRT the point you and DL made about life not supposed to be a utopia, let's not fall for this devilish mind trick in trying to lull us to inaction.
I realize you two weren't suggesting to sit back and accept the pathetic lot of us Muslims, but its a fine line between accepting our doctrinal belief that life is not even worth the wing of a mosquito and falling into the mindset of apathy and inaction.
Wa alaikum salaam Brother Naeem,
Oh I see what you're saying and I apologize for my statement coming out that way...I guess I was trying to say that even when (not if since we know its return has been prophesied)the khilafah returns, we shouldn't expect society and the Ummah to suddenly become perfect (a "utopia" of sorts). Even during the Rasul's (SAWS) time and that of the righteous four khulafah-ur-rashidun after him, they had to work hard to maintain a well-functioning state. Likewise for us, we too will have to work hard, first to bring about the righteous rule again and secondly to maintain it after its return. In no way do I agree with those who take on a cloak of apathy and unconcern because they think if nothing's perfect it's not worth doing. Life in general isn't meant to be perfect. It's like if a Muslim says he/she doesn't recite Quran because they have trouble reciting it properly. In that case we should encourage that person to keep trying to recite because of the immense rewards attached to even trying to do this deed; no one can become a perfect reciter since everyone makes mistakes. So it doesn't mean we should stop trying to learn to do this beneficial deed...hope my example is clear!
According to Daniel Pipes, "worldly success requires modernization; modernization requires Westernization; westernization requires secularism; secularism must be preceded by a willingness to emulate the West."
Jean Paul Sartre in the preface to "the Wretched of the Earth" points out: "We would bring a group of African or Asian youth to Amsterdam, Paris, London......for a few months, take them around, change their clothes and adornments, teach them etiquette and social manners as well as some fragment of language. In short, we would empty them of their own cultural values and then send them back to their own countries. They would no longer be the kind of person to speak their own mind; rather they would be our mouthpieces. We would cry the slogans of humanity and equality and then they would echo our voice in Africa and Asia, "humanity", and "equality."
Fanon says: "In order for Eastern countries to be the followers of Europe and imitate her like a monkey, they should have proven to the non-Europeans that they do not posses the same quality of human values as the Europeans do. They should have belittled their history, literature, religion and art to make them alienated from all of it. We can see that the Europeans did just that."
An enlightened Muslim, thus, should not be easily deceived. He should be fully aware of the fact that he has a unique culture which is neither totally spiritual, as is the Indian culture nor totally mystical, as is the Chinese, nor completely philosophical, as is the Greek, and nor entirely materialistic and technological, as is the Western culture His is a mixture of faith, idealism and spirituality and yet full of life and energy with a dominant spirit of equality and justice, the ideology that Islamic societies and other traditional societies of the East are in desperate need of.
Very good article. I liked the following line:
"We must choose pragmatism over idealism"
I think there is a difference between the materialism of Barack Obama and that of Imran Khan. For majority of the non-Muslims, be they are Chritian, polytheist or whatever, the concept of hereafter is not very clear to them. Even if it is clearly defined in their books, most of the non-Muslims either do not take it seriously or just do not think about it at all. That is why duniya is everything to them. For Obama for example, it is no big deal if he is pragmatic over idealistic. That will probably give him four more years of presidency. Considering that he does not care about what will happen in the hereafter, why should he not choose something will benefit him in this world?
For a Muslim however, hereafter is an absolute truth. Even a Muslim who is only Muslim by name is absolutely certain about hereafter. That is why when a Muslim chooses pragmatism over idealism, he trades of his akhirah for duniya. It is a great loss for him. A muslim's materialism stems from 'gaflah' or 'heedlessness'.
AA- Shardul,
Thanks for the comments. I also wanted to point out that I'm not for *pure* idealism. There is indeed a strong role for practicality and compromise, as taught by the perfect example of our Prophet (saw).
However, this pragmatism simply never came at the cost of his (saw) principles.
AA Naeem,
OK so I read the post a couple of times. I am trying to understand what are you pointing the finger at. If I understand correctly - you are preaching INACTION over action? Am I right?
So the successful, in your eyes, are those who are defense and reactive instead of proactive? What about the hadeeth that you should change matters with you hands/ words/ heart, etc.?
Salams,
Fahad
AA- Fahad,
No, not inaction at all. I'm calling for sticking to our principles, to renege on calls for 'practicality' and compromise. I'm calling for greater trust in Allah (swt) and less trust in our human means.
As I stated the three prophetic examples of Nuh, Musa, and Muhammad (may Allah bless all of them), they didn't sit back and weigh the pros and cons of their actions. They stuck to their principles and put their COMPLETE trust in Allah.
In contrast, we are forgetting that Allah (swt) has parted the seas, flooded the deserts, and helped his believers conquer insurmountable odds and instead are choosing 'pragmatism' and 'reality'.
Reality is Allah, not desperately joining political parties hoping for some positive change.
Not sure how that is a call to inaction?
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