Current events: thoughts on the global chaos of our times

 Introduction

We are in regular contact with people worldwide, employed in a variety of contexts, crossing national, class, sectarian and even religious barriers, and what is almost universally agreed is that our world is in a state of chaos. At whatever angle we look at it, it is hard pressed to see much in the way of positive news. It is our intention, in the following paragraphs, to share some thoughts on the main events taking place, situations that can often have a direct impact on our readers. 

Iranian unrest

Protests have erupted in various Iranian cities, leading to confrontations with law enforcement in certain areas, leading to at least 538 deaths according to a PBS report. In addition to this, police officers have been killed, as well as sites such as mosques have been destroyed. I have noticed that much of the English content on these events have come from Pro-Shah supporters, filled with deliberate falsehoods regarding both the Pre and Post Khomeini era, obviously meant to influence the wider audience to see the Iranian state as unreasonable fanatics bent on world conquest. The hand of both the Trump administration and Israel are openly shown in stocking the Iranian unrest, not only in creating the environment of economic instability (via decades of sanctions, trade restrictions. covert and overt intrigue) but also in open acknowledgement of the involvement of MOSSAD (The Israeli intelligence services) on the ground.

Added confusion lies in the control of the Internet and the usage of AI technology, which can make it difficult to accurately perceive which message carries the most active support among Iranians living inside Iran. For a Western audience, particularly those who are largely ignorant of  outside historical, cultural and political realities, this is perhaps the most important question that requires an answer. Many Americans will depend upon anecdotal guidance via summarized (slanted) stories from media or from acquaintances of a  (insert which nation or region) pedigree. 

Operation Absolute Resolve & implications for the future

A brazen, yet politically bizarre, endeavor came to fruition on January 3rd, 2026 with a Delta Force group that invaded Venezuela to capture its President and his wife (Nicolas Maduro & Cilia Flores). This operation was preceded with months of bombings of particular boats and sites within the South American nation by US forces, mainly under the pretext of fighting drug trafficking to the United States. This assertion is now widely dismissed as a rather pathetic claim, which has forced the Trump administration to switch the issue towards openly expressing the intention to dominate Venezuelan natural resources, including its oil. 

Ironically, the newly available Venezuelan oil has not been tempting to everyone within the industry. ExxonMobil has expressed such  skepticism openly, to the point where President Trump himself has indicated that he is "inclined" to keep it out of any future access. Moreover, it appears that on a practical level, the oil resources would not be available anytime soon, making the entire effort null and void!

Another interesting theory is that the capture of Venezuela's oil resources would be needed to offset damage to the economic system should Iran choose to close the Straits of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's oil traffic passes. 

In any case, I see the future in even bigger terms that what has been described. Indeed, emboldened by the clear kidnapping of Maduro, President Trump (mostly through X) has issued threats to Columbia and Cuba. The US has conducted operations in places as diverse as Nigeria, Syria and been as of late openly threatening to annex Greenland for "security needs". 

Economics and addressing threats to Israel are not the only driving forces behind these rather odd actions. These actions are all designed to instill fear and outright terror in the hearts of friend and foe alike. Returning to Greenland, it is not enemy territory. It is a part of Denmark, which is of course a NATO member-state. The Trump bid for Greenland, by hook or crook, while certainly irrational in outer appearance, is a reminder that US power is still present and not up for dispute or negotiation. 

Xenophobia ( Immigration, ICE, Somalis)

On the domestic front, The United States of America is facing multiple issues. While most are arguably questions of legality, I actually think it is the social arena that has more of an impact that deserves attention. Xenophobia has become not only a theory that is platformed within mainstream media, but it is also normalized, as demonstrated by countless discussions we have engaged in  with people, fed by the media (devoid of depth)  on various cultural, historical and religious expressions. Often it seems as if even the poor and middle class Americans have no problem to "vote against their own interests"- as long as "the other" is somehow either punished or derived of some perceived gain.  

The Somalian community, with a strong presence in Minnesota and Columbus, Ohio, are under great scrutiny. Marriages are assumed to be of an illegal or even immoral nature, businesses as a whole are assumed to be involved in fraud, and of course the Boogeyman of "funding terrorism in Africa". While Somalis are not the only immigrant community in the United States, they make for an easy target by ambitious politicians and outright clout chasers looking for money and views in part because of their skin color and outward Muslim appearance. Thus, it is deemed acceptable to direct negative attention to them. 

The USA has always had an issue with racism within society, with official sanction or at least tolerated to a certain degree, however it has become more visible during the lead-up to the first Trump presidency, as the fear of "replacement" of Whites by Non-Whites is a real phobia. Our readers may recall the 2017 Charlottesville, Virginia protests with the slogan "you will not replace us" shouted.

It is estimated that by 2045, Whites will be the minority. This is not because of some conspiracy from the outside, it is simply because of demographic growth of Non-Whites, and the decline of white birth rates. 

Thus, there are many elements which are leading to the current climate of openly expressed racist stereotypes and general xenophobia. Racism ultimately thrives on power. Indeed, It has been argued that a weak group cannot truly be "racist". ICE has been weaponized in communities throughout the United States, bringing with it a host of lawsuits, tensions with local law enforcement, and sometimes deadly confrontations, as seen with the recent death of Renee Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A 37 year old White woman, her shooting has been seen as a stark reminder of the serious situation faced on a domestic front. 

Censorship

While most Americans became exposed to the realities of censorship, limiting freedom of speech while protesting against the genocide of Palestinians by the state of Israel, it seemed confined to academia. Universities were threatened financially to curb Pro-Palestinian activities. The September 2025 assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk has only added fuel to this fire. Academics and activists were harassed and even fired from their jobs for being critical of Kirk's views. 

Are these seemingly disparate issues connected?

Indeed these issues are connected. Their main connection is that they expose that the empire is decaying. I find it ridiculous that funds can be directed towards financing armies overseas, destabilizing other nations, as well as the activities of ICE, yet homelessness remains a great challenge. 40% - 60% of Americans cannot meet their basic financial needs, and we read in the book Broke in America: Seeing, Understanding and Ending U.S. Poverty by Joanne Samuel Goldblum and Colleen Shaddox that "the United States is doing virtually nothing to change the situation..the government spends far less on programs to make housing available...Policy and what one advocate calls " the commodification of housing" encourages surging prices that literally leaves too many people out in the cold." (pg.53).

When the leadership chooses to ignore issues such as this and concentrate on vilifying others, it shows that they have no vision for the future, other than temporary glitter. Much has been made of the Iranian protests, which initially started as a reply to the devaluation of the local currency. Yet, the current government, preceded by the rule of the Pro-West Shah  (Mohammed Reza Pahlavi) had much of the same evidence of decay. In 1971, the Shah had thrown a party, celebrating the 2500 year anniversary of the Persian empire. It was extravagant. French cuisine was served. An entire tent city was built. The total cost of this week-long event, attended by over sixty world dignitaries, was estimated to be around $500 million.  Average Iranians not only had little freedom, they had little food. This, along with a host of other things (including torture, killings and general oppression) build up the resentment that eventually led to the downfall of the Shah's regime in 1979.

We have something similar in Washington. President Trump wants to build a ballroom in the White House, as well as adding to the West Wing. The costs for these endeavors are expected to be about $400 million! All the while, the same president has demanded the homeless of Washington, D.C. to be removed (in Aug.2025) in order to make the District Of Columbia "safe and beautiful".

What can we do?

It is fortunate that in an American context there is still some significant measure of freedom within the political culture. Citizens can and should exercise their political rights, such as engaging in voting, all the while, we have to learn not to be so dependent on governments nor corporations. For all the above issues, the solutions can be summarized as follows.

(1) Be educated : Try to do a little bit more research on important topics. Reading physical books as opposed to dependence on websites. 

(2) Strengthen your connection to a healthy family and community; These are the real social security nets, more dependable than those at the whims of government and corporations. 

(3) Where possible, share accurate information with open minded individuals. This is particularly relevant to Muslims when presenting Islam. The religion of Islam has been deliberately misrepresented by the same forces we have discussed within this article. They use all manner of false propaganda. Thus, sharing accurate information on Islam is not only an issue of social survival, it is also a religious obligation ( Q 16:125).

(4) Be cognizant of safety concerns.

(5) Strengthen your financial freedom and movement security. This means having a marketable skill set, good social ties, discipline in spending and keeping a valid passport.

Jannah: Reflections and clarifications regarding Paradise (Qur'an study notes series)

                                                                        Introduction

                     

Occasionally, we share our notes- as prepared for our weekly Qur'an study sessions- in the form of an article, as a means to present with more clarity the texts and/or the subject under discussion.

The section of the Qur'an under analysis in our recent studies stems from Soorah At-Toor. While it is true that the themes of Paradise and Hellfire are found throughout the scripture, it has been this particular section, beginning with the seventeenth  verse, which has been the foundation for further contemplation. 

What is Hoor Al 'Ayn? حور العين 

إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى جَنَّـٰتٍۢ وَنَعِيمٍۢ

Before addressing the meaning of Hoor Al 'Ayn, it is important to conduct a careful, contextual analysis of the texts in question. Beginning at Q 52:17, it presents the contrast between the realities of Hell and Paradise, the latter being a mode of existence in which 'gardens" (in the plural) are present, a general sense of well-being, in which there is refuge, safety, provision, dignity and finally mates.

وَزَوَّجۡنٰہُمۡ بِحُوۡرٍ عِیۡنٍ

The Saheeh International translation renders wa zawwajnaahum bi-hoorin 'ayn as " And We will marry them to fair women with large, (beautiful) eyes." ( Q 52:20). A notion about this term is that God is giving females of certain skin color  as mates, complete with sensual rewards to men.  Sometimes associated with this is another notion of the presence of seventy-two virgins, made available to martyrs. For the latter, there is nothing in the Qur'an even remotely in support of that particular assertion, and it is our observation over the years that this notion has actually been popularized by Non-Muslim media sources and pundits, who attempt to rebut Islamic theology and various Muslim political causes by presenting Muslims as sex-crazed fanatics out for world conquest! 

The term Hoor Al 'ayn is simply an expression denoting mates of comfort. In English, we use expressions such as "easy on the eyes" that carry not only a comment on physical attractiveness, but on disposition. Indeed, the Qur'an has a du'aa that holds a similar meaning.

رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ

"Our Lord. Bestow on us spouses and offspring that will be a comfort to our eyes (Qurrata a'yunin).." ( Q 25:74). The Qur'an also mentions the concept of purified spouses (Azwaajun Mutahharah) (Q 2:25). These particular attributions ties in very well with the overall presentation of the reality of Jannah, as we will see.

Heavenly Wine

While the mention of a heavenly drink is noted in various locations in the Quranic text, a key text  uses the word "wine" (khamr), and is itself within a verse which begins its description of paradise with the word "metaphor" (mathal) (Q 47:15)  To be clear, the implication is that the entire presentation of Jannah in the Qur'an is purely figurative, meant to give us an approximation of an experience we have not encountered in this worldly realm.  It is not meant to be read in a literal fashion. 

The heavenly drink is mentioned in Soorah At Toor as accompanying meals, and itself a drink that won't present the sort of harms that occur with wine in this world ( Q 52:22-23). Thus, the "wine" of heaven and the "wine" of earth are two different items, with contrasting results!

"Boys" in heaven?

وَیَطُوۡفُ عَلَیۡہِمۡ غِلۡمَانٌ لَّہُمۡ کَاَنَّہُمۡ لُؤۡلُؤٌ مَّکۡنُوۡنٌ

Q 52:24-25 asserts that the residents of paradise will be surrounded by youths who will be like preserved pearls. The Arabic term for these youths is Ghilmaan (the singular being Ghulam).  Christian apologists, eager for any negative spin, have attempted to portray this (and other similar texts) as pedophilia! However, when read in context, it does not assert anything of that sort. Rather, it is stating that those in heaven, provided with all of their needs, will also have staff facilitate that provision. 

Anyone who has ever traveled on a cruise, stayed in a hotel, or dined in a restaurant, will have experiences with staff, whose primary job is to make the guest feel comfortable. These establishments will have cooks to prepare food, waiters to present it, and even have training to be able to engage with their clients. Indeed, much of the formal studies in Business Administration, hospitality management, and other related fields is in the study of methods and tools to facilitate ease for clients, ensuring a sustainable business.  The staff is expected to be energetic, intelligent and able to interact with the public.  This is how the term Ghilmaan is employed in the account of  paradise. There is nothing sinister in the Quranic presentation of Jannah, and certainly does not suggest anything repugnant.

Healthy discourse in Jannah is a result of being a sincere seeker in the Dunya

اِنَّا کُنَّا مِنۡ قَبۡلُ نَدۡعُوۡہُ

Q 52:25-28 has the inhabitants of Jannah speaking about that which led them to their abode, acknowledging that Allah has saved them from having the experiences of Hellfire. The sentence in verse 28 quotes them as saying Inna Kunna Min Qablu nad'oohu which means "indeed, we were-before- calling upon Him (i.e. God)". 

This "calling" should not be seen in the limited fashion of  formal du'aa. Indeed, the Qur'an itself " And when MY servants ask you (O Muhammad) about ME, Then I am close. I respond to the call of those who call to ME. Thus, let them respond to ME, and have faith in ME, so that perhaps they will find guidance" ( Q 2:186).

 وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ 

This clearly demonstrates that the life-long process of a believer, a seeker, who has sought out God's support, knowledge of Divine realities, is the "calling" that finds its answer-ultimately- within the other dimension known as paradise. 

A summary of the Jannah existence

اِنَّ اَصۡحٰبَ الۡجَنَّۃِ الۡیَوۡمَ فِیۡ شُغُلٍ فٰکِہُوۡنَ

ہُمۡ وَاَزۡوَاجُہُمۡ فِیۡ ظِلٰلٍ عَلَی الۡاَرَآئِکِ مُتَّکِـُٔوۡنَ

لَہُمۡ فِیۡہَا فَاکِہَۃٌ وَّلَہُمۡ مَّا یَدَّعُوۡنَ

سَلٰمٌ ۟ قَوۡلًا مِّنۡ رَّبٍّ رَّحِیۡمٍ

"Indeed, the inhabitants of Jannah on that day will be busy with happiness (shughulin faakihoon), They, and their mates, shaded, in a state of relaxation on adorned couches, for them is the fruit (of their spiritual labors in dunya) and (in addition) for them is whatever they ask for: Peace: A decree (Qawlan) from a Merciful Lord." ( Q 36:55-59).

The verbiage resembles a vacation, as previously noted. An environment in which the traveler's needs are met. A good vacation in this world will include moments of education, such as museum tours, natural areas, in which tour guides will give important information on history, geology, geography, etc. 

Jannah as a picture of something to bring about in our world today

Muslims cannot deny that the afterlife (Akhirah) is a reality, something that is eternal, whereas our lives in this world is not only temporary, but even the planet itself is temporary. At some point, it will cease to exist. Thus, while we should seek the Jannah of the afterlife by giving our obedience to the guidance of Allah, as conveyed through His own words and the overarching example of His Messengers (upon them all be peace), we have to remember that we are still inhabitants of this world, a world that Allah has made humans to exercise responsibility (Q 2:30). We are told to pray for that which is pleasant in this world and the next abode in equal fashion ( Q 2:201), and that each have a share of this life that should not be neglected ( Q 28:77).

The followers of Prophet Muhammad ( Sall Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) went on to create an entirely new civilization, a civilization that, despite its flaws, had a deep and profound impact on the world, in every field imaginable. Poignant examples include the Muslim rule of Spain (Andalusia) and the Indian subcontinent, as well as within West Africa, which built not only mosques, palaces and gardens, but constructed those physical and intellectual edifices that were meant to sustain a healthy spirituality and worldly existence. The Taj Mahal is still seen today as one of the wonders of the world, a site that was built entirely on the premises of paradise as displayed within the Qur'an. 

The picture of paradise is universal provision, mutual respect, companionship, healthy thinking and ultimate peace. Are not those things that humans can create in this world? Do we not need sobriety in this world? Strong families and healthy relationships? Cleanliness, and an ethic inspired entirely by faith? 

We should be inspired by our faith in God, in His messenger Muhammad (upon whom be peace), to fix ourselves as individuals and to spread healthy awareness to our fellow human beings that it is entirely possible to take actions,  make solid plans, to have some levels of paradise in this world. The foundation for that is already present. 

فَذَکِّرۡ فَمَاۤ اَنۡتَ بِنِعۡمَتِ رَبِّکَ بِکَاہِنٍ وَّلَا مَجۡنُوۡنٍ

 أَمْ يَقُولُونَ شَاعِرٌۭ نَّتَرَبَّصُ بِهِۦ رَيْبَ ٱلْمَنُونِ 

Q 52:29-30 tell us that the Messenger who delivered all of this information is not a promoter of dark arts, insane, not a poet with his head in the clouds. The Messenger  ('alayhis salaamu was salaam) delivered this information, these words, at the command of Allah.   This is a perfect place to end our article. After all, the Prophet himself, an uneducated orphaned individual, went on to achieve the success of his mission in his very lifetime, whose followers literally changed the world after his death. The Prophet Muhammad is an example that it is possible for us to be successful, regardless of those barriers placed against us. 

The Power of Seeking Sacred Knowledge ( Presentation at the Maintaining Muslim Identity conference Nov 29th, 2025 )

Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem. Alhamdulillaahil ladhee anzala ‘Ala ‘Abdihil Kitaab, wal ladhee ‘allama bil Qalam, ‘allamal Insaana Maa Lam Ya’lam. 

Introduction

Firstly, I want to extend my thanks to Imam Mohamed Mabrouk, Brother Mustafa Gonzales, and the other organizers for extending an invitation to address this conference, Maintaining Muslim Identity. The particular subject I have been asked to speak on is a very important topic. A topic which prompted me to open with a small selection of Quranic sentences. Those sentences read  as follows:  “In the name of Allah, The Compassionate, The Ever-Merciful. Praise belongs to Allah, who has sent forth to His servant (I.e. the Prophet) The scripture, He is the One who teaches by the pen, who teaches humanity previously unknown knowledge.”

Is there a separation between ‘secular’ and ‘sacred’ Knowledge?

Directly addressing the topic, we begin with the Qur’an, which famously contains the du’aa “O My Lord, Increase me in knowledge” (Rabbi Zidnee ‘ilmaa- Q 20:114). There is a broader context, which we will return to later. But for now, we have this prayer to Allah asking for knowledge. Also well-known is the hadeeth which states that “seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.” (Sunan Ibn Maajah 224). These quotes often decorate the walls of schools and universities throughout the Muslim world. Other expressions that have currency in Muslim circles include “ Seek knowledge, even into China” “Knowledge is the lost property of the believer” ( hadeeth via Sunan At-Tirmidhee 2687).

While there are undoubtedly ahadeeth  that speak on the virtues of particular Quranic texts (such as Soorah Al-Ikhlas, Al Mulk, Ayatul Kursiyy etc), the overarching truth is that in Islam there is no functional distinction between the “secular” and the “sacred”.  Indeed, throughout the Qur’an we find exhortations to study the contents of the universe, the study of the body, history, the material sciences in general. (  Q 3:191, 35:27-28, 10:5,19,16:12, 30:22, et al). We admit that it can be said that there are levels of separation between certain fields, such as a distinction between knowledge of scripture and that of fictional genres, but even in that, the source of the intelligence that gave the creators of those genres is Allah. Thus, the Qur’an says “So blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators” (Fa-tabaarak Allahu Ahsanul Khaaliqeen) ( Q 23:14)

Moreover, the study of these (and other) items are presented as items which will increase the faith of the believer. Islam has had no problem with scientific advancements, unlike the Christian history, which actually engaged in persecution, leading often to death, of scientists, philosophers and thinkers, actions endorsed by the Church.

The Power of the Islamic revelation

The Qur’anic revelation was delivered initially to an uneducated man ( An-Nabi Al-Ummi) and to a society which had similarly delivered very little in terms of civilizational contributions (Al-Ummiyyeen). The impact of the revelation altered forever the Arabian peninsula, and became the genesis for an entirely new civilization on Planet Earth

It is Islam which not only produced empires, it reformed characters of the modern American experiences such as Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X. Islam not only built mosques, it built wonders such as the Taj Mahal. Its openness to knowledge and the benefits therefrom made the renaissance possible, as well the majority of the conveniences we enjoy today.

Karen Armstrong writes “ The Koran constantly stresses the need for intelligence in deciphering the “signs” or “messages” of God. Muslims are not to abdicate their reason, but to look at the world attentively and with curiosity. It was this attitude that later enabled Muslims to build a fine tradition of natural science, which has never been seen as such a danger to religion as in Christianity.” ( A History of God, pg. 143, 1993 edition, New York).

I have seen numerous examples from my experiences with all types of people with varying levels of education and diversity transformed into better human beings, becoming people of consciousness and ability, even teaching themselves multiple languages when having been previously been illiterate, abandoning drugs, alcoholic addictions and promiscuity, surrendering their lives to the guidance of Allah.

"And whosoever has Taqwaa of Allah, He makes for them a way out (of bad circumstances ) and provides for them from sources they could not even imagine..' ( Q 65:2-3).

"It is He (Allah) who has raised (ba'atha) among the uneducated (ummiyyeen) a Messenger from among themselves, reciting to them of His signs, purifying them, teaching them The Scripture and the Wisdom, as they had been before this in a state of apparent loss. And (The benefit of this raising) extends to others from among them who had not yet joined them, and He is the Mighty, The Wise." { Q 62:2-3).

Thus, Allah made it so that the Prophet, Sall Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam-, would emerge to be a catalyst for something far more powerful than what is imagined. The Arabic term Ba'atha in Q 62"2 is significant because it highlights the low conditions of Arabian society at that time, a society which becomes elevated by contact with Divine Revelation. The sentence that initiates verse three (wa aakhareena minhim lammaa yalhaqoo bihim) demonstrates that this elevation is not restricted to the Prophet's time or his immediate audience, rather, this authentic elevation is available to any who are sincere in seeking it. In the broader theme of this conference, the Identity of Islam is to be more important than any other label because it connects us not only to an Ummah of two billion people, more importantly, it connects us to Allah, His Angels, His Scripture and Messengers.

Practical tips for students

All of us should be students of this religion, at least enough of it to elevate our existence in this world for the better. We should all know how to perform the basic practices, such as the five pillars, and have the essential moral foundation present. The basic moral foundation of a Muslim is given in a number of Quranic verses, such as Q 2:177, 17:22-39, and 23:1-11. 

We cited earlier the famous du’aa “O My Lord, Increase me in knowledge.” That du’aa is given within a broader context, which we shall share now. 

فَتَعَـٰلَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۗ وَلَا تَعْجَلْ بِٱلْقُرْءَانِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يُقْضَىٰٓ إِلَيْكَ وَحْيُهُۥ ۖ وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِى عِلْمًۭا 

“ Thus, Highly exalted is Allah, The Ruler, The Ultimate Reality (Al-Haqq), And do not be in a rush with the Qur’an before its revelation is completed for you. And say “O My Lord, increase me in knowledge.” (Q 20:114)

The revelation of scripture came to the Prophet slowly. It was not all at once. Similarly, when we are engaged in the study of the deen, it should be in a calm fashion, taking time to internalize its theology as well as its morals. So, the format should be (1) Theology (2) Morals. (3) Basic practices, taking the requisite time to understand these things, at least on a fundamental level.

Attending gatherings such as this, Halaqahs, Qur’an sessions, regular self-study using actual books, taking notes, using simple tools such as notebooks, highlighters and different color pens, to help in retaining knowledge and organization of records.

Knowledge is also attained and more easily retained through direct experiences with a teacher, and travel, in which we are exposed to the natural world, to Allah’s creation.

 The Qur'an mentions that traveling "in the land" increases one's intelligence on all levels, including

emotional intelligence (Q 22:48). The same text implies that xenophobia is also removed through travel, however there are exceptions, primarily being those with "blind hearts". The Qur'an also shows us the need for good teachers (Q 16:43) in order to limit the pitfalls of the mistakes earned through self-study (without mentorship).

Thank you for your indulgence. Wa aakhara da’wanaa ‘anil hamulillaahi rabbil ‘aal ameen.

Selfishness: A collective character flaw

 Introduction

Selfishness may seem to some readers to be an extremely fringe and irrelevant topic, when one considers that a genocide is still taking place in Gaza, the Sudanese civil war which  has gained more attention, and even the obvious propaganda campaign against Nigeria that has emerged in recent weeks, however, our assertion is that all of these are ultimately connected to the prevalence of a selfish mindset.

That mindset essentially says "it's not my problem", or, in the most "generous" of circumstances, promotes the interest of individual nations or blocks of nations alone.   This sort of mentality even filters down to the world of religion! Within this past week, a social experiment was  enacted by TikTok content creator Nikalie Monroe was calling several houses of worship nationwide, asking for Baby formula, in order to test the reply of the places of worship staff. The only positive replies were from a a handful of African-American churches (traditionally poor communities), one Buddhist temple and a mosque. Although I admit to a bit of confusion on this point, it appears the same content creator reached out to other mosques in the Dearborn, Michigan area, all of which gave positive replies to the request for baby formula. 

Our article will give brief reflections on the shades of selfishness that are often ignored. Our primary assertion is that this is a collective character flaw that is largely a by-product of capitalism and nationalism, the prevailing economic and political philosophies. 

How should we define "selfishness"?

A dictionary definition of selfishness  is simply "the quality or condition of being selfish" (Oxford). At the outset, it is important to share that self interest at some levels is appropriate, necessary and quite natural. A person sleeping in a cold room would require a blanket to keep warm and sleep comfortably. Similarly, a hungry man desires food to satiate his hunger.  

Yet, the fulfillment of these needs can go too far. It can go to the direction of inconsideration of others who have the same needs, to the point of actual indifference. Sometimes selfishness manifests itself in manifest greed, search for fame, the abandonment of family, even criminal activities. 

National selfishness

Nationalism, in an extreme form, can easily mutate into a  collective selfishness and sense of superiority. A sentiment that nothing else matters except "us". Nazi Germany certainly had this problem, it is shared by other obscene political ideologies such as Zionism and is present in the MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN (MAGA) mentality, the latter the current powerful trend in American politics.  It is that trend that has empowered individuals (even politicians) to engage in blatant oppression, injustice against others, and even to brag about it online. 

Religious selfishness

A sort of self-righteousness that overwhelms any ethical considerations, especially when dealing with those belonging to other religious groups. Sometimes, this even occurs within the same religious community, where a segment therein are adherents of a slightly different shade of religious understanding. I have found it actually a strange occurrence that online, Christian apologists who were once allies (such as David Wood, Sam Shamoun and the figure known by the nickname Apostate Prophet ) who have turned on each other, with a variety of others, accusing each other of various moral and legal crimes, even to the point of pointing out the marriage problems of each other in the most repugnant fashions.  

Muslims do this as well, and will justify it by asserting  that there are allowances to backbite "the innovator", that their theological opponents are to never be the object of civilized behavior. This stems from a sort of selfishness in which religion has been altered to serve ego, rather than our egos surrendering ourselves to God. Another analogy would be that of a criminal gang, that we treat religious affiliation as if we are in a gang or a sports team.

Selfishness with resources

It is obvious that selfishness with resources is a Hallmark of today's world, at least in the Western environment. The rich relative refuses to give help to the poor one, with little to no sense of guilt or social responsibility. Indeed, as we have often pointed out, this has ironically taken on a religious element, to a certain extent, with the emergence of THE GOSPEL OF PROSPERITY as a doctrine that has taken hold of many American churches. 

Scripture is filled with accounts critical of selfishness with resources, but despite this, we still find that the mentality persists. With that said, we are told by the Qur'an (Q 17:29) that we should neither be wasteful nor tightfisted with our resources, a balance of personal and societal responsibilities is clearly being advocated by the Islamic sources. 

Emotional selfishness

While selfishness is a quality recognizable in all variants of narcissism,  a more subtle form is what we are referring to as emotional selfishness, in which a person either refuses to recognize or simply does not care about the emotional well-being of others, while at the same time expecting others to be considerate of their emotional output, a one-sided sort of relationship ( be it professional, personal, familial or romantic).

These sorts of unbalanced dynamics are particularly common within patriarchal societies, families in which leadership is more structured. Unfortunately, the result of this can lead to all types of abuse and toxic behavior in general. 

From a religious perspective, emotional selfishness should not even exist. The Prophet Muhammad- Sall Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam- has famously stated "None of you have faith until you love for your brother what you love for yourself." He also told his followers to spread the greetings (and environment) of peace and give gifts to each other. He has also been recorded as being deeply critical of not showing affection for children. These ahadeeth, and others of like nature, are useful bullet-points in avoiding selfishness. 

Islam as the source of reminders and guidance

One of the titles of the Qur'an is The Reminder (Adh-dhikr). The Qur'an, as well as the example of the Prophet Muhammad, upon whom be peace, are resources that we can always consult. In fact, we should be consulting, reading, studying and in deep contemplation of these resources, on a regular basis. 

This is because of the simple fact that we are humans, we can overlook or forget important information. We believe that at core humans are good people, and anyone who proclaims that Allah deserves worship and that Muhammad was an authentic Messenger of God with sincerity and honesty has to have more good within them than bad. In other words, reminders such that which this article contains should prove to be useful ( Q 51:55) .

By consistent consultation with the Qur'an, authentic spirituality, we should be in a position where we correct our behavior (and even feelings) in a relatively short amount of time. Islamic ethos should prevail over our emotions, selfishness is something that likewise we need to to overcome, and Islam is the best weapon to utilize for that purpose.