We live in a quick paced world. Videos go viral and lose interest in a fast way. One politician can come to power (by election or violence) and abrogate the works of the previous figures with immediate effect. With almost everything, the above assertions are correct. This is what I call the throwaway culture.
The throwaway culture has an impact on people of faith as well. It is estimated that between 20-25 percent of marriages among American Christians end in divorce. despite religious prohibitions (ft.1-2) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that between 30-40 percent of the food supply in the United States is actually wasted. (ft.3).
The Qur'an mentions a very interesting analogy that is relevant to the topic of throwaway culture. It reads "and be not like a woman who breaks into untwisted strands threads after it was strong...." (Q 16:92 Yusuf Ali translation).
وَلَا تَکُوۡنُوۡا کَالَّتِیۡ نَقَضَتۡ غَزۡلَہَا مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ قُوَّۃٍ اَنۡکَاثًا
The context, beginning at Q 16:90, is discussing the importance of maintaining treaties and guidelines for justice and fair play. While the above Quranic sentence has been associated by the commentators with a particular Makkan woman, said to be mentally challenged, I think the sentence deserves more contemplation, particularly in this age.
Emotional turmoil, as well as either a desire to erase the past, can bring forth someone to actually destroy what they themselves have created. The Qur'an seems to suggest that this is an incorrect move to take. It teaches us to preserve our healthy relationships (Q 2:228, 4:34-35), that we are not to waste our resources, be it food, or waste of our mental and physical abilities (Q 5:89-91, 7:31, 17:26).
The imagery of self-destruction or the bringing down of something we have created is very frightening. Islam is all about building, about growth in all areas. May Allah guide us to build what is beneficial and not fall into destructive thinking and behaviour.
Footnotes
(1) https://sacksandsackslaw.com/religious-demographics-divorce-united-states/
(2) The New Testament forbids divorce in all cases except adultery (Matt.5:32, 19:9).
(3) https://www.usda.gov/about-food/food-safety/food-loss-and-waste/food-waste-faqs
