Day 17
Belief in the unseen. Not everything that counts can be counted. Not everything that can be counted counts.
TL;DR
We live in a hyper-materialistic world where science becomes to yardstick of truth.
Science is good at observing and measuring, but our belief system will determine morality.
When you remove belief in God from our lives, we turn into a hedonistic society where we are guided by pleasure.
Belief in God and Akhirah give us sincerity and consistency in our actions.
Some aya of the Quran changes our reality. Some changes our priorities. Some others strengthen our hearts, and some changes our actions. This aya changes our reality.
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Welcome to day 17 of Be Quranic, where we take short passages from the Quran daily, extract practical lessons, and apply them to our daily lives so that we can be more Quranic.
Insha'Allah, today we continue our exploration of the longest Surah of the Quran, focusing on ayah 3 of Surah al-Baqarah. In the second ayah, Allah tells us that the Quran is sent down as guidance for the people of Taqwa. In the next few ayahs, specifically ayahs 3, 4, and 5, we will examine the traits and characteristics of the people of Taqwa, aiming to cultivate these qualities within ourselves and apply them to our daily lives, so that we can be guided by the Quran.
The third ayah reads, "those who believe in the unseen, establish their prayers, and from what they have been provided, they give to charity." In this ayah, Allah presents three key traits of the people of Taqwa: belief in the unseen, establishment of prayers, and giving to charity. These traits are intentionally ordered, emphasising that faith, particularly in the unseen, is the foundation of everything we do. We cannot see Allah, angels, judgement day, Jannah, or Jahannam, which falls under the study of metaphysics, beyond the physical realm.
Unfortunately, in today's hyper-materialistic world, science has often been elevated from a tool for observation and measurement to a determinant of right and wrong, known as scientism. Islam is not against science; our issue is with scientism, as science is merely a tool and does not dictate moral values. When belief in the unseen is removed, the basis of morality is lost, leading to confusion in modern society about what is right and wrong. Ethical and moral concerns are metaphysical issues, not readily visible or measurable.
A contentious topic today is the LGBTQ movement. While LGBTQ actions are and always will be haram in Islam, the historical treatment of such individuals in Muslim societies was markedly different from that in Europe. They were known and tolerated in society, as long as they did not publicise their lifestyle. Actions behind closed doors remained private matters between individuals and Allah. If sinning occurred publicly, the punishment was similar to that for Zina – light lashes, not meant to cause permanent harm. This contrasts with the harsh laws introduced by European colonisers in Muslim countries, which remain to this day. Now, as Western morality changes, these countries often force their new norms onto others, using economic and military strength.
When belief in the unseen is eliminated, the only remaining measure of right and wrong becomes pleasure, leading society towards hedonism, driven by the lowest self, a concept the Quran addresses. For the people of Taqwa, belief in an existence beyond our own, with Allah as the ultimate and necessary existence, is crucial. Our understanding of right and wrong stems from Him. Belief in the unseen world, including Jannah, Jahannam, and the recording angels, fosters sincerity and consistency in our actions.
We are not swayed by societal changes, as exemplified in the life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his companions. Even in the face of adversity, the Prophet exemplified kindness, motivated by his love for Allah and emulating Allah's characteristics. This consistency stemmed from belief in the unseen.
Belief in the unseen is thus the foundational trait of the people of Taqwa, shaping our actions and perspectives. It changes our reality, influencing our priorities, making Salah and charity important, as they align with our new, enlightened perspective. Some ayahs in the Quran are not just actionable but transformative, altering how we view and interact with the world. They remind us that there is more to existence than just the material world, guiding us to see the power behind creation and adjusting our priorities accordingly.