I give in this article indicators and measurements that help you assess the importance and quality of the content you present, and accordingly, modify and improve it.
We must first define the term ‘content’ intended by this article. Here, we are not addressing posts of a purely personal nature related to family photos or memories, for which, their publisher’s aim is to share with his family and friends some important moments and events in his life, although even these must be subject to evaluation and filtering, so that their publisher and his stories are not deemed too repetitive, pointless, and boring. We are, instead, examining content presented as being professional or under the banner of “impact or influence”. Everyone who provides such content should scrutinize it honestly and objectively using the indicators and measurements below to assess its importance and value, and consequently, modify and improve future content.
With each indicator, I’ve also included some questions that help understand it.
Purpose
Value
Appropriateness
Followers & Feedback
PURPOSE
1. Do you have a clear vision, direction and objectives that guide your choice of content?
2. What do your posts provoke, target and speak to? What merchandise are you promoting? Or, in other words, what is your area of influence if you consider yourself an influencer? (the intellect, the body, positivity, optimism, inspiration and motivation, decent entertainment, superior values)
3. Does your content showcase your valuable achievements so that it is an introduction and marketing for your business that others may need and would add value to their lives?
4. Does it fall into one of the following categories?
a. Important and useful information
b. Funny, joyful and entertaining in an innovative way without being trivial, mocking or insulting to others
c. Inspirational ideas
d. Reminder to the oblivious of some important life aspects
e. Driving self-development while avoiding repeated and plagiarized phrases and ideas
f. Novelty, creativity, and distinction, whether artistically, intellectually, or spiritually
g. Promoting positive and superior human values
VALUE
1. How much time, research, knowledge, thought and effort did it take to prepare your content? Or is the goal a continuous pumping of cloned, regurgitated, useless, and uninspiring content?
2. Do you have enough specialization, experience, and knowledge in the field of your content that really qualify you to deliver it?
3. Do you flood your followers with an endless daily stream of your photos and looks that adds no value to their lives? (Noting that a person’s appearance barely changes overnight). This only means that what you’re trying to sell is actually ‘You’.
4. Is your content useful or entertaining enough, adds value, and worth wasting and stealing even seconds of your followers’ lives?
APPROPRIATENESS
1. Is your content befitting of your values, religion, morals, name, and family?
2. Are you really proud of your content? (in terms of moral levels, as a role model, high human value, distinctive and innovative and not a boring reproduction or repetition of other people’s words or ideas, or that it is amusing and laughable)
3. Practice accountability. Be a mirror of yourself and take a critical look from afar. Do you sense the absurdity of your content or its high value? In ten years’ time, would you appreciate the effect of your content on future generations?
FOLLOWERS &FEEDBACK
1. Do you have real, interactive followers who are interested in your intellect, thoughts or entertainment; NOT in your appearance, looks, and clothes?
2. Are the ‘Likes’ you receive on your posts real and honest, or mere social compliments, or family support?
3. Are followers’ comments honest, useful, purposeful, critical and guiding to future content or just flirtatious and flattering?
4. Are your followers eager for more of your content? If you don’t post for a while, do they miss you or ask you for more content? (here again we don’t mean more personal photos and selfies)
One of the most important criteria for evaluating content remains, and we should invite, the critical opinions of our content, which will reflect the broader view of the general audience. Here, we should avoid settling for praise and compliments, and look instead for the brutally honest opinion that may displease us, nonetheless, it prompts us to think and reconsider what we publish.
The biggest evidence to the absurdity of the notion of atheism are the atheists. And they, themselves, are its biggest skeptics!!
If atheists genuinely believed that…
Existence of a Creator is just a myth…
There is no life and no judgement after death…
Their existence is not associated with a purpose…
Given that life, for the most part and for most people, is ordinarily a series of continuous challenges, some more difficult than others, and actual good/happy times are less than the hardships…
Wouldn’t it be valid to suggest that most atheists should ideally end their own lives?…
Especially upon confronting any event of ailment, poverty, death/suffering of a loved one…
There’s logically no reason for them to carry on living when they can end their misery.
Moreover, why don’t they end the life of their loved ones who are very elderly and in pain, handicapped to a huge extent and miserable with their lives, terminally ill with statistics showing no hope for recovery. Because they then would be doing them, and their caregivers, a huge favor.
Why endure suffering?
Since survival is for the fittest, and the planet’s resources are becoming scarcer, why wouldn’t a council pick and choose the elite, who are worthy of survival and would produce “better humans”, and eliminate the unproductive, the weak, the anomalies?
If someone throws here the excuse of “Survival Instinct”, he would have to explain “Instinct” and the initial source of that instinct !!
Of the myriad of testimonies to the existence of a Creator, the ones I believe to be the most compelling are:
1-Infinite variety:
Ordaining that no two creatures are entirely identical.
Laws of science imply that similar inputs produce similar output. When two elements interact, they produce the same result. When molecular hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2) react together, under similar conditions, they form either water or hydrogen peroxide, not an array of different compounds. Yet what we witness in life is a boundless variety of creations in: kind, species, look, details, fingerprint, retinal print, DNA, even attitude, personality, aspirations, weaknesses, and creativity. We’re not even looking at a limited variety; we’re talking inconceivable diversity. Identical twins are not really identical, though coming from the same mother, father, womb, diet and surrounding conditions, even egg and sperm (i.e. DNA). They remain distinguished in countless aspects, not just one or two.
Some relevant compelling questions then:
How were these variations caused?
Why weren’t humans created sexless?
Why weren’t they created as replicas? Producing abundant quantities of the same just to populate Earth and perform whatever their intended functions are.
What is the aim/purpose behind diversity? Why bother create more than one distinct identity (in the case of identical twins), and an unlimited number of creatures (in the case of the universe in general)? Again, the variation is not limited to one, two or even a few attributes. It’s amazingly countless.
The easy alternative scenario could’ve been identical productions of a finite number of species, each with own functions in the life cycle.
There has to be an instigator/force that caused the output to diversify despite coming from the same inputs. The varieties, known and unknown, ancient, currently existing and yet to exist, in creatures of all kinds are just unfathomable. No one can claim to know them all, let alone fully understand even the most primitive of them.
Logically, Whatever/Whoever is causing the variations (the instigator) has the “Will” and “Intent”, the “Intelligence” and “Knowledge”, and immense “Creativity” to do so, such that these variations are not anomalies or defective copies. Creatures in each biological kind are relatively equivalent in overall capacities and features, yet unique in boundless facets. It’s as if their “Creator” intends it as yet another evidence of His power of creation. Not only did He create the whole universe, He continues to amaze us with new distinct creationsEvery Single Day!!
2-Beauty:
Wonderment and Delight in Observing
The Creator of all beings has both an astounding degree of creativity, as well as an inclination for captivating beauty. Beauty perceived in almost everything, in the design, motion dynamics, details, colors, complementary functionality between beings, flavors, smells and texture. Beauty that artists were only able to devise, and only learned, by observing and emulating other creations. The colors of flowers, birds and leaves. The geometry in a Spider’s web, and the bird’s nest. Awe inspiring beauty that amazes, dazes, inspires, and deeply moves us to the core as we observe the creatures in the sky, on land and under water. No justification and nothing in all the laws of science dictates beauty or requires it in any product, nor does lack of it impair functionality. Creatures could simply be ordinary looking machines/robots that don’t necessarily look good yet perform their intended functions.
Beauty is instead a “Choice”, a “Decision” by the Beautiful Creator of things and beings.
3-Instinct:
The innate, basic knowledge every living creature is born with.
What/Who is the source of knowledge observed in the behaviors of newborns from the first instance of their life? Nature is not a living thing. It doesn’t possess knowledge and isn’t capable of creating nor passing it on. Offspring of several types of species are not “taught” anything by the parent, because the mother dies immediately after giving birth. So how did they learn to survive, fly, swim, feed, create structures, build a web, without a teacher passing it on to them? Where did their initial knowledge come from? Where did the unbelievable amount of data found in our DNA come from when nature itself is a non-intelligent creation?
These three things alone necessitate a Creator possessing essential elements:
1-AWillto create such infinite diversity
2-Knowledgeto do so and to instill bits of this knowledge within every newborn living creature
3-UnimaginableCreativity (A designer)
4-Inclination forBeautythat gives us a testimony to the existence of an “All Knowing”, Beautiful Creator with every single creation that comes to be every second of every day
5-ThePowerto make this all happen
Every creature is intended as a miracle, proof of a Creator, and an inspiration.
To conceive of any other explanation than the existence of a Creator takes a ridiculous amount of absurdity. And what I find completely inexplicable is how vehemently atheists refuse the possibility of a Creator. They’re willing to take any illogically founded explanation, as full of weaknesses as it may be, except the notion of a God and a Hereafter. Even the dilemma they put forward for injustice in the world and if there was a God how can He allow bad things to happen to children is based on a fallacy of denying a God, a Hereafter and the ultimate justice day!! It’s a self-contradictory statement.
Ironically enough, as Dr. Hamza Yusuf puts it, it is the atheists that have God on their mind more than believers, they tend to bring up the issue of His existence a lot more.
As mentioned, there are boundless evidences to His existence in every single one of His creations and in most facets of life. It’s unimaginable how a logical human would not accept that a glass of water can just exist on his table without someone crafting the glass, pouring water into it, and putting it there, yet they are willing to concede the existence of this unfathomable universe, as baffling, precise, and managed as it is, without a Creator.
Atheists subject God to the rules and laws known of this life, even though He created them. Nonetheless, if we still go along and apply them, let’s ponder upon on a few issues.
Order: Monitoring, Management, and Rectification
This extremely precise, orderly and systematic way each individual creature, and the universe as a whole, runs must be controlled and managed by a magnificent All-Knowing All-Encompassing power. It can’t be an unplanned sequence of events. Every system established by man (e.g. machines, governments, production lines, health systems, schools, etc. ) has a manager or a parallel mechanism that performs the checks and balances, controls and monitors it to ensure it operates/runs properly and correct any mistakes should it deviate from normal/intended path. We’re living by this law of life daily. We also cannot assume each entity or part is managed separately, else systems would clash. Consequently, every creation is managedseparately,concurrently, andcollectivelywith all other systems/creations in perfect harmony and integration. A symphony orchestrated so majestically and beautifully we can only observe it play before us in complete awe, unless we’re blind-hearted. Can you imagine what that would require in workforce, intelligence, plus organizational, decision-making management capacity?!!!
Accountability & Justice:
The Destination, UltimateJudgement and Retribution.
Every human system that exists applies the rules of accountability in almost every facet in life, ever since we were children, at home, in school, college, at work.. etc. So, in the holistic life-system, does it make sense that we don’t get held accountable for how good or bad we are? If not, where’s the justice in that? What could possibly motivate us to excel and do more in charity and kindness? What compels us to go above and beyond the basic law-enforced duties and do the right thing? On the flip side, what’s to stop us from stealing, killing, being mean, spiteful, jealous, tyrant if we can evade getting caught?
How can you possibly ask someone who’s been badly mistreated to not seek revenge without waiting for an incompetent or manipulatable human-created justice system? How can a person forgive someone for killing or hurting his child or loved-one had he no faith that ultimately justice shall be done? How would you accept that a tyrant (in any form) that succeeded in escaping punishment throughout his life, even died a normal death, will never be accountable for his wrong doings? Wouldn’t this be the ultimate injustice!!
Purpose: The “Why” question.
Every object and living thing that exists in our life serves a purpose in the wholistic life system, so what is the purpose of ours? How can we assume that everything has been created for a purpose except us? Why do we even bother to get up in the morning and work, if we’re eventually going to die and it totally ends our journey? Having absolutely no purpose or believing there is nothing else comes after this temporary life, would cause all kinds of moral catastrophes, eventually leading to the quick demise and extinction of humans. For example, what would stop society from “ridding itself” of the non-productive elderly, totally handicapped or the terminally ill, and ease their, and society’s suffering? Why can’t the answer to any struggle in life be to end it altogether painlessly, if we were to assume this whole life is for nothing, no purpose, no creator, no accountability whatsoever, and no afterlife? What motivates us to continue living, working hard, getting up in the morning, if all was in vain?
Morality: Ethics & kindness
What is our source of morality? Atheists sometimes argue that we can be non-believers yet conduct ourselves in the highest ethical standards. True, but…
Who’s to say or decide what’s right or wrong? Where is the reference if not religion? From the days of Cane and Abel, why was it deemed unacceptable/sinful to kill another? Where did we get that incest and adultery are forbidden? Why would people get married when they can just fulfill their desires like animals, out in the open, with whoever, or whatever for that matter. Where did the laws of conduct come from? And let’s say you happen to be a civilized, well-balanced, ethical human, don’t you think there are very bad atheists, with absolutely no moral inclination? Wouldn’t you then fear for your children, daughter, sister, mother, the elderly? How would the society look like when people have no predisposition and absolute reference as to what’s right and wrong?
Sleep: The spiritual recharge.
What’s the explanation for man’s vital need for deep sleep just like his need for air, water and food, from which a prolonged deprivation would lead to delirium and madness, eventually death?… There is yet no substantiated quantifiable physical or physiological justification/process that the scientists or doctors could accurately pinpoint as in the case of the body’s need for food, drink or air… Why can’t the body perform during relaxation-only what it can perform during deep sleep?
God explained this very simply by calling sleep the “Minor Death”… (In Islam)
A human is made up of three components, not two like previously assumed, the body, mind and spirit. The body and mind have their needs and so does the spirit. As in death, the spirit proceeds during sleep time to depart the mortal body, with its physical needs and biological limitations, to approach the Divine Being and draw from Him its needs of energy, tranquility, love and light… Then, unless the sleeper’s ordained lifespan is over, the spirit will return to that mortal body to continue living. The spirit needs this recalibration and recharge just like the body needs nutrients.
That’s why when a Muslim wakes up, he is encouraged to be thankful to God for “bringing him back to life, after having taken it away during sleep”.
Physical Evidence & Answers
Atheists argue that religion does not give us tangible proof or answers to all questions. Well, neither does science. In fact, relying on science only to explain life poses more unanswered questions, and replies that don’t add up. Yet atheists are willing to bet their lives and their infinite Ever-after on science, a creation in itself, with all its laws, dynamics and theories, rather than bet on The One who created such laws and sciences. A bet that, should it prove to be wrong, would bring on them unimaginable grave consequences and eternal loss; much more than what a believer stands to lose in case he got it wrong. This is not to say that atheists should “pretend to believe”, as they can’t fool themselves or God. But it is to say that any small amount of ego, worldly influences, trends, challenges, desires or attractions, should be put aside, and a strong, sincere quest for information to answer this question should be undertaken. Eternity is not to be risked, taken lightly, or ignored for the benefit of momentary, worldly, concerns.
They ask, “so who created God?”. A question that totally contradicts calling Him “The Creator of all things”.
They also say that the only truth in life is that there is no truth. Again, a sentence that is self-contradictory.
Contrary to what some atheists think, religion does NOT want you to negate your intellectual faculties, in fact it’s the absolute opposite. Never has the obligation to learn, ponder, think, analyze and above all READ, been more stressed than it is in Islam. I say obligation because it is presented as such in Islam. The very first word of the Revelation was“READ”. The call to learn, seek knowledge, ponder, observe, reflect, the exclamations “Will they not Understand?” “Will they not think?”, the statements similar in meaning to “So that they learn” “So that they know”, these all occur in abundance in the Quran in every chapter. This, along with numeroustraditions from Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) calling to seek knowledge and science, putting the scientists and teachers in an exalted status above other people.
Quran Ch:1
God says in the Quran that of all the believers, it is scientists that have the most fear of God (having known His Power and Abilities through the study of His Creations). Of course, here we’re talking about scientists who are humble enough to admit, not those who perceive that science made them all powerful and too big to bow to a Creator, how little they become when they’re that inflated!
This is a Creator that gave us the blessing of mind and intellect and wants us to use it, making it a major sin to intoxicate it, or to any degree intently use anything to reduce mindfulness and optimum presence of senses. This is a Creator that wants you to be smart, diligent, and seek truth, because sought objectively and sincerely, it would definitely lead you to find Him.
The Ink of a Scholar is More Sacred Than The Blood of a Martyr
One cannot till this day claim absolute and wholesome knowledge of every detail concerning the tiniest/simplest of creatures. Yet, so arrogantly, many rise very confidently to discuss and question the power, wisdom, knowledge and even existence of the Creator.
Ego is rightfully placed amongst the biggest sins because it causes us to perceive ourselves as being much bigger and more knowledgeable than we actually are.
Yet, as insignificant as we are compared to the universe, our ego becomes so inflated with the minute amount of science we’ve come to learn that the first thing we decide to do is to challenge our Creator and deny His existence. Asking Him to prove Himself to us over and over, disregarding all the existing stark testimonies. Man is just created so argumentative.
Spiritually..
Faith is an innate need and urge.. He is in no need for us, it is We who need Him. We need to believe in the Great Creator that has brought us to being, and to hold on to faith in order to rest our, otherwise, troubled and lost souls trying to answer questions like who are we, and what is the purpose of all of this? And… What next?!!
This is particularly evident in times of severe and sudden psychological trauma, fear, or despair, when one gets freed from all reservations, and acts in absolute spontaneity. This is when even atheists find themselves begging for God’s Help and Mercy. It is also the reason behind the noticeable tranquility, calmness in demeanor, peace and contented smile observed in people of strong faith. It is not attributed to wealth as it’s found with the poorest! Those who have strong, unshaken conviction based on knowledge and research feel certain they have found the last piece in the hugely complex puzzle of their spirituality that “Clicked” in place, causing them to experience satisfaction in wholesomeness and clarity, and are therefore relieved, reassured, and calm at last. They amazingly find privilege in calamity, knowing that hardships are God’s way of purifying a person of sins, evolving us into much stronger,more insightfuland ethical humans, reminding the soul of its Creator, keeping it grounded not overtaken by ego, bringing it closer to Him and the warmth of His Mercy and Care.
Those that live without holding on to believing in God, on the other hand, mostly live in anxiety and restlessness, as reported by many ex-atheists who felt lost, confused, and in immense need for guidance. Looking at the numerous incidents of the rich and famous who apparently had it all, yet took their own lives away. What was missing?
You know what makes sense?
It is that we are here for a purpose, there is a Creator, this life is but a short phase that passes so quickly no matter how long we live, and we shall have to face all our deeds, good or bad, someday!!
God regards the pious amongst us in a status higher than angels for having willingly chosen to worship Him and seek first and foremost His pleasure, as unlike angels who have no will, no ability to choose and no desires other than obeying God, we had to struggle against all our desires and inclinations to indulge.
The stakes are just too high to ignore this matter. Read, research, learn, ask (pray) with all sincerity for guidance and truth, approach the topic with a totally open and unbiased mind, and above all, with humility. Humble yourself enough to conceive a possibility of a Creator that you should ask for help. And finally, put your ego, worldly considerations and other peoples’ influences aside.
God neither wins nor loses anything with or without you on His side.Youstand to loseEverything, andEternally. This is life’s most important project.
We only get one chance, one Worldly lifetime, it shouldn’t be wasted!!
How can all the pain, suffering, calamities, grief, challenges be to our benefit?
This is something that most people struggle to understand and appreciate.
Let’s start with this analogy:
You can either choose to study medicine (also law in the case of the US), and spend long years of arduous work, sleepless nights and tremendous stress, in order to eventually secure a lucrative future and guaranteed income. Or, you can choose an easier, quicker-to-finish discipline such as Arts and Humanities but then go through life on average income, with the risk of potentially being unable at certain stages to generate income or find a job. Most would wish they could go through the painstaking journey of studying medicine had they the resources of cleverness and financial support realizing the eventual rewards that come with it, and no one can criticize them or wrong them for that. They need the struggle in order for their knowledge, wisdom and skills to develop and become adequate enough to undertake the responsibility of tampering with human life at such direct level.
Same can be applied to life struggles in general. Paradise is an unimaginable bliss. It’s a place where people live as the Quran describes: “(15:47) And [by then] We shall have removed whatever unworthy thoughts or feelings may have been [lingering] in their breasts, [and they shall rest] as brethren, facing one another [in love] upon thrones of happiness.” We are only able to reach that state of purity of heart, lack of any worldly desires or feelings after we have been through suffering and difficult trials. Very mistaken is he who thinks this life is about finding happiness, or that REAL happiness in every sense of the word even exists in this life. This phase is all about preparation and elevation to become worthy of Paradise. Not allowed to enter Paradise are those who still have inside, to any extent, any of the worldly character diseases/faults such as greed, envy, jealousy, deception, ego, etc. The community that will populate Paradise will be that of the highest ethical and spiritual level, otherwise it wouldn’t be Paradise. A level we cannot be elevated to except by going through trials, struggles, pain, challenges, till we recognize how petty are things that otherwise dazzle our sight.
How happy are we when we finally reach the level of fitness and the physique we’ve always dreamed of, even though we had to work at it for many many hours, and suffer pains, sometimes injuries. Yet we gladly embrace all of that having set in front of us the target. In a similar manner we should embrace what we have to go through in life in order to achieve a target of eternal bliss. I always say that if Paradise was only about never ever experiencing worry, pain, fear, hunger, grief, etc., then that alone qualifies as eternal bliss regardless of the infinitely other promised bounties.
Going back to the initial question… How can it be all good?
Going through the hardships in life has four aspects/benefits:
Erasing sins we have committed in the past, purifying our souls of the heavy burden of guilt and remorse. This grants us entry to Paradise making us worthy of such a place.
Elevating our status in Paradise, with all the privileges that come with that. Even though so many people will find their way to Paradise, no fair system of judgement should grant those who struggled more, gave more to others, lived a life of altruism, the same status and rewards as those who did the bare minimum. Remembering that in Paradise things will last eternally, one should strive to the best of his ability to achieve the best possible status. This has to take precedence over any worldly possessions, home or status, since, at longest, they will last for only a 100 years!! Ask anyone in their 80s, how long life seemed they’d say it passed so fast as if they lived for only a handful of years. And life IS really a very brief transitional stage of existence, yet we worry more about it, are obsessed with achieving success in it, when the real goal should be ETERNITY !!
Elevating us spiritually, giving us the wisdom and sound vision to see life as it really is, to shrink all people and things back to their actual sizes, to come to know what is important and worth our time and effort and what is a total waste of both, to release us of all future worries and anxieties realizing that there’s only so much we can do and we are NOT IN CONTROL, to ground us against inflated ego putting our achievements in correct perspective for what they’re worth, to free us from obsessing and excessively holding on to people, and things in this life no matter how dear they are to us when we realize we shall all be reunited again one day, surrendering to the Will of Our Creator and Sustainer knowing that we can only see so far ahead of us whereas He Sees All and is the All Knowing of what’s best for us even when we THINK we do.
Giving us more strength and confidence than we had before. It’s just like physical workouts, no pain no gain, more rigorous exercise regimen yields stronger muscles and endurance.
People who suffer one or more very painful experiences especially the loss of a loved one, and I’m one of them, often come to see the wisdom of what they went through. They eventually find a level of tranquility, serenity, free from worries, that they have never experienced before in life. So much so that challenges become a welcome experience as they result in more self-development than any one study program.
“(2:216) it may well be that you hate a thing the while it is good for you, and it may well be that you love a thing the while it is bad for you: and God knows, whereas you do not know.”
A beautiful and thought-provoking reflection I’ve heard lately goes something like this…
We looked at the MOUNTAINS and thought.. How mighty!! NOTHING can destroy them!!..
Then GOD sent IRON.. and it cut through the mountains..
Consequently, we felt IRON was the strongest of all.. Then God sent Fire, and it melted the Iron..
Despite its power to melt all, God sent WATER, and it extinguished Fire..
WATER seemed like the Toughest element, until it evaporated and became clouds that the WIND can blow in any direction it wishes..
The only being that was able to harness the Winds was MAN !!!
Thus we thought MAN was the greatest of all creatures…
Nevertheless, he was conquered by no other than SLEEP !!
Amazing…
Except that SLEEP was also overcome by FEAR, ANXIETY, WORRY !!! …
Now it seemed like no element could win over this… This is when FAITH came.. And defeated all!!!
When you have faith that…
ALL things in life are Decreed upon you …. Thus you are NOT in control and cannot prevent things from happening..
That all that is decreed is ONLY for your own good and advantage… Thus it’s not meant to hurt you or make you suffer (How Can it Be All Good? )…
That whatever calamity or hardships we go through are but a chapter in our story, a scene in a long play that hasn’t ended yet, therefore you cannot make conclusions yet..
That you still have control over how you react to what’s decreed upon you, and that can affect and change the course of your future (Still known to God but not to you).. Hence you have to react with positivity and perseverance, remaining thankful the whole time..
Then, Fear, Anxiety and Worry will never find a way to your heart and mind. Do the best that you are capable of, and don’t worry for a second about the consequences or what should come later. The Ultimate Merciful is handling that part….
FAITH is the greatest, toughest and most effective of all elements and creations.
Addiction is not the only danger that lurks beneath the use of the internet and social media in their current form and functionality.
Obviously, no two persons browsing the internet are presented with the same news/article feeds. Instead, each gets results that are based on his historical use of the internet, his location, his personal profile, and several other factors. This so-called smart-feeds feature of the internet can be very useful or very dangerous. The feature that was first intended and utilized to show customers “more of the same” product, adopted first by Facebook, Twitter, then other social media organizations, has proliferated to search engines, YouTube and most forms of internet use. Hence, feeding the user more of his same ideals, inclinations, and tools that if classified as good, would serve the best interest of the user, the society, and morals. Whereas an endless stream of what could be classified as bad, harmful, immoral, narcissistic, materialistic, or even malicious and criminal will augment and nourish such seeds, inevitably creating monstrous humans. This means that the user gets more or less that which reinforces his own beliefs, be it virtuous and reasonable or evil and unreasonable, rather than a fair dose of all other beliefs, opinions, and information, thus countering the intended virtue of open mindedness and well-rounded view of topics. These algorithms employed to predict and curate what the user sees do NOT have his best interest in mind, but are rather a means to get him more hooked on whatever feeds his interest, regardless of its affects or values, benefiting only the organizations that developed them.. The feeds are smart in the sense that they “predict” what you’re looking for, but are surely not making us any smarter because they don’t give us a comprehensive and holistic view of topics that includes the opposition.
This polarization in different directions is extremely dangerous and creates very heterogeneous societies. Diversity is essential but without extremism.
In short, smart-feeds create more of what you are, instead of helping you improve and evolve!! It’s up to you to ensure you get a comprehensive view on different issues.
Ego is rightfully placed amongst the biggest sins because it causes us to perceive ourselves as being much bigger and more knowledgeable than we actually are, when viewing life and the world..
We’re smaller than a speck of dust compared to the universe, and our knowledge, yet smaller. There is no justification, nor historical reference for that matter, for thinking that we’ve reached a stage where we KNOW IT ALL. Nonetheless, we’re driven by our ego that causes us to demand of the Creator, controller, and motion-organizer of this vast universe to give us a proof of His existence and power .. as if all the miracles that exist in our own selves and everything around us are not enough!
Faith is a need and urge that exists in our innate nature.. He is in no need for us, it is WE who need Him, we need to believe in the Great Creator that has brought us to being, and to hold on to faith in order to rest our, otherwise, troubled souls.. this need keeps nagging upon us. We feel otherwise lost trying to answer questions like who are we, and what is the purpose of all of this? And… What next?!!
This is particularly evident in times of severe and sudden psychological trauma, fear, or despair, when one gets freed from all reservations, and acts in absolute spontaneity. This is when even atheists find themselves begging for God’s Help and Mercy.
It is also the reason behind the noticeable tranquility, calmness in demeanor, peace and contented smile observed in people of strong faith and religion. It is not attributed to wealth as it’s found even with the poorest of people, definitely not because they enjoy a good retirement system! This calmness is especially unmistakable is Muslims, because they know they got it right. Those who have strong, unshaken conviction based on knowledge and research feel certain they have found the last piece in the hugely complex puzzle of their spirituality that “Clicked” in place, causing them to experience satisfaction in wholesomeness and clarity, and are therefore relieved, reassured, and calm at last. They amazingly find privilege in calamity, knowing that hardships are God’s way of purifying a person of sins, reminding the soul of its Creator, keeping it grounded, not overtaken by ego yet again, bringing it closer to Him and the warmth of His Mercy and Care.
Those that live without holding on to believing in God, on the other hand, mostly live in anxiety and restlessness, as reported by many ex-atheists who felt lost, confused, and in immense need for guidance.
Proof-wise: (if you’re science-oriented)
The proofs to the existence of God are countless and in abundance, in every single one of His creations. It’s unexplainable how a logical human would not accept that a glass of water can exist without someone making it, yet they are willing to concede the existence of this unfathomable universe without a Creator.
Atheists argue that religion does not give us tangible proof or answers to every single thing. Well, science fails to, and is not able to, answer all questions. It remains incapable of providing explanations for numerous things. Yet atheists are willing to bet their lives and the Ever-after on it, rather than bet on religion which presents far more evidence on the existence of a Creator.
They ask, so who created God? Which totally contradicts with calling Him a Creator.
This is exactly why God says in the Quran that of all the believers, it is scientists that have the most fear of God (having known His Power and Abilities through the study of His Creations). Of course here we’re talking about the scientists who are humble enough to admit it, not those who perceive that science made them all powerful and too big to bow to a Creator, how little they become when they’re that inflated! And that is why we witness many atheist scientists converting to Islam (being the most logical religion).
Business-wise: (if you’re business and profitability-oriented)
Consider the following:
Around 7% of the World’s population only are Atheists (around half of which are in China, the second biggest majority in Russia, both countries influenced by their regimes into adopting atheism. Both seeing a conversion movement.). So wouldn’t probability suggest that 93% are more likely to be right? And why is it that most of the elite scientists are not atheists?
Science is still unable to answer many critical questions (After life, soul, purpose of life, origin of universe, and many many more. Religion also does not answer some questions, which are considered kept by the All-Knowing for purposes unknown to us, but also gives us some answers to questions science can’t. Yet, you’d rather risk your whole life on science, a created being in itself with all its laws, mechanics and theories, rather than place your bet on the one that created science?
Considering above arguments, associated risk in both scenarios, and probability that greatly favors the likelihood that God exists, ask yourself:
What if you were wrong?!!
What you stand to lose here far exceeds what a person of faith would lose if he discovered he was wrong.
Logic-wise:
Accountability: Atheism is mostly favored by certain people to escape accountability and the fact that this gives them endless freedom to do what they desire without fear of consequences (repercussion). But think about this… Every human system that exists applies the rules of accountability, ever since we were children, at home, in school, college, at work.. etc. So, in the holistic life-system, are we not accountable for how good or bad we are? And if not, what could possibly motivate us to excel and do more in charity and kindness? What compels us to go above and beyond our basic law-enforced duties and do the right thing? On the flip side, what stops us from being obnoxious?
Purpose: Every object that exists in our life has a purpose, so what is the purpose of ours? Why do we even bother to get up in the morning and work?
Morality: What is our source of morality? Atheists sometimes argue that we can be non-believers yet conduct ourselves in the highest ethical standards. True, But…
Who’s to say or decide what’s right or wrong? Where is the reference if not religion? Why wouldn’t people have a sexual relationship with a sibling for example? Why would they get married, they can just have sex in the street, with whoever, or whatever for that matter. Where did the laws of conduct come from? And let’s say you happen to be a civilized, well-balanced, ethical human, don’t you think there are very bad atheists, with absolutely no moral inclination? Wouldn’t you then fear for your children, daughter, sister, mother, the elderly? How would the society look like when people have no predisposition to try to do only the right thing?
Motivation: If we assume this whole life is for nothing, no purpose, no creator, no accountability whatsoever, and no afterlife, why not we all end it and solve our every problem? It would be easier than having to go through all struggles and challenges. What motivates us to continues living, working hard, getting up in the morning, if all this was for nothing at all?
Order: This extreme order and organization that’s apparent in every single aspect of this life HAS to be controlled and managed by some all-knowing all-magnificent power. It can’t be just a chaotic/unorderly sequence of events. Every single man-made system that exists (e.g. machines, governments, production lines, health systems, education, etc. ) has a manager or a parallel mechanism that controls and monitors it, in order to ensure it operates/runs properly and corrects any mistakes should it deviate from normal/intended path. There has to be a manager with checks and balances done. This is a law of life we’re living by daily. So who’s the Creator and Manager of the greatest and biggest of all systems? Nature is a creation in itself, it doesn’t have the intelligence or knowledge to make things happen. Whereas whoever created and is controlling this unfathomable universe has to have an amount of intelligence that is beyond our imagination and comprehension. Yet, as insignificant as we are compared to the universe, our ego become so inflated with the minute amount of science we’ve come to know and the first thing we decided to do is to challenge our Creator and deny His existence. Ask Him to prove Himself to us. How dare we??!!
Innate knowledge: How were all the creatures, humans, animals and plants, born with innate knowledge that guided them on what they should do from the moment they were born? How did the spider learn to create a web so perfect that it takes a skilled artist or architect years to learn to do? How did the new leaves on a plant know where to stem from when it was discovered that the new stem location process follows a Fibonacci numbering system? Where did the unbelievable amount of knowledge found in our DNA come from when nature itself is a non-intelligent creation?
It just doesn’t make sense at all!!!
You know what makes sense?
It is that we are here for a purpose, there is a Creator, this life is only but a short phase no matter how long we live and it passes so quickly, and we shall have to come face to face with all our actions, good or bad, someday!!
Yet God puts us in higher standing and regards us more than we really deserve, favoring us to angels for having willingly chosen to worship Him, unlike angels who have no will or ability to choose.
The stakes are just too high for you to keep on ignoring this matter. My sincere advice: read, research, learn, ask (pray) with all sincerity for guidance and truth, approach the topic with a totally open and unbiased mind, and above all, with humility. Humble yourself enough to conceit a possibility of a Creator that you should ask for help. And finally, put your ego, other peoples’ influences, and worldly matters aside.
He loses nothing with or without you on His side. YOU stand to lose EVERYTHING, and ETERNALLY. This IS the most important project you need to work on in your life.
You only get one chance, one lifetime, so please get it right!!
Do Nottell me I look good just to flatter me, or hoping that I “return the compliment”.
Do Notlike my photos, posts, or what I write if you don’t really like them or you disagree.
Do Notsend me happy birthday wishes if you do it out of courtesy or duty.
Do Notgift me for any reason other than sincerely wanting to.
Do Nottell me you like me or miss me if you really don’t.
Do Notcommend any of my acts if they’re wrong or unjust.
Do Notsupport me if I stray.
Do Nottell me I’m good when I’m being bad.
One genuine, loving, sincere word is to me worth much more than all the fake likes and compliments. And one genuine, sincere, loving friend is worth a hundred fake ones.
I totally understand being nice to people, wanting to make them feel great and lifting up their spirits. This is honorable and commendable. But when it’s done for special interests, expecting reciprocation, in social hypocrisy, or for fear of upsetting the praised person, it becomes ugly and distasteful.
A few days ago I was asked if I was happy being unmarried. The answer came out without hesitation: “It’s absolutely much better than having to live with the wrong person, yet again, worse than being with someone that you love.”
Becoming single once again gave me so many things that I’m thankful for. It, most importantly, showed me my strengths, that I am perfectly capable of sustaining myself, succeeding, living on my own without relying on anyone, something I’ve cherished from an early age. It introduced me again to my passions, the things I like to do but have always set aside in favor of other priorities. I re-discovered Me. I was forced to learn to do stuff I never knew anything about because there was always someone else handling them.
We leave our parents’ safe-haven to the guardianship of our partner without learning the essentials of life and survival. We remain shielded from the realities of paying the bills, rental procedures, employment contracts, car maintenance, etc. This is not to be misunderstood as being the parents’ mistake, rather our wrong, misinformed decision to get married and completely surrender our reins before knowing what life is all about and learning the rules of the “jungle”.
This period of independence and self-reliance is essential, preferably before marriage. The self-discovery and self-improvement would even make things easier on the partner and increase the marriage’s potential for success.
Other benefits of being single we all know..
First there’s the obvious, having the bed ALL to yourself 🙂 . Then, not having to coordinate your plans, time and vacations or compromise on anything you enjoy doing. Traveling as you wish and exercising all the spontaneity your heart desires. You’re not responsible for anyone, nor are you accountable to anyone. You’re the master of your life.
Drifting in thought while counting my blessings, I stop for a couple of minutes and go back to an idea I always believed in..
“Being married to someone you deeply love and get along very well with is Heaven on Earth.”
All accomplishments, achievements, fortunes, and good times, dwindle against the fulfillment of sharing them with someone special. Sharing the laughter, stories, pains, planning, traveling, and rewards. After all, what meaning and flavor is there to life if not for the happy moments.
And no amount of success, richness, makeup, and surgeries can make you look and feel as beautiful and radiant with glow and shine as when happily in love.
Surely, “The only reason for marriage is love” _Diana Spencer
It’s all about being virtuous and good to others. Treating with utmost kindness, mercy, and generosity your parents, children, neighbors, the orphans, the helpless, the poor, and even the captive.
Refrain from and denounce all that is bad: Drinking Alcohol, stealing, committing adultery, fornication, gambling, lying, cheating, hypocrisy, treating anyone with injustice, racism or inequality, gluttony, greed, selfishness, arrogance, harming others from any faith or background in anyway or form.
Perform and promote all that is good: Love, peace, equality among all God’s creatures, justice even on oneself or those closest, treating parents with utmost respect, being kind to and NOT causing harm to any of God’s creatures, human, animals, even as tiny as ants, or plants; honesty, charity, generosity, fidelity, mercy, forgiveness, visiting the sick, and not taking anything that was not rightfully hard-earned.
Main Differences from Christianity?
Why would your Creator give you something then ask you NOT to use it?
Islam doesn’t ask you to take/accept things and believe them merely on faith, on the contrary, it calls on people to use the most precious gifts they were given: Their minds, intellect, and senses. In the Quran, verse after verse calls on mankind to observe, seek knowledge, reflect, and ask questions and ultimately connect the dots by using the faculties of human reason, confident in that sincere seeking of the truth only leads to God. Terms used in the Quran in various contexts can best be translated as “to reason”, “reflect”, “ponder”, etc.
God urges mankind to practice “critical thinking”, not ordinary or shallow thinking.
2. There is no God but The One and Only God. He has no child nor was He born. All prophets, including Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, are human and messengers chosen to convey His message to the peoples.
Similarities with Christianity?
Muslims are sincere and accurate followers of everything prophet Jesus preached. Their way of praying, fasting and their view of The Creator aligns with that which prophet Jesus taught. Jesus never, in the original scriptures, claimed at any point that he was God or preached to be regarded as God, or introduced Trinity, or said he was the son of God. Evidence to that can be found in the Bible.
One CANNOT be considered a Muslim UNLESS he truly believes in Jesus. Loves, respects and regards him as highly as he regards prophet Muhammad and every other prophet.
The single and most important advice
Do not take anyone’s word for it, even mine. Conduct your own research with a pure, unbiased heart that genuinely seeks to know what is good and right. Do not be a follower of mainstream media or how it portrays and stereo-types Muslims. Do not even look to Muslims to judge the Religion, a huge percentage of them are not practicing Muslims just like most Christians aren’t. Some may even have insufficient knowledge, or an incorrect understanding and hence provide the wrong information.
Quran’s standing challenges:
No person could ever create a chapter or even verse that is as strong and profound in structure, wording, meaning and effect as the Quran.
There can be no contradiction or anything that does not make perfect sense in the Quran.
There can be no contradiction in the Quran with any proven scientific fact neither now or ever.
Not a single word or letter was ever altered by humans. It consists ONLY of words of the Creator conveyed to his prophet Muhammad.
Any alteration of even a single letter impacts the miraculous structure of the Quran.
Do yourself a favor… READ the Quran and other books on Islam. No one loses anything from reading a book !! It will at least give you a better understanding of the religion unjustly under attack nowadays.
(Video below is the recitation of the very first, opening, chapter of the Quran, with translation).
Nada I. Samman - ندى عصام السمّان 