Vaccination Against Discontinuities

In order to follow the discussion in this article, it is imperative for you to read two previous articles (Continuity of Sustenance, Preparing for the Discontinuity of Sustenance). From this point on, I am assuming that you have read them.

So, we are in a quest to find a vaccine, or better a family of vaccines, against the discontinuities that threaten our existence and our faith due to their magnitude and extreme duration. This clearly is a research area and must be an ongoing one due to the ever changing life conditions and the ever improving methods and devices of evil. Below, I am sharing with you some of my conclusions from personal experiences and discussions with people.

An idea in this regard can be obtained from the example of the prophet Muhammad pbuh. Had he come today, what would he do in order to strengthen the faiths against the disturbing discontinuities? This question may sound nonsense and even ridiculous to you, because, one, he is not coming back, two, who are we to empathize with a messenger of God. Still, in the Quran, God tells that there are good examples in the person of the prophet for those who believe in God and the afterlife. So, why not try a time travel and pay a visit to our doctor?

"You have had a good example in God's Messenger for whosoever hopes for God and the Last Day, and remembers God often." (33/21)

The first event that draws my attention is the prophet's action during the battle of Hunayn. Initially, the Muslim army was dispersed and bewildered in the face of the enemy, and the Muslim soldiers were running back from the field. Upon seeing this, Muhammad pbuh stood against this flow and shouted as strong as he might: "I am the messenger of God, there is no lie in this." Such bravery gave a shock to the Muslims, because they realized that the prophet was standing alone and trying to fight against the enemy, all the while trying to call his friends to their senses. It didn't take too long for the Muslim army to recollect and execute a conclusive assault leading to victory.

This event is an analog to the discontinuities we are discussing. It shows that if you yourself are able to stand against the adversity, when others are bewildered or even giving up, that action of yours can function as a vaccination to your fellows. Allah sometimes guides his servants through the example of some other servants. And if He has blessed you with the faith, conviction, strength and guidance to stand against the adversities, then you must share your inspirations and ideas with others, remind them the conditions of their agreement with God, and trigger an immunity against disbelief. 

Another idea of vaccine can be found in the concept of patience. Patience is an indispensable component of survival in dire conditions. So, the activities, exercises that strengthen your patience can help you endure the extreme tests later on. For example, doing sports that take a long time and extreme effort to complete are superb for this purpose. Marathon running (quarter, half or full), mountain climbing are two such examples.

Similarly, a factor that undermines the will power and feeds depressive thoughts is the absence of a meaning in what is happening. Research has shown that people who see a meaning in their suffering can both endure the tough conditions better and can come out stronger, whereas those who see no meaning are more likely to fail or come out destroyed. So, practices that help us see a bigger picture in the complicated things or events can also help us survive the pitch dark times that seem like eternity. In this regard, making puzzles (500, 1000, or 2000 pieces) or other artistic productions that take long time to complete (embroidery, sculpture, painting, etc.) can be highlighted.

Next idea is Quran memorization. Here, I am not talking about memorizing only the short chapters. I am talking about memorizing several pages, or even tens of pages, even if you cannot memorize the entire Quran. There are several benefits coming with this. First, the reason we are trying to device a vaccine is that we want to become and remain loyal servants of Allah. So, having His living word with us wherever we go is a prime source of energy and help. Even when nobody can be with you, He can speak to you through His word that is in your mind. You can recite it for tens of minutes or even hours. The One who has the control over everything and the One who gives meaning to anything is communicating with you as you utter every single word of Quran. Another reason for Quran memorization is that it takes patience and effort to do, and knowing more of the Quran helps you see everything through better and larger lenses, which connect this practice to the two previous reasons.

Last but not the least, another vaccine suggestion that again connects to everything explained so far is doing good willed actions or charity projects that push you to your limits and beyond so that you must get out of your comfort zone and force things and people desperately, all the while praying to Allah for a successful end to your project. This effort is certain to bring you face to face with your Creator, and it is meant only for you to conduct that communication. That is, I cannot go beyond telling you to try it.

"Behold! Abraham said to his father and his people: 'I do indeed clear myself of what you worship. (I worship) only Him Who made me, and He will certainly guide me.' And he left it as a Word to endure among those who came after him, that they may turn back (to Allah)." (43/26-28)

Preparing for the Discontinuity of Sustenance

Can you imagine what would happen if the entire world had insufficient oxygen to breath for 1 minute? If you are one of those who can hold their breath for well over a minute, this would not pose a big problem. However, many people would not survive such a shock and many others would come out severely, and perhaps permanently, injured. What if this unfathomable disaster lasts for 2 minutes? 

The above thought experiment brings up the issue of strength in the face of scarcity of the essentials. And that connects us to the concept of fasting in Islam. Especially the fasting during the long summer days pushes the bodies and wills to their limits. Yet the believers force themselves to obey the command of God and wait for the time of sunset to break their fast. Pondering over this worship through the perspective of the above thought experiment, we can see that God is strengthening the believers through fasting so that when a scarcity occurs, which will definitely happen throughout the course of life several times, the believers can survive not only in their bodies but also in their faiths. This last point about surviving in faith needs further scrutiny.

"And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits,..." (2/155)

Surviving in your faith automatically connotates other concepts: inflictions and challenges to your faith, strength of your faith, death in your faith or flourishing in your faith. For example, freedom and justice are essential needs of humans. An unusual delay in the delivery of justice or an irrationally long duration of an oppressive regime put people in a strenuous state of mind where they feel obliged to question the veracity of their faith and their adherence to it. Absence of basic sustenance for many while the ridiculous wealth possessed by the few and continuation of this structure over time while God's apparent indifference to this state may push people to trying life styles where they act regardless of God's commands. Such lethal situations for faith are part of the destiny, and if the believers are not prepared for them, their survival in faith is rather unlikely. If the occurrence of such trials are inevitable, how can the believers prepare for them?

The very first step in addressing any situation is properly understanding it. The trials discussed here are not simple trials that put you through hardship. These are the events that you would clearly label as "heartless, treacherous, merciless", and they compel you to question whether God is really merciful and compassionate as He says in the Quran so many times: "if He is so, then why is this situation?" These are the events that crush the connections between the believers and their adherence to the traditions narrated to them. That is, the words and actions of the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the people who represent his tradition come under scrutiny. This is when the believers can at last truly empathize with the atheists and understand why they are so stuck with the problem of evil!

"[Remember] when they came at you from above you and from below you, and when eyes shifted [in fear], and hearts reached the throats and you assumed about Allah [various] assumptions." (33/10)

In fact realizing the existence and severity of situations that may shake us from our foundations is not limited to the events in the adult life. From a very early stage, we humans are hardwired for detecting and coping with cases of irreversible consequences. I am talking about the early years of childhood when we learn and start thinking about death. It doesn't take too long to ask the most dreaded question: 

"Mom, dad! Are you going to die? What is going to happen to me when you die?"

One approach in solving these problems is abandoning life itself so that they won't happen. That is, you bring your own discontinuity so that the uncertainty of its otherwise occurrence becomes certain. This is the approach of the sufis or the ascetics, where they abandon the worldly life, eat less, sleep less, interact with people at minimum. They reduce their existence so that they won't face a fundamental quake in their lives, because there is nothing to shake. This way of life brought about the generations that eventually left the material world and the world of knowledge, i.e. science and technology, to those who don't have a regard for God. So, the power shifted to the people who did not prepare themselves for the life after death. 

Today, following the same route means not interfering with life at all and becoming an item of display in documentaries. It means becoming a topic or figure in epic movies but remaining passive and inactive when it comes to real life. Is this what God wants?

"O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. " (49/13)

"The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those - Allah will have mercy upon them..." (9/71)

"They did not prevent each other from committing sins nor would they themselves stay away from them. Evil was what they had done!" (5/79)

To be among people and to have immunity against the evil that may befall you due to your faith,  an easy solution seems to be vaccination. Just like fasting on the long, scorching summer days, a practice or a set of experiences can be / must be developed so that people can prepare themselves to excruciating moments of endless misfortunes. Similar to the vaccines that can upend the spread of a pandemic, this social/psychological vaccination can ensure the survival and flourishing of the believers through the extreme challenges facing their faith. 

Then, what could that vaccination be like?

 

Continuity of Sustenance

Imagine yourself living in a world where the length of a day, duration of daytime and the span of a year is constantly and unpredictably changing. Imagine that even the orbit of your home planet is not steady, but changing over time irregularly, so that even the sky is not constant. Would you be able to develop a proper perception of time and space, given that there are no regularities governing your life?

This thought experiment is important to realize the essential role of regularities and their continuity in our lives as conscious living beings. Although we may not be aware of them, such constancies and regularities and our expectation of them to be there forever are at the heart of our mental constructs. To make my case more clear, I am going to invite you to consider other thought experiments. 

If you lived in a place where rain is rare, would you be able to invent dams and devise power generation through rotating turbines? If you lived in a country where electricity is sporadically provided for limited durations, would you be able to create systems that demanded continuity of power in large amounts? For example, would you be able to build trust in the power system and proceed to invent computers and computer controlled systems?

Together, these examples show that in order for us to develop paradigms, make inventions and create worlds, we need the resources to be in sufficient, preferably abundant, amounts and we want them to be available continuously. Without abundance and continuity, it is highly unlikely, if not impossible, for a new concept to immerge and survive based on that resource.

What's more, this situation is not limited to our interaction with and use of the outer world. It also influences our interactions with each other. Take the example of the couple life. The spouse who take the favors of the other for granted and who has developed a sense of trust in the unconditional continuity of those favors is very much prone to committing unacceptable behaviors towards the other. However, a healthy couple life is established on mutual trust and confidence, which feeds a sense of continuity of favors and which brews happiness in the hearts. 

The same analysis can also be reflected on the relationship between the children and parents. The children who have unbounded and unconditional confidence in the tolerance and forgiveness of their parents are likely to become spoiled and disrespectful. However, confidence in the mercy and compassion of the parents is a pillar of the healthy psychology for a child at the same time.

These two cases regarding the spouses and the children point at the fact that we need a continuity of love, trust and connection in order to build healthy personalities and societies. However, the same concepts are also at the root of  developing abusive personalities.

Interesting enough, we observe the same dynamics and the double-edged sword situation in our interaction with our Creator. Although we may recognize and glorify Him as the One who gives us sustenance and who gives guidance whereby we can find out new resources and techniques, the continuity of these blessings independent of our recognition of their source is a key drive to oblivion to the Merciful Grantor.  

"And he entered his garden while he was unjust to himself. He said, 'I do not think that this will perish - ever. And I do not think the Hour will occur. And even if I should be brought back to my Lord, I will surely find better than this as a return.' His companion said to him, in the course of the argument with him: 'Have you disbelieved in He who created you from dust and then from a sperm-drop and then proportioned you [as] a man?' " (18/35-37)

This is why and how the existence and continuity of the blessings in our lives cannot be taken as a measure of the correctness of our actions. This is why and how we must be careful about the voices in our heads and the suggestions of other people, when it comes to trusting the mercy of God or forgetting His wrath while committing actions that incur worldly benefit in violation of the boundaries set by God.  

"... let not this world's life deceive you, nor let the archdeceiver deceive you about Allah." (31/33)

And all this is true even when it makes complete sense through a logical justification of our actions that brings benefit in illicit ways, because the human mind is both very creative and rather willfully blind when it comes to justifications.

"... Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds..." (6/108)

Having shared these words to raise awareness on a subtle point, I would like to bring the discussion to a sensitive conjunction. Whether we like it or not, the events in our lives and in the life of humanity are going to unfold in ways that may not align with our expectations. Such transformations and alternations at various scales of time are reflective of God's ultimate decree in the story of humanity, which we call history or destiny depending on the context (also see Alternation of Seasons in God's Attitude). So, the constancy that I have been discussing so far is not there all the time. Some things change so slowly that we take them for granted, yet others change rather regularly according to certain dynamics, and still others are manifestations of indeterminism. So, our trust in things of this world, be them natural phenomena or people's attitudes, is subject to shaking. When our trust is shaken, it is not as easily restored as it was built. 

Now remember that a believer connects anything and everything with the Lord of the worlds who is aware and in control of things and events. So, when a believer's trust in people is shaken due to excruciating sufferings, their trust in God is also put in trial. In other words, just like all of our mental and psychological dynamics have a correspondence in our relationship with our Creator, the shaken trust to the existence and people also reflects an impact on the trust in God. And this state of uncertainty brought by the absence of trust hinders any efforts of recovery, because now there is the fear of getting caught unprepared. Such brittle mindset is especially true of the younger generations who are in the construction stage of their lives. So, given a shaken trust in God and a fear and unwillingness to restore that trust, what can be done?

Each person is different, and so, the answer to this question for each person will have its own unique aspects. Here, I would like to share a few points that may be the common factor for all. I would be glad if you included your suggestions in the comments.

Creating a cozy home in winter

When God brings winter, we cannot stop it. It comes. However, He has given us the urge and power to make homes where we can protect ourselves and those around us from the harsh conditions of winter. Similarly, when dramatic devastations occur, even if we cannot stop the avalanche of events, we can at least try to create a micro climate of stability and safety, where the youngsters can continue their faith journey.

Not digging the graves

When someone dies, no matter how much you love them, no matter how much they have done to people, their body must be buried. Clinging to the dead body, or digging out the corpse from the ground in order to not lose sight of that loved one is not going to do any good, but bring more harm. After all, death is the will of God, even if there are apparent causes leading to the event. Similarly, when the believers are shaken through events that demolish their efforts, instead of lamenting desperately and trying to restore the old, they must focus on coming alive renewed. And the same must be taught to the youngsters so that they can take lessons from the past mistakes and develop skills for renewal.

Death awareness management

No one has a guarantee to live forever, and death is the most certain thing in this life. Yet, we forget it. Even a person who is diagnosed with terminal cancer and given a 6 month life until death thinks about the death at the end of those 6 months, when death can actually come much earlier due to whatever reason. In short, in our lives, our awareness of death needs a bit of management. This situation is similar to the loss of trust in the continuity of blessings from God. Those blessings can come to an end at any time due to any apparent reason, but when things go as they are, we forget about this subtlety and give in to an illusion of unconditional continuity. We come to our senses only when things start breaking apart. However in reality, what is constant throughout those events is the omnipresent and all encompassing will, power, wisdom and mercy of God. When we build that illusion of unconditional continuity of blessings in our minds, we are sticking to only one name of God, and so, we are actually obscuring our full vision of God. What is needed is an awareness of God through His various names, not just one. Needless to say, awareness is not awareness unless it is accompanied by relevant actions.

Tracing the mutations

The cells in a living organism has mechanisms to check if the genetic material is conserved. If it is mutated, there are two options. If the corrupt part can be fixed and the cell can bring itself back to healthy condition, this is done. If such restoration is not possible, then the cell drives itself to a controlled death. If we establish an analogy between the genetic material and the Quran, we can say that believers must constantly check their integrity through a direct relationship with the Quran. When such unmediated connection is compromised, and intermediaries are placed between the believers and the Quran, then successive mutations and mistakes unfolding like an avalanche are unavoidable. So, be them young or adult, believers must reunite with the Quran in order to restore their trust with God, because He is the guarantor of anything and everything else.

Taking the Example of God for Online Education

 A great challenge of our time is online learning. On one side, it provides a continuity of education despite physical or biological problems, but on the other side, it puts us face to face with the fact that we are human beings and need physical co-presence for a sustained focus, effective learning and a satisfactory human interaction. Although these challenges become more pronounced for the youngsters, they impact the adults as well. Is there a guide showing the right path in this context?

Pondering over such issues, it occurred to me that we could find help from an unexpected source. We humans are not the only ones doing distance learning/teaching. Although we are not aware of it, there is an education going on in the entire world through a broadband and ubiquitous broadcast. A teacher we have never seen is trying to teach us things. Yes, that teacher is God. And I think there are lessons we could learn from His distance teaching techniques.

1. Forming local groups and assigning local leaders

Throughout the history, God communicated His words to humanity through messengers. These messengers were individuals directly from within the communities, and especially in the rather ancient times, there were multiple messengers at the same time, each for their own people.

Similarly, although the teacher might be away from the students, the students are close to each other. At least, there are groups that live in each other's proximity. So, in order to foster a group spirit and create a learning atmosphere, encouraging the groups to form is rather useful. Next, in order to facilitate a division of labor and to emplace a factor of trigger for others, selecting leaders within groups is important. In order to avoid a sense of "not my job", the position of leadership can be shifted among the group members.

2. Using examples from familiar daily life items and events

A key feature of the Quran is that it directs our attentions to the things that we witness always and ignore due to familiarity. Those familiar things, however, contain elements of miraculousness when studied with care. In fact, such deliberate study and contemplation is a key ingredient of a healthy relationship between God and His servants. 

Becoming irrelevant is one of the pitfalls of education today. Not everything that a student learns in a lesson is directly related to a job or to an experience they might have in real life. In order to give relevance and induce awe, involving daily items and events for experiments or for examples is a key treatment. This becomes even more important and vital for online education where retaining student attention and increasing retention of the course material is an extreme challenge.

 3. Never neglecting the one-to-one interaction

Class environment is a whole sale type affair in the education system. This, however, is a major hurdle in real education. In its original definition, education means a permanent change in the behavior of the learner. Such level of achievement cannot be established without a focused interaction between the educator and the student. Similar to the daily prayers, which are unmediated communications between the Creator and the individuals, teachers must establish one-to-one interaction time with their students.

4. Homework to enable learning by doing

Reading the Quran, one thing you cannot miss is the constant juxtaposition of faith and action. In short, if you believe in God and the judgment day, you must act in accordance with your belief. Those who utter words of faith but fail to act accordingly are those whose faith has not yet been ingrained in their hearts. To achieve this, nevertheless, they are encouraged to act even if in small steps. 

In an environment of distance learning, a similar approach is indispensable. Students must put into practice what they were taught in the lessons and feel it in their heart. They must toil to achieve something, even if small, and must get out of their comfort zone to acquire a habit  of trying. Of course this will not happen just by assigning homework. The teachers must keep in touch with their students through on-to-one communications and guide them, and if necessary motivate them.

5. Encouraging mutual help in the exams

At several places, Allah instructs the believers to help each other in doing good and avoiding evil. He encourages and praises those who recommend each other the truth and patience. This notion of group study is only newly taking roots in the modern education. More often than not, helping each other is unconditionally treated as cheating in exams. When put in a class environment, however, this approach creates masses that are left behind. Online learning exacerbates this wound of education, sadly. Yet, encouraging a sense of group, motivating the students to help each other to learn, while ensuring individual progress through the one-to-one interaction between the teacher and the students can solve many problems and enable education in the real sense.

Aboard Noah's Ark - 5

If an act is persistently done by a person even if it costs them badly, and if that person is unable to give up the act and unable to see the harms, it is called an addiction. Today, various forms of substance abuse are under the broad umbrella of addiction. However, there are behavioral addictions, as well. I don't want to use the term obsessive-compulsive for the behavioral addictions, because that term has its own frame of reference, which is not relevant to our discussion about what to do after the Great Flood. Our real question is how can you treat the imitation addiction that pervades the psychology of herd, which was the case of the people of Noah? What can you do to prevent the blind faith suppressing the critical thinking?

In fact, by introducing the subject through the use of the term addiction carries with it several components of the solution. Think of what you would do to heal an addict. The same procedures can be employed to hinder a replay of the evils that took place before the flood. So, what are they?

Broadly speaking, first, one has to admit the fact that they have a problem. Without this, nothing can be accomplished, because the situation would be not the addict's but your problem. In other words, the addict must embrace themselves, which necessitates a look from outside to themselves. That is, they must be able to objectively evaluate their situation and realize that they are in trouble.

Unfortunately, before the Great Flood, this did not happen. The people did not listen to the warnings and lessons from Noah. They did not assess their actions when obeying the evil leaders and when following the crowd. In short, they did not accept the fact that they had a problem. So, they missed the ship, both figuratively and literally. They could not even realize things when the destruction was unfolding around them. So, after the ark lands, you must take such actions to establish emergency routes for people's minds to escape the psychological avalanche of a herd.

Second, formation and continuation of an addiction requires an environment that not fosters it. This environment is not necessarily physical but also social. Circle of the like-minded people is a dangerous object in society, if they grow impenetrable. That is, it is inevitable and very natural that people hang around with those who are like themselves. This fact of nature, however, becomes prone to evil as it becomes isolated from other circles or individuals. "Us and them" duality has always been an exquisite tool for evil.

Before the Great Flood, we understand from the descriptions of Noah pbuh that the disbelievers had formed a kind of cult that avoided any intrusion and had achieved a state of continuity over generations. If a person is unable to step aside from the cult, they are not able to think independently and critically. And, in the Quran, we are repeatedly told that God does not guide the disbelieving communities.

Say, "I only advise you of one [thing] - that you stand for Allah , [seeking truth] in pairs and individually, and then give thought." (34/46)

... and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. (2/258)

... and Allah does not guide the unbelieving people. (2/264)

Bottom line is you have to make sure that every individual is going to be, at least sometimes, forced to step outside their cocoon and join the circles of others and live with them.

Third, a crucial component of recovering from an addiction is to avoid its triggers. That is, whatever the preceding or surrounding conditions are for the re-occurrence of the addiction, those must be completely abolished. This is exactly what was done by prophet Muhammad pbuh, when he unconditionally prohibited the making of statues, because at the time, presence of a statue anywhere was not acceptable due to its triggering effect on the addiction of idol worshiping. Again the same was his rigid stand against musical instruments and performances, because he was trying to recover people from alcohol addiction, and music was a trigger for its re-occurrence. Triggers start craving, and craving leads to gratification, i.e. relapse.

Similarly, after the Pharaoh and his army was destroyed in the Red Sea, God did not return the Israelites back to Egypt. In fact, by closing the sea behind them after the passage, He made sure that they will not be able to return. This precaution was there to make sure that they are not going to find themselves in an environment that is full of memories of the old days and, by which, is going to trigger the notions of submission (i.e. slavery) to human beings instead of God. This teaches us that changing the outside does not warrant a change in the spirit. A reform is not well-established unless and until it is engraved into the characters, and so, until that time, triggers must be avoided to ensure a clean cut between the old and the new.

In this regard, people of Noah had developed a habit of closing their ears and minds whenever he tried to tell them something. This did not change even when the messenger of God approached them individually or collectively. This tells that their situation is not just about herd mentality, but a personal addiction as well. Remember that an addiction persists because of its pleasure to the person, no matter how deceptive and short-lived it may be. So, the people of Noah must be enjoying the way they treated him, and this process was triggered by Noah's address to them. That is they had an addiction of making fun of him.  The drought and shortage of  produces from the fields did not change their status. This meant that they were not able to see the harms of their addiction, even when shown explicitly. When God instructed Noah to make the ark, the only thing they did was continue with their addiction and mock at him.

Now, as you are about the step on the land after the cleansing of the land, you must ensure that people are not going to be allowed to grow deep enough in their daily routines and evade empathy with others. The instinct to self protection is one of the strongest ones, and avoiding the strangers, in this regard, means the gratification of this instinct, hence a pleasure. However, in this age, the same attitude leads to the formation of enemies in the long run. This situation is not readily visible to those who cannot think critically, i.e. mental myopics. So, again to avoid the trigger, that is meeting the stranger, you must make sure that people are going to meet each other at all levels and corners of the society.

The gratification of the self protection instinct also gives the impression of power, hence an addiction to power. We know that power is not just about muscular ability. There are variations of it, social, economical... Having and keeping power also is linked to self isolation, which is alarming as we discussed before. So, acquisition of power, in this regard, is also an addictive trigger, and must be managed so that it is not going to lead to an evil addiction.

The list of things to be done can be extended, but this is a short list of essentials in my humble opinion. To guide these and other actions you may come up with before you step again on the land, the following is a list of five principles that can be observed, which I call IDEAL principles:

Innovation
Diversification
Education
Authenticity
Labor

If something is weakening the prevalence of these principles in life, it must be re-assessed. For more details on these, you can read this blog specifically on them.

Have We not comforted your heart, And removed from you your burden, Which weighed heavily upon your back, And granted you an exalted reputation? Surely with difficulty is ease. Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up, And strive to please your Lord. (94/1-8)

Aboard Noah's Ark - 4

You are on the ark with Noah. What can be more fortunate? Well, God has more for you in His plan:

And certainly We wrote in the Book after the reminder that (as for) the land, My righteous servants shall inherit it. (21/105)

Allah has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish for them [therein] their religion which He has preferred for them and that He will surely substitute for them, after their fear, security, [for] they worship Me, not associating anything with Me. But whoever disbelieves after that - then those are the defiantly disobedient. (24/55)

Although these Quranic verses were revealed not in context of the Great Flood, they certainly point at the same fact. Those who were rescued from that colossal destruction are promoted to a much higher level: being the inheritors of the land who are responsible for the amelioration of things after corruption. With responsibility comes authority, and vice-versa. Remember that the believers with Noah pbuh were the low level people in their society, but now, they became the highest and most powerful. This sharp intervention of God, which turns out a blessing for the believers and for the future generations to come, is surely another trial for the survivors, as the examination in this life goes on until death.

Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned. (21/35)

Pondering over how to fulfill your responsibility, taking lessons from God's practice is a reasonable approach. Looking back, you see that God has been extremely patient with the disbelievers, and always instructed His messenger to call them to commonsense and critical thought. He warned them with afflictions before the final action. And in the end, He did not tell his messenger and the believers to fight against them, but to simply withdraw from them and busy themselves with the construction of the ark. During this period, the disbelievers started making fun of Noah, and he had simply replied with ironical threats. 

They said, "O Noah, you have disputed us and been frequent in dispute of us. So bring us what you threaten us, if you should be of the truthful." (11/32)

And he constructed the ship, and whenever an assembly of the eminent of his people passed by him, they ridiculed him. He said, "If you ridicule us, then we will ridicule you just as you ridicule. (11/38)

Finally, we know what happened. In fact, the same situation was also present during the time of the Prophet Muhammad pbuh.

They say, "If what you say is true, when will the final triumph come?" Say, "On the day of the final triumph, the faith of the disbelievers will be of no avail to them, nor will they be given any respite". (32/28-29)

So, a clear lesson from these is that to bring a decisive end to evil and to have a fresh start in good necessitates establishing a noteworthy and timeless lesson to the survivors through punishing the perpetrators of evil. If necessary, you have to amputate a limb in order to save the body. God willing, the stem cells are going to complete the missing part in time. 

This does not mean to eradicate evil from the face of the planet for good, though; because the rule of the game is that you can only curtail evil, but not annihilate it. For example, your anger may spur you to execute punishments in ways surpassing the limits of justice, when you were supposed to act in the name of God and justice. So, lesson two, beware of not becoming the seed of evil yourself.

O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah and be just witnesses and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Well­-Acquainted with what you do. (5/8)

A third lesson in context of the anger against evil can be drawn from the definition of anger. It is the behavioral response of our immune system to repel evil (for further reading on anger, you can see the Anger Engine series in this blog: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7). Anger has the ability to muster all powers in our being to engender the desired safety and security. That is, when you are determined to get rid of something for good, you take irreversible action. You take a step that ensures that you will not return to the same conditions. Take differently, you do things such that they preclude the replay of the same events. In fact, if you are a wise person, you employ your anger to avoid the evil in the first place, instead of curtailing it after its establishment. Now let's see some examples of both cases.

If you compare dating and marriage, the former is a rather reversible act while the latter is relatively irreversible. That means if you want to step back from marriage after it is done, your return is going to have an irreversible toll on you. To highlight and commemorate this irreversibility, the two essential things that make a marriage licit in Islam are its announcement and the mahr (goods or money) given to the bride. These are there to avoid evil in the long run, which can occur when people take marriage as a game, i.e. a reversible step.

Other cases of irreversible, giant steps include the Israelites' story with Moses pbuh. In order to avoid a return to the pharaoh's regime, they were required to escape the city, by which they risked their lives. Once they escaped, there was no return, or else they would be killed. After this, when they fell to worshiping a cow statue, they were required by God to slaughter a real cow by their very hands so that they can see the absurdity of their practice, i.e. they had to slaughter their god!

Similarly, the first Muslims in Mecca had to migrate to Medina, by which they abandoned all their belongings and their loved ones. The first believers in Medina, on the other hand, gave up their internal deadly fights and forwent any revenge against each other. On top of forgiving each other, they undertook hosting their fellow migrant believers, and had to establish a mutual fraternity by which they shared not only their houses but also their wealth. Above all, these two communities, i.e. migrants and helpers, took all of the powers of the world then against themselves by proclaiming their faith and by embracing the messenger of God.

With these in mind, if you look at the recent history of the Middle East, you see that the nations that underwent a revolutionary transformation and cut their ties with their past achieved a real transformation, whereas the nations that assumed minimal modifications only went through a change of garment, without evolving really. I am not going to defend all of the events that took place during these periods in the twentieth century, but it is clear that decisive changes need and prerequisite irreversible and giant actions.

In the Noah's ark, as you and humanity are about to begin life anew, keep in mind that if you want future generations to embrace something and not give it up, they are going to have to make great sacrifices and work hard for them, just like you made when you took the faith introduced by Noah.

Aboard Noah's Ark - 3

Just like the elements of the creation, be them small or big, are messages from God, natural events, too, are signs and messages of God, be them ordinary or out of the ordinary.

Indeed, Allah is not timid to present an example - that of a mosquito or what is smaller than it. And those who have believed know that it is the truth from their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, they say, "What did Allah intend by this as an example?" He misleads many thereby and guides many thereby. And He misleads not except the defiantly disobedient, (2/26)

Unfortunately, those who have molded their minds so that they will not see those messages even if posed explicitly cannot find true guidance. Instead, they seek alternative explanations and cover up the eyes of their hearts.

I will turn away from My signs those who are arrogant upon the earth without right; and if they should see every sign, they will not believe in it. And if they see the way of consciousness, they will not adopt it as a way; but if they see the way of error, they will adopt it as a way. That is because they have denied Our signs and they were heedless of them. (7/146)

We then replaced their misfortune with well-being until they were relieved and began saying, "Our fathers had also experienced good and bad days." Suddenly, We struck them (with torment) while they were all unaware (of what was happening). (7/95)

This is, perhaps, what had happened with the son of Noah, when he said that he could escape the flood by climbing a high mountain. In their view, this rain was the long awaited water after a drought that struck them hard, which in fact was a warning from God but which was missed by the people of Noah for the reason stated above.

Then I said, Ask forgiveness of your Lord, surely He is the most Forgiving: He will send rain to you in abundance (71/10-11)

And it sailed with them through waves like mountains, and Noah called to his son who was apart [from them], "O my son, come aboard with us and be not with the disbelievers." His son replied, "I shall climb up a mountain and this will save me from the flood." Noah said, "No one can escape on this day from God's command except those on whom He has mercy." The waves separated Noah from his son who was then drowned with the rest (of the unbelievers). (11/42-43)

Then, it is clear that the events that happen to us personally or as a society are communications from God in different languages. These languages can be in the civilized manner as in the admonitions of the holy books, or they can be in more physical forms such as economical crises, natural disasters, pandemics, wars... All in all, the message is clear. The will of God is established sooner or later, but whether we are going to benefit from it or lose badly depends on our choice of actions.

And if Allah were to impose blame on the people for what they have earned, He would not leave upon the earth any creature. But He defers them for a specified term. And when their time comes, then indeed Allah has ever been, of His servants, Seeing. (35/45)

Till, when the messengers despaired and thought that they were denied, then came unto them Our help, and whom We would was saved. And Our wrath cannot be warded from the guilty. (12/110)

It is also noteworthy that being in a society that is committed to evil, in and of itself, is a potential risk. If you are there and working to spread the message of God through your actions and communications, then you personally may be safe. However, extended duration of "no result", that is no change for the better, may be a sign that you shouldn't stay there anymore. Being in a decisively sinner community is also a risk in the sense that you yourself can shift towards them. After all, you are an individual in the face of a society. Even if you don't commit those sins yourself, you may start supporting their evils through various make-ups in your mind. So, one must separate from a sinning society at some point or at some depth. If you have to stay in there, you must detach your heart and/or your personal life from them to stay properly guided. Otherwise, you may find yourself at the same dreadful end.

And fear an affliction which may not smite those of you in particular who are unjust; and know that Allah is severe in requiting (evil). (8/25)

To sum up, an economic or political crisis or a war or a pandemic affects everybody. These events are for sure messages or afflictions from God, but those who have blinded their hearts won't be able to see this. Furthermore, joining the party of such blind hearted people, even if you don't actively do evil, is a fault in itself. In such cases, when the time comes, God establishes the order by force. These forces may be incomprehensible or invisible. The incomprehensibility, we talked about it. But what about invisibility? Angels? Yes, angels are part of the answer, but not the whole of it.

And to Allah belong the soldiers of the heavens and the earth. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise. (48/7)

When the angels are in action, this may be invisible to us, like a miraculous intervention, or it can be visible to us behind certain veils. For example, when the people of Lot were destroyed, it was the angels at work but in the appearance, a natural disaster of some sort was taking place. Similarly, during the Event of the Elephant (105/1-5) when the army that was about to destroy the Kaaba was itself destroyed by the birds, it was angels at work behind the veil. Again, during the Battle of the Trench (Handaq) in the Islamic history, the wind that made it impossible to stay outside, let alone fighting, was a clear, but invisible, help from God. It was fulfilled by the angels, but the manifestation of this help was an unyielding and endless storm.

O you who have believed, remember the favor of Allah upon you when armies came to [attack] you and We sent upon them a wind and armies [of angels] you did not see. And ever is Allah , of what you do, Seeing. (33/9)

After this journey to the future in time, if we snap back to our time on the ark, obviously those who have been blind towards the messages of God have been eradicated, and we are in an explicit coverage by God. Still, the same question bothers us, what to do to avoid a massive relapse to the heart blindness?

Aboard Noah's Ark - 2

It is interesting that in the Quran, there is almost no mentioning of the situation of the people aboard the ark during the flood. The two exceptions to this are the communication between Noah (pbuh) and his son and the prayer taught by God to the believers, both of which are linked to the beginning of the voyage. Following these, we are only told that the ark was cruising under the supervision of God Almighty. Then we are provided with a conversation between Noah and God after the flood, in which a message of blessing is given.

And when you have boarded the ship, you and those with you, then say, 'Praise to Allah who has saved us form the wrongdoing people.' Say, "Lord, grant us a blessed landing from the Ark; You are the One who provides the safest landing". (23/28-29)

Sailing under Our observation as reward for he who had been denied. (54/14)

It was said, "O Noah, disembark in security from Us and blessings upon you and upon nations [descending] from those with you... (11/48)

A rather plausible idea about what happened while on the ark during the flood is that the passengers all slept. If you read through the Quran, you see that sleep is a blessing that has been given to the servants of God on special occasions. The first of these cases is that of prophet Joshua pbuh. We are told that God made him sleep for hundred years, and then woke him to show a sign about how He is going to resurrect the dead (2/259). The second case of sleep is that of the Seven Sleepers, who were among the believers to the message of Jesus pbuh and who were made by God sleep for three centuries (18/25). Their sleep was a protection from the oppression of their people who were pushing them to revert to idolatry. Their awakening generations later was a sign of resurrection both for themselves and for the people living at the time.

The third example of sleep as a blessing is that before the battle of Badr between the first Muslims and the Meccan disbelievers. It was a situation where the intention of the believers was nothing more than retrieving their belongings and goods that were plundered by the disbelievers and were being sent to the markets of Damascus. So, the believers were not really there for a war, but God's plan was different. All-Seeing God descended upon them serenity and they couldn't help sleeping, whereas the opponents were overstressed. When the war broke out, with the help of angels sent by God, it didn't take too long for the believers to defeat the disbelievers.

When He made the slumber fall upon you as a reassurance from him and sent down water from the sky upon you, that thereby He might purify you, and remove from you the fear of Satan, and make strong your hearts and firm (your) feet thereby. (8/11)

When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike above their necks and strike every fingertip of them. (8/12)

With all these in mind, if we return to the believers on the ark during the flood, the fact that nothing mentioned about them on the ark could be a sign that there actually was nothing to be mentioned after all, because they were sleeping all along the journey, which was overseen and guided by God. Furthermore, when they woke up with all the serenity from the sleep, which probably happened shortly before they came out, they were mentally and bodily ready to tackle with everything else. 

At this point, it is noteworthy to remember that sleep is an essential part of brain operations. During the sleep, unlike what we suppose, brain is very active; especially during the deep sleep that is referred to as REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. It has been scientifically proven that sleeping is an integral part of memory consolidation and the ability to perceive. In other words, thinking critically and deeply and making thoughtful decisions require a brain that has had its proper sleep.

Having had their deep sleep and a good rest, what were they thinking before they fell asleep: Why did all this happen and how to prevent a replay? Now, they can analyze things better and arrive at more objective conclusions thereof. Thanks to the events they have witnessed within their own lifetime, they can more wisely establish whys, what fors and hows. And in fact, this is a must on them, because they have the duty of starting a new line on a clean page that is going to trace a picture pleasing to their beloved Lord.

Aboard Noah's Ark - 1

To be or not to be in the ark... That was the stark line that separated life and death. But it also revealed for many the result of an exam on an eternal bliss vs eternal loss... Still, the life on the ark was that of this world and the passengers were confined to human conditions. That meant all of the worries, fears, hopes, angers, desires and question marks composing the human nature.

Are we going to survive these mountain-like waves? Even if we survived, how are we going to start life again, given the destruction of the flood? We've got limited food and water supply... 

These and many more uncertainties would face a strong answer, though.

We could have been among the crowd that has already drowned. God saved us by our faith and He is the guarantor of everything else during our voyage on this ark. His messenger is with us, too.

Yes, outside, the monstrous waves are smashing the hull of the ship, the wind is roaring wildly, which are scary, but at the same time, you are protected inside despite all that turmoil. You just need to learn to trust your Lord, the Sustainer. And with that trust, comes calmness that penetrates your body, and you fall asleep...

When you wake up, you see that you are still alive. Yes the waves are still smashing the hull, the wind is still roaring, and you are still protected. Although you are in a confined space, from another perspective, it is the events outside that are in a cage. They can't and don't penetrate the ark. So, you get used to this situation. Then, you start thinking more subtle and serious issues. Why and how did all this happen?

Yes, why did all this happen? Simple answer, because the others not only did not believe but also created a social system in which nobody could dare to approach Noah, let alone become a believer. They made sure that not only themselves but also future generations, too, are not going to fall to the calls of Noah. So, when all was done on both sides and when every attempt has failed, Noah prayed for the destruction of the disbelievers, for their society is going to bear none but those who violate and manipulate the freedom of thought, freedom of speech and freedom of religion, and who create conflict on earth.

He said, "My Lord, indeed I invited my people [to truth] night and day. But my call has only made them flee the more. And verily! Every time I called unto them that You might forgive them, they thrust their fingers into their ears, covered themselves up with their garments, and persisted (in their refusal), and magnified themselves in pride. (71/5-7)

Noah said, "My Lord, indeed they have disobeyed me and followed him whose wealth and children will not increase him except in loss. And they have devised a tremendous plot. (71/21-22)

And Noah said, "My Lord, do not leave upon the earth from among the disbelievers an inhabitant. If You leave them, they will mislead Your servants, and they will beget none but wicked disbelievers. (71/26-27)

So he invoked his Lord, "I am defeated; so, help!" (54/10)

Seeing the before and after of the events, you would definitely be engulfed in a mix of feelings. Relieved of the constant pressure and mockery of the disbelievers, but grieved at the loss of loved ones. Angry at the stubbornness of the wicked people in their despicable lives, but fearing your own existence and future... But an eventual thought would hit you. If you and other believers are saved along with the messenger of God, that means there is a continuation to this story. If there is a continuation, that means there is life, prosperity, family and a community of believers who are committed to each other. But would this dramatic end repeat itself somehow?

First of all, whether there is a possibility of a replay or not, you are responsible of teaching the faith to the new generations. For that, you sure are going to tell them what happened in the past, and the ark is going to be the ideal school building for that purpose. A school, a worship place, a sign for all future generations to come... This is all good but, what else can you do to ensure that people are not going to revert to the same atrocities against each other, even if they are personally in disbelief?

Anger Engine - 7

When you have the power and when you are angry, you are within a dangerous context. The same context, however, is necessary for the realization of utterly needed transformations that are later going to be named as "historic revolution". Eliminating the problems that have been ailing the society for too long needs such a dangerous juxtaposition as anger and power. Keeping that anger and power under control, however, is essential in order for this historic transformation to be for the good of everybody. Speaking of control, there are two extremes that must be avoided. One, you must make sure that you are not going beyond the limits and committing oppression while conducting your rightful mission. A proper target does not justify the unjust means to it. Two, you must avoid falling into the misuse of mercy when delivering justice related to the past events. Forgiveness must be exercised in a way not to encourage those committed to evil.

It is not fitting for a prophet that he should have prisoners of war until he has thoroughly subdued the land. You look for the temporal goods of this world; but Allah looks to the Hereafter: And Allah is Exalted in might, Wise. (8/67)

The above verse was revealed after the battle of Badr, when the Muslims had given the Meccan oppressors an unexpected and a dire blow. The details of this event can be read from the relevant sources. My intention here is to focus on the two points I raised above. Here, the Ruler of the universe tells His messenger that a lesson of mercy cannot be taught to the minds that have learned to exercise their own will through killing the innocent and stealing from the weak. A lesson of tolerance cannot be learned by the minds that have uprooted freedom of thought and expression through ways including, but not limited to, torture and pressure.

Such was the case with the Meccan opponents against the first Muslims. A permanent lesson had to be given to the evildoers so that the people in the aftermath will not dare to repeat the same. At this conjunction, forgiving even the most evil act sends the message that "you can get away with whatever you do". Plus, a temporary loss on the side of those evil people will seed a revenge. All of these must be blocked. Besides, those who were not as evil but were siding with the evil group for whatever reason must understand that they are given a free will in order to choose to counteract the evil pushes from people and from devil. Lack of good will and simply joining the crowds is not a valid excuse to support evil will.

If these sound to harsh for you, remember that it is the similar behavior on your side that led to the conditions in which you felt the anger towards God, because He was keeping you under heavy loads with no "apparent" reason. It took a long time and grave losses in order for you to realize things. The same is true of the other side. Psychology of herd and the psychology surrounding the status-quo are the same, no matter under what banner they are present, be them religious or otherwise.

So, let's delve into the first topic: not committing injustice when exercising power. It is very easy to misguide a person who is angry and who holds power. With unsubstantiated news and rumors, one can lead another person to give undeserved or excessive punishments. It is crucial at this point to cling to the basic principles of justice:

• a person is innocent unless proven otherwise
• benefit of doubt goes to the suspect
• crime is individual; hence no crime by affiliation
• crime and punishment must be proportional
• penalty is the same regardless of the identity of the criminal

Although these principles of justice have been established and known for long, they are violated many times due to pressure from outside or prejudice from inside. Both are not fitting to a believer: 

O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah , witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do. (5/8)

Believers, if one who publicly commits sins brings you any news, ascertain its truthfulness carefully, lest you harm people through ignorance and then regret what you have done. (49/6)

Second topic is not exercising unlimited forgiveness. As explained above, forgiving everything, no matter what, gives the message that individuals can commit anything without having to face any punishments or sanctions. It is important, however, to distinguish between the rights of God and the rights of people. A person not believing in God, i.e. atheists, are committing a crime against God, and it is due to Him to judge the situation. The same is not true of crimes against people, however. If, for example, the freedom of thought, expression and religion or another basic freedom and right of a person is violated by whoever, this violation is deserving of punishment.

Of course similar limitations can be put in place due to authentic reasons supported by proven, concrete crimes. Nevertheless, evil actors who use the public power to abolish the basic freedoms always come up with pretexts to do so, too. Therefore, it is important to distinguish between the limitations taken due to concrete actions and those built on prejudices and evil will. If a person or group has banned the basic individual freedoms and rights without relying on concrete crimes, then that person or group must be punished not only as a recompense to their acts but also as a lesson to the rest of the people.

The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and do mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified or their hands and their feet be cut off on the opposite sides, or be exiled from the land. That is their disgrace in this world, and a great torment is theirs in the Hereafter. (5/33)

And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses - lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after. And those are the defiantly disobedient, (4/24)

After these two important lessons, remember that anger is not a state that is intended to last forever. It is there for a reason, and once that reason is fulfilled, the lead must be handed to wisdom and mercy. Never-quenching anger is a sign of going astray and itself an invitation for future troubles.

Fight them, Allah will punish them by your hands and bring them to disgrace, and assist you against them and heal the hearts of a believing people. And remove the rage of their hearts; and Allah turns (mercifully) to whom He pleases, and Allah is Knowing, Wise. (9/14-15)

So they defeated them by permission of Allah , and David killed Goliath, and Allah gave him the kingship and prophethood and taught him from that which He willed. And if it were not for Allah checking [some] people by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted, but Allah is full of bounty to the worlds. (2/251)

Relevant Quranic verses to the topic: 

And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children who say, "Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper?" (4/75)

Have you not seen those who were told, "Restrain your hands [from fighting] and establish prayer and give zakah"? But then when fighting was ordained for them, at once a party of them feared men as they fear Allah or with [even] greater fear. They said, "Our Lord, why have You decreed upon us fighting? If only You had postponed [it for] us for a short time." Say, The enjoyment of this world is little, and the Hereafter is better for he who fears Allah. And injustice will not be done to you, [even] as much as a thread [inside a date seed]." (4/77)

And the thief, male and female: cut off the hands of both, as a recompense for what they have earned, and a punishment exemplary from God; God is All-mighty, All-wise. (5/38)

O you who believe! Whoever of you reverts from his religion, (know that in his stead) Allah will bring a people whom He loves and who loves Him, humble toward believers, stern toward disbelievers, striving in the way of Allah, and not fearing the blame of any blamer. Such is the grace of Allah which He gives unto whom He wills. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing. (5/54)

O believers, look after your own souls. He who is astray cannot hurt you, if you are rightly guided. Unto God shall you return, all together, and He will tell you what you were doing. (5/105)

And thus have We made in every town its guilty ones become the greatest ones, that they may plan therein; and they do not plan but against their own souls, and they do not perceive. (6/123)

So We make the evildoers friends of each other for what they have earned. (6/129)

Is not Allah sufficient for His servant? And they seek to frighten you with those apart from Him; And whoever Allah leaves astray - for him there is no guide. (39/36)

Verily, We have given you (O Muhammad SAW) a manifest victory. That Allah may forgive for you what preceded of your sin and what will follow and complete His favor upon you and guide you to a straight path And that Allah might help you with a mighty help. It is He who sent down tranquility into the hearts of the believers that they would increase in faith along with their [present] faith. And to Allah belong the soldiers of the heavens and the earth, and ever is Allah Knowing and Wise. (48/1-4)

O believers, take not My enemy and your enemy for friends, offering them love, though they have disbelieved in the truth that has come to you, expelling the Messenger and you because you believe in God your Lord. If you go forth to struggle in My way and seek My good pleasure, secretly loving them, yet I know very well what you conceal and what you publish; and whosoever of you does that, has gone astray from the right way. (60/1)