Knowledge, Intellect, and ChatGPT (Part 1 of 3)

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The Traditional Mentality – the Intellect

Materialism may furnish transient and fleeting pleasure, but much like a child who quickly tires of a new toy, human infatuation with material goods is ephemeral, leaving a lingering sense of unfulfillment.

Article Author: Dr. Najmuddin Hasan

In our contemporary society of progress and technology, modern secular individuals often perceive their ancestors as naïve, backward, and ill-informed. This view is further solidified by the unproven theory of evolution, which posits that what is new is inherently superior, suggesting that humanity is constantly progressing.

The purported evidence of present-day superiority often rests on technological achievements. There is little doubt that technology has the potential to simplify various aspects of life, yet an easier life does not necessarily equate to a more profound and meaningful one. It is increasingly evident, as the symptoms of societal ailments become pronounced, that technology, while offering convenience, also exacts a toll on our environment, our lives, and even our inner selves.

In today’s consumer-driven and materialistic world, individuals are incessantly bombarded with the notion that happiness is contingent upon the accumulation of material possessions. This proposition, however, is inherently flawed. Materialism may furnish transient and fleeting pleasure, but much like a child who quickly tires of a new toy, human infatuation with material goods is ephemeral, leaving a lingering sense of unfulfillment.

The analogy of a child and their toy can be extended further. It is typically only a child who struggles to form meaningful human connections that requires constant distractions to keep them from despondency. These distractions serve to momentarily fill the void within their soul. Similarly, technology functions as today’s great pacifier, diverting individuals from what truly matters—relationships with fellow human beings and, most crucially, their relationship with the Creator of the heavens and earth.

Throughout history, humankind has possessed an inherent awareness of its fallen state, a departure from a higher state of existence. The Qur’ān alludes to the idea that the faithful will decrease in number in later times, emphasising the significance of those who uphold their faith in an age of spiritual decline:

“The foremost [in faith] will be the foremost [in faith]. Those are the ones brought near [to Allah]. In the Gardens of Pleasure, a [large] company of the former peoples and a few of the later peoples.”[1]

Similarly, the Prophet Muhammad sala Allāhu ‘alayhi wasalam prophesied that subsequent generations would forget and deteriorate morally. He said:

“The best of you belong to my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them. Verily, after you will come deceitful people who cannot be trusted. They will swear oaths without being asked to swear oaths, they will make vows they do not fulfil, and gluttony will prevail among them.”[2]

This awareness allows individuals to hold their ancestors and their wisdom in high regard. In fact, it aligns with the concept of the Law of Entropy, which suggests that all systems tend to degrade over time. It is the reconnection to one’s origin, to the Creator, that transcends and defies the so-called ‘Law of Entropy.’ It is this upward spiritual trajectory that goes against the natural, downward flow of life’s currents.

Another adverse consequence of the prevailing ‘evolutionary’ mindset is that parents inadvertently convey to their children that their generation is more advanced than their own predecessors. Consequently, children may lose respect for their elders and become increasingly rebellious. However, this observation is not meant to foster fatalism or despair; rather, it emphasises that as the world ages, it naturally deteriorates. As a result, the true, everlasting abode of a believer lies in the Hereafter. Thus, believers are encouraged to relentlessly pursue Truth and Justice in any era they find themselves.

In the upcoming article, we will delve deeper into the fundamental disparities between the traditional, spiritually-oriented perspective and the modern, secular worldview. This exploration will encompass several pivotal concepts, including the duality or complementarity of ‘Object and Subject’ within ‘Reality and the Observer,’ as well as the interplay between ‘Knowledge and the Knower.’

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References:

[1] Qur’ān 56:10-14

[2] Bukharī on the authority of ‘Imran b, Huṣain rady Allāhu ‘anh