Researchers in psychology are keen to understand the human condition and how things can be improved. A prominent psychologist recently gave a TED talk, summing up the latest research. He said today there are three major issues that people in our society face: Distractibility, loneliness and loss of purpose in life. Immediately, many passages of The Majestic Quran came to my attention. So, I asked, “Isn’t this what the Quran diagnosed as the poorly human condition?” Let’s briefly examine them and see what the solutions are.
Distractibility is where we can’t stay focused on one thing for too long. Social media, smartphones and the desire to sample everything around has reduced our focusing capability. The Quranic solution to this is a simple one, be mindful, live in the moment, enjoy the task underway, go beyond yourself, reach out and the best way to do this is by remembering the Loving Lord. Taqwa sums this up nicely.
What is Taqwa?
The word Taqwa occurs 230 times in the Quran, it means; to be aware, be on one’s guard, protect oneself from harm. It is defined as, to protect oneself from things, which will cause harm. In Shariah, it refers to protecting oneself from sins. The believer is expected to be ever-alert and on his guard in case he falls into temptations of the self and Shaitan. It expresses a state of alertness, awareness and attentiveness. This leads to the idea of ‘fear of Allah’ a common meaning of Taqwa. A Muslim fears to displease his Lord, Master and Creator. Taqwa implies caution and seriousness a believer is very serious about his religion as a worldly man is serious about his business and career!
How Scholars and Saints Understood Taqwa
Ibrahim bin Adham said: “Taqwa is people shouldn’t find a fault in your speech, the angels shouldn’t find a fault in your actions and the angel of the throne finds no fault in your inner motives either”. Al-Waqadi defined Taqwa as “You decorate your inner self with pure thoughts of the Lord as you would dress up for the people”. And here’s an interesting definition of Taqwa, “Your Lord should not see you in a place from, which he has forbidden you. And he should not find you absent from the place he commanded you to be”.
Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked to explain the meaning of Taqwa, he replied, “When you walk a narrow steep path hemmed by thorny bushes you tread very carefully so the thorns don’t tear your clothes and you ‘re not injured.” This is an apt simile for illustrating the meaning of Taqwa. The journey of life is on a narrow steep path hemmed on one side by the selfish desires and the other side by Shaitan. So, one must exercise extreme caution and awareness to avoid falling into the traps.
Growing Loneliness
The second issue he highlighted is the growing loneliness. The UK already had an army of nine million people who self-identified as being lonely. During the pandemic, this was severely heightened. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) taught us to build a network around us, the family, husband, wife, children, parents, uncles and aunts, nieces and nephews.
The next circle is your neighbours and work colleagues, these concentric circles can keep growing and growing. He emphasised the role of relatives in our lives “Anyone who wants to live a long healthy life, should be good to his relatives” (Bukhari). So, pick up the phone and say salam to your siblings now (if you haven’t spoken to them in a while)!
Lack of Purpose in Life
The Professor of Psychology then said that the third issue our society faces is a ‘meaningless life’ where people have no purpose to live for. The Majestic Quran asks, “Do you think we created you without purpose and you won’t be returned to us?” (Mu’minun: 115). This rhetorical question emphasises that life is a great gift, purposeful and full of rich meanings. The Quran’s meta-narrative is about what life means. We all love stories, and the Quran is full of beautiful stories.
These are stories of past Prophets, their lives and works and they relate the history of human disobedience eloquently, as well as stories of sincere and devout people. Stories are about real life, they have a plot, contain a sense of mystery, and lead into something where we can relate to them. It’s the story of Allah: His Majesty, Creation, Love and Wrath. The One who gives meaning to life. I believe that by looking at what Allah is doing in the lives of people we can see connections to our everyday life, they show how Allah works with and through people. The Quranic stories connect the past ages with the real world of today. I invite you to study Allah’s words so you can stay focused, be connected and be full of life.
Conclusion
In a world grappling with distractibility, loneliness and loss of purpose, the Quran offers timeless solutions that can bring clarity and fulfilment to our lives. Through the practice of Taqwa, we cultivate focus and mindfulness. By nurturing relationships, we combat loneliness and build strong social bonds. By aligning our lives with the Divine purpose, we find meaning that transcends worldly pursuits. The Quran’s wisdom is not only a guide for spiritual growth but a remedy for the modern ailments that challenge our inner peace. Embrace its teachings to live a focused, connected and purposeful life.
