If I was asked to say a single word to describe the contemporary world, I would say fast. It is not only the existing things and interactions that are occurring at an ever increasing pace but also change itself is getting faster. This situation is also foretold in the words of the Prophet Muhammad (Bukhari 7061, 7121). Embodiment of all this, we are talking about the Z-generation whose everyday items have been invented no so long ago. And it is them that I want to talk about. This new generation is, as all human beings, under the responsibility of fulfilling certain expectations from God. And it is our, the previous generation's responsibility, to convey them the message of God in the best and wisest manner. However, given the differences in paradigms and values, how to achieve this mission is a great unknown and concern.
"Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction..." (16/125)
Yesterday is gone,
And its tale told.
Today, new seeds are growing.
The mentality, life conditions and the corresponding rhetoric of yesterday belongs there. In the realm of the yesterday, something that is valid today could still be valid centuries from now. However, in the realm of now, something valid today hardly makes it to 20 years later. So, considering the new generation's responsibility towards God and our responsibility towards them, what are we going to convey to them and how are we going to do it?
This situation is even further compounded, if you are living in social conditions where the image of religion and the religious people is blended with all sorts of immorality and cruelty. As a comparison, when Islam had come, its propositions meant mercy, compassion, justice, hygiene, intellectual inquiry and independence. Today, however, the opposite of these qualities are associated with the religious people, either because they are indeed so or because they are victims of slanders and oppression. Either way, the new generation living in such societies are not seeing, when they look at the religious people, the image of a role model to imbibe the religion from. And it cannot be expected from them to make a self-motivated action and reach out to the authentic sources, given that they are not even aware of their responsibilities nor of what is available. So, again it is the previous generation's responsibility to do something. But what and how?
The answer to this question cannot be given at once. Plus, it must be an ongoing research in the minds, since what you may think of for today will expire in a few years, unlike in the previous centuries where answers survived for centuries. Having said that, I would like to share with you a few thoughts of mine regarding the what and how of today.
In the societies we live in, there are religious people and there are those far or even against religion. There are also those who are ok with having a faith, but are opposed to the idea of religion or institutionalized religion. What is the common factor to reach all? What are the shared values among different kinds of world views? These questions can be discussed at length, but I am going to focus on one answer that is inspired by the Quran and that can be used to reach the young generations.
Follow those who do not ask you for any reward and who are rightly guided. (36/21)
Analyzing the event at which this admonition was uttered, we see that it is given to those who have not yet embraced the faith. And more importantly, this admonition has been included in the Quran, although the event took place long before the prophet Muhammad and in a society other than Arabs. What makes it so important that it is included in the book of God addressing all of humanity till the end of time?
At the beginning of the article life is described as "fast", then research is suggested. knowing that a valuable and solid research takes times, and during this period of time, millions of new Gen z are dragged into the appealing ideology of atheism. do you think that there is enough "time" for research?
ReplyDeletealso another point, even I as a millennial struggle at times to understand the Gen Z, so what can be the wise way to approach?
For the first question, I think the point you raised is rather important in terms of understanding what keeps going wrong. There is a juxtaposition of opposing urges, at which people dominantly take the safe but short-sighted and misleading route. That is, when faced with the urgency of an action and the need for development, people choose to act with the good-old ways of doing things, as if it is the solution to the problems. However, as I said in the article, although this worked in the previous centuries due to the low pace of change, it does not work anymore. So, doing the same things as a reflex when faced with urgency creates an image of comfort for the short term. However, this comfort, as a side effect, curtails the research efforts, and so, the old school leads to a vicious cycle. What needs to be done is break this cycle through deliberate action, even though it may seem like you are ignoring the urgency of the situation, because you are not. Research and application should go hand in hand, even if the ultimate solution is not available. And with human beings who change continuously, there is no ultimate solution, rather there is a "current best fit" that needs to be updated.
ReplyDeleteFor the second question, as I said for the first question, there is no choice other than research, and then trial and error. However, the ultimate point in all of these efforts is to bring people face to face with their Creator, hence establish a direct connection between them and the Quran. So, the clues to the solutions can be found through the Quran using critical thinking. At least this is what I am thinking and doing. These articles are the fruits of such efforts. Remember, needs are the mother of innovation. Needs form the lenses through which things can be seen that were unavailable to those without the same lenses. So, to see and understand the Quran anew, we need to determine the needs, problems and then use them as lenses to sift from the Quran the elements that can be cure for our times. Allah knows best.
ReplyDelete