It is early morning here in Bahrain. Woke for Fajr prayer, after pursuing my Allah (SWT) connection made some coffee checked, WhatsApp and then email. My Inbox contained a treasure, most timely, as it was something I have been thinking about recently.
This was a gift from Yaqueen Institute, an essay: Being a “Good Person” is Not Enough: Why Ethics Need Islam.
The reason this has been in my mind recently is that I have been meeting and speaking with people of different faiths and different nationalities – people from Islamic countries that worship in ways that are often in marked contrast to the way Muslims in Saudi Arabia observe their faith.
Marked contrast means very different from. An example from the web of marked contrast is appallingly true: This year, for example, Washington, D.C., has suffered a sharp increase in killings, in marked contrast to the nationwide decline.— David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2023.
At the conclusion of this blog you shall see examples of the Islamic Faith being celebrated in Nigeria. It is in marked contrast, in every way, of the rituals, dress, and habits of Muslims in Saudi Arabia. D
I intensely admire the organization of this paper. Dr. Ovamir Anjun begins with an Introduction that drew me in, made me want to read and explore the rational and thinking.
“ In this essay, we present how:
- The Prophetic ﷺ declaration that he had been sent “only to perfect noble traits of character” confirms our empirical experience that although the ethical impulse—the love for what is good—is natural to all human beings, we need revelation to guide and perfect it.
- Disagreement and confusion about the goal and nature of good character are rampant, and misguided ethical beliefs have inspired the most horrific evils in human history.
- Secular modernity, which claims to provide ethics without revelation, has tried to “smuggle” in religious values, but has failed in providing meaning to individuals and restraint against exploitation. Today’s ecological crisis is an irrefutable judgment against modern hegemonic ethics of capitalism, secularism, and liberalism, and the Islamic alternative is urgently needed.
- Divinely revealed norms are confirmed and enhanced by rational ethical reflection.
- To fail to acknowledge and thank the Creator is a great ethical failure.’
The second paragraph of the essay lays everything out, explaining why this is such a thorny issue and a controversial conundrum. (A conundrum a confusing and difficult problem or question.)
“All human cultures recognize good traits and virtues in some elementary form. Yet, both in real-life situations and upon further reflection, people begin to disagree about what is good. Some prioritize mercy over justice or vice versa. Some preach forgiveness and pacifism toward all, even (or specially) vis-a-vis the powerful. Others fight for equality even if it compromises freedom, or the other way around. Others prefer choice to life. Others swear by the principle of maximization of measurable happiness. Yet others believe only in instant gratification in an uncertain world. Rather than furnishing us with a solid edifice of ethical imperatives, the shared human ethical impulse melts in the heat of seemingly endless human diversity and disagreement. To complicate matters further, the world is not a museum or a seminar room for discussion, but a battleground between good and evil, and the champions of evil ever seek to convert, dominate, and hoodwink others, driven by greed, pride, and self-worship, thus corrupting our desires, perception, and even language by naming what is evil as good and good as evil. To be good, then, requires us not merely to make an intellectual choice, but a commitment to and struggle for what is true and good. “
The author speaks of world wide surveys asking the essential question: “Can we be ethical without religion?” It depends on who is being asked, what there experiences are. For example:, “Furthermore, people inhabiting regions devastated by colonialism and failing political and economic orders are likely to have compromised ethical conduct due to low trust, cynicism, and need for survival.”
It summarizes, significantly and astutely, what I consider the most significant problem in Saudi Arabia – greed.” Greed, similarly, had always been recognized as the greatest of evils, and its particular form, usury or interest, the most hated crime, in all cultures and all history, until modern capitalism began to consider it both a virtue and a necessity “ The cause of greed cannot be modern capitalism. Saudi Arabia does not suffer from capitalism, it is a kingdom – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. .
The essay, written by a university professor, reads like one. I do apologize but university professors have a tendency to sound unnecessarily complex and complicated. This is an illustration. I show how Islam is not only in harmony with reason, but it also requires us to develop rational understanding of good conduct as part of its holistic guidance.” There is an easier way to say this, to convey this thought.
The basis of Islamic ethics is explained.
The Blessed Messenger of Allah, summarized his entire mission.(On authority of Abū Hurayra,
I have been sent only to perfect noble traits of character.6
In sum, Islam perfects moral traits in three ways:
- by giving these virtues the right purpose or teleology: Allah Most High;
- by providing a higher and lasting level of motivation; and
- by providing the right meaning and balance among competing values through the revealed Law, the Shariah.
The author quotes Socrates: “The unexamined life is not worth living, said Socrates, who is believed by many to have been the first ethical philosopher. “ Unfortunately an extremely lengthly and irrelevant explanation of ethics during Socrates’ time is explored.
Very profound thinking is contained in the following rather complicated language.
Our contemporary empirical experience confirms both of these observations: the existence of the natural ethical sense (fiṭra) and its weakness. Even in our hyper-secularized, artificially mechanized, distant-from-nature, and unreflective lives, human beings cannot easily avoid asking these ‘big’ questions.15 Human life is impossible without confronting these issues, and our choice is to respond to the truth, neglect it, or deny it. This becomes the foundational moral choice upon which all else depends. We also witness, however, that when led by the self-serving elite rather than divine revelation, human reason degenerates into either endless disagreement and cynicism, absurdities such as atheism, or obscurantist cults that mimic true religion. Against the cumulative judgment of all known human societies, including most human beings today in favor of theistic ethics, a tiny hegemonic global elite produces agnostic or atheistic philosophy and culture, rejecting the truth of God yet ready to believe in the most fantastic tales; like the characters in Alice in Wonderland, they practice believing six impossible things before breakfast.
It is possible to read the entire essay by following this link. I dare you to, I laughingly say. I did, and lived to tell about it, barely. https://yaqeeninstitute.org/read/paper/being-a-good-person-is-not-enough-why-ethics-need-islam
I will perhaps explore the ethical dilemma in greater depth but major changes in my life is forcing me to concentrate on by day to day existence. Being a refugee is not easy, even when one has a credit card and retirement income.
Therefore, we find ourselves at the conclusion of this blog. You shall see photographs and reels of a major event taking place in Nigeria. It was the Commissioning of Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu University in Kano KHIRUN. I received word and photographs on WhatsApp
He: My Grandfather’s university was commissioned yesterday. 7 kings were present, including the Sultan of Sokoto.
Me: Nice. Can you get me into the school. I could on my own merits.
He: Why not???? Of courseeeee Who would deny this 4 times degree holder a 5th one?
Me: Great Thanks. Ido not need another degree because I am not taking another husband. Hahaha
He: Eight laughing and sad emojis. Reporting you to my mama right awayyy.
I dent him a photo of me having my nails done. I will include it at the conclusion of the blog as well.
Me: To you! Your mother will cheer and understand.
He: Enjoyment minister. That dress looks good on you. I should get you more.
Me” Who needs you????
He: You doooooo
Me: You would have to show up to give them to me. Doubtful.
He: I will. All the way to bohhroiinn
Me: You cannot even spell much less get here.
This is the most ridiculous relationship I have EVER had and that is saying something. Plans are changing and I shall be doing to Malaysia rather than staying in Bahrain. This was a telephone call.
He: I will come to Kuala Lumpur if you say you love me.
Me: I do NOT love you.
They say true love does not run a smooth course. If one wants real, intense love, they’re going to have to be willing to tackle a number of issues that get in the way. “The course of true love never did run smooth” means that love is not easy. True love is not something that flows smoothly without encountering any obstacles. If one wants real, intense love, they’re going to have to be willing to tackle a number of issues that get in the way.”
This so-called relationship has, millions of issues, it seems. But we laugh together all of the time. Laughter is so important to life – would would life be like without laughter?
Seriously, look at the joy, look at the colorful clothes, look at the profound differences between the Islamic Faith as celebrated in Nigeria and that practiced in Saudi Arabia where I have lived for the past six months. Personally, I much prefer the Nigerian way of worship. Saudis are not aware, nor do they wish to know, how the Islamic Faith is celebrated in other countries.
