- Islam teaches us that our purpose in life is to worship Allah alone. This entails engaging in an inner war against the ego and our desires, striving to conquer its insidious grasp on our thoughts and actions. Materialism and individualism in society can distract from this purpose and lead to discontent and mental health issues.
- Embracing Tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and recognising that worldly pursuits alone cannot fulfil the soul’s restlessness is the solution for a fulfilled life. Fame and material success may provide temporary satisfaction, but true contentment lies in a strong connection with Allah.
Robots of Neo-liberalism pursue pleasure; the carnage on the ground is clearly visible
Soon after his conversion to Islam, the controversial Andrew Tate (our brother) said,
“I understood that Hedonism is a black hole and you can pour endless things down it but you can never fill it up, you need to have some degree of self-restraint.“
As Muslims, we are taught that if you mistake the vehicle of the self, for the essence of the self, you have failed this test of life. Our purpose in life is to worship Allah alone and we are insignificant in parallel to the cosmos. Moreover, we possess no power without Allah. However, interestingly, our conscious subjective experience in this life revolves entirely around us. This is precisely what elevates the significance of our test and consequently amplifies the rewards that come from combating our naffs (ego) and desires.
Today, we find ourselves immersed in an environment marked by materialism and individualism. We are bombarded with messages that emphasise the acquisition of material possessions as a symbol of success and happiness. The relentless pursuit of wealth and possessions can therefore, overshadow our purpose to attain closeness to Allah and understand who our creator is.
How do we deal with this tug of war?
Among the tragic stories of lost and wounded souls who took their own lives by overdosing on narcotics, we find the examples of Korean pop star Jonghyun, rapper Lil Peep, singer Amy Winehouse, and Hollywood’s Robin Williams, all of whom succumbed to their inner struggles. A poignant reminder that neither fame nor wealth can ever truly satisfy an individual’s being.
“Desires make Slaves out of Kings and and Patience makes Kings out of Slaves”- Iman al-Ghazali
A soul that relentlessly pursues transient pleasures often does so with the intent of evading pain. Nevertheless, pain is an inherent part of life. Consider the fact that life begins from our mothers enduring pain during childbirth for us, and existence itself can be accompanied by various forms of anguish. We see how the man who finds himself drowning in the vast ocean is just as desperately in need of Allah as the one seemingly revelling in luxury within the confines of a penthouse suite, devoid of faith in his heart.
The sole pursuit of pleasure, alluring as it may be, is not an ultimate destination, but rather transient in life’s winding path. Hedonism is a destructive force which beckons us towards a life where self-indulgence reigns supreme, where the pursuit of immediate gratification blinds us from the profound beauty of wanting to please our creator, and the satiating feeling that comes from this within our soul. Moreover, this requires a training of patience, as our ultimate reward is seen in the hereafter.
And this worldly life is not but diversion and amusement. And indeed, the home of the Hereafter – that is the [eternal] life, if only they knew.
Quran 29:64
The paradoxical essence of embracing powerlessness while maintaining a resilient trust in the goodness of God’s plan distinguishes Muslims from others. While there are other faiths that share the belief in an afterlife and a higher power, it is within Islam that we discover genuine guidance and profound divine wisdom on navigating through life’s adversities and calamities.
The Prophet Mohammed (saw) said:
“How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.”
(Narrated by Muslim, 2999).
It was narrated from Anas ibn Malik that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Great reward comes with great trials. When Allah loves a people, He tests them, and whoever accepts it attains His pleasure, whereas whoever shows discontent with it incurs His wrath.”
(Classed as Hasan by Al-Tirmidhi, 2396)
A culture predicated on Individualism and Materialism is designed to make you feel inferior and broken
The Federation University conducted a study on Western Individualism and the Psychological Wellbeing of Young People. Across 14 studies, it found how Individualism was associated with a reduced satisfaction of life, along with an increased likelihood of depressive symptomatology and suicide ideation in young people. Interestingly, Is an Increase in Individualism Damaging Our Mental Health? | Psychology Today United Kingdom Britain is the most Individualistic society in the EU. 52% of Brits said the future society should be built on this basis.
The Relationship Between Individualistic Attitudes and Attitudes Towards Traditional Marriage in Contemporary American Society (providence.edu) concludes how Individualistic attitudes have slowly caused American society to self-destruct. This is seen in the deinstitutionalisation of marriage through increased divorce rates, decreased marriage rates, and an increase in alternative options to marriage.
The per capita gross lottery and casino gambling turnover for year 2000 for 42 countries was obtained from Global Betting & Gaming Consultants, found in the study: The influence of individualism and uncertainty avoidance on per capita gambling turnover (tandfonline.com)
The findings revealed a noteworthy association between Individualism and the per capita gross turnover of casino gambling, shedding light on the influence of a nation’s cultural norms on its citizens’ gambling habits. It was deduced that the prevailing national culture played a significant role in determining the average extent to which individuals within a country engage in lottery and casino games. Individualism, with its endorsement of personal fulfillment and the pursuit of wealth, emerged as a catalyst. The relentless pursuit of “gambling to win” has long been a prominent explanation for sustained gambling behavior. Thus, it becomes apparent that a culture steeped in Western Individualism is closely intertwined with the rise of addictive tendencies. Remarkably, these addictions inadvertently contribute to revenue streams flowing back into government coffers.
Pictured: Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
British politics bears significant responsibility for fostering the prevailing culture of Individualism evident in present-day UK. Margaret Thatcher, a staunch advocate of Individualism, viewed it as an inherent aspect of human nature. She acknowledged the power of self-interest in economic matters, without explicitly praising or criticising it. Thatcher’s version of Individualism drew inspiration from Nonconformism and Liberalism, emphasizing self-reliance and independence. Her famous assertion that “there is no such thing as society” reflected her belief in individual accountability. However, many perceive her brand of Individualism as materialistic and self-centred. During the late 1970s, Thatcher spearheaded an assault on the welfare state and collectivism, further reinforcing this ideology.
The Fascination of Fame for Gen Z’s
In the age of fleeting attention and relentless social media feeds, the yearning for fame has permeated the collective consciousness of many young teens and adolescents like an insidious contagion. It has become a tantalizing illusion, promising validation, adoration, and an escape from the banality of existence. But beneath the veneer of glitz and glamour lies a profound emptiness, for fame alone cannot provide lasting fulfilment. The desire to be seen, acknowledged, and celebrated has been fuelled by a society that equates visibility with worth. Yet, in this desperate pursuit, Gen Z’s risk losing themselves, succumbing to the pressures of relentless self-promotion, and sacrificing their authenticity on the altar of public approval.
According to Orville Gilbert Brim, author of “Look at Me! The Fame Motive from Childhood to Death,” contemporary culture is witnessing a rise in individuals who aspire to be famous not for a specific talent but for the sake of acceptance and validation. Brim highlighted numerous surveys indicating that a significant number, at least 4 million individuals in the United States, consider attaining fame as their primary life goal.
Additionally, a separate study conducted by the Pew Research Center among 18- to 25-year-olds revealed that for some young people, becoming famous is even more desirable than amassing wealth.
Media experts further suggest that the perception of being able to appear on social media without necessarily showcasing any specific talent makes fame seem more attainable and therefore acts as an additional motivation for individuals to pursue it.
Tawhid is the only solution for a fulfilled life
“I am a social Media influencer with a million followers”, “I am an owner of a Hedge Fund”, “I am an Orthopaedic surgeon.”…..no matter what our status is in this world, it is easy for us to become ensnared in the illusion that our mortality is inconsequential. When we place value on ourselves based on our own worldly merits, we are left perpetually searching for something more. It is the quest for external validation or the insatiable thirst for material success alone that will make the soul restless. The unrelenting restlessness of the soul, attributed to shirk (polytheism), can only be assuaged by embracing Tawhid. The belief in Tawhid (the oneness of Allah) teaches us that contentment of the soul lies not within the ephemeral enticements of the world but in forging a strong connection with Allah.
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