Revolt against the Lord and Creator
It has been, indeed, one of the greatest misfortunes of the world as well as humanity that modern western cultural impulse against and ideas took shape at a time when the revolt against the religion in general and against the realities beyond the ken of human perceptions in particular, had already captured the minds and hearts of the christian nations which had entrenched themselves against a priestly order exploiting nations for the sake of the base desires and selfish ends. Uncompromising opposition to the worldly knowledge by the chrisian church which had set face against improvement of the condition of the earthly life, coupled with immorality fanaticism and ignorance of fathers; forced the people in the west to take a materialistic bias to the endeavours concerning intellectual and cultural development, industrial progress and social growth of the nations.
As this Lop-sided development increased, it decreased in balancing the spiritual relationship between man and His creator. All these consequences were, it would seem, the product of inborn tendencies, temperatures, peculiar circumstances and the social and religious order of the European people. The new civilization was born and brought up in an atmosphere surcharged with atheistic and amoral tendencies. Phenomenal progress in the field of physical sciences, industry, and technology of the other hand enabled man to conquer the space and set his foot on the moon.
The ever-increasing material progress, control over the forces of nature and dynamic explanation of human potentialities promising ultimate mastership over the universe has in consequence given rise to anti-God materialism which has become the champion of anti-religious thought and action. It has become the distinctive and the dominant characteristic of the modern materialistic civilization. We do not know of any other civilization so ruthlessly materialistic and at the same time so thoroughly God-opposing hostile to everything divine in origin or religious in principle and method, craving for material power and pleasure and claiming an unquestioning submission to its own impulsions and ideas.
Rational Thinkers Cafe 
thank u dear imran u have cleard my point of view
yeah indeed it is deception,
Despite all their atheistic, agnostic and materialistic tendencies, they r still religious enough to practice religious discrimination, religious hatred and religious intolerance…if they have nothing to do with their religion, they should have nothing to do with the religion of others as well..if religion doesnt matter for them, they should be indifferent to what others follow and believe, but is it so?…they r actually the greatest hypocrites in the history of mankind who show and propagate something but practice something else, e.g., they show up as the greatest propagators of human rights, but they r the greatest violaters of them.
Indeed brother Imran,
In the Qur’an Allah says in Surah Al Hashr verse 19, in the interpretation of the meaning:
“And be not like those who forgot Allah,then Allah made them forget themselves.”
This has been neglected so far by many of us and thus leading to a distance between us and ourselves.
In fact the above said ayah was the core of the philosophy of self by Allama Iqbal,in opposition to Nietzsche’s ubermensc,which feed on the distance of men from religion.
To those who know urdu language a talk on Enlightenment and Islam by Dr Israr Ahmed(rahimhullah)
Everyone talks of materialism in negative terms, but still its hold on the world is getting stronger day by day…because others’ materialistic pursuits r easily discerned by us, but ourself remain so engrossed in making this wordly life better and more comfortable that we dont even have time to think and realise that we r also heading in the same direction..we can easily feel and observe the changing attitudes and values of others, but dont realise that we have also changed with the time…the need is to speculate about our own self instead of others.
Indeed correcting ourselves us is the first step.Indeed we have to speculate where this is leading us and spread awareness about its origin and it’s spread amongst us and amongst other people around us.That is what brother Imran has done masha’Allah,may Allah reward him and accept from him.Ameen.
He has highlighted in his article,about the origin and source of this ideology and it’s spread amongst the world and amongst us and it’s affect upon civilization.
There is a great need for that. That is why I wrote an article on the very same issue with an introspecting perspective https://rationalthinkerscafe.wordpress.com/2012/06/27/a-moment-please/
Its not of much use now to talk about its origin. Whatever the circumstances had been, it anyhow originated and has already taken hold of our lives. Whats required now is to look for its cure. The need is to aware people not of what is materialism and where and how it originated, but of the cause for which they r created and sent on earth by the Almighty, i.e., His worship. To remind people that the life on this earth is very short and soon we have to return to our Creator to be questioned about how we spent our lives and to what extent have fulfilled the purpose of our creation.
Alhamdulillah now people are being aware of this curse of materialism and it’s pattern how it overtakes one,thus taking heed.Indeed the cure is needed and as brother Imran highlighted it is being away from Lord our creator which increases this materialistic feeling inside us and it is as you mentioned being aware of the purpose behind our creation and reminding ourselves about it oft.
The cure can be found in reflection within oneself and around oneself and God consciousness.
Those who only believe in the material world and who do not believe in a Creator- the atheists- only believe in sensory data. They say that this universe and everything in it came by itself. All its order is simply due to blind coincidence. They say that man is simply like an animal or a plant and that he will exist for a short period and then end like any other animal or plant.
This feeling of doubt and confusion about the presence of a Creator and whether He sent messengers and prophets to guide mankind must be quite painful because it deprives the Atheist and the Agnostic of tranquility, security and peace of mind. The unbelievers do not have credible answers to the purpose of one’s existence. And thus they say that man lives for himself and for the pleasures of this life. So what happens when life turns sour? What happens when one goes through hardships? It is no coincidence then that the largest number of suicides takes place amongst Atheists, Agnostics and people who do not know their purpose in life. Do you know which country has the largest number of suicides? It’s Japan. In the year ending March 2000, there were 33,000 suicides in Japan. That is 91 suicides per day or 1 suicide every 15 minutes! This despite Japan being the second largest economy in the world wherein people do not have to worry about providing a roof over their heads or about food or medical care.
If we carefully consider the meaning of the Quranic verses signifying the existence of these two material and two spiritual categories, we will find a sort of conformity between the first material and the first spiritual category and similarly between the second material and the second spiritual category. The infidels, the polytheists, the hypocrites and the wicked are the same people as the self-indulgents, the arrogants, the immoderates and the voluptuaries. They are none else. Similarly the Mu’minun (believers and faithful), the Muwahhidun (the monotheists), the Salihun (the righteous, virtuous) and the Mujahidun (the warriors and fighters for a sacred cause.) are none but the under-privileged, the poor, the helpless the servile, the oppressed and the deprived. Therefore on the whole, society has only two and not more than two poles or diametrically opposite categories. The first category comprises the opulent, the exploiters, the tyrants and the oppressors; who are the infidels and disbelievers. The second category is that of the oppressed and the underprivileged. It comprises the believers and the faithful. From this it is clear that it is the division of society into the oppressors and the oppressed, which brings into existence the two categories of the believers and the disbelievers. It is oppressiveness that begets infidelity, hypocrisy, wickedness and depravity; and it is the state of being oppressed that gives rise to faith, piety and righteousness.
The Quran says that in a conflict between the right and the wrong, the right is always victorious.
“We bring forward the truth to crush and destroy falsehood; it is doomed to vanish” (Surah al-Ambiya’, 21:18)
The Quran also says that the support of Allah is always at the back of the true Prophets: “We surely do help Our Messengers and those who believe, in the life of this world and on the Day when the witnesses arise.” (Surah al-Ghafir, 40:51 )
The Quran also asserts: “We decreed that Our servants, the Messengers will certainly be victorious.” (Surah as-Saffat, 37:171 )
But what these so called intellectuals say, contradicts this principle. Though they exonerate the Prophets and other past reformers, what they say amounts to blaming their Allah.
This is, in fact, a difficult problem. On the one hand the Quran views the world system with a sort of optimism, and insists that the social life of man revolves round what is right, theosophy also in accordance with its own principles claims that what is good and right always prevails over what is bad and false, and that the existence of evil and falsehood is accidental relative and unreal, without any real and independent existepce of its own.
On the other hand, a study of the past and present history causes a sort of pessimism about the prevailing system, and gives support to the view of those who assert that entire history is a series of tragedies, tyrannies, injustice and exploitation.
It is rather difficult to say whether we have misunderstood the world system or the social system of man, or alternatively is it that we wrongly think that the Quran views history and life with optimism? Or is it that we have not misunderstood anything but there exists an insoluble contradiction between the actuality and the Quran?
As far as the world system is concerned, we have discussed this point in our book, Divine Justice, and with the grace of Allah resolved the doubt. As far as the course of history and
man’s social life are concerned, we propose to discuss the question in a later discourse under the heading, Conflict Between Truth and Falsehood, and to express our views on it. We shall be gratified if other thinkers, also express their views on this question.
Satan smilles every-time a person calls on the lord and not their (((GOD))) —
(:>)
If someone has taken someone other than God as his Lord then satan has a reason to smile. However if the person has taken God to be his Lord, then there is no reason for the satan to smile.
There is nothing worthy of being worshiped except Allah(Exalted in Might and Glory) and if someone does otherwise,then satan the accursed does have a reason to smile
@ Thomas Barnes…can u plz explain what do u mean?…who is “the lord” and who is “their GOD” here?…its not clear whether u r talking against the satan or on his behalf.
There are certain things that the soul often confuses and mixes up, and only those with deep insight and wisdom are able to properly distinguish them.
will u plz explain what do u mean?..who is “the lord” and who is “their GOD” here?…its not clear whether u r talking against the satan or on his behalf
A perfection of means, and confusion of aims, seems to be our main problem.
may god save us from evil materialism.
So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they’re busy doing things they think are important. This is because they’re chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning
“This focus on money and power may do wonders in the marketplace, but it creates a tremendous crisis in our society. People who have spent all day learning how to sell themselves and to manipulate others are in no position to form lasting friendships or intimate relationships… Many Americans hunger for a different kind of society — one based on principles of caring, ethical and spiritual sensitivity, and communal solidarity. Their need for meaning is just as intense as their need for economic security.”– Michael Lerner, journalist
A great effort by brother imran for reminding us of an evil (materialism)that has made its routes in our thoughts and actions .
Words can’t express the praise of the article. Keep it up!!!
”Thomas Satan Barnes Rushdi” smilles every-time a person calls on the lord and not their (((GOD))) —Keep it up Agnostic Baaaaaby!!!!!
the issue addressed by the author can hardly be described in a better way than he did. I appreciate Imran Ali for touching such a sensitive issue. May Allah bless U Imran.