{bit.ly/IslamicEcon2023} Lecture 8 on Islamic Economics explains that Wants are unlimited, and increase if we fulfill them. Thus, more production cannot solve the problem of scarcity. Islam offers an alternative. Fulfill needs, but DO NOT fulfill wants. It turns out (Easterlin Paradox) that fulfillment of wants appears to be attractive, but leads to increasing misery for the entire society. Instead of growth, we need to pursue degrowth, both for our personal and social welfare, and also to avert the climate catastrophe that looms.

1. Needs, Wants, and Scarcity
Lecture 8 of A New Approach to Islamic Economics
Online Course on Al-Nafi Platform: http://bit.ly/IEalnafi
Website with complete course materials: http://bit.ly/IslamicEcon2023
These Slides Available from http://bit.ly/SSnwas

2. Two Radically Different Perspectives
Growth: The central economic problem is scarcity – not enough to
satisfy all wants and needs. The solution is growth: produce more.
Degrowth: Constant expansion of production and consumption
only increases exploitation and misery, and is threatening to
destroy the planet. Instead, we must prioritize well-being,
sustainability, and social justice. We must reduce standards of
living to a point compatible with our future, and also for the future
of the flora and fauna on the planet.

3. Climate Crisis: Threatens Future of Humanity
ِ
‫اس‬َّ‫ن‬‫ال‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫د‬ْ‫ي‬َ‫أ‬ ْ‫ت‬َ‫ب‬َ‫س‬َ‫ك‬ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬ِ‫ب‬ ِ
‫ر‬ْ‫ح‬َ‫ب‬ْ‫ال‬ َ‫و‬ ِِّ
‫ر‬َ‫ب‬ْ‫ال‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ف‬ ُ‫د‬‫ا‬َ‫س‬َ‫ف‬ْ‫ال‬ َ‫ر‬َ‫ه‬َ‫ظ‬
ْ ُ‫ه‬َََُّْ‫ل‬ ‫وا‬ُُِ‫م‬ََ ‫ي‬َِِّ‫ال‬ َ
ََْْ‫ب‬ ُ‫ه‬ََ‫ي‬ُِِ‫ي‬ِ‫ل‬
ْ‫ر‬َ‫ي‬
َ‫ون‬ُْ ِ‫ج‬
The oceans and seas are polluted, and thousands of species of animals
and plants are extinct, because of boundless greed unleashed upon the
planet by Capitalism.
To prevent the destruction of our habitat, this planet Earth, Islamic
teachings are URGENTLY needed. Only these provide a deep
philosophical and ideological background for De-Growth, necessary to
save the planet.

4. The Two Highways
ِ‫ْن‬‫ي‬َ‫د‬ْ‫ج‬َّ‫ن‬‫ٱل‬ ُ‫ه‬ٰ‫ـ‬َ‫ن‬ْ‫ي‬َ‫د‬َ‫ه‬ َ‫و‬
and shown them the two ways ˹of right and wrong˺?
The First Highway: Scarcity comes from insufficient goods to satisfy
wants and needs. Solution is GROWTH – more and more goods will
eventually remove scarcity, leading to contentment, happiness, and an
amazing change in morality!
The Second Highway: Scarcity is a mindset. It can never be removed by
more and more goods, because wants increase as they are fulfilled. To
remove scarcity, we must learn gratitude, contentment, and trust. This
will lead to an amazing increase in our welfare, both worldly, and in the
hereafter.

5. Where We Stand: Keynes’ Folly
See: http://bit.ly/KeynesQuote
Pursuit of Wealth (for its own sake) is a psychological disease.
BUT, we must infect people with this disease. This only will lead to
increased production of wealth. If people do not demand more and
more then wealth will not accumulate.
ONCE enough wealth accumulates, scarcity will be removed. Everyone
will have enough. This will lead to an amazing change in morals. People
will become kind, generous, compassionate, because they will no
longer want more material goods.
THEN we will be able to forbid greed and avarice. But for NOW, we
must let these undesirable characteristics be our GODS

6. The Whole World is Pursuing Keynesian Folly!
All over the world, Governments rise and fall on the basis of GDP
growth rate numbers. High GDP growth rates are policy targets.
The assumption that economic growth will remove scarcity is not
questioned. Even though examining the data shows this is a failed
policy.
We will establish that growth has failed to provide prosperity, in fact it
has done the opposite.
The solution lies in the OPPOSITE direction – De-Growth instead of
growth. Scarcity is a mindset, and cannot be removed by growth.

7. Sustainable Development: Recognition of
Problem: Feeble Attempt at Solution
Philosophical and Ideological foundations for “economic growth” have
been built over centuries, as an accompaniment to capitalism.
Recognition of the harms done by economic growth has led to attempt
to put band-aid on the problem: pursue growth, but ameliorate
harmful side-effects. This is completely inadequate.
We need to re-think the entire economic model from the ground up.
The roots for such a fundamental re-think no longer exist in Western
intellectual tradition. It is up to us Muslims to provide these roots, a
critical need of modern times.

8. Nelson: Economics As Religion
Mcloskey: Rhetoric of Economics: Economics promises to deliver:
knowledge free from doubt, free from metaphysics, morals and
personal conviction. This is done by renaming the economist’s
metaphysics, morals and personal convictions as scientific methodology
20th Century Economics was shaped – to a far greater extent than
commonly realized - by Samuelson’s Textbook. This claims to be value-
free, but is a concealed religion of pure materialism. Samuelson was a
disciple of Keynes.

9. Capitalist Religion: Opposed to Bible
“Love of Money is the root of all evil”
Lack of money (to satisfy all our needs and wants) is the root of all evil.
Accumulation of wealth is the solution to all problems facing mankind.
In fact, capitalism is built on pursuit of ever expanding idle desires. This
enables surplus production, which generates income for laborers,
enabling them to buy excess goods, which generates profits for
capitalists. This is a VICIOUS circle, claiming to be a VIRTUOUS circle.
Opposite Perspective: Making accumulation of wealth the GOAL is the
source of all our current problems.

10. Personal Experience:
Talk at Tableeghi Markaz New York in 1980 by Shaikh:
About Idol Worship.
We have been taught to worship money, as the solution to all our
problems.

11. What is Progress?
Father of Economics: Adam Smith: The Wealth of Nations
The Colonizers Perspective: Accumulation of Wealth, at all costs.
‫ِر‬ ‫أبا‬ ‫يا‬
:
‫ربك‬ ‫بحمد‬ ‫سبح‬ ‫أن‬ ‫إلي‬ ‫أوحى‬ ‫ولكن‬ ‫المال‬ ‫أجمع‬ ‫أن‬ ‫إلي‬ ‫يوح‬ ‫ل‬ ‫وتْالى‬ ‫تبارك‬ ‫هللا‬ ‫إن‬
‫اليَين‬ ‫يأتيك‬ ‫حتى‬ ‫ربك‬ ‫واَبد‬ ‫الساجدين‬ ‫من‬ ‫وكن‬
.
Oh Abu Dharr! Allah didn't reveal to me to amass wealth upon wealth.
But He revealed to me, "Glorify with the praise of your Lord and be
among the prostrating ones and worship your Lord until comes to you
the certainty."

12. Quran: Wealth is NOT the solution
َ‫ين‬ِ‫ن‬َ‫ب‬ َ‫و‬ ٍۢ
‫ال‬َّ‫م‬ ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ‫ۦ‬ِ‫ه‬ِ‫ب‬ ُ‫ه‬ُّ‫د‬ِ‫م‬ُ‫ن‬ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬َّ‫ن‬َ‫أ‬ َ‫ون‬ُ‫ب‬َ‫س‬ْ‫ح‬َ‫ي‬َ‫أ‬
َ‫ون‬ُ‫ر‬ُْْ‫ش‬َ‫ي‬ َّ
‫َّل‬ ‫ل‬َ‫ب‬ ۚ ِ‫ت‬ َٰ‫ْر‬‫ي‬َ‫خ‬ْ‫ٱل‬ ‫ى‬ِ‫ف‬ ْ ُ‫ه‬َ‫ل‬ ُ‫ع‬ ِ
‫ار‬َ‫س‬ُ‫ن‬
Q23:55-56 Do they think that because We have granted them abundance of
wealth and sons, We would hasten them on in every good? Nay, they do not
understand.
‫ۥ‬ُ‫ه‬َ‫د‬َّ‫د‬ََ َ‫و‬ ‫ا‬ۭ
‫اَّل‬َ‫م‬ َ‫ع‬َ‫م‬َ‫ج‬ ‫ى‬َِِّ‫ٱل‬
‫ۥ‬ُ‫ه‬َ‫د‬َُْ‫خ‬َ‫أ‬ ٓ‫ۥ‬ُ‫ه‬َ‫ل‬‫ا‬َ‫م‬ َّ‫ن‬َ‫أ‬ ُ‫ب‬َ‫س‬ْ‫ح‬َ‫ي‬
Q104:2 [Woe unto him] who amasses wealth and counts it a safeguard, thinking
that his wealth will make him live forever!

13. Pursuing Greed will not lead to Contentment!
Instead => ever-increasing greed & scarcity
َّ‫ص‬َ‫ن‬َ‫ل‬ ‫ۦ‬ِ‫ه‬ُِْ‫ض‬َ‫ف‬ ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ‫َا‬‫ن‬ٰ‫ى‬َ‫ت‬‫ا‬َ‫ء‬ ْ‫ن‬ِ‫ئ‬َ‫ل‬ َ َّ
‫ٱَّلل‬ َ‫د‬َ‫ه‬ٰ‫ـ‬ََ ْ‫ن‬َّ‫م‬ ُ‫ه‬ْ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ َ‫و‬ ۞
َ‫ين‬ ِ‫ح‬ُِٰ‫ـ‬َّ‫ص‬‫ٱل‬ َ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ َّ‫َن‬‫ن‬‫و‬ُ‫ك‬َ‫ن‬َ‫ل‬ َ‫و‬ َّ‫ن‬َََّ‫د‬
ُّ‫م‬ ُ‫ه‬ َّ‫و‬ ۟‫وا‬َّ‫ل‬ َ‫و‬َ‫ت‬ َ‫و‬ ‫ۦ‬ِ‫ه‬ِ‫ب‬ ۟‫وا‬ُُ ِ‫خ‬َ‫ب‬ ‫ۦ‬ِ‫ه‬ُِْ‫ض‬َ‫ف‬ ‫ن‬ِِّ‫م‬ ُ‫ه‬ٰ‫ى‬َ‫ت‬‫ا‬َ‫ء‬ ٓ‫ا‬َّ‫م‬ََُ‫ف‬
َ‫ون‬ُ‫ض‬ ِ
‫ر‬ْْ
(Q9:75-76) And among them are such as vow unto God, "If indeed He grant us
[something] out of His bounty, we shall most certainly spend in charity, and shall
most certainly be among the righteous!" But as soon as He has given them [aught]
out of His bounty. they cling to it niggardly, and turn away in their obstinacy
[from all that they have vowed]

14. The Islamic Solution: Unique & Different
Fulfill Needs, Prohibit Fulfillment of Wants.
Needs are broadly defined to include comforts and beautification.
Spending beyond this level is Israf and Tabzeer. Pursuit of idle desires is
prohibited.
Needs are limited, and can be fulfilled. Wants are unlimited, and
expand upon fulfillment. It is impossible to satisfy wants. Trying to fulfill
wants creates unhappiness, instead of happiness.
Islamic solution to unlimited wants is to prohibit them. Instead, learn to
be content with what you have. Doing this leads to rich and fulfilling
lives.

15. Islamic Views: Needs Defined Generously
Q7:31 O Children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place
of prayer: eat and drink: But waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the
wasters.
Needs: Comforts: Beautification:
All three are permitted. BUT Waste, Excess, and Conspicuous
Consumption is prohibited. Capitalism depends on excess. All of us
have bought things which we never used.

16. Virtue: Not Pursuing Idle Desires
So as for he who transgressed
And preferred the life of the world,
Then indeed, Hellfire will be [his] refuge.
But as for he who feared the position of his Lord and prevented the soul from idle
desires,
Then indeed, Paradise will be [his] refuge.

17. Pursuit of Idle Desires is Prohibited
Implementing this would lead to collapse of capitalism!
Verily spendthrifts are brothers of the shayāṭīn [Satans]; and the shayṭān [Satan]
is to his Lord, ungrateful. (Qur’ān, 17:27)
Were it not that people might ˹be tempted to˺ become one community ˹of
disbelievers˺, We would have supplied the homes of ˹only˺ those who disbelieve in
the Most Compassionate with silver roofs and ˹silver˺ stairways to ascend, as well
as ˹silver˺ gates and thrones to recline on, and ornaments ˹of gold˺. Yet all this is
no more than a ˹fleeting˺ enjoyment in this worldly life. ˹But˺ the Hereafter with
your Lord is ˹only˺ for those mindful ˹of Him˺.

18. Desires Increase upon fulfillment
Al-Bukhari: Volume 8, Book 76, Number 447: Narrated Anas bin Malik:
Allah's Apostle said, "If Adam's son had a valley full of gold, he would like
to have two valleys, for nothing fills his mouth except dust (of the grave).
And Allah forgives him who repents to Him.“
According to a recent survey by the financial-advisory firm Ameriprise
Financial, only 13 percent of American millionaires classify themselves
as wealthy.
Solutions to scarcity CANNOT come from GROWTH.

19. Strong Empirical Support for Quran
The Easterlin Paradox: Massive increases in wealth did not lead to
increase in human welfare.
Taking Easterlin SERIOUSLY into account would DESTROY the
foundations of economics – starting from Adam Smith.
This is what needs to be done – rewrite the Wealth of Nations.
The Wealth of Nations consists of the people – each of whom is among
the most precious of creations. One life is potentially equal to all of
humanity. The goal of society is to provide a nurturing environment for
development of human capabilities (not accumulation of wealth).

20. There is enough for everyone’s need.
But not enough for everyone’s greed.
Food Supplies per capita have been rising over the past two centuries.
World Cosmetic Industry output enough to end hunger on the planet.
US Defence Budget sufficient to provide for all basic needs of all
humans on the planet.
There is no scarcity, when we look at needs. What is needed is
redistribution. Islam provides the framework.
There is a right in the wealth of the rich for the poor (this is beyond
Zakat, to whatever is necessary to provide for them).
Scarcity created by economists to BLIND us to the real solution!

21. The Easterlin Paradox: Destroys Adam Smith
Time Series: Massive increases in standards of living over a century did
not lead to increased happiness.
Cross-Section: Countries with 10 to 1 differences in GNP per capita had
similar levels of happiness.
As predicted by Islamic Teachings, there is no increase in welfare which
occurs due to pursuit of idle desires.As we will show, this pursuit is the
pursuit of an illusion, and decreases welfare.
The Wealth of Nations lies in the infinite potential within the best of
creations.

22. Keys to the Easterlin Paradox
• Fulfillment of needs leads to increased welfare. Fulfilment of wants
does not.
• Habituation: Increased standards of living bring a one-time increase in
happiness. Then, we get used to air-conditioning.
• Relativity or Social Comparison: A rise in living standards bring
temporary happiness – then others catchup.
Long Run Loss from Habituation and Relativity: Maintaining a higher
standard of living requires higher level of work, for same level of
satisfaction. Consumption is like Drug Addiction.

23. Galbraith: The Affluent Society
Urgent Wants must originate within the individual. If they are created,
they cannot be urgent. There is no justification for production of goods,
for which the demand itself is manufactured.
An Industrial society manufactures far in excess of needs. Therefore, it
must also manufacture demand for these excess products.
See: Hill and Myatt: The Economics Anti-Textbook
Critical Question: What is the VALUE of a product? Economists answers:
the market price is the value. This answer is drastically wrong, but the
basis of modern theory and policy.

24. Early Capitalism: Colonization & Imperialism
The History of Pursuit of Wealth, and Horrors Created by This Goal.
The easiest way to see that pursuit of wealth should NOT be our goal,
individually or collectively.

25. Triangular
Trade
1600-1800
Guns+Manufactures from
Europe to Africa.
Slaves from Africa to
Americas.
Agri-products from
Americas to Europe.
Strong Islamic Empires
blocked European trade
access to the East.

26. The Consequence of Triangular Trade
Europeans gain immense amounts of wealth.
African societies decimated.
Native American societies decimated.
Was this progress?
Certainly, from Eurocentric perspective.
Certainly not, from African and Native American perspective.
Certainly not, from an Islamic perspective.

27. Did Europeans Progress from 1600 to 1800?
Is PROGRESS increase in wealth, creating by destroying societies, killing
millions and enslaving millions?
ِ‫د‬ َ
‫َل‬ِ‫ب‬ۡ‫ال‬ ۡ‫ى‬ِ‫ف‬ ‫ا‬ ۡ
‫و‬ُ‫ر‬َ‫ف‬َ‫ك‬ َ‫ن‬ۡ‫ي‬َِِّ‫ال‬ ُ‫ب‬َََُُّ‫ت‬ َ‫ك‬َّ‫ن‬َّ‫ر‬ُ‫غ‬َ‫ي‬ َ
‫َّل‬
Do not be deceived by the disbelievers’ strutting about in the land:
(can be interpreted as travel, trade, colonization, imperialism)

28. Crucial: Was this PROGRESS for Europe?
Frantz Fanon: Black Skins, White Masks
White colonialist must believe colonized to be objects, commodities, or
animals. This also leads to the self-dehumanization of the white
colonialist, who must also deny their own humanity and moral
responsibility in order to justify their actions. The result is a deep
psychological and existential crisis which cuts off colonizers from their
own humanity and the possibility of genuine human connection.
White people who benefit from racism and colonialism can become
complicit in the perpetuation of these systems, even if they do not
actively participate in them. The privilege and power that comes with
whiteness can create a sense of entitlement and superiority, leading to
a complacency and apathy towards the suffering of those who are
oppressed.

29. The Myth of Progress
Manufactured after loss of Heaven. The project to create Heaven on
Earth, and to allow suffering in present, for the sake of future Utopia.
Did Europeans progress because the accumulated wealth?
Eurocentric education has conditioned us to strongly believe that the
answer is YES.
But, according to Hadeeth:
َ‫ل‬‫ا‬ََ ‫ود‬ُْْ‫س‬َ‫م‬ ِ‫ْن‬‫ب‬‫ا‬ ِ‫ن‬ََ َ‫و‬
:
ِ‫ه‬ْ‫ي‬َََُ ُ َّ
‫َّللا‬ ‫ى‬ََُّ‫ص‬ ِ َّ
‫َّللا‬ ُ‫ل‬‫و‬ُ‫س‬ َ‫ر‬ َ‫ل‬‫ا‬ََ
َ ََُّ‫س‬ َ‫و‬
:
«
َِِّ‫ال‬ َّ ُ‫ث‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ن‬ ْ‫ر‬ََ ِ
‫اس‬َّ‫ن‬‫ال‬ ُ‫ْر‬‫ي‬َ‫خ‬
ْ ُ‫ه‬َ‫ن‬‫و‬َُُ‫ي‬ َ‫ين‬
َ‫ي‬ ْ ‫ه‬ِ‫د‬‫أح‬ ‫ة‬َ‫د‬‫ا‬َ‫ه‬َ‫ش‬ ُ‫ق‬ِ‫ب‬‫س‬َ‫ت‬ ٌ ْ‫و‬ََ ُ‫ء‬‫ي‬ ِ‫ج‬َ‫ي‬ َّ ُ‫ث‬ ْ ُ‫ه‬َ‫ن‬‫و‬َُُ‫ي‬ َ‫ين‬َِِّ‫ال‬ َّ ُ‫ث‬
‫ته‬َ‫د‬‫ا‬َ‫ه‬َ‫ش‬ ‫ينه‬ِ‫م‬َ‫ي‬ َ‫و‬ ‫ينه‬ِ‫م‬
»
The best of men are my generation, then those who come after …

30. Consumer Culture: Required for Capitalism
Galbraith: Capitalism produces massive surplus. Advertising is used to
create demand for this surplus so it can be sold. Massive waste of
labor, resources, time, and energy.
The Opioid Crisis in USA: Medical manufacturers sold addictive drugs as
painkillers, leading to massive increase in addiction, death, and profits.
The Worldwide Breastfeeding Crisis. Advertising has changed feeding
patterns. A switch to 100% breastfeeding will save millions of lives
worldwide, but requires a lot of work to counter corporate propaganda.
See: TIGERS – movies about Nestle and Powdered Milk in Pakistan.

31. Countering the Consumer Culture:
ۡ‫ٱل‬ َ‫و‬ َ‫ين‬ِ‫ن‬َ‫ب‬ۡ‫ٱل‬ َ‫و‬ ِ‫ء‬ٓ‫ا‬َ‫س‬ِِّ‫ن‬‫ٱل‬ َ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ِ‫ت‬ َٰ‫و‬َ‫ه‬َّ‫ش‬‫ٱل‬ ُّ‫ب‬ُ‫ح‬ ِ
‫اس‬َّ‫ن‬ُِ‫ل‬ َ‫ن‬ِِّ‫ي‬ُ‫ز‬
َّ‫ض‬ِ‫ف‬ۡ‫ٱل‬ َ‫و‬ ِ‫ب‬َ‫ه‬َِّ‫ٱل‬ َ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ِ‫ة‬ َ‫ر‬َ‫ط‬‫ن‬ََُ‫م‬ۡ‫ٱل‬ ِ
‫ير‬ِ‫ط‬َٰ‫ن‬ََ
َ‫و‬ ِ‫ة‬
ِ‫ل‬ۡ‫َي‬‫خ‬ۡ‫ٱل‬
ُّ‫د‬‫ٱل‬ ِ‫ة‬ ٰ
‫و‬َ‫ي‬َ‫ح‬ۡ‫ٱل‬ ُ‫ع‬َٰ‫ت‬َ‫م‬ َ‫ك‬ِ‫ل‬َِٰ ِِۗ‫ث‬ ۡ
‫ر‬َ‫ح‬ۡ‫ٱل‬ َ‫و‬ ِ َْٰۡ‫ن‬َ ۡ
‫ٱۡل‬ َ‫و‬ ِ‫ة‬َ‫م‬ َّ‫و‬َ‫س‬ُ‫م‬ۡ‫ٱل‬
ِ‫ب‬‫ا‬‫ا‬‫ـ‬َ‫م‬ۡ‫ٱل‬ ُ‫ن‬ۡ‫س‬ُ‫ح‬ ‫ۥ‬ُ‫ه‬َ‫د‬‫ن‬َِ ُ َّ
‫ٱَّلل‬ َ‫و‬ ‫ا‬َ‫ي‬ۡ‫ن‬
Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire – of women
and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and
cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah
has with Him the best return.
The worldly things have been made attractive to create a test: who will
choose to maximize pleasure in this world, and who will choose what is
with Allah.

32. The Two Paths
ِ‫ْن‬‫ي‬َ‫د‬ْ‫ج‬َّ‫ن‬‫ٱل‬ ُ‫ه‬ٰ‫ـ‬َ‫ن‬ْ‫ي‬َ‫د‬َ‫ه‬ َ‫و‬
and shown them the two ways ˹of right and wrong˺?
‫ا‬ۭ‫ور‬ُ‫ف‬َ‫ك‬ ‫ا‬َّ‫م‬ِ‫إ‬ َ‫و‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ا‬ۭ‫ر‬ِ‫ك‬‫َا‬‫ش‬ ‫ا‬َّ‫م‬ِ‫إ‬ َ‫ل‬‫ي‬ِ‫ب‬َّ‫س‬‫ٱل‬ ُ‫ه‬ٰ‫ـ‬َ‫ن‬ْ‫ي‬َ‫د‬َ‫ه‬ ‫ا‬َّ‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬
We already showed them the Way, whether they ˹choose to˺ be
grateful or ungrateful.
ۭ
‫يَل‬ِ‫ب‬َ‫س‬ ‫ۦ‬ِ‫ه‬ِِّ‫ب‬ َ‫ر‬ ٰ
‫ى‬َ‫ل‬ِ‫إ‬ ََِ‫خ‬َّ‫ت‬‫ٱ‬ َ‫ء‬ٓ‫ا‬َ‫ش‬ ‫ن‬َ‫م‬َ‫ف‬ ‫ا‬ٌ‫ة‬ َ‫ر‬ِ‫ك‬َِْ‫ت‬ ‫ۦ‬ِ‫ه‬ِِٰ‫ـ‬َ‫ه‬ َّ‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬
Surely this is a reminder. So let whoever wills take the ˹Right˺
Way to their Lord.

33. The Islamic Strategy
‫ا‬َ‫ي‬ْ‫ن‬ُّ‫د‬‫ٱل‬ َ‫ة‬ ٰ
‫و‬َ‫ي‬َ‫ح‬ْ‫ٱل‬ َ‫ون‬ُ‫ر‬ِ‫ث‬ْ‫ؤ‬ُ‫ت‬ ْ‫ل‬َ‫ب‬
ٰٓ
‫ى‬ََْ‫ب‬َ‫أ‬ َ‫و‬ ‫ا‬ٌ‫ْر‬‫ي‬َ‫خ‬ ُ‫ة‬ َ‫ر‬ ِ‫اخ‬‫ا‬‫ـ‬ْ‫ٱل‬ َ‫و‬
But you prefer the worldly life,
While the Hereafter is better and more enduring.
CHOOSE the Hereafter over the Wordly Life

34. RECOGNIZE the Delusion of worldy pleasures
َ‫ت‬ َ‫و‬ ‫ا‬ٌ‫َة‬‫ن‬‫ي‬ ِ
‫ز‬ َ‫و‬ ‫ا‬ٌ‫و‬ْ‫ه‬َ‫ل‬ َ‫و‬ ‫ا‬ٌ‫ب‬َِْ‫ل‬ ‫ا‬َ‫ي‬ْ‫ن‬ُّ‫د‬‫ٱل‬ ُ‫ة‬ ٰ
‫و‬َ‫ي‬َ‫ح‬ْ‫ٱل‬ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬َّ‫ن‬َ‫أ‬ ۟‫ا‬ ٓ‫و‬ُ‫م‬ََُْ‫ٱ‬
َ‫و‬ ِ‫ل‬ َٰ‫و‬ْ‫م‬َ ْ
‫ٱۡل‬ ‫ى‬ِ‫ف‬ ‫ا‬ٌ‫ر‬ُ‫ث‬‫ا‬َ‫ك‬َ‫ت‬ َ‫و‬ ْ ُ‫ك‬َ‫ن‬ْ‫ي‬َ‫ب‬ ٌٍۢ‫ر‬ُ‫خ‬‫ا‬َ‫ف‬
ِ‫ل‬َ‫ث‬َ‫م‬َ‫ك‬ ِ‫د‬ٰ‫ـ‬َ‫ل‬ ْ‫و‬َ ْ
‫ٱۡل‬
َ‫ف‬ْ‫ص‬ُ‫م‬ ُ‫ه‬ٰ‫ى‬ َ‫ر‬َ‫ت‬َ‫ف‬ ُ‫ج‬‫ي‬ِ‫ه‬َ‫ي‬ َّ ُ‫ث‬ ‫ُۥ‬‫ه‬ُ‫ت‬‫ا‬َ‫ب‬َ‫ن‬ َ‫ار‬َّ‫ف‬ُ‫ك‬ْ‫ٱل‬ َ‫ب‬َ‫ج‬ََْ‫أ‬ ‫ْث‬‫ي‬َ‫غ‬
ََ ِ‫ة‬ َ‫ر‬ ِ‫اخ‬‫ا‬‫ـ‬ْ‫ٱل‬ ‫ى‬ِ‫ف‬ َ‫و‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ۭا‬‫م‬ٰ‫ـ‬َ‫ط‬ُ‫ح‬ ُ‫ون‬ُ‫ك‬َ‫ي‬ َّ ُ‫ث‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ا‬
‫ر‬
‫ا‬َِ
‫ا‬ٌ‫د‬‫ي‬ِ‫د‬َ‫ش‬ ‫ا‬ٌ‫ب‬
ِ‫إ‬ ٓ‫ا‬َ‫ي‬ْ‫ن‬ُّ‫د‬‫ٱل‬ ُ‫ة‬ ٰ
‫و‬َ‫ي‬َ‫ح‬ْ‫ٱل‬ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬ َ‫و‬ ۚ ‫ا‬ٌ‫ن‬ َٰ‫ْو‬‫ض‬ ِ
‫ر‬ َ‫و‬ ِ َّ
‫ٱَّلل‬ َ‫ن‬ِِّ‫م‬ ‫ا‬ٌ‫ة‬ َ‫ر‬ِ‫ف‬ْ‫غ‬َ‫م‬ َ‫و‬
ِ
‫ور‬ُ‫ر‬ُ‫غ‬ْ‫ٱل‬ ُ‫ع‬ٰ‫ـ‬َ‫ت‬َ‫م‬ َّ
‫َّل‬
Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and
adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of
wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant
growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow;
then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe
punishment and forgiveness from Allāh and approval. And what is the
worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.

35. RECOGNIZE this life is short, temporary.
‫قال‬ ‫عنهما‬ ‫هللا‬ ‫رضي‬ ‫عمر‬ ‫بن‬ ‫هللا‬ ‫عبد‬ ‫عن‬
:
‫هللا‬ ‫رسول‬ ‫أخذ‬
-
‫وسلم‬ ‫وآله‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هللا‬ ‫صلى‬
-
‫فقال‬ ‫بي‬ِ‫ك‬‫من‬َ‫ب‬
:
‫يل‬ِ‫ب‬َ‫س‬ ُ‫ر‬ِ‫ب‬‫َا‬‫ع‬ ‫أو‬ ٌ‫يب‬ ِ
‫ر‬َ‫غ‬ َ‫ك‬َّ‫ن‬َ‫أ‬َ‫ك‬ ‫ا‬َ‫ي‬ْ‫ن‬ُّ‫د‬‫ال‬ ‫في‬ ْ‫ُن‬‫ك‬
»
.
‫و‬
‫عمر‬ ‫ابن‬ ‫كان‬
-
‫تعالى‬ ‫هللا‬ ‫رضي‬
‫عنهما‬
-
‫يقول‬
:
‫المس‬ ْ‫ر‬ِ‫ظ‬َ‫ت‬ْ‫ن‬َ‫ت‬ ‫فال‬ َ‫أصبحت‬ ‫وإذا‬ ،َ‫ح‬‫الصبا‬ ْ‫ر‬ِ‫ظ‬َ‫ت‬ْ‫ن‬َ‫ت‬ ‫فال‬ َ‫أمسيت‬ ‫إذا‬
‫من‬ ْ‫ذ‬ُ‫خ‬‫و‬ ،َ‫ء‬‫ا‬
َ‫ك‬ِ‫ت‬‫لمو‬ َ‫ك‬ِ‫ت‬‫يا‬َ‫ح‬ ‫ومن‬ ،َ‫ك‬ ِ
‫لمرض‬ َ‫ك‬ِ‫ت‬َّ‫ح‬ ِ
‫ص‬
.
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)
took me by the shoulders and said: "Be in this world as if you are a
stranger or a wayfarer." Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)
used to say: "In the evening, do not expect to live until the morning,
and in the morning, do not expect to live until the evening.

36. Spend, for Allah, What you Love Most
ِ‫ف‬‫ن‬ُ‫ت‬ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬ َ‫و‬ ۚ َ‫ُّون‬‫ب‬ ِ‫ح‬ُ‫ت‬ ‫ا‬َّ‫م‬ِ‫م‬ ۟‫وا‬َُِ‫ف‬‫ن‬ُ‫ت‬ ٰ
‫ى‬َّ‫ت‬َ‫ح‬ َّ‫ر‬ِ‫ب‬ْ‫ٱل‬ ۟‫وا‬ُ‫ل‬‫َا‬‫ن‬َ‫ت‬ ‫ن‬َ‫ل‬
‫ا‬
ٌ ‫ي‬ََُِ ‫ۦ‬ِ‫ه‬ِ‫ب‬ َ َّ
‫ٱَّلل‬ َّ‫ن‬َِِ‫ف‬ ٍۢ‫ء‬ْ‫ى‬َ‫ش‬ ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ۟‫وا‬َُ
You will never achieve righteousness until you donate some of what
you cherish. And whatever you give is certainly well known to Allah.

37. LEARN: How to be valued like entire humanity
Human life is infinitely precious. One life is potentially equal to the lives
of the entire humanity.
We created man in the best of forms, and reduced him to the lowest of
the low.
Men have potential to rise higher than angels, and also to be the worst
of the creations.
Goal of society is to provide a nurturing environment for development
of human capabilities. Accumulation of wealth is an obstacle to this.

38. Deep and Subtle: Attitude towards Wealth
‫أخ‬ ‫ومن‬ ،‫فيه‬ ‫له‬ ‫ك‬ ِ
‫ور‬ُ‫ب‬ ‫نفس‬ ‫ة‬ َ‫خاو‬َ‫س‬ِ‫ب‬ ‫أخِه‬ ‫فمن‬ ، ٌ‫و‬ُُْ‫ح‬ ٌ‫ر‬ ِ
‫َض‬‫خ‬ ‫المال‬ ‫هِا‬ ‫إن‬ ،ُ ‫حكي‬ ‫يا‬
‫بِشراف‬ ‫ِه‬
‫اليد‬ ‫من‬ ٌ‫خير‬ ‫ُيا‬ُْ‫ال‬ ُ‫د‬‫والي‬ ،‫ع‬َ‫ب‬َ‫ش‬َ‫ي‬ ‫وَّل‬ ‫يأكل‬ ‫كالِي‬ ‫وكان‬ ،‫فيه‬ ‫له‬ ‫ك‬َ‫ار‬َ‫ب‬ُ‫ي‬ ‫ل‬ ‫نفس‬
‫فُى‬ُ‫س‬‫ال‬
Hakim! Wealth has a deceptive appearance. It appears to be very sweet
(but it is really not so). It is a blessing when earned with contentment
of heart, but there is no satisfaction in it when it is got with greed. (al-
Bukhari, 1422H, 2:123, ḥadīth no. 1472)
When we make accumulation of wealth the GOAL, it will NOT bring us
satisfaction!
Bible: Love of Wealth is the root of all evil!

39. Wealth and Poverty are BOTH trials
Now, as for man, when his Lord trieth him, giving him honour and gifts, then
saith he, (puffed up), “My Lord hath honoured me.” But when He trieth him,
restricting his subsistence for him, then saith he (in despair), “My Lord hath
humiliated me!” (Qur’ān, 89:15-16)
Max Weber: The Protestant Ethic: The Spirit of Capitalism was to earn
wealth – without using it for luxurious spending – because
accumulated wealth was seen as a sign of the favor of God.

40. Success in Trial By Wealth
28:77 do good [unto others] as God has done good unto thee.
2:215 THEY WILL ASK thee as to what they should spend on others. Say:
“Whatever of your wealth you spend shall [first] be for your parents, and for the
near of kin, and the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer; and whatever good
you do, verily, God has full knowledge thereof”.
2:219 And they will ask thee as to what they should spend [in God's cause]. Say:
"Whatever you can spare." In this way God makes clear unto you His messages, so
that you might reflect

41. Use Wealth to Purchase Jannah
[9:111] Indeed, Allāh has purchased from the believers their lives and their
properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise
[2:219] They ask thee how much they are to spend; Say: "What is beyond your
needs." Thus doth Allah Make clear to you His Signs: In order that ye may
consider.
How can this happen? The Believer Loves and Is Loved. The Ummah is
like one body. If any part is hurt, all feel the pain. With this unity, we
can put needs of others about our own wants. Capitalism is based on
the opposite principle, and cannot function without it.

42. What are the sources of long-run happiness?
Character and Social Relationships
Character: Gratitude, Contentment, Trust
Social Relationships: Loving and Being Loved.
Capitalism destroys the bases of happiness. It promotes the ILLUSION
that happiness comes from consumption of goods and services.
The FAMILY is the primary source of happiness for most people. This
has been destroyed in the West by individualism and hedonism – both
of these philosophies are products of capitalism.
BUILD social relationships – as recommended in Quran and Hadeeth

43. Failing the trial by Wealth
And if Allah were to enlarge the provision for His slaves they would surely rebel in
the earth, but He sendeth down by measure as He willeth. Lo! He is Informed, a
Seer of His bondmen. (Qur’ān, 42:27)
QAROON: This [wealth] has been given to me only by virtue of the knowledge
that is in me! (Qur’ān, 28:78).
Wealth, Power, and Pride leads to rebellious behavior. European
Capitalism is a perfect example:
Max Weber: The Spirit of Capitalism is the pursuit of wealth for its own
sake, to the point of being irrational.

44. Concealed History of Capitalism
The Key to Decolonization of Minds:
Learn Non-Eurocentric History.
This is hard to do, because it is not easily available. It has been hidden
and suppressed.
But more and more work is becoming available.
See: The Deadliest Weapon: Fabricated History: http://bit.ly/AZDeadly

45. King Leopold’s Ghost QQ
Under the pretense of spreading Christianity, King Leopold invaded and
occupied Belgian Congo. The atrocities comitted were un-imaginable,
ended up killing 10 million Congolese. Men were told to go out and
collect 15 Kilograms of rubber, or their families would be killed. This
was advertised as teaching Christian work ethics to the lazy Africans.
Is this “progress” and “development”? If King Leopold became rich as a
result of this barbarism, would this make Belgium an Advanced
Civilization, worthy of emulation?
See: http://bit.ly/IEslave

46. The Horrors of Slavery & The Middle Passage
The Slave Trade: The Story of the Atlantic Slave Trade: 1440-
1870" by Hugh Thomas
The Slave Ship: A Human History – by Marcus Rediker.
Available from page http://bit.ly/IEslave

47. Caroline Elkins: A Legacy of Violence:
The History of the British Empire QQ
“The blood never stopped”: a searing study of the British Empire that probes the
country's pervasive use of violence throughout the twentieth century and traces
how these practices were exported, modified, and institutionalized in colonies
around the globe
Sprawling across a quarter of the world's land mass and claiming nearly seven
hundred million people, Britain's twentieth-century empire was the largest empire
in human history. Covering more than two hundred years of history, Caroline Elkins
reveals an evolutionary and racialized doctrine that espoused an unrelenting
deployment of violence to secure and preserve the nation's imperial interests. She
outlines how ideological foundations of violence were rooted in the Victorian era
calls for punishing recalcitrant "natives," and how over time, its forms became
increasingly systematized. And she makes clear that when Britain could no longer
maintain control over the violence it provoked and enacted, it retreated from
empire, destroying and hiding incriminating evidence of its policies and practices.

48. The Opium Wars QQ
China was a self-sufficient economy. British had demand for Chinese
products, but nothing to sell to the Chinese. They soon ran short of the
silver that the Chinese would accept.
They found a solution by using force to sell prohibited opium to the
Chinese. After creating addicts, the sales increased, and gave British
the revenue to finance purchases from China.
This is FREE TRADE! Which brings benefits to both parties!

49. How British Colonialism Killed millions in India
QQ
A scholarly study found that British colonialism caused approximately 165
million deaths in India from 1880 to 1920, while stealing trillions of dollars of
wealth. The global capitalist system was founded on European imperial
genocides, which inspired Adolf Hitler and led to fascism.
Jason Hickel: Research Report and Documentary Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob_lIQRAnYM

50. Violence => Blind Hearts
َ‫ون‬ََُُِْْ‫ي‬ ‫ا‬ٌ‫وب‬َُُُ ْ ُ‫ه‬َ‫ل‬ َ‫ون‬ُ‫ك‬َ‫ت‬َ‫ف‬ ِ
َ ْ‫ر‬َ ْ
‫ٱۡل‬ ‫ى‬ِ‫ف‬ ۟‫وا‬ُ‫ير‬ِ‫س‬َ‫ي‬ ْ ََُ‫ف‬َ‫أ‬
َ
‫َّل‬ ‫ا‬َ‫ه‬َّ‫ن‬َِِ‫ف‬ ‫ا‬َ‫ه‬ِ‫ب‬ َ‫ون‬َُْ‫م‬ْ‫س‬َ‫ي‬ ‫ا‬ٌ‫ان‬َِ‫ا‬َ‫ء‬ ْ‫و‬َ‫أ‬ ٓ‫ا‬َ‫ه‬ِ‫ب‬
‫ى‬َ‫م‬َْْ‫ت‬
ِ
‫ُور‬‫د‬ُّ‫ص‬‫ٱل‬ ‫ى‬ِ‫ف‬ ‫ى‬ِ‫ت‬َّ‫ٱل‬ ُ‫وب‬َُُُْ‫ٱل‬ ‫ى‬َ‫م‬َْْ‫ت‬ ‫ن‬ِ‫ك‬ٰ‫ـ‬َ‫ل‬ َ‫و‬ ُ‫ر‬ٰ‫ـ‬َ‫ص‬ْ‫ب‬َ ْ
‫ٱۡل‬
So have they not traveled through the earth and have hearts by which
to reason and ears by which to hear? For indeed, it is not eyes that are
blinded, but blinded are the hearts which are within the breasts.
َ‫أ‬ ْ‫و‬َ‫أ‬ ِ‫ة‬ َ‫ار‬َ‫ج‬ ِ‫ح‬ْ‫ال‬َ‫ك‬ َ‫ي‬ِ‫ه‬َ‫ف‬ َ‫ك‬ِ‫ل‬َِٰ ِ‫د‬َْْ‫ب‬ ‫ن‬ِِّ‫م‬ ُ‫ك‬ُ‫ب‬‫و‬َُُُ ْ‫ت‬َ‫س‬ََ َّ ُ‫ث‬
ۚ ۭ‫ة‬ َ‫و‬ْ‫س‬ََ ُّ‫د‬َ‫ش‬
Then your hearts became hardened after that, being like stones or even
harder.
Hard hearts are unable to make connections to human beings – the
single most important source of worldly happiness.

51. The Human Heart:
Battleground for Good & Evil
The untrained Nafs always inclines
towards Evil.
The Ruh is naturally inclined
towards the Good.
Those who struggle in us, we
guide them to our pathways.
Knowledge is given to those who
struggle (to purify themselves).
Rothman and Coyle: Islamic
Model of the Soul (open access)

52. Edward Said: Orientalism
Europeans Controlled 90% of the globe over the 19th century. This
global domination permeates ALL knowledge produced by the West
about the East.
Very short summary: Global Conquest produced a superiority conquest
in the West. [And a corresponding inferiority complex in the East.]
By going through a Western education, we acquire a deeply Eurocentric
worldview: Europe is the most advanced civilization – by far – on the
planet. All others are savages and barbarians. The only knowledge
worth knowing has been produced by the West.

53. Eurocentrism Conflicts Directly with Islam
َ‫ف‬ِ‫ش‬ َ‫و‬ ْ ُ‫ك‬ِِّ‫ب‬َّ‫ر‬ ‫ن‬ِِّ‫م‬ ‫ا‬ٌ‫ة‬َ‫ظ‬َِ ْ‫و‬َّ‫م‬ ُ‫ك‬ْ‫ت‬َ‫ء‬ٓ‫ا‬َ‫ج‬ ْ‫د‬ََ ُ‫اس‬َّ‫ن‬‫ٱل‬ ‫ا‬َ‫ه‬ُّ‫ي‬َ‫أ‬ٰٓ‫ـ‬َ‫ي‬
ُِِّْ‫ل‬ ‫ا‬ٌ‫ة‬َ‫م‬ْ‫ح‬َ‫ر‬ َ‫و‬ ‫ى‬ ‫ا‬ۭ‫د‬ُ‫ه‬ َ‫و‬ ِ
‫ُور‬‫د‬ُّ‫ص‬‫ٱل‬ ‫ى‬ِ‫ف‬ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬ِِّ‫ل‬ ‫ا‬ٌ‫ء‬ٓ‫ا‬
َ‫ين‬ِ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ْ‫ؤ‬ُ‫م‬
َ‫و‬ُ‫ه‬ ۟‫وا‬ُ‫ح‬َ‫ر‬ْ‫ف‬َ‫ي‬َُْ‫ف‬ َ‫ك‬ِ‫ل‬َِِٰ‫ب‬َ‫ف‬ ‫ۦ‬ِ‫ه‬ِ‫ت‬َ‫م‬ْ‫ح‬َ‫ر‬ِ‫ب‬ َ‫و‬ ِ َّ
‫ٱَّلل‬ ِ‫ل‬ْ‫ض‬َ‫ف‬ِ‫ب‬ ْ‫ل‬َُ
َ‫ون‬َُْ‫م‬ْ‫ج‬َ‫ي‬ ‫ا‬َّ‫م‬ِِّ‫م‬ ‫ا‬ٌ‫ْر‬‫ي‬َ‫خ‬
O mankind, there has come to you instruction from your Lord and
healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the
believers.
Say, "In the bounty of Allāh and in His mercy - in that let them rejoice; it
is better than what they accumulate.“
The final message of God the mankind is complete and perfect
guidance for all times. It is far superior to any knowledge human beings
could possible gather.

54. What is the PURPOSE of our lives?
ُ‫ن‬َ‫س‬ْ‫ح‬َ‫أ‬ ْ ُ‫ك‬ُّ‫ي‬َ‫أ‬ ْ ُ‫ك‬ َ‫و‬ُُْ‫ب‬َ‫ي‬ِ‫ل‬ َ‫ة‬ ٰ
‫و‬َ‫ي‬َ‫ح‬ْ‫ٱل‬ َ‫و‬ َ‫ت‬ ْ‫و‬َ‫م‬ْ‫ٱل‬ َ‫ق‬ََُ‫خ‬ ‫ى‬َِِّ‫ٱل‬
ُ‫ور‬ُ‫ف‬َ‫غ‬ْ‫ٱل‬ ُ‫يز‬ ِ
‫ز‬َْْ‫ٱل‬ َ‫و‬ُ‫ه‬ َ‫و‬ ۚ ‫ا‬ۭ
‫َل‬َ‫م‬ََ
He is the One Who created death and life in order to test which of you
is best in deeds. And He is the Almighty, All-Forgiving.
َْْ‫ٱل‬ ِِّ‫ب‬َ‫ر‬ ِ َّ ِ
‫َّلل‬ ‫ى‬ِ‫ت‬‫ا‬َ‫م‬َ‫م‬ َ‫و‬ َ‫اى‬َ‫ي‬ْ‫ح‬َ‫م‬ َ‫و‬ ‫ى‬ِ‫ك‬ُ‫س‬ُ‫ن‬ َ‫و‬ ‫ى‬ِ‫ت‬ َ
‫َل‬َ‫ص‬ َّ‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬ ْ‫ل‬َُ
َ‫ين‬ِ‫م‬َُٰ‫ـ‬
Say, “Surely my prayer, my worship, my life, and my death are all
for Allah—Lord of all worlds.

55. What about non-Muslims?
َ‫أ‬ َ‫و‬ ْ ُ‫ه‬َ‫ت‬َّ‫ي‬ ِِّ‫ر‬ُِ ْ ِ‫ه‬ ِ
‫ور‬ُ‫ه‬ُ‫ظ‬ ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ َ َ‫د‬‫ا‬َ‫ء‬ ٓ‫ى‬ِ‫ن‬َ‫ب‬ ٍۢ
‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ َ‫ُّك‬‫ب‬ َ‫ر‬ ََِ‫خ‬َ‫أ‬ ِِْ‫إ‬ َ‫و‬
ُ‫ك‬ِِّ‫ب‬ َ‫ر‬ِ‫ب‬ ُ‫ت‬ْ‫س‬َ‫ل‬َ‫أ‬ ْ ِ‫ه‬ِ‫س‬ُ‫ف‬‫ن‬َ‫أ‬ ٰٓ
‫ى‬َََُ ْ ُ‫ه‬َ‫د‬َ‫ه‬ْ‫ش‬
ْ
ۛ ٰ
‫ى‬ََُ‫ب‬ ۟‫وا‬ُ‫ل‬‫ا‬ََ
ٰ‫ـ‬َ‫غ‬ ‫ا‬َِٰ‫ـ‬َ‫ه‬ ْ‫ن‬ََ ‫ا‬َّ‫ن‬ُ‫ك‬ ‫ا‬َّ‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬ ِ‫ة‬َ‫م‬ٰ‫ـ‬َ‫ي‬َِْ‫ٱل‬ َ ْ‫و‬َ‫ي‬ ۟‫وا‬ُ‫ل‬‫و‬ََُ‫ت‬ ‫ن‬َ‫أ‬ ۛ ٓ‫ا‬َ‫ن‬ْ‫د‬ِ‫ه‬َ‫ش‬
َ‫ين‬ُِِ‫ف‬
our Lord took from the children of Adam - from their loins - their
descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them],
"Am I not your Lord?" They said, "Yes, we have testified." [This] - lest
you should say on the day of Resurrection, "Indeed, we were of this
unaware.“
Recognition of God is built into our hearts from eternity. The first life
goal of ours should be to search for the purpose of life.

56. Life of this world is a TEST
ِِّ‫م‬ ٍۢ
‫ص‬ََْ‫ن‬ َ‫و‬ ِ‫وع‬ُ‫ج‬ْ‫ٱل‬ َ‫و‬ ِ‫ف‬ ْ‫َو‬‫خ‬ْ‫ٱل‬ َ‫ن‬ِِّ‫م‬ ٍۢ‫ء‬ْ‫ى‬َ‫ش‬ِ‫ب‬ ُ‫ك‬َّ‫ن‬ َ‫و‬ُُْ‫ب‬َ‫ن‬َ‫ل‬ َ‫و‬
ِِّ‫ش‬َ‫ب‬ َ‫و‬ ِۗ ِ‫ت‬ َٰ‫ر‬َ‫م‬َّ‫ث‬‫ٱل‬ َ‫و‬ ِ
‫س‬ُ‫ف‬‫ن‬َ ْ
‫ٱۡل‬ َ‫و‬ ِ‫ل‬ َٰ‫و‬ْ‫م‬َ ْ
‫ٱۡل‬ َ‫ن‬
َّ‫ص‬‫ٱل‬ ِ
‫ر‬
َ‫ين‬ ِ
‫ر‬ِ‫ب‬ٰ‫ـ‬
We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of
property, life, and crops. Give good news to those who patiently
endure—
Some people face VERY DIFFICULT tests, and some very easy ones. But
there are two promises of God:
1. Everyone will be given resources sufficient for his tests. No one is
tested beyond his capabilities.
2. Grades are adjusted according to level of difficulty of test.

57. What is the Nature of this Test?
Islam is KNOWLEDGE!
FIRST revelation: READ, in the name of thy Lord who created … and
taught mankind what they did not KNOW.
[3:18] There is no god but He: That is the witness of Allah, His angels,
and those endued with knowledge, standing firm on justice.
[29:69]And those who strive in Our (cause), – We will certainly guide
them to our Paths: For verily Allah is with those who do right”.
Angels complained to Allah T’aala that man would do violence and
bloodshed. The answer was to show that man was capable of
KNOWLEDGE, which made him superior to the Angels.

58. There are levels, and degrees of knowledge
Maratib-al-Uloom (Multiplexity)
Seek knowledge from cradle to grave.
ِ‫ين‬ََِ‫ي‬ْ‫ٱل‬ َ َُِْ َ‫ون‬ُ‫م‬ََُْْ‫ت‬ ْ‫و‬َ‫ل‬ َّ
‫َل‬َ‫ك‬
ِ‫ين‬ََِ‫ي‬ْ‫ال‬ َ‫ْن‬‫ي‬ََ ‫ا‬َ‫ه‬َّ‫ن‬ ُ‫و‬ َ‫ر‬َ‫ت‬َ‫ل‬ َّ ُ‫ث‬
ِ‫ين‬ََِ‫ي‬ْ‫ال‬ ُّ‫ق‬َ‫ح‬ َ‫و‬ُ‫ه‬َ‫ل‬ ‫ا‬ََِٰ‫ه‬ َّ‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬
Recep Senturk’s Lectures on:
Al-Ghazali’s Multiplex Epistemology:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ah7eAA-ME4
Ibn-Haldun’s Multiplex Epistemology:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDEYTrewtbE