Saadia's Column

The Schism Between What We Know and What We Do (July 2003)

" I found myself back in the sepulchral city resenting the sight of people hurrying through the streets to filch a little money from each other, to devour their infamous cookery, to gulp their unwholesome beer, to dream their insignificant and silly dreams." - Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness

It’s hard to find time for God in these modern times. I mean, it’s hard enough to fit in everything else: Work, school, gym, movies, dancing, partying, reading the papers, reading books, eating out, writing emails, writing a dairy, bla bla bla. Who has time for God?

Most Muslims I know are aware, on some guilty level, that they don’t do enough. But it’s this crazy situation where although one knows the most important thing in life is the afterlife, it’s just too easy to get distracted.

On a ritual level, many of us skip prayers because we’re going out with friends, or can’t get out of bed or whatever. We don’t bother overly much about reading the Quran regularly. These omissions are bad enough. I mean, there’s really no excuse for it when one has the time to do so many other things. Why should the pursuit of spiritual goals been pushed to the background? But what I’m really getting at is that an even smaller amount of us succeed at truly incorporating spirituality and remembrance of God in our daily lives.

We can blame this on modern lifestyles, progress and technology, or the boogie. It’s no excuse. But it’s an explanation. The world is beautiful and we chase it with grasping hands outstretched.

Perhaps even worse, it’s a confusing world. Which way to turn? Which direction to follow? We live in schizoid times. A world in which armies invade countries for no reason at all, while the world stands by and scratches its collective head in confusion. A world in which planes fueled by hate knock buildings down to ashes and dust. A world in which news becomes entertainment, democracy becomes dictatorship, and politics are reduced to a few men with egos the size of Bolivia playing and squabbling like small boys in a schoolyard - only they’re not as smart. A world in which people are fast outrunning resources, religion breeds hate, and Eminem wins a Grammy over U2. What the hell is going on?

Sometimes I think we’d be better off if we lived in a simpler world. Maybe Rousseau was right about the noble savage, and all that. Less distractions, more time to sit under trees and contemplate morality and God.

But other people argue that ours is the harder test. Because we face the challenge of pursuing spiritual goals while living in the world with all its temptations.

Yeah all right, but we’re all doing a really great job, guys. It’s all very well to have a harder test if you pass. Imagine our generation lined up outside the pearly gates, shouting "OK, so we failed, but our test was harder!" I don’t think so.

Detachment. Spiritual detachment is the key. If we could do this successfully, the world with its worries and temptations would cease to matter. We’d be invincible.

And I feel this is the only way out of the rut the Muslim world finds itself in. Fearlessness must come from peace, not hate. It’s the only way to find the strength and enlightenment we need to rise up. I went to hear Pakistan’s President Musharraf speak the other day, and he was going on about how the Muslim world needs to reach enlightenment and tolerance. But he never explained how. In fact everyone keeps talking about education, women’s rights, and economic independence. But no one has a concrete plan of action.

I believe that inner strength will lead to every kind of strength. We have to stop relying on foreign aid and nuclear technology. Let’s start relying on God instead.

And find a bit of time for Him in our busy schedules.