For Westerners, only material things and worldly possessions are important, and other phenomena hold no value for them. Parents are two precious jewels and among the most significant values in human life; however, Westerners do not assign the same value and importance to them and often send their elderly parents to nursing homes so that they do not hinder their business and worldly interests. In contrast, Islam emphasizes the goal of pleasing Allah, the Exalted. To achieve this, individuals should not only avoid frivolities and pastimes but also relinquish material values, including life and property.
Every action has value in life, which drives efforts and movements. Acquiring knowledge and education holds special importance for humans, prompting them to invest time, money, and effort, and it is accepted as an unchangeable value in human societies. Additionally, physical health is a value; wealth and welfare facilities are values; marriage and love are values; and many people travel great distances and expend their precious time to achieve these values.
However, a significant problem currently prevailing in the world, especially in Islamic countries, is the neglect of values and the squandering of life and wealth in futility. Many individuals study various fields without comprehending the purpose of their education. Often, students choose their desired fields during entrance examinations without understanding the nature of these fields or what their future jobs will entail after graduation.
They spend many years on their educational journey and expend a considerable amount of money, yet they pursue no specific goals and fail to achieve meaningful results. We must not forget that a substantial portion of our time is wasted on sleep, late nights, unfinished conversations with friends, binge-watching lengthy series, playing computer games, and indulging in various trivial activities. If we examine each of these pursuits closely, we will find they consume valuable years of our lives and wealth without yielding any significant results.
We know many individuals who have watched thousands of series and movies, and this cycle never seems to end for them. There are people who spend countless nights in entertainment and continue this trend. However, if we scrutinize their lives, it becomes evident that they suffer from numerous deficiencies and have forsaken countless values, wasting their precious time on inconsequential activities. Indeed, such individuals have strayed from their human nature, forgotten their values, and allowed the dark veil of error to cloud their vision.
Throughout history, we also recognize many individuals who understood the values in their lives and achieved significant successes in agriculture, trade, industry, and the development of their personalities. Not only did they benefit themselves, but all of humanity reaped the rewards of their efforts. Humanity could never have set foot on the moon until this value was recognized and efforts were made in that direction. The advances made in medical science benefit the global population with regard to health. Progress in transportation and machinery, along with all inventions and discoveries made by mankind, represent values that have been recognized and pursued by individuals.
Albert Einstein, the renowned scientist, was an exceptional human being; there are thousands of intellectually and physically capable individuals like him in the world today. What set Einstein apart was not his intelligence but his refusal to waste his life watching serials or spending aimless nights. He recognized the significance of values in his life and lived with purpose and planning.
Similarly, Abu Ali Sina, who laid the foundations of medicine, understood this value. He recognized that laziness or involvement in worthless activities would only squander his life. It is interesting to note that every part of the earth has been home to many invaluable scientists, scholars, and individuals throughout history; this characteristic is not confined to a specific generation or location but pertains to particular individuals who sought, understood, and embraced values in their lives.
As a result, every small or large task we undertake in life carries intrinsic value that we must recognize. Based on the importance of each endeavor, we should strive to allocate our energy accordingly. If we evaluate the value of our activities before engaging in them, we will quickly realize that most of our pursuits are unworthy and futile, while many valuable opportunities await our attention.
