The Afflictions of the Vanguard Generation (Part Five)
3- Scientism
Another scourge that the Vanguard generation may suffer from is Scientism. Scientism means that for someone, knowledge becomes the criterion for judgments and the correctness and incorrectness of thoughts and ideas, and that the thirst for knowledge and increasing awareness and information keeps them busy in such a way that they stop working and acting, and lock themselves away and isolate themselves in a corner of a laboratory or library, and are unable to have a warm and intimate relationship with their fellow human beings, co-religionists, compatriots, relatives and friends, and render them even a small service or solve a problem in their lives.
It can be mentioned among the manifestations of Scientism, the belief in the undisputed and unquestionable judgment and arbitration of reason. Those suffering from this scourge believe that whatever their reason does not accept or that the current science and scientific findings of scientists do not confirm is not true. These people try to justify everything rationally and scientifically, and are constantly looking for theories and discoveries to confirm the verses of the Quran, Hadiths or divine commands with them and shout: “Look what kind of religion and what kind of prophet we have that so-and-so scientist and so-and-so scientific book also confirms it and both are in the same direction!” It is interesting and perhaps ridiculous that some sincere preachers and orators still refer to theories and findings that have been scientifically rejected and out of date for years and with new findings. Retaining the names of authors and quotes from scientists and using heavy and vague terms is also scientism.
Some people also think that in order to gain knowledge and rely on some verses and hadiths (which have their own status of revelation and geography), they can be lax in performing their obligatory duties and avoiding prohibitions and sins, however small and seemingly small, and they make up for their prayers in order to write an article or translate and compile a scientific work, or they pray them at the last moment and with fatigue from studying and researching a lot and fulfill their obligations. Leaving the Navafel (optional prayers), the Azkar is very common and usual for them.
A number of Muslim sisters and brothers also, under the pretext of studying, researching, translating and compiling, shirk the serious and very fundamental responsibility of enjoining good and forbidding evil and inviting and reforming people and society, and they avoid accompanying and coordinating with their other Muslim sisters and brothers. They avoid meetings full of goodness and blessings and gatherings that are very beneficial and effective in spirituality, and even reach the point where they consider others illiterate and consider communicating with them beneath their dignity, and consider this work nothing but a waste of time. In short, they consider writing books more important than writing hearts.
Another manifestation of scientism is the interest and trust in theories presented by Western writers and thinkers, with very complex and vague terms and concepts. While if a Muslim thinker uses verses and hadiths to present topics and issues in a very simple and understandable way, they will not like it. Perhaps this question has arisen in the mind of the respected reader that today, one of the causes and indicators of advanced societies is the amount of research, translation and writing, while you apparently oppose such things. I would like to say frankly that the purpose of proposing and presenting such a topic is not to oppose scientific work and research findings or to ignore the efforts of men in the field of science and knowledge. Rather, such a thing is truly desirable and pleasing to Allah and is mentioned in the Holy Quran, and the truth of this claim can be proven by referring to works on the role and influence of Muslims in human science and knowledge in the recent past. This is an admission that has been expressed by fair-minded Western researchers and writers.
What is worrying is that reason, theories and scientific findings are given too much importance and are placed in a position that is not worthy of them, and we have expectations from human science and reason that we should have had these expectations from something else. For example, science and reason will never answer some of the questions and inquiries of mankind regarding the Objectives of creation, the end of life and human happiness, and the values and standards of “good and evil” and “ugliness and beauty”.
Also, what is worrying is that a Muslim man, under the pretext of scientific work, refuses to perform some of the most certain and obvious duties and obligations, which is not justified at all. one cannot abandon religious rituals such as prayer and fasting, etc. by no justification and for no reason, under the pretext of engaging in scientific work, writing and translating, or even perform them incompletely and inadequately.
By no justification, one cannot put aside the company of the Muslim community, the ties of kinship, attendance at the mosque, reciting the Quran and contemplating it, and jihad in the way of Allah, and adopt an intellectual posture and separate one’s work from others by writing an article in a newspaper. Unless this work (writing an article, writing and translating a book or a scientific research) is in line with reforming society and establishing the command and order of Allah; But still, one cannot abandon the obligatory duties because of these or not go to the mosque and not recite or ponder the Quran as much as possible. Or at least not look at the book, tradition, and life of the righteous predecessors and the opinions of Muslim thinkers in the past as much as one does at referring to the opinions and theories of Western thinkers and scientific newspapers and magazines! So that we know what they say about a social problem or a political and moral crisis? Why do Western thinkers repeatedly read the works and thoughts of Plato, Aristotle, and other ancient Greek sages and make them speak, but why do educated Muslim youth refrain from rereading the original and primary sources (the Quran and the Sunnah) and the opinions and theories of Muslim scientists in past centuries? This is the main pain and deadly plague.
Knowledge will then become a scourge that not only causes arrogance, pride, and narcissism, but also prevents a person from doing good deeds. In fact, by a little reflection, we can say that in Islamic thought, “knowledge” is for “action” and improving life; because according to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): “Every knowledge and understanding will be a calamity on the Day of Resurrection, except for the one who acts upon it.” And he said: “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit.”
Another manifestation of “scientism” is that those afflicted with this scourge never truly know the phrase “I do not know” and never utter it. It is narrated from Ibn Mas’oud, a famous companion of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), who said: “A madman is one who gives an opinion and a fatwa about anything he is asked about; While “I don’t know” is the shield of the wise.”
Another manifestation of “scientism” is sectarianism and the creation of new schools and religions; in such a way that the person who is knowledgeable cannot bear to be and remain on the previous and old source and starts building a new school and calls people towards it. But in reality, “sectarianism” is a reflection of this psychological state that they wanted to become prominent and say: we want benefits from this as well! While they could, with a little patience and a little reflection, correct some of the deviations and shortcomings of the previous method or school and prevent the splitting, divergence and division. Because it is not unlikely that the new curriculum and school will suffer from the same distortions and shortcomings in the not-so-distant future, and even worse!
In fact, heresies and deviations did not come from the common people, but more from those who knew something: «أَفَتَطْمَعُونَ أَن يُؤْمِنُوا لَكُمْ وَقَدْ كَانَ فَرِيقٌ مِنْهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ كَلَامَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُحَرِّفُونَهُ مِن بَعْدِ مَا عَقَلُوهُ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ» Translation: “Do you desire that the Jews should believe in you, while a party of them hear the word of Allah and distort it as they wish, even though they understand its meaning?”
Or verse 23 of Surah Al-Imran, which was revealed about the Jewish scholars, which states: “Have you not considered those (Jews) who were given a portion of the Book (who have a superficial knowledge of the Torah) when they are called to the Book of Allah (their own Torah) to judge between them, yet a party of them turn away in a state of aversion?” The phrase «أُوتُوا نَصِيبًا مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ»Translation: “They were given a portion of the Book.” is also mentioned in verses 44 and 51 of Surah Al-Nisa’ about the superficiality of the Jewish scholars who were proud of the limited knowledge they had acquired of the Torah’s manifestations. “A portion of the Book” indicates their partiality towards their religious book and their neglect of its general spirit and principles.
It is narrated from Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: «کم من ضلالةٍ زُخرفَت بِآيَةٍ مِن کتابِ الله، كما يزَخرَفُ الدّرهَم والناس بالفضّة المموّهة» Translation: “How much misguidance is adorned with a verse from the Quran, just as counterfeit dirhams and coins are adorned with gold-plated silver.”
Another consequence of scientism is uncritical, self-righteousness, and ultimately, “sanctity” or “sanctification.” A person who is “obsessed with knowledge” believes that no one is superior or above him. He sees himself as indifferent to the warnings and advice of his brothers and sisters in faith, and does not seek to correct his behavior or his vision and attitude. Eventually, he falls victim to two other plagues: one is pride and prejudice, and the other is discouragement and loss of sensitivity of the heart. “Obsessed with knowledge” do not know that not every knot can be untied with the claws of knowledge; because the cause of many issues and problems is not “not knowing,” but is most likely caused by mental and psychological illnesses or moral and educational deficiencies, and perhaps also by “not acting on what we know.”
