MATERIALISM AND ISLAMIC VALUES

LAJNA MENTORING CONFERENCE 2015NATIONAL TARBIYAT SEC. AZIZA RAHMAN

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE OF THE USA

PRESENT DAY INTERPRETATION

Pursuit of happiness

The right to do anything that makes one happy

MATERIALISM

INTERPRETATION OF FOUNDING FATHERS

A feeling of self-worth and dignity acquired by contributing to one’s community and to its civic life

THE MEANING OF HAPPINESS IN ISLAM

‘….those who believe and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allah. Aye! It is in the remembrance of Allah that hearts can find comfort: Those who believe and do good works — happiness shall be theirs, and an excellent place of return.’ (Holy Qur’an 13:29-30)

WHY DID THE DEFINITION CHANGE?It changed to an obsession with materialism due to:

• the rise of technology, availability of consumer goods,

• various political and social agendas

• advertising industry

• easy availability of designer and luxury items

• credit cards and online shopping

• Social status defined by ownership of luxury or fashionable items

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MATERIALISM AND HAPPINESS

Materialism

Happiness

CHARACTERISTICS OF A MATERIALISTIC SOCIETY

1. Failure to perform worship - a society may claim to believe in God; however this belief is only hypothetical if it is not translated into responsible godly behavior.

2. Failure to feed the poor – here you have a society with uneven distribution of wealth and the poor have no voice.

3. Indulgence in vain pursuits – a society which is engrossed in the pursuit of pleasure

4. Denial of the Day of Reckoning or accountability - a society where accountability is perceived to be a very distant possibility, if existing at all, it is only the present that counts; immediate interests always dominate and displace any consideration for the life to come.

A MATERIALISTIC SOCIETY’S VIEW OF THE FUTURE

HOLY QUR’AN ON MATERIALISM

And as to those who disbelieve, their deeds are like a mirage in a desert. The thirsty one thinks it to be water until, when he comes up to it, he finds it to be nothing. And he finds Allah near him, Who then fully pays him his account; and Allah is swift at reckoning. [24:40]

HAZRAT KHALIFATUL MASIH IV (RH) EXPLAINS:

The Holy Quran depicts this as a mirage which tantalizes the thirsty person by ever-running away from him until he becomes so exhausted that he can pursue it no more. That is when he is punished. He is made to realize that this is the goal of emptiness and void, which he had been following all along. Suddenly, the mirage stops running away and permits him to catch up only to make him understand the bitter meaning of pursuing nothingness. That is the punishment meted out to those who pursue the vanity of life, and that, according to the Holy Quran, is how all such societies end up. (Islam’s response to Contemporary issues)

HOLY QUR’AN SURA AL TAKATHUR

Mutual rivalry in seeking worldly increase diverts you from God,

till you reach the graves.

Nay! you will soon come to know.

Nay again! You will soon come to know.

Nay! If you only knew with certain knowledge,

You will surely see Hell in this very life.

Aye, you will surely see it with the eye of certainty.

Then, on that day you shall be called to account about the worldly favors. (102:2-8)

CHARACTERISTICS OF MATERIALISTIC PEOPLE

• There are those who acquire material possessions as a means to happiness; they buy things in an attempt to fill an inner void. These people are usually lonely or insecure but research shows shopping to alleviate loneliness only increases their loneliness.

• There are those who use material things as a yardstick to measure how well they are doing in life in comparison to other people. These people are often insecure and have low self- esteem. Or they may be ambitious and highly competitive, always “keeping up with the Joneses.”

PROBLEMS CAUSED BY MATERIALISM IN SOCIETY

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Low self-esteem

• Competitiveness

• Selfishness

• Lowered sense of social responsibility

• Breakdown in relationships

• Damage to the environment

WARNING FROM HAZRAT KHALIFATUL MASIH V (ABA)!!!

AHMADIS LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES ARE BECOMING OBSESSED WITH MAKING MONEY AND FORGETTING THEIR ISLAMIC VALUES!

HOLY QUR’AN ON MATERIALISM

Know that the life of this world is only a sport and a pastime, and an adornment, and a source of boasting among you, and of rivalry in multiplying riches and children. This life is like the rain the vegetation produced, whereby the tillers rejoice. Then it dries up and thou seest it turn yellow; then it becomes broken pieces of straw. And in the Hereafter there is severe punishment, and also forgiveness from Allah, and His pleasure. And the life of this world is nothing but temporary enjoyment of deceitful things. [57:21]

STAGES OF MATERIALISM DESCRIBED IN HOLY QUR’AN 57:21

• Childhood – Sport or play

• Middle school age – Pastimes

• Adolescence – Adornment

• Youth – Boasting

• Adulthood – Rivalry in multiplying riches and children

HOW MATERIALISM CAN AFFECT OUR LIVES

1. CONNECTION TO ALLAH TA’ALA.

Materialism takes us away from Allah Ta'ala:

O ye who believe! Let not your wealth and your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. And whoever does so — it is they who are the losers. (63:10)

HOW MATERIALISM CAN AFFECT OUR LIVES

2. SPENDING IN THE WAY OF Allah

Materialism diverts us from spending in the way of Allah.

The Holy Qur'an commands:

“And give thou to the kinsman his due, and to the poor and the wayfarer, and squander not thy wealth extravagantly. Verily, the extravagant are brothers of Satan, and Satan is ungrateful to his Lord.”(17:27-28)

HOW MATERIALISM CAN AFFECT OUR LIVES

3. EFFECT ON RELATIONSHIPS and CHILDREN

• Materialism causes conflict in marriage

• Greater conflict occurs when both partners are materialistic.

• Marriages break up over petty worldly reasons.

• Children become materialistic at an early age.

• Problems in Rishta Nata; increasing difficulties in finding matches to one’s “standard.”

• Overspending and ostentation in weddings ceremonies.

HAZRAT KHALIFATUL MASIH V (ABA) – FRIDAY SERMON 3/6/2015

“If families that ruin their home lives over small, trivial matters reflected on commandments of God and also practiced them, not only would they be guarantors of peaceful family life they would also be adorning the future of their children. Families that are ruining their homes over trivial worldly matters should reflect and ponder over this. Your next generation does not only belong to you, it is also an asset of the Jama'at and the nation. It is the responsibility of the parents to show their children the right way and this can only be possible when the parents follow the commandments of God and His Messenger.”

WHAT WE CAN DO TO SAVE OURSELVES FROM MATERIALISM

1. STRENGTHEN OUR CONNECTION TO ALLAH TA'ALA by:

• Taqwa – righteousness

‘They believe in Allah and the Last Day, and enjoin what is good and forbid evil, and hasten, vying with one another, in good works. And these are among the righteous. (3:115)

• Establish Salat

“If the dues of devotion to Allah the Exalted are to be paid then foremost is that you safeguard your own Salat and that of your children. Once attention is drawn to Salat, materialism, amusements and fulfilling self-seeking desires will lesson by themselves.”

(Address by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba at the 2012 National Waaqifaat-e-Nau Ijtema, UK)

WHAT WE CAN DO TO SAVE OURSELVES FROM MATERIALISM

2. KEEP THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN MIND.

Huzoor (aba) said:

“One is reminded not to merely be concerned with the interests, comforts and connections of this world. One's main concern should be the afterlife, one's level of faith and adopting righteousness. Accountability in the Hereafter should be pivotal to one's concerns and this alone will lead to true moral development. One will progress spiritually when one will be conscious of what one sends forth for the morrow.”

“Righteousness demands one to lead life in accordance with the commandments of God and this includes looking at the consequence of everything one embarks upon and having firm belief that God is watching over everything one does.”

(Friday sermon 3/6/2015)

WHAT WE CAN DO TO SAVE OURSELVES FROM MATERIALISM

3. DO NOT ALLOW OUR POSSESSIONS TO POSSESS US.

• Wealth, possessions, capabilities are transient

• They should not be held in the heart.

• Only love for Allah should be kept in the heart.

4. SPEND ALL KINDS OF YOUR WEALTH IN HELPING OTHERS

“Wealth does not only refer to physical goods. Rather, it refers to everything one has been bestowed with: knowledge, wisdom, medicine, etc. All of these things are included in wealth. These should also be spent in way of Allah.” [Malfuzat, Vol. 1, P. 20]

WHAT WE CAN DO TO SAVE OURSELVES FROM MATERIALISM

5. LEAD A SIMPLE LIFE AND FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THOSE WHO LEAD A SIMPLE LIFE.

The Holy Prophet (saw) said:

“I am like a traveler in the desert who lies down to briefly rest under a tree. He gets up soon and starts off on his journey.”

WHAT WE CAN DO TO SAVE OURSELVES FROM MATERIALISM

6. BE MODERATE IN YOUR SPENDING

“And those, who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor niggardly but adopt a moderate position in the middle.” (Holy Qur’an 25:68)

• Know the difference between ‘need’ and ‘want’

• Don’t think of shopping as a recreational activity; so avoid going to the mall with friends – you are more likely to make a useless purchase.

• Know exactly what you want before you go to the store, buy it, and leave the premises immediately.

• Use a 30-day list - wait for 30 days before buying the item. The waiting period can help you determine whether you really want or need the item.

WHAT WE CAN DO TO SAVE OURSELVES FROM MATERIALISM

7. AVOID MATERIALISTIC COMPANY AND INFLUENCES

And let alone those who take their religion for a sport and a pastime, and whom worldly life has beguiled. (Holy Qur’an 6:71)

• Avoid spending too much time with materialistic friends.

• Limit television. TV content is controlled by advertisers whose aim is to make us want their products whether we need them or not.

• Children who were frequently exposed to television advertising developed a greater desire for advertised products than children who were less frequently exposed.

• Discuss TV advertising with your children and explain the dangers.

• Limit Web browsing. Avoid shopping online wherever possible.

WHAT WE CAN DO TO SAVE OURSELVES FROM MATERIALISM

8. BECOME MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS.

And on the day when those who disbelieve will be brought before the Fire, it will be said to them, ‘You exhausted your good things in the life of the world, and you fully enjoyed them. Now this day you shall be requited with ignominious punishment because you were arrogant in the earth without justification, and because you acted rebelliously.’ [Holy Qur’an 46:21]

• Recognize the connection between environmental degradation and a materialistic way of life.

• Recycle – recycling not only helps the environment but helps us limit our use of the earth’s resources.

THE TRUE MEANING OF HAPPINESS

CONTENTMENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

CONTENTMENT THROUGH THE WEALTH OF THE HOLY QUR’AN