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Quote by Salman Ahmed Shaikh

“Islamic philosophy of life prioritizes equitable distribution over efficiency. Overreliance on efficiency paralyses the equity and ethical concerns of development policy change. While Islamic principles allow freedom and liberty in lawful consumption within the moral boundaries, they induce affirmative action to promote well-being when people possess the means. In contrast, according to consumer sovereignty, as long as people can put up dollar votes for their preferences, resources will be allocated on producing, marketing and distributing inessential goods even if a quarter of the world population lives in poverty and suffers from hunger, malnourishment and curable diseases.”

Quote by Salman Ahmed Shaikh

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Reflections on the Origins in the Post COVID-19 World

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Salman Ahmed Shaikh

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“Familiarity with a little science, like the possession of shallow knowledge, manifests itself in the form of rebellion with an air of intellectual superiority and enlightenment. Introspection, depth, and a thorough exploration of science help you unravel the vast subjectivity that lies behind the objectivity that is primarily associated with the field. The same is true for mathematics as a discipline. Then, you look for explanations that do not come to you through any academically identified process. That is why a large number of accomplished scientists and mathematicians have believed in divine powers.”

“Some scientists like Prof. Neil Tyson are comfortable with the notion that we are living in an ape farm created by aliens95, but have a difficult time believing in a Creator who created this universe and us. It is perhaps because the above mentioned faith-based worldview even though is profound and gives everyone meaning in their lives, but it also asks us to shoulder responsibility which we want to avoid and escape from. These analogies reflect thinking and mind set to evade responsibility and they add nothing in terms of answering the questions about the meaning of life.”

“This world is not fair in all respects. A morally upright man is not necessarily the most honourable man in the world. A morally upright trader is not necessarily the richest in the world. Not all murderers have been or will be convicted in this world. Even if all murderers could have been convicted, it will not be ‘naturally’ possible to give equitable punishment to the murderers who have killed more than one human being. Furthermore, it will not be possible to reverse the immoral actions and their already occurred consequences. Religion promises absolute justice and deterministic rewards in the life hereafter. This fulfils the aspiration to have perfect justice to lives spent by pious and impious, poor and rich and just and unjust people. The promise that every action and even intention will be given due justice by the Creator makes the 'static conscience' created by Allah a 'self-regulated functioning conscience.”

“Science can inform and identify moral dilemmas by highlighting the consequences of actions and inactions, but it cannot compel us to do the morally right things as influenced by some objective values and morality. Given the opportunity cost of every economic activity, we buy more luxuries despite there being one in nine people going to bed hungry and hundreds of thousands of people dying from curable diseases which can be prevented for an individual in less than the cost of a hamburger.”

“Some people suggest that being not religious does not mean that we are or will become immoral. However, faith does not argue that moral values originate solely from scriptures. There is an innate ability in our consciousness to differentiate right from wrong actions. The different approaches to life and its meaning can result in different ways of responding to moral calling. Faith not only compels and elicits pro-social behaviour, but it provides meaningful consequences for good and bad actions. Else, altruism while in poverty, anonymous charitable giving, and sacrificing one’s life in the service of humanity would seem irrational if we are just going to die after some moments in the cosmos without any absolute justice. Inaction to not help change matters is also immoral, even if not illegal. If one possesses the means and finds an opportunity to help causes by way of spending wealth, volunteering and engaging in socio-political and democratic struggle, then one should undertake every feasible effort to contribute in social well-being by looking beyond one’s self-interest.”

“Religion gives meaning to actions and moral choices. Else, both mass murderers and honest go through the same biological decay of their skulls after they die. One can decide to do an act morally as an end in itself and not merely as a means to a material end with the knowledge that there are deterministic rewards beyond the interpersonal relations in the world. If one believes in this life only; then that person will be more selfish to get everything in this life. If we restrict our existence confined to this world alone with no accountability in the afterlife; then, I am "just" as long as I am "just" in front of the society even though there could be crimes that the society could never have seen me doing. Contrarily, I could be regarded as "unjust" by the society if it convicts me based on evidence which could have been untrue. Life hereafter gives meaning to all our actions by promising each and every soul a just reward.”

“Religion concerns primarily with the moral sphere of life. It concerns with the moral conscience and strengthening it to elicit positive actions and behaviour. The developments in technology through modern science are in no way a replacement of moral values. Just like we can survive without sun neither in ancient times nor to this date, the same way religion is also a fundamental part of human society by giving it values and meaningfulness.”

“Immanuel Kant is quoted to have said: “In law, a man is guilty when he violates the rights of others. In ethics, he is guilty if he only thinks of doing so.” The question is who knows the intentions and who can provide absolute justice. Even if we could know intentions and start enforcing punishment, the suffering is irreversible as the punishment can only take the life of the murderer at best. Criminals responsible for genocide and unjust wars cannot be accorded with absolute justice even if they accept all their crimes. Belief in afterlife accountability promises absolute justice for every small act of evil or kindness in this life. It enlightens human’s life and makes every act of everyone relevant. Belief in afterlife accountability actualizes the cause and effect in moral matters.”

“Islamic worldview says that humans are one of the creatures of Allah along with other living and non-living things created by Allah. As creatures, not as fittest survivors, we owe thankfulness to Allah for our existence, which is made possible through all suitable life- supporting systems on this earth. This worldview engenders a spirit of compassion, humility, kindness, care, sacrifice and humbleness.”