In the last input, I raised the following questions… why do we generalize? How can we start to notice what makes each person unique? How can that help us on our path to Jannah? Very interesting and important questions to consider.
I wish to discuss each question in turn so it will be parted into more than one input. Also, consider the points raised… what experiences do any of us have of them and has it affected us and our decisions in any way?
First we must answer one simple question, what is generalization?
Let’s take a clear example. We may often face people that are under the belief that most muslims are Arabs. That’s basically like saying all Westerners are Christians, all Indians are Hindus, all Chinese people ara Buddhists. It’s easy to see how people may get such ideas as Islam is very Arabic language-focused, and Makkah, the geographical heart of Islam, is in KSA. So… it’s an Arab religion. The human brain often use shortcuts to save time and energy. Generalizations are a way for us to make decisions more quickly and easily… whether it is about a situation, about people, about specific things, or a person. In such moments we don’t take the time (or have the patience) to become more informed.
Remember Prophet Musa (عليه السلام) when he followed a man to learn from him, only to witness situations that he thought were strange. He did not know the man or his intentions, and lacked the patience to become informed. That is a human aspect in all of us.
سورة الكهف ٦٨
وَكَيۡفَ تَصۡبِرُ عَلَىٰ مَا لَمۡ تُحِطۡ بِهِۦ خُبۡرٗا
Surah Al-Kahf 18:68
“And how canst thou have patience about things about which thy understanding is not complete?”
We seek to make sense of something. How? In the easiest way. We consider it based on our understanding of things. If we lack a big piece of information… then we assume. We generalize. When we have filled that big empty space with information that makes sense to us, (based on our own understandings and experiences), then we make our decision.
I can not speak for the thoughts of the honorable Prophet Musa (عليه السلام), but I think if any other person was in his situation… they would have determined the man to be a crazy person (أستغفرالله). What is the lesson from that situation? It is seen in aya 18:68 that I shared earlier. How can we have patience about something, if our understanding is not complete? What do we do? We assume. We generalize.
So then the question is… why are we doing it? Generalizations do not require much effort. That makes it easier to categorize and share ideas with others, (even if such ideas sometimes have a slightly different truth in reality). At times, we may generalize about groups or a person and it may boost a sense of belonging or identity in our hearts. We stand out.
سورة ص ٧٦
قَالَ أَنَا۠ خَيۡرٞ مِّنۡهُ خَلَقۡتَنِي مِن نَّارٖ وَخَلَقۡتَهُۥ مِن طِينٖ
Surah Saad 38:76
(Iblis) said: “I am better than he: thou createdst me from fire, and him thou createdst from clay.”
In short – assuming something might make us feel stronger. But we may lack a big piece of information in doing so, and that, ya abdallah, ya amatullah… can be harmful.
سورة النَّحل ١٢٦
وَلَئِن صَبَرۡتُمۡ لَهُوَ خَيۡرٞ لِّلصَّٰبِرِينَ
Surah An-Nahl 16:126
But if ye show patience, that is indeed the best (course) for those who are patient.
So, what kind of impact does generalization have on us and in what way does it affect people around us? That is what we will look at more closely in our next input, inshallah. Be sure not to miss that. I hope the input I shared now has been interesting and inspiring, and I would like to wish everyone the biggest comfort and safety. Indeed, a very beautiful day ahead, inshallah, and Jumma Mubarak from the heart.
The best of times to you all inshallah.
Peace, happiness, and stay faithful.
1
1
1
1
1