بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Table of contents:
1. Introduction
The time in our world is limited, and so should our priorities be.
As said by Hassan al-Basri:
O son of Adam, you are nothing but a number of days. Whenever a day passes, a part of you has gone.
Ibn al jawzi
Every day is passing with a part of our life. Do you think we have enough time to go after useless stuff? Obviously not. Then why do we go after it?
2. Pursuit of pleasures
This tendency of ours is deeply rooted to our pursuit of pleasures and fulfilling our desires. In this pursuit of desires, we don't rationally think what we need and what we don't. Our brain releases dopamine, (a neurotransmitter, when we acquire something. Its intensity depends upon several factors, one of which is passion to get it). This can create a cycle of seeking unnecessary things as the brain starts associating temporary pleasure with consumption or indulgence. The story just doesn't end here. This creates what's often called as
"Hedonic Treadmill", where satisfaction from achieving or acquiring something quickly fades. This may further lead to addiction, which needs to be overdosed after every indulgence, the result of which is: going to extreme just to get basic pleasure.
3. Lack of vision
A person who lacks a purpose will distract himself with pleasure.
Allah created the whole mankind and many more for the ultimate purpose of serving him in the most beautiful way. It's not limited to fasting or prayer.An individual who isn't mindful of Allah will never ponder on its existence and there will always be a void in the heart which he will fill with pleasure and desires temporarily just to numb the pain that purposelessness has brought.
Note: Don't confuse pleasure with joy, play, and fun. These things are necessary for normal cognitive functioning, but pleasures are just a toxic substance or practice that just gets us hooked to itself.
4. Mimetic desires
This concept has been majorly highlighted by Rene Girard in his book Deceit, Desire, and novel. If I summarize the whole stuff in a shallow way, they are basically desires that are not ours, but we get them by seeing others.
Example, you saw your neighbor bought a new car. Seeing that or hearing about the news, your heart will have a desire to buy a new car as well, even though you might not need one.
Keeping this in mind, analyze your environment and see how many people around you are just rushing after a materialistic desire and then analyze how many of such desires have been embodied into you.
Judge without emotion and see how surprising the result is.
5. Other harms
These pursuits not just waste our time but overloads our brain and body. Such pursuits lead to cognitive overload where our central nervous system gets burned out. This leads to the lack of mental clarity, low self-control, slow cognitive functions, and in some cases, major decision fatigue, which makes making even simple decisions a complex task.
Apart from that, looking again from an Islamic lens,
Narrated Abu Huraira
"From the excellence of a person, Islam is to leave that which does not concern him."
Sunan Tirmidhi ,2317 Grade:Hasan
the impact isn't limited to you but even to your professional and family life as well. They too will be affected by your vain pursuits, indirectly or indirectly.
6. Practical Takeaways
- Be clear with yourself, and that’s only possible when you make judgments without being overwhelmed by emotions. For this, the classic pen-and-paper method works best: write all your thoughts on paper, take a walk to calm yourself, and then reanalyze what you've written before making a final decision.
- Ask yourself: Do I really need this, or is it just a fleeting desire triggered by seeing others' possessions or status?
- Allow criticism—yes, allow it, at least in a limited way, from people who are knowledgeable about the subject. This will encourage you to rethink your decision and identify flaws for improvement.
- Also, avoid extravagant people, as their influence may lead you astray.
7. Conclusion
The pursuit of pleasures and distractions often pulls us away from our true purpose in life—serving Allah in the most meaningful and sincere way. By understanding the harm of vain pursuits, recognizing the dangers of mimetic desires, and striving for clarity of thought, we can regain control over our lives and align ourselves with the path of righteousness.
Islam emphasizes simplicity, self-awareness, and the importance of prioritizing what truly matters. As we implement practical steps like journaling, self-reflection, and seeking knowledge, we take tangible steps toward strengthening our connection with Allah and living a purposeful, fulfilling life.
اللهم مُصَرِّفَ الْقُلُوْبِ صَرِّفْ قُلُوْبَنَا عَلَى طَاعتِكَ
O Allah! Controller of the hearts, direct our hearts to Your obedience
Ameen.
Comment down any question or dought you have regarding islam and its doctrines. Future blogs will inshallah include the solution to them ☺️
Fiqh & hadith related doughts will be explained by ulema of the specific fields inshallah
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