It is necessary to clarify how to obtain accurate information.

Experience has shown humanity that there are only two ways in which information can be accurate. Humans arrive at accurate information either through their senses or through the degree of consensus[18].

The first is the method of accurate information accepted with the approval of the senses, such as the example of the pen appearing black, the sound being heard, or the temperature being understood by touch.

The second is information that we cannot reach with our senses, but which reaches us through words or actions, multiplied and transmitted through a community that is incapable of lying.

Let us give an example to explain the second method of obtaining true information. If a person asks, “Did people like Pharaoh and Moses (peace be upon them) really exist?”, since they cannot clarify the answer with their senses, they will only reach the truth through news spread by a community that has no possibility of lying.

The information he will accept as correct in his research will be the information agreed upon by a large enough group of people that there is no possibility of falsehood. This is the second method of reaching correct information. Pharaoh and Moses (peace be upon him) did exist.

Humans can reach the truth in two ways, and while this access can occur in every person, I think we need to examine why some truths are not upheld. Because knowing these reasons will shed light on the purpose. Otherwise, if we accept that the truth is not upheld but do not investigate the reasons for this, how can we chart a correct path for ourselves?

As mentioned in the introduction, this is one of those situations where you need to question yourself.

Can we really stand behind what we know?

Can we live by what we claim to stand behind, say “this is my truth,” and continue our lives having internalized our truths?

Everyone should take their share from this situation and, God willing, strive to stand behind what they believe in with the aim of reaching the absolute truth. Once we clarify these issues, it will be very easy for us to understand why we came, what we serve, and where we are going.

It’s actually very strange, isn’t it?

You know and accept it as correct information, but you don’t act on that information. Not only that, but you can even criticize those who don’t apply those truths to their lives. I know, but I don’t do it… It’s like a situation of “I am not myself.” It’s really astonishing!

Now that it has been legitimized, we are faced with a class of people who do not apply the benefits of what they know, even though they seek the right information based on behaviors that are no longer considered shameful.

For example, not obeying Allah’s commands but saying, “I believe in Allah (swt),” what kind of correct information is that? Oh Lord, I know you say “Pray,” but I don’t pray. I hope you forgive me…

There is another version. Some people, even if they intend to pray, may refrain from doing so for fear of being criticized by those around them, yet they do not hesitate to boast about drinking alcohol, committing adultery, or stealing. Now, which will we accept as true knowledge: that they believe but abandon it, or that they boast about their actions?

Examples in this sense can be multiplied to such an extent that not just this book, but a library full of books could be filled. For example, one of the situations that is not supported is the concept of motherhood^[19], where a lifetime spent programmed to be protective of one’s child, when the slightest request is denied, results in a child who treats the branch of this tree of compassion that nurtured and raised them as if it never existed and breaks it.

Love is integrated with service to the beloved, with interest and attention, and is also proven by showing one’s existence to the other side. Now, how can we call this love for the mother in the child correct information…

I am left with very mixed feelings indeed. I wonder if you share my astonishment? It is as if there is another entity, invisible to the eye… When a person does not determine their own acceptance or rejection, another entity that can take control of them at will…^[20]

Unfortunately, humans are very ungrateful. It is often seen in many people who live their lives this way that they are not only ungrateful to their mothers. Even for very minor mistakes made against them, they can discard the people they call their “friend,” “buddy,” “spouse,” or “neighbor,” with whom they shared their secrets, for their immediate interests…

First of all, people who live their lives this way are already ungrateful to their Creator. And when you think about it sincerely, these are not insignificant numbers. On the contrary, they constitute the vast majority of society.

I hope you are not looking at what has been said with an “except me” mentality… Ask yourselves, “Am I like this?” and hopefully, the answer will be “no, I’m not.” Indeed, this book was written not to provide information focused on criticizing others but to organize and measure our lives with a critical approach towards ourselves.

What should be said about someone who, while failing to do what needs to be done, still defends what should be done (correct information), knows and states what is best, and then criticizes those who do not comply, using examples to make themselves look good?

There is a saying, tragicomic^[21], which perfectly describes our situation.

I don’t think we would be wrong in describing humanity as “a group of creatures who, even though they don’t do something themselves, criticize others when they see or hear that they haven’t done it.”

Why am I telling you this…

When you think about it, this situation is one of the fundamental factors in the collapse of societies. Because when everyone starts to be like this, no one trusts anyone anymore. In a life built on individualism, immorality comes to the fore with enslavement to the ego. What remains is a sick, insecure, aimless life. ^[22] In fact, there is an accepted purpose, but this purpose is a means to an end. When the means to an end is seen as the end itself, this misplaced behavior in the realm of life increases immorality at full speed. Of course, sensible people call this “immorality.” Otherwise, throughout human history, the vast majority have called immorality “freedom.”

That is why Islam, after accepting knowledge as correct, requires the individual to act upon that knowledge. No ideology offers a social solution in this way, a situation that regulates and resolves human rights and purpose in this manner.

No form of government bases itself on the condition that individuals act upon what they accept as correct knowledge in their faith. In other words, the obligation to be accountable^[23] for what they know to be true does not exist anywhere except in Islam; such a condition is not sought elsewhere. Those who hypocritically use the slogan “Peace is in Islam” are no different from these ignorant people.

A Muslim lives in two worlds…

For Muslims, saying “I believe in Allah” is a beginning, and they must consider their responsibility to give account in the hereafter in every action they take in life and act accordingly. The rope of Allah, to which we must cling tightly, is unparalleled in its capacity to regulate both individuals and society.

What do you think would happen if, after accepting Islam, one lived like followers of other ideologies?

In the century we live in, observing the way of life of the vast majority of people and how dire the consequences are should suffice as an answer to this question.

Our homes have grown much larger, but our understanding of family has shrunk to the size of a handful. Jealousy, envy, and backbiting within the family have become our norm. We have a lot of money, but we don’t have a solid family foundation. As a result of living for this world alone, where material possessions are the basis, we have come to dislike everyone. Brothers dislike brothers, relatives dislike relatives, and they dig each other’s graves. We don’t want our relatives to die, but we certainly don’t want them to earn more than us. Medicines, diagnoses, and technological treatments have increased, but our illnesses have increased even more. Lies have increased as if they were not forbidden, but liars who hate lies have increased even more. We know a lot about the internet, but we know nothing about what many of our neighbors or relatives are going through. Visiting the sick has become a chore, and attending funerals has become an obligation. There are hardly any of us who are patient and free of prejudice.

We have become people who experience communication problems at the highest level. There are millions of people who cannot even understand what is being said within their own families. Our biggest problem has been our own children. Far from being able to influence them or pass on our experiences, we have become people who maintain their relationships only by phone or by asking how they are doing. Following the association of Jews with (commercial) honesty and Christians with tolerance, those who say “I am a Muslim” have come to be associated with immorality. Yes, these are painful but true. These are the worldly consequences of living like members of other ideologies after accepting Islam. And there are many more like these.

There are millions of Muslims who behave as if everything is permissible^[24] after accepting Islam. There are even such interesting groups among them that they do not abandon either Islam or what Islam strictly forbids. All crimes, such as rape, violence, theft, fraud, blood feuds, murder, and lying, are committed by people who claim to be followers of Islam. When this is the case, the situation we find ourselves in instills love for the infidel in ignorant people. They say “May Allah be pleased” for the goods produced by the infidel, but they do not say “Would Allah be pleased with the infidel?” Have you ever thought about where the fundamental problem lies, what is the underlying deficiency in all these and similar events?

Nothing gets done by criticizing and hurting people. Problems are not solved. We need to turn to ourselves as soon as possible and start acting on what we know. Otherwise, it is clear what kind of life a society formed by people who do not stand behind what they believe to be right will lead…

This issue is rapidly progressing beyond being merely social; it is becoming global. Almost everywhere, the lives of a large portion of the world’s population have become tainted with immorality under the name of freedom, and this has led to an increase in insecure environments and social crises. First, Muslims need to learn and live the religion they believe in. A small community formed in a livable area will bring together societies in great turmoil. On the other hand, unfortunately, some conscious Muslims see the poor state of society and become hopeless. It is not fitting for a believer to be hopeless. A believer lives between fear and hope. We do not belong to this world. First, we must know this. We will act upon what we know, and then aim to transfer our actions to the livable area in the name of sociality. Not only do people who do not act upon what they know have no right to criticize individuals or societies, but these people who do not act upon what they know are also people who support the society they criticize with their inaction. A prejudiced life is similar to the situation of a prisoner who is punished without even feeling the need to be judged. This is self-sufficiency. It is a lack of awareness of neediness and the belief that “I know.” All of these are sufficient reasons for a person to condemn themselves to their ego without questioning. In order to build a beautiful society and become conscious individuals, without wasting time on information that will be of no use to us in this world or the hereafter, there is a formula given to us by the Qur’an. This is to continue to do righteous deeds with what we know, expecting the reward for our actions only from Allah, and while doing righteous deeds, not to stop advising truth and patience. This formula is the content of Surah Asr. The Companions would not part from one another without reciting this surah. Because advising the truth means advising goodness, righteousness, monotheism, happiness, and peace; advising patience means perseverance in worship, not succumbing to the whims of the self, and enduring misfortunes. Imam Shafi’i said about this surah: “If there were no other surah in the Qur’an, this short surah alone would be sufficient to ensure the happiness of people in this world and the hereafter.”

[18] The spreading of a statement that cannot possibly be false by trustworthy people who are in agreement.

[19] A phenomenon, the repetition of an event in a different form and its becoming established in social life.

[20] In Islam, this entity is referred to as iblis-shaytan-taghut.

[21] Something so funny it makes you sad

[22] See, the world in the 21st century

[23] The person who is responsible, the person who is held accountable

[24] Things that one is free to do or not to do