Page 126 - The Debased Culture of Superficiality

124 THE DEBASED CULTURE OF SUPERFICIALITY

world in the opposite way; they are industrious and have not
lost their eagerness and excitement. By comparison, they are
stronger, more joyful and energetic. In the Qur’an there are
verses that point out the benefit of being industrious and not
wasting time doing nothing. For example:
So when you have finished, work on, and make your
Lord your goal! (Surat al-Inshirah: 7-8)
That some people in superficial culture expect just to live
can be seen not only among the aged and retired, but also in
every segment and age group. This point of view is found
partly among those who have married and had children,
made a career for themselves but have no further hope of
advancement. Some people go to work in the morning, come
back at night, watch television and eat dinner, with nothing
to achieve before they go to bed. Like some elderly people,
they only want to get through that day.
It’s not easy for such people to have a change or some-
thing new in their lives. They have no noble thoughts about
developing themselves or benefiting their community. Such
thoughts and behavior would bring change and upset the
order of their lives, which is not in their best interests. They
do not want anyone to interfere with the shallow, monoto-
nous little worlds they have established for themselves.
Some who choose to live in a superficial culture rather
than practice religious morality pass their days without set-
ting themselves any goal; they are actually waiting for
death. Some of them can sit in their pajamas all day before a
window with the curtains wide open. Such superficial peo-
ple have no goals left in their lives; their aim is just to live.