Page 16 - The Debased Culture of Superficiality

14 THE DEBASED CULTURE OF SUPERFICIALITY

of those who are unaware of this purpose and choose to live
a shallow, superficial life:
Did you suppose that We created you for amusement
and that you would not return to Us? (Surat al-
Muminun: 115)
During their time of testing in this world, humans are
responsible for seeking Allah’s favor in everything they
think and do, acting according to their conscience, leading a
good moral life and doing good deeds. In spite of this evi-
dent truth, as we said earlier, many live without regard for
the purpose of creation and establish other superficial goals
for themselves. Though these goals differ in every culture
and segment of society, none of them in fact is directed pure-
ly toward serving Allah and winning His favor.
They want to graduate from good schools, attend the uni-
versity of their choice, have good marriages with beautiful
healthy children, endow their children with a good future,
rise to high positions in their career, make good invest-
ments, buy a comfortable house, a late-model car and a sum-
mer home, have fashionable clothes for themselves and their
children, and travel.
Most superficial people live for these goals only. But
none of them is the purpose for which humans find them-
selves in this world. And these worldly things should not be
made into goals or ideals; each one is merely a means to an
end. Clearly, a person is in this world not to graduate from
a good school or to rise in his or her career. Of course, these
things are all blessings from Allah and there is no harm in
enjoying them. But in the pursuit of these temporary goals,