Page 26 - The Debased Culture of Superficiality

24 THE DEBASED CULTURE OF SUPERFICIALITY

ciality makes most people imagine individuals who cannot
speak compellingly, with weak personalities, insincere
smiles and awkward behavior. However, superficiality has
a far wider range. It is not only crude and insincere, but basi-
cally a moral aberration that arises when a person does not
appreciate the power of Allah as he should. Therefore, any-
one with such a character needs not behave in such an
absurdly exaggerated manner.
The fear of losing the esteem of others, preferring to gain
their affection rather than the pleasure, love, and assistance
of Allah leads an individual to act superficially. Besides,
when confronted by certain things that happen to him, this
individual becomes panic-stricken. He complains, becomes
angry, and reacts superficially because he is unmindful that
these events are under Allah’s control. These are all indica-
tions of superficiality.
But some people, unaware of this, think that superficiali-
ty has nothing to do with them and see themselves removed
from such danger. It may lead them into error that they are
careful to practice certain rules of etiquette. However, a per-
son who acts politely in certain situations may actually be
living superficiality, because superficiality is not limited to
behavioral aberrations.
For example, one who attaches too much importance to
decorum politeness may believe that certain events happen
by chance, the others he is dealing with are separate and
independent of Allah (surely Allah is beyond that) and act
according to their own wills. He may never act without first
considering what others may think—a way of thinking that