This world is a delusion of enjoyment
Do you believe in celebrating a country that committed a genocide in the past and is funding another one today?
My mom flinched when a drone flew over us to video tape the large gathering for Eid Al-Adha prayer a few weeks ago in Dearborn, and I jokingly called her dramatic. But then as we were standing still in prayer, the drone came back over us and its buzzing was loud in the silence of ruku’ and sujood. It was hard to ignore, and for a moment I disassociated from my prayer.
My mom was thinking of Gaza when she flinched. Even though she grew up in the West Bank under Israeli oppression and didn’t experience drones ringing over her head, she was immediately able to empathize with the fear and pain of the Palestinians in Gaza.
You hear the drone’s loud hum in the background of almost every video of a Palestinian vlogging a recipe or the recent airstrike, or other updates and pleas to those listening.
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Why I’m sharing this story is because it’s the Fourth of July, and Americans once again are lighting up the sky with fireworks to supposedly celebrate “independence.”
Every year, there are articles about how to ease your pets’ anxiety from fireworks and how this country’s veterans are dealing with PTSD from fireworks because of their time waging war against Iraq and Afghanistan; but rarely do I see any articles writing about the impact of fireworks for refugees who experienced wars overseas.
A quick Google Search of “fireworks refugees” and “fireworks immigrants” didn’t turn up any relevant results and “fireworks iraq” showed results for veterans from Iraq instead of any Iraqi refugees.
I do think as a country, we lack empathy and sometimes are actually disconnected from reality. For holidays like Independence Day and Thanksgiving, families choose to ignore the bloody history and the oppression the United States took part in, and fall into distracting ourselves with pretty lights in the sky and by indulging in all the foods.
There’s a constant battle that’s lost to our desires, where we choose to waste too much time in enjoyment and amusement.
In the Quran, we are told:
“Know that this worldly life is no more than play, amusement, luxury, mutual boasting, and competition in wealth and children…” (57:20)
In that same verse, Allah says, “…this world is no more than the delusion of enjoyment.”
And we know this, because let’s be for real. We aren’t deeply reflecting on things we take part in or consume. We’re constantly trying to be entertained all the time. Sitting down in silence without our phones or a screen is almost impossible for some.
There’s so much mindlessness and not enough moments where we’re mindful.
Most of us have been in tune with the destruction and oppression that’s been happening in Gaza, but some of that rage and frustration may have subsided as time passed. It’s normal, especially if we feel overwhelmed by the amount of suffering, but it’s so important to check ourselves.
This is not to say, we shouldn’t enjoy anything in life, or if people are suffering we need to also suffer. But I think it’s important to assess how much of our lives is us enjoying ourselves versus making any real change or difference in the lives of those around us and around the world.
To further read the tafseer of this ayah, check out Quran.com or pick up “The Iron Healing” by Shaykh Suleiman Hani to read an explanation on the entirety of Surat Al-Hadid. I highly recommend this book. I’m reading it right now and included some of my own reflections.
It’s important to stop blindly taking part in celebrations just because it’s seen as a “norm”, especially if it contradicts our values and morals.
It’s important to pause and think of others before we post or take part in every single pleasure, and to reflect on how we’ve given back and served others. To give, more than to take or spend on ourselves.
I posed this question in the subtitle of this newsletter: Do you believe in celebrating a country that committed a genocide in the past and is funding another one today?
If your answer is no, then celebrating today through fireworks or other holiday-specific traditions is out of the question. It would merely be a day off work spent in a way that doesn’t even imply you’re celebrating the United States.
Especially this year while we watch live videos of suffering in Gaza. But honestly, every year. How can we listen to or watch the fireworks without thinking of those who died from explosions falling down toward them instead of flying up to the sky?
How do we celebrate money being burned into the sky as this country spent billions sending bombs to burn Palestinians in their homes?
If all you can do on days like today is reflect and refuse to fall into the distraction and delusion of this world, then at least you tried to have some empathy.
“But I think it’s important to assess how much of our lives is us enjoying ourselves versus making any real change or difference in the lives of those around us and around the world.”
Yes yes yes, this is the reality check we need because the imbalance is insane