Machines to make us Smarter
Or to control our minds. For all the merits that this technology proposes, I can’t help but feel skeptical that this one has huge potential for abuse.
If you can insert a small robot in to someone’s mind and make them smarter, why not control them?
What about machines in warfare? Do you think robots with human level intelligence won’t be used in warfare?
What’s alarming is that Muslims aren’t even coming close to preparing themselves in any way to thwart their enemies when it comes to advances in technology. That we are dependent on our enemies for weapons is dismal enough. What’s more disconcerting is that we aren’t investing in any way to build intellectual capital. We’re simply satisfied with our children getting an education, finding a job, and working for someone else.
Having said this, I don’t really believe that any measure of technological advance will result in Muslims overtaking the western world. We need to maximize our strengths. Our biggest strength is our deen. Though Muslims are far from the ideal in this aspect as well, at least this has protected our societies from potential social collapse, which so deeply threatens the western world.
- Single parent families (if you can call them that)
- The spread of (open) homosexual relations
- An aging population (Because the current generation will have fewer children)
These are just some of things that threaten the ‘advanced’ world. All these technological advances can’t help them in saving their societies.
So think of a society that uses both, technology and spirituality together. That’s what Muslims did during the Abbassid caliphate. We were the best in technology at the time and we were a military power. Our collapse, which came many centuries later, came because we lagged technologically and spiritually.
So to summarize I’d say, technology without spirituality leads to perversion. Spirituality without technology leads to loss of authority and dominance. The nation that can master these two can master the world. The good part is, we’re the only one’s set up to do this. The bad part is, no Muslim nation wants to take the first step.
What do you think?
Assalamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah
bless you for your noble efforts.
I pray that you are in the best of health & imaan.
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May Allah
Wa’salam
[Reply]
MashaAllah .. you’re spot on on every single point.
I too get worried at the technological dependence: Muslims are taking and not understanding or innovating. I fear there will come a day when this will cost us very badly in this world.
And you’re absolutely right about the individuals within our community capable of creating this change simply moving to the West and occupying themselves with more personal goals.
May Allah
(SWT) give you, me, and the rest of the Ummah the taufeeq to understand His deen and to act in accordance with His will.
[Reply]
It really is sad. When you read our histories, we’ve always been at the forefront of technological advancements and learning. Islamic cities have been cosmopolitan centers in times past, Subhanallah, and look at us now. =(
But that chip is seriously scary. I don’t want anyone putting anything in my head- what’s already there is functioning just fine, alhamdulillah.
P.S. - Thanks about the blog layout thing, I was actually thinking of maybe changing it to something lighter. Hrm…
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