A massive part of our lives is built on Expectations. Just as we expect certain things from our families, society, and government, we also hold expectations of God. A social or spiritual bond is only formed when we need someone.
A massive part of our lives is built on Expectations. Just as we expect certain things from our families, society, and government, we also hold expectations of God. A social or spiritual bond is only formed when we need someone.
One question has always been central to human existence: “Why does humanity need religion, and what do we expect from it?” This is not just a standard religious question; it is a deep social and philosophical puzzle that has been debated for centuries. Let’s dive into this profound academic review to understand the complex relationship between mankind and faith.
A massive part of our lives is built on Expectations. Just as we expect certain things from our families, society, and government, we also hold expectations of God. A social or spiritual bond is only formed when we need someone.
However, there is a very fine line to understand here. Human needs fall into two categories:
True Needs: The essential requirements for human survival and spiritual growth.
False (Fabricated) Needs: Unnecessary desires that are never truly satisfied, eventually pushing a person into a dark pit of frustration and despair.
The most fundamental difference between Western Philosophy and Islamic Wisdom (Hikmat) lies in their Worldview.
(Elementor Tip: You can copy this table directly into your editor)
| Aspect | Western Materialist Thought (Philosophy) | Islamic Theological Thought (Wisdom) |
| Foundation | Starts with matter (Arche) and ends with technology (Techne). | Understands the universe through Divine “Signs” (Ayat) rather than just matter. |
| Core Question | “What is this thing?” and “How does it work?” | “Who is the Creator?” and “Whose sign is this?” |
| Human Identity | Ignores the “Unseen”; views humans simply as a collection of Genes and DNA. | Believes in the Unseen; sees both the universe and humans as signs of God. |
A fascinating and thought-provoking point is how the exchange of expectations between humans and God is documented in two primary sources:
📖 Mafatih al-Jinan (Book of Prayers): This is the document that records what humans expect from God (what we ask for).
📖 The Holy Quran: This is the document that clearly states what God expects from humans (how we should behave).
A Point of Wisdom: To live a balanced life, a person must write down their expectations and evaluate them against their divine worldview. Are these expectations spiritually pure, or are they polluted by materialism?
There is a principle in political psychology: when the gap between the public’s “expectations” and the ground “reality” becomes too wide, it causes an “Explosion of Expectations,” which results in a revolution.
History shows that Prophets were sent precisely when the people’s expectations for justice and fairness were being crushed. However, as time passes, if the religious class itself falls into corruption or the pursuit of power, every era eventually requires a new reformer or an “Internal Revolution” (a spiritual awakening of the self).
Modern humans often become frustrated with religion because they start viewing it as an obstacle to their material progress and comfort.
(Elementor Tip: Use a Tabs Widget here for the following two points)
[Tab 1] The Slogan of Liberalism: The ultimate goal of liberalism is purely material “Welfare” and worldly comfort.
[Tab 2] The Perspective of Religion: Religion teaches that this world is a place of “Trial.” The Quran explicitly states that believers will be tested with fear, hunger, and loss of wealth and lives. Therefore, if someone expects that simply entering a religion will magically solve all their worldly and financial problems, they are holding an entirely unrealistic expectation.
Human expectations of religion can only be accurate and realistic if we correct our “Worldview.”
If our intellectual foundation is built on materialism, we will eventually get disappointed and seek refuge in vague concepts like “Karma” or “universal energies” instead of God. But if we truly believe in the “Unseen,” the absolute center of all our expectations will be God alone, the true Provider and Guide.
In today’s world, the greatest responsibility of scholars and intellectuals is to clarify the true capacity of religion in society, so that human expectations can be molded according to intellect, logic, and divine wisdom.
