جلسات #مع_نفسي 20 ... المخلوقية ... الحاجات ... الإلحاد والإيمان ... قبول الضعف

Dr Abdul Rahman: Hello. The Host: Hello Doctor. Dr Abdul Rahman: I believe we covered everything

related to “Iqra’” (Read) and placed it aside Not to forget, but to use it as the

foundation for everything to come. The Host: During our discussion about existentialism,

I was not expecting it to open- Dr Abdul Rahman: To open all these doors! The Host: Yes, so I am honestly waiting

to see what doors creationism will open. Dr Abdul Rahman: Like you said,

Existentialism opened up topics like awareness, inputs, (Read), thought, reason, necessity,

and having Thought - Feeling - Behaviour in harmony. Creationism is a story on it’s own,

and I think it’s what people care about the most; to learn “How to understand myself?”

“What should I learn about the Self? Which will take us to the definition of creationism A question frequently asked: “Doctor, what is new? I already know I was created!”

I would say, “If only you knew!” They reply, “What do you mean?

Do you mean that I’m unaware of that?” I reply, “There is a difference between knowing it

as a term that’s meaningless to you, and to mean it when you say ‘I am a creation’”,

What is the difference? Remember when I said that existentialism opens doors to several topics? Creationism raises the question: I must first admit I am what?

A creation and I have a Creator! Meaning I am not a creator and am not a god!

Meaning that I must accept my weaknesses. The aspect of accepting weakness is a story on its own,

I believe we need to dedicate a separate session for it. But first, the aspect of creationism

means that I’m needy, poor, weak, and imperfect. Which will introduce us to a long discussion about “Psychological Needs” The Host: What are the psychological needs? Dr Abdul Rahman: Have you heard of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs? The Host: No. Dr Abdul Rahman: Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs. Those that study psychology, or interested in psychology

know this theory. A popular theory proposed by a

Jewish American psychologist “Abraham Maslow”, which portrays your fundamental needs at the bottom of the pyramid

such as eating, drinking and breathing, followed by your safety needs,

a little higher Family relationships, intimacy, marriage, etc.,

A little higher and you have your esteem needs, all the way until you achieve self-actualisation:

The greatest purpose. The theory is largely acceptable with some criticism But when we define the Self as body and soul,

we said a benefit to this distinction is to understand each components’ obligations

and responsibilities; Based on the fact that I am a creation,

I’m, automatically, imperfect, which means I am lacking, and what would someone that’s lacking want?

To be complete! So he is in need. Therefore the word “need” suggests he has needs. What does the body need? What are the physical desires?! The Host: Food. Dr Abdul Rahman: Let’s start at the very basics,

Air, food, defecation, The Host: Alright. Dr Abdul Rahman: Safety, shelter and warmth, that’s it. We could add intercourse, because they consider intercourse a need,

meaning that intercourse is a physical need. People reach to a point where intercourse is a physical need,

and I am not talking about emotions I am not talking about someone that wants to love and be loved, No! No!

Which is why intercourse is positioned at the base of the pyramid. It’s mentioned in Islamic History as well:

“A person approached a sheikh, complaining about his high libido”

High libido that’s the high sex drive. Alright, if you noticed I deliberately asked what

are the physical needs, in order to realise that they are simple needs. We are fixating about those needs and elevated our expectations to a degree that

we ignored the needs of the soul! What are the needs of the soul?

The feeling of safety and what leads to it. Remember when we mentioned that the unknown creates fear?

That means I need knowledge! So a need for the soul is knowledge, another need is freedom, A person yearns for freedom, therefore he needs

knowledge and freedom. He needs to be praised and complimented. The Host: Is this a good thing? Dr Abdul Rahman: These are the soul’s needs! Note that when we talk about physical or spiritual needs

religion intercedes to discipline them. “Doctor, didn’t you say

that food is a physical need?” Yes, “then I can eat extravagantly”. No!

You have to discipline this desire! "Doctor didn't you say that selfishness and

self-actualization are spiritual needs?!” Yes it’s a spiritual need, however religion tells you

to discipline pride, arrogance, vanity, etc. This takes us to an important need of the soul,

which is the need for companionship. This would spinoff into the concept of (Me and The Other).

The soul needs to socialise with others that’s why the human is called (إنسان) “Insan”,

from the root “Anas” (to have company) If this need isn't disciplined,

we will be enslaved to each other. Basically, any need that isn't disciplined

will simply lead to my demise. The Host: This means that a person needs to control their compassion. Dr Abdul Rahman: We will talk about this during “Me and The Other”. Alright, after this we come to another important need

which is the need to worship The Host: Need to worship? Dr Abdul Rahman: Need to worship. The Host: You mean the need to have a deity. Dr Abdul Rahman: Yes, the need to worship a higher being. This is where the root word “a’laha” (deify)

and “Allah” comes from. There is a beautiful detail here. What’s the origin of the Arabic word a’laha (deify)?

The Arabs have a saying: “a’laha al faseel” = “The calf cried”. The baby camel, when separated from his mother,

makes a sound for her, they call this “a’lah This is where the verb (تأله) “Ta’aluah” also comes,

“I call for Allah, I miss Him.” I long for Him [Allah]. Exactly, so these are spiritual needs. We have physical needs, and spiritual needs,

because we are creatures. Did our Lord create us with all these needs without

giving us what fulfils it? Absolutely not. With every need that exists, there’s something to fulfil it.

Food, air, and most physical needs are fulfilled. Unfortunately, tyrannical economic systems

have increased the price of basic physical needs to keep people occupied to a degree that ensuring a roof over your family

would cost hundred of thousands, while Haram is widespread, however to strive

for a halal income has become something hardly attainable! Which is another issue I don’t want to get into! You have physical needs and spiritual needs, is it clear? The Host: Alright. Dr Abdul Rahman: We talked about how the soul is more important than the body,

so we need to take the need of knowledge more seriously. That’s why we are not surprised to learn that some scholars

would have small bites to get by for a whole day. Why? It’s enough for the body,

yet his spiritual needs are more important! You hear about the detainees in the occupation’s prisons [Israel]

going on a hunger strike- their spiritual need is more important. They won’t eat.

That’s a physical need! The spiritual need is far more important:

Freedom, principals… During Ramadan! For instance, during Ramadan,

we abstain from eating, why? To free yourself from being a slave to food and your body,

though we compensate for it in Iftar The Host: During Iftar! Dr Abdul Rahman: From the time of Iftar until Fajr. Generally speaking, we have physical needs and spiritual needs,

this will lead us to an important concept: How are these needs related to psychological well-being?

-It seems you have a question. The Host: I wanted to ask about this,

when I find out that I’m weak, Dr Abdul Rahman: Created, weak, needy, yes. The Host: Yes, a weak and needy creature- won’t this make me feel

insecure and unsuccessful? Dr Abdul Rahman: Weak and unsuccessful? Nice. Let's take a step back. Once more, you unintentionally reminded me to

criticise the field of Personal Development & Coaching "You are great”, “ I trust myself” “I can do this” No dear, accept your weakness, the fact that

you’re a weak creature, and that you are no god, because if you apply this concept properly:

which is knowing that you are a weak human striving for perfection however you may not attain it! You may reach

a near perfect state in some aspects, and in other aspects you accept your weakness

and the inability to reach the absolute perfection that you want. Now, will knowing I am weak impact me negatively?

No! Some of our youth turn to atheism

because they want to be Allah’s enemy, they simply say: "Why did Allah not take my consent before creating me?” What? When will he take your consent? "I don’t know, I don’t know”,

they put themselves in a dilemma. What? He creates me to take my consent to

create me again? But he already created you for the first time!

What if when he created you for the first time you say: "Why didn't you take my consent to create me to take my consent!”

It’s an endless loop. There’s a big problem where some people refuse

to submit themselves to the concept of being Allah’s creation, They keep asking, “Why is this and that Haram?” All you have to do is submit, to survive! In the end, if you don’t, the need for worship will cause you

to submit to other things When we were little we used to sing:

“Those who deviate from the way of the Lord will always be in complete darkness

seeking safety in a broken road the further they tread,

they get enchanted with another master” Some boy travels to America and comes back

an atheist. If you ask him: “Did you free yourself?”

He’d say: “Yes! What has he become now?

He’s become a slave of America now. He won’t even get out of this fact,

he will always be a slave to something He is a slave to likes, subscribers, shares,

posts, academic diploma, fame. TV, views, etc.

In the end, he is enslaved! If you are always enslaved, one way or another,,

why not be a slave to The One who derseves your servitude? No matter how much you elevate in rank,

there will always be someone higher than you, who is Allah (SWT). Therefore, when we’re asked to define “Freedom”.

I tell them freedom is to worship Allah How?

Because if you are a servant to anything else, you’ll be down Whereas when you are a servant to Allah-

I define it as such: Freedom is to worship Allah over everything else,

and I emphasise “over everything else” because when you worship Allah,

you are over your desires and temptations, over your wife and kids,

over your parents, over fame and pleasing others,

you are only a slave to Allah! This is true freedom. So to those who claim

this is a sign of weakness, Yes, you are weak. Accept your weakness.

Your imperfections make you perfect. The Host: Can we say.. Dr Abdul Rahman: No, No, let me pause here, Your imperfections make you perfect The Host: How? Dr Abdul Rahman: When you have imperfections and

strive to fix them That's the peak of being a human!

Otherwise, if you were an angel, what’s new? {Never disobey whatever Allah orders—

always doing as commanded} (66:6) Your imperfections make you perfect,

Is it because you are imperfect? No, because you strive to

fix your imperfections. This way, you are a human being that is capable to reach a rank

- according to some scholars - that’s even higher than angels,

because you were striving. Therefore you can’t view yourself as

a failure because you’re needy, It’s like saying:

"Doctor, I don’t like this couch” Why?

“It sinks when I sit on it” Alright, it’s part of its comfiness to sink in,

so it can hold you, imagine if it was hard! “I like the couch to be hard”

Alright then sit on a hard one, you will be uncomfortable.

Its perfection lies in this imperfection. For instance, part of a women’s perfection is her weakness,

I hope she accepts this weakness! She does not like this weakness

"I want to be a Superwoman” “I want to compete with men in everything”

until she is not even a male or a female, and accepts neither! The Host: Doctor, how is creationism related to

expectations and possibilities? Dr Abdul Rahman: Nice, this will take me to a concept

that honestly needs a separate session: When we are needy, how can this lead me

to either psychological well-being or distress? Like I said this is a big topic

So we need to talk about it tomorrow in sha Allah We will talk about pleasure and pain,

needs, hardships, distress, calmness, happiness, and satisfaction, etc. The Host: A huge topic. Dr Abdul Rahman: Tomorrow in sha Allah. The Host: In sha Allah. Dr Abdul Rahman: I hope you allow me to cover it. The Host: Of course. Dr Abdul Rahman: We will see you tomorrow in sha Allah, welcome.