7. The World of Lasting Pleasure and Joy
From the Book: Characteristics of Sustainable Civilization
We must reconsider many of the criteria used to evaluate today’s human civilization. Look at the military and armament budgets around the world—budgets that turn the Earth into a massive barrel of gunpowder. Look at the suicide and addiction statistics in the West; figures that render our slogans about individual freedom rather meaningless when compared to the concept of “human centrality” or “humankind as God’s vicegerent.” Consider the contradictions of the so-called modern world: in times of crisis, all proclaimed values of civilization are exposed to immediate collapse.
Observe the volatility of human emotions today—people often change their moods every day, even every hour. Matters have spun out of control; humans no longer govern their greed, impulses, or desires. They exploit every available technology to mitigate the negative consequences of these shifting inclinations, yet they remain dissatisfied with what they have, ungrateful for what they own, and insatiable in their consumption.
It is misguided to assume that past civilizations lacked high levels of justice, meaningful personal freedom, scientific progress, or systems that secured well-being, health, and security. Happiness and contentment were not necessarily less than what we experience today. What distinguishes our age is the technology that provides comfort and luxury for some, as well as various forms of pleasure, indulgence, and entertainment at unprecedented levels.
There is a clear distinction between ambition and greed, between luxury and true happiness, and between order and justice. We cannot claim to be happier or more fulfilled than some previous civilizations merely because of material advancements.
To establish fair standards for evaluating civilizations—past and future—we must recognize several principles. One of these is that we cannot abandon reason and rationality in evaluating any civilization. Modern civilizations that are built upon the theory of “infinite individual pleasure” cannot be considered advanced if their notion of pleasure is rooted in the destruction of reason. Anything that disables or bypasses reason cannot be considered a true form of pleasure or joy; it is illusion and fantasy. Human civilizations are never built on illusions.
Similarly, individual freedoms—which are universally valued—must never conflict with a person’s own well-being or benefit, even if such freedoms arise from personal ideologies.
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The Role of Reason in Building Civilization
Another principle based on rationality is this: when assessing what serves human interests, we cannot abandon thought under the pretense of simplifying complex ideas. Oversimplification is simply another form of abandoning rationality. Concepts such as true freedom, real justice, beneficial knowledge, and authentic happiness may be simple for those who think, but for those who neglect thinking, they appear overly complex and confusing. The greatest danger lies in allowing these values to be misunderstood and thus transformed into their opposites.
Human reason is under threat today due to its underuse. The mind is not merely a calculator for mathematical operations, nor is it a static archive for storing information, nor simply a tool for weighing profit against loss—animals are capable of such instinctive calculations. Biologists tell us that any sense or organ that is neglected in a living creature diminishes and eventually disappears (like the wings of an ostrich), while any ability that is consistently used grows and develops (like the mole’s acute sense of smell).
Thus, the neglect of reason today threatens its very existence. Reason is neither a mere calculator that can be replaced by a machine, nor a memory card (USB) that stores information, nor a tool for achieving material profit alone. Even animals pursue their desires endlessly. The human mind is far more important, sacred, and worthy of reverence.
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How Human Reason Differs from Animal Intelligence
The true value of human reason begins where animal intelligence ends.
In Kitab al-Hayawan (The Book of Animals) by Al-Jahiz, the extraordinary behaviors of animals are described—such as their cleverness in finding hidden food, their strong memory for paths and locations, and their ability to solve practical problems. Yet none of this represents the kind of reasoning upon which advanced civilizations are built.
The human mind is unique in its ability to transition from tangible concepts to abstract and intangible ones. When a person sees one tree, two trees, or three trees, they can develop a universal concept of “tree-ness,” distinguishing it from other entities. More importantly, the human mind moves from visible, immediate realities—such as food, mates, or fire—to higher concepts like collective benefit over individual gain, the value of order, the nobility of ethics, and the importance of the common good.
It is the human intellect that enables us to rise above mere instincts to achieve rationality, above desires to reach awareness, and above animality to attain humanity.
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Civilization and Rationality
A future civilization cannot be in conflict with the human mind. It must be founded on rationality, and anything that obstructs reason stands opposed to these values.
I once told a friend about a morning ritual practiced by some cultures: families, young and old, gather for a simple, wholesome breakfast with a cup of tea before children head to school and adults go to work. By contrast, we often stay up late, wake up late, and grab a quick pastry from the street—of unknown origin—along with a cup of instant coffee, rushing to work while neglecting family bonds. He replied, “Indeed, they hold on to a deep, ancient cultural tradition.” These simple customs carry profound meaning.
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The Importance of Reflection
The civilization of the future must be built upon thought and contemplation. We cannot imagine a true civilization in the third millennium without a “daily hour of reflection” for everyone—young and old alike—an hour during which a person steps outside the confines of their daily life to ponder abstract ideas, their own interests, and the deeper truths of existence.
Every human being, regardless of religion, sect, ideology, or political affiliation, should take time to contemplate the universe: the movement of planets and stars, the secrets of nature, the changing seasons, the cycle of life from birth to death, and the mysteries of what lies beyond death or before birth. Should we not wonder whether there are beings more intelligent than us, just as we dominate animals? Such reflections open the door to optimism, enlightenment, and an understanding of humanity’s place in the cosmos.
A civilization based on reason cannot ignore reflection on the afterlife or ultimate meaning. Here lies the spiritual joy found in deep contemplation of creation and the universe, as expressed by the wise:
“If the kings and the sons of kings knew the delight we are in, they would fight us for it with their swords.”
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Types of Pleasure
Pleasure can be divided into three types:
1. Physical Pleasure – always accompanied by bodily pain, such as the pleasure of eating and drinking, which often leads to illness when indulged excessively.
2. Imaginary Pleasure – always accompanied by distress, such as the love of fame or power, along with their inevitable burdens.
3. Intellectual Pleasure – an unending joy that continues indefinitely, found in knowledge, virtue, beauty, and ethics.
Shallow pleasures—where instinct and desire are prioritized over reason and long-term benefit—lead only to endless worry, frustration, and spiritual poverty. They are tied to fleeting and perishable things, leaving their seekers in regret and suffering.
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True and Lasting Joy
It is said that the great scholar Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (may Allah have mercy on him) was deeply devoted to knowledge and the pursuit of profound truths. He would surround himself with books, studying through the night at the expense of sleep. When he grew tired of one book, he would pick up another, and he kept a bowl of water nearby to sprinkle on his face to stay awake. When he discovered a particularly subtle insight, he would rise with joy, exclaiming:
“Where are the kings and the sons of kings compared to this joy?!”
Yes—this is the lasting joy, the kind of profound and sustainable delight upon which advanced civilizations are built.
