The White Lotus and the Aesthetic State of Moral Decay: Where is Western Civilization Heading?

 Introduction: The Emptiness Behind Luxury

     HBO’s much-discussed series, The White Lotus, might initially seem like a production that blends humor and drama, focusing on the holidays of the wealthy. Each season of this show, set in a tropical hotel, offers a window into the inner world of Western elites vacationing in different geographical locations. However, this window points not only to individual tragedies but also to the wholesale moral decay of a civilization.

Mike White

     The series exposes the current state of the West through themes such as infidelity, manipulation of gender roles, the disintegration of family structure, homosexuality, and consumer culture. In this article, we will center on The White Lotus to argue that the West's so-called "civilizing" process actually corrupts individuals and alienates them from their innate nature. From our perspective, we will trace the path of this decline.

1. Did You Say Marriage and Family?

     Perhaps the most striking aspect of the series is how the infidelity of married characters is portrayed as almost commonplace. In every season, secret affairs, fleeting desires, and betrayals among married characters become one of the fundamental dynamics of the show. Modern Western culture depicts a scenario where moral boundaries are increasingly blurred under the guise of "personal freedom," and sacred bonds like marriage are easily sacrificed for individual desires. So-called philosophical approaches and numerous other gilded arguments circulate among "highly educated" spouses, seeking to find an excuse for everything. In marriages where women pursue careers, men are utterly miserable! As for children, as they transition from "autonomy" to complete freedom, their purely material ties with their families, devoid of any spiritual connection, become increasingly evident. Children make no effort to obey their parents and, being deprived of maternal upbringing, they become "acclimated" to all the immoralities they will encounter in their future lives from a young age! The lack of warmth and intimacy between spouses is also clearly reflected in their relationships with their children.

     Therefore, the West's concept of "marriage" is entirely superficial, shallow, devoid of any depth, often based on self-interest, pragmatic, and a cold contract. It lacks the virtues and mission of protecting parties and new generations from evil and immorality or establishing a warm home!

2. The Normalization and Imposition of Homosexuality

     The second season of The White Lotus is particularly noteworthy for highlighting homosexual characters' relationships. This situation is not merely a matter of representation but a continuous message to the viewer that "this is also normal." These relationships are no longer just shown in series; they are also glorified and presented as deeper and more meaningful than heterosexual relationships. Indeed, some series and cinema viewing platforms have been intensely engaged in LGBT propaganda and agenda for several years now, constantly confronting us. Perverted characters, completely irrelevant and adding nothing to the main story, are forced upon the audience. The disgraceful cancel culture, which aims to tarnish anyone and any movement that doesn't conform to its views, spares no effort in fanning the flames!

3. The Devaluation of Masculinity and Femininity

     Male characters in the series are often in passive, weak, or guilty positions. Female characters, on the other hand, are either manipulative or figures who push the boundaries of being "strong." They may be at the peak of their academic careers or in enviable professional positions. The submissive husband, meanwhile, is either secretly cheating on his wife, tired of her nagging and scolding, or sits like a cat with its tail between its legs, hatching various schemes! In this regard, the series demonstrates how gender roles in the West have been overturned, and new models contrary to nature are being imposed.

4. Consumption, Hedonism, Nafs, Arrogance, and Emptiness

     Almost all characters in the series are financially wealthy and live in prosperity. However, this prosperity does not make them happy. Restlessness, loneliness, insecurity, endless doubts stemming from intellectual arrogance, and a sense of meaninglessness are common denominators for almost all characters. Money, all kinds of pleasure, travel, luxury consumption... nothing satisfies them. And it cannot satisfy them because fulfilling the body's desires does little for spiritual relief.

5. Monogamy and the Drama of the Man

     One of the things imposed by the secular West is monogamy, which has been rare in history. In this respect, the series is also a mirror of the man's broken-winged, helpless state. When this is added to the problems listed above, the man's situation truly becomes pitiable. Or rather, all these issues are interconnected and effectively melt away the man, who should be the pillar of the family, from his rightful position! For when the woman he happened to marry, and for whom he, so to speak, spent his "one shot," turns into a cold shadow who shows him little interest and pursues a career or work, there is only one thing left for the man to do: cheat. The man who seeks solace in the arms of low women increasingly distances himself from his family as his guilt intensifies, or he becomes a hypocrite skilled in lying.

Conclusion: Whither the West?

     The White Lotus is a form of civilization critique that exposes the current state of the modern West. However, this critique offers neither a solution nor a path to salvation to the viewer. This is because the West's value system is built on rotten foundations. This system, increasingly cornered by continuous waves of migration, is far from being a balm for individuals caught in the grip of hedonism and selfishness. One wonders how much longer this temporary wealth, established after days of exploiting untouched geographies, will continue to radiate false and artificial smiles?!

The Book That Changed the World: Endless Bliss

 

     The title might seem overly ambitious, but we're referring to the world of today. Naturally, when we say "the world," we're not talking about those who see it merely as a dwelling place and believe "there's nothing after death, whatever you do is in this world." Instead, for a portion of those who view the world as "a bridge to be crossed" and "the farm of the afterlife," this is literally a book that changes the world!

     Of course, the first thing to say is this: the Endless Bliss (Seadet-i Ebediyye in Turkish, published by Hakikat Bookstore) book is the most unique and distinctive book available on the market. Even those who are hostile to the work admit this, at least as much as those who champion it. Another point is that those who dabble in this book, even slightly, cannot remain indifferent to it. They either love it or hate it! Since those who hate it are the majority, its name is naturally never mentioned when Hanafi fiqh books are listed!

     So, what are the characteristics that differentiate this book, prepared according to the Hanafi Madhhab by Huseyin Hilmi Isik, from others, especially since it is compiled not from his own views and opinions, but entirely from information and narrations taken from authentic sources? Let's take a look:

     One of the first things to mention is that this book provides the essential information a Muslim needs to live in these difficult "End Days" (ahir zaman), directly and in order of importance, without beating around the bush or making empty talk. Unlike environments that pressure young people, who even struggle with performing their obligatory prayers, to perform supererogatory ones, it first encourages abstaining from forbidden acts and performing the obligatory ones. It states that the key to not being lost on the Day of Judgment lies in this point. In its current state, it is truly a treasure where "the end is placed at the beginning."

     In the Endless Bliss book, there is not a single blank page, let alone half or quarter blank pages where nothing is written (excluding the thick first and last pages used to bind the book, even their inner sides are full of writing).

     One of the distinguishing marks of the book, a point that should deeply affect anyone who reads it thoroughly and without prejudice, is the emphasis on the Hijri lunar calendar for writing dates, with the Gregorian calendar added in parentheses as a secondary reference. The message here is quite clear and appropriate: for a Muslim, the priority is the Hijri calendar (the incorrectness of the other is already proven with documents within its content). This subtlety is not found in any other Latin-script book on the market. Unlike all books that preemptively accept defeat, Hijri years and months always come first.

     It is impossible for a bookworm who examines the section on reference works used in the preparation of the book not to be amazed and astonished, because unlike books that are translated from three, five, or at most ten sources, the number of books cited in Endless Bliss is over a thousand (1000) (this number also includes books that are responded to). Sometimes, only a single sentence from a book is taken to convey a particular meaning. For those who know that such activities involve days of searching through libraries, the effort to extract just one sentence from a huge book, and especially to sift through thousands of books, gather the necessary information, and compile this immense knowledge into a work with such clear beginning, end, and content, is the result of superhuman effort.

     In this book, there is no avoidance of respectful phrases. On the contrary, they are insisted upon, and readers are encouraged not to avoid them. The ugliness of those who write pages praising themselves and their masters using abbreviations like S.W.T. and P.B.U.H. when writing the names of Allah and the Prophet Muhammad is particularly emphasized.

     Perhaps the most important feature of the Endless Bliss is its effort, from the very first line of its first page, to guide the reader in a specific direction. That direction is the essence of Islam known as "Ahl  al-Sunnah wal Jama'ah" (People of the Sunnah and the Community). In this vein, attempts at non-madhhabism and deviations from the four madhhabs in worship are condemned with endless citations from authentic sources.

     Surely the most striking of the most criticized parts of the Catechism is its exposure of figures praised with titles like "martyr," "great scholar," "mujtahid," "renewer of the century," such as Jamaluddin Afghani, Muhammad Abduh, Rashid Rida, Sayyid Qutb, Hasan al-Banna, Khomeini, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, Abul A'la Maududi, Muhammad Hamidullah, Ahmed Didat, Musa Bigiev, Nasiruddin Albani, Shawkani, Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz... and its clear, doubt-free explanation of the harms they inflicted upon Islam. The summary information intended here is this: a scholar who possesses innovation (bid'ah) causes infinitely more harm to Muslims than any missionary or open enemy of religion, because their status, glittering words, robe, and beard make it very easy for them to deceive. Consequently, one of the book's summaries emerges along these lines: Whom shall we love, and whom shall we not love!

     Endless Bliss truly demolishes the plague of Wahhabism, one of the diseases of the modern age, and its slightly "lighter" version, Salafism. Salafist propaganda, supported by billions spent on oil money and supererogatory Hajj and Umrah funds, is refuted with perfectly targeted shots from countless books of Islamic scholars, leaving no stone unturned.

     In modern times, one of the most fundamental problems for Muslims is trying to live according to Islam under the roof of states that are distant from religion, or even hostile to it. This leads to confusion and fitna (strife) in the implementation of practices like jihad, amr bil ma'ruf (enjoining good), and nahy anil munkar (forbidding evil), which are frequently encouraged in our religion but can cause great harm to the religion if not done correctly. This is where the difference of Endless Bliss emerges. Especially with the 20th century, the involvement of ignorant individuals in politics in various countries, exploiting these terms, inciting youth to rebellion with glittering words, led to the destruction of thousands of young people and the rotting of even more in prisons. However, while what needed to be done here was very simple, very few took that path. That's why in many parts of the catechism, it is repeatedly stated that a Muslim must avoid involvement in politics, that only governments can wage jihad with weapons, and that any other uprisings will be anarchy and looting. The stance of a Sunni Muslim is very clear: they obey the law and do not commit crimes, and they obey their religion and do not commit sins!

     In fact, upon careful reading, it becomes clear that all five pillars of Islam have somehow been manipulated and altered. For example, the issue of whether dental fillings and crowns prevent the validity of ghusl (ritual bath) has been debated for a long time... but completely unnecessarily! Because all Hanafi books are very clear that the presence of a layer inside the mouth that prevents water from reaching the surface directly affects the validity of ghusl. However, despite this clear ruling, some stubbornly insist that fillings and crowns do not prevent ghusl, without relying on any valid evidence. Yet, this issue is thoroughly explained in the Catechism over seven pages with its supporting documents, leaving no room for doubt. The solution is also quite simple: when performing ghusl, ablution, and prayer, imitate (follow) the Maliki madhhab, which is the closest madhhab to the Hanafi one.

     The use of microphones and loudspeaker systems in the adhan (call to prayer) and congregational prayers is explained to directly invalidate the prayer, in addition to being an ugly innovation, leaving no room for doubt.

     Another important topic related to the validity of prayer is prayer times. This section, in fact, is one of the incredible parts of Endless Bliss, as prayer times are meticulously examined for a full 26 pages, to the point of admiration. In addition, calculations that an ordinary person can make, information like temkin (caution) and ihtiyat (precaution) which are on the verge of being forgotten, and very basic geography and astronomy information are included. It is shown very simply how, especially in the Diyanet-based calendars from 1983 onwards (for Turkey and with a quick look, one can see that nearly all the calendars prepared by so-called Islamic centers around the globe are false, forcing people to pray before the valid times), the times for noon, afternoon, and evening prayers were brought forward, and the imsak (start of fasting) time was manipulated to the extent of endangering the fast.

     There's another forgotten sunnah highlighted in the catechism: bringing the heel bones together during ruku' (bowing). This, again, is almost never mentioned in any Latin-script book.

     The issue of how to make up missed prayers as soon as possible, one of the biggest problems for contemporary Muslims, is explained in a masterpiece of 16 pages, compiled with extreme meticulousness, leaving those with even a slight understanding of fiqh and usul al-fiqh (principles of jurisprudence) in awe. So, what is explained? That for those racing against time, the most suitable solution is to make the intention of "qada for a fard" (making up a missed obligatory prayer) for the sunnah prayers performed alongside the obligatory prayers of the time. The essence of the matter is actually quite simple and understandable: when sunnah prayers performed outside the fard of the time are prayed with the intention of making up missed fard prayers, it helps in completing the missed prayers very quickly, and since they are also prayers performed in addition to the fard of the time, they are actually also valid as sunnah prayers of the time, because the main point here is to perform another prayer in addition to the fard.

     The section explaining that it is incorrect to raise the finger while sitting in tashahhud is a complete fiqh lesson. As a result of citations from dozens of books, it is meticulously explained that not raising the finger while saying "ashhadu an la..." is more in line with the narrations.

     Two distorted issues concerning the pillars of Islam are also found in the section on zakat. The first is that the nisab for zakat in the Hanafi Madhhab is not the commonly known 80 grams, but 96 grams. In this section, the author of the book, Huseyin Hilmi Isik, personally recounts his precise experiment, conducted in accordance with the Hanafi school, using mithqal and qirat-i shari (specific weights) with dry barley, thus stating that the nisab for gold is 20 mithqal and 96 grams.

     Another very important, yet largely overlooked or suppressed, issue related to zakat is how zakat should be given on paper money. This topic is a monumental work in itself and perfectly explains something that hardly any of us would consider: Zakat is given from ayn (tangible property), meaning property that is physically held or has inherent value (like gold and silver), and cannot be given from dayn (debt) or from property that is classified as debt or does not have inherent value but has an arbitrary value determined by governments and states (like paper money). It is very clearly explained that paper money, which is widely accepted today, is actually a promissory note given in exchange for gold, and that it carries no intrinsic value on its own, and that governments can change the value of this paper money whenever they wish. Therefore, for a Muslim who is zealous in their religion, calculating their paper money and giving their zakat in terms of gold is the most correct and undoubted path.

     When it comes to the validity of fasting, the third pillar of Islam, the place Endless Bliss emphasizes the most, as we touched upon earlier, is incorrect calendars. Until 1983, the time for imsak (start of fasting) was accepted as -19 degrees according to Islamic scholars, but with a sudden decision, the tamkeen (caution) and ihtiyat (precaution) times for imsak were removed, and imsak was brought forward to -18 degrees. This poses a great danger for those who continue to eat and drink until 15-20 minutes after imsak (nearly all of the calendars around the world are false in that manner too, because they all accept -18 and even -16 degrees).

     Under the heading of Ramadan fasting, there's another crucial topic that's almost forgotten today: the validity and measure for understanding Ramadan and Hajj days is the sighting of the new moon (ru'yat al-hilal), not calendars. This section explains in detail that for someone who starts Ramadan fasting by following calendars, it is most cautious to fast two make-up days for the suspicious entry and exit days after the month of Ramadan has passed. While it is easy to do everything according to the calendar, the effort this book shows to keep the sunnah alive really requires deep thought!

     Directly connected to the previous point, the book also illustrates how the fifth pillar of Islam, Hajj, is simply transformed into a "tourist trip" by adhering to calendars, and how Saudi authorities mistakenly announce the beginning of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah each year under the pretext of sighting the new moon. Millions of prospective pilgrims, under the guidance of the Saudi Wahhabi government, either bring forward or delay the obligatory standing at Arafat on the 9th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, which is the Day of Arafah. Considering that standing at Arafat is an obligatory part of Hajj, a massive obligation that is often only afforded once in a lifetime is thus missed.

     Another important point regarding Hajj is that performing supererogatory Hajj and Umrah is better left undone, as it often causes the delay and even abandonment of many obligatory acts. It emphasizes that something which endangers obligatory acts while attempting supererogatory ones is not worship, but rather a sin. It's very difficult to find another book that repeatedly explains the importance of obligatory acts that are delayed or even disregarded while one is pursuing supererogatory worship, both in this context and in a general sense.

     Directly related to the preceding point, one of the errors into which some adherents of Sufi orders fall, especially nowadays, is explained very clearly. Actions performed by the Prophet, not as acts of worship but as habits, are called Sunnah Zawa'id. Dress code is included in this Sunnah. While it is necessary to perform these Sunnahs in a country where such dressing is still customary, in an era and country where hostility towards Islam is rampant (so basically all the Christian or/and secular Western countries), where young people are growing up alienated from religion, and this alienation is steadily increasing, attempting to practice these Sunnahs leads to fitna and puts Muslims in difficult situations. However, a Muslim is an intelligent person who knows what they gain and what they lose. To instigate hostility towards Islam, put oneself and those around them in difficult situations, and most importantly, alienate young people from religion while attempting to perform a Sunnah for which even an accounting will not be taken, is not considered a wise action at all.

     For those who have fallen into the habit of issuing fatwas according to their own whims and those heavily influenced by anti-tobacco propaganda, the section of Endless Bliss titled "Is Tobacco Haram?" might, and does, evoke hatred. However, as with every topic, a truth indicated by translations from many books of Islamic scholars is explained in the book over ten pages and with incredibly fine distinctions: tobacco and tobacco products, when used at a level that does not endanger health, are permissible, and those who declare them "haram" put themselves in a religiously problematic situation. Furthermore, just as tobacco is not intrinsically disliked or forbidden, the money spent on it is not considered wasteful.

     In the section on alcoholic beverages, types of alcohol that plague humanity and directly or indirectly kill millions of people every year, and how they are produced, are meticulously detailed item by item, while the conditions under which permissible beverages turn into alcohol and the Hanafi madhhab's fatwas on this matter are meticulously narrated.

     Many religious books try to avoid the subject of music to avoid the wrath of contemporary people and to not alienate customers by delving too deeply. However, this book meticulously scrutinizes the topic, recording the prohibition of musical instruments and music as they are. Furthermore, terms like sima (or sama') and ghina (singing) are very clearly explained.

     Another topic not found in any Latin work is the claim that the philosopher Plato and Prophet 'Isa (Jesus) lived in the same period. For those nourished by Wikipedia and Google, and essentially by information reflecting a Christian Western perspective, this is a complete surprise. However, the fact that there is roughly a thousand (1000) years between the two prophets, and the truths reported in the books of Islamic scholars, point to a different situation. The underlying reason for this information is that during the time of Prophet Jesus, few believed in Him and his history is obscure, while Plato was famous and had many students, and his era is precisely known. Therefore, the Gregorian Calendar is wrong by more than 300 years.

     In the greetings section of Endless Bliss , there's a forgotten detail no one has ever written about: how to perform the musafahah (handshake) according to the Sunnah. It states that holding the fingers and placing them in the palms is incorrect; the proper way is to press the palms together while touching the sides of both thumbs.

     Another very striking and carefully addressed topic is that Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham) father was not the idolater Azar, but rather a believing man named Taruh (Tarukh/Tarakh/Terach). Azer was his uncle and later became his stepfather. So why is this topic addressed with such meticulousness? Because the issue extends to defiling the lineage of the Prophet Muhammad, who prided himself on the purity of his ancestry and every individual in his lineage being a believer, with the filth of idolatry. Although it may seem like no big deal, for true Islamic scholars who know the consequences and responsibility involved, it is among the essential topics to be explained.

     The science of "Faraid" (Islamic inheritance law), which teaches to whom and how the property of a deceased person should be distributed, is included in detail in the catechism. While almost no one today knows this information, which is clearly and extensively stated in the Quran, faraid calculations are explained over ten pages in the book with examples.

     Regarding what is written on gravestones, information about the innovations that have adorned almost all gravestones for centuries is important. It is stated that only the name and the Hijri year of death can be written on gravestones. Indeed, in contrast to those who fill their teachers' graves with various innovative writings, nothing is written on the graves of both the book's author and his beloved son-in-law, Enver Oren, except their first names and the Hijri year of their passing.

     "Uqubat" (Punishments), one of the four sections of fiqh, is a vast field almost as forgotten as faraid calculations and therefore reminded by Endless Bliss. Known under three headings as Hudud (prescribed punishments), Ta'zir (discretionary punishments), and Qisas (retribution), uqubat refers to the penalties prescribed by Islam for crimes. This sensitive information is discussed in detail over more than twenty pages.

      There are many topics that make the book Endless Bliss extraordinary, but one truly stands out. It's the extensive coverage, spanning many pages, of scientific knowledge and discoveries in a religious book, something we're not accustomed to seeing. Imagine a religious book that thoroughly explains how an atomic bomb is made, how it works, and the positive and negative aspects of atomic power. Given that the compiler of the catechism was Turkey's first master's-level chemical engineer and a certified scientist, topics like uranium, radar, radioactivity, X-rays, the periodic table, atomic structure, nuclear energy, and how to use them are explained separately and in a way that an ordinary person can understand.

     In the same vein, "Why Muslims fell behind" is discussed as a separate heading, and it is emphasized with examples that the Islamic world was the cradle and initiator of all kinds of scientific progress. The motto here is quite simple: Christians progress as they move away from religion, and Muslims fall behind as they move away from religion.

     Another difference from contemporary books is the detailed explanation of how a Muslim woman should precisely cover herself, leaving no gaps. It is also strongly emphasized how dangerous and corrupting the practices of today's youth are, where hijab (tasattur) has been trampled upon and almost lost its weight, and how women competing with men without knowing their place in society can lead to fatal consequences. It must also be said here that, considering the entire catechism, one of the most frequently repeated and emphasized sections is the topic of women's covering.

     Just as the issue of hijab is frequently reiterated, the article encouraging governments and rulers to develop weapons equal to or even superior to those of their enemies is also repeated. This is because a weak state will always be oppressed, and thus Muslims will be in a difficult situation.

      The point that Muslims were the fathers of modern medicine and that Muslims should meticulously pay attention to physical and spiritual health is examined under the heading "sick foods and the treatment of some diseases" in the catechism. The remedies for illnesses that many of us wander from doctor to doctor without finding a cure are presented. And not newly discovered, chemically tainted drugs, but remedies that are the product of hundreds, even thousands of years of accumulation, whose treatments have been tried many times.

     Buy and sell (trade) information is so extensive and voluminous that no comparable book comes close or even accepts comparison. Yet, these rulings apply to many activities in our daily lives, and one can easily fall into forbidden things unknowingly. To solve this dilemma for Muslims, almost a hundred pages of the catechism are dedicated to these intricate details of buying and selling. Even seemingly simple transactions like banking, establishing a company, collecting promissory notes, renting out property, appointing an agent, and even grocery shopping are scrutinized, and words and contracts that could lead a person to the forbidden are explained.

     Many points have been listed so far, but we've saved one of the most important features that distinguishes the Endless Bliss book from all other religious books written in the last 100-150 years, when Islam truly began to become strange, for last. That is: bringing together fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and tasawwuf (Sufism)... and without engaging in any sectarianism! This is undoubtedly due to the blessing of the letters of Ahmad Faruqi Sirhindi, also known as Imam-i Rabbani, who, as the renewer of the second millennium, enlightened his own and subsequent centuries, waged war against innovations, and was named "Sıla" (connection) for uniting fiqh and tasawwuf, being frequently, almost as an inseparable part of every main topic, included in the catechism. Indeed, if we consider one of the essential definitions of tasawwuf as encouraging the performance of bodily acts of worship with pleasure and willingly, rather than dryly, it immediately becomes clear how important and inevitable the union of these two is. Especially when considering how our current age, which only nurtures the ego, mechanizes everything, encourages bad habits, and prioritizes the satisfaction of carnal desires, has enslaved Muslims, it is immediately understood that achieving the joy of worship with sincerity and devotion can only happen through the union of fiqh and tasawwuf.

     The catechism's final word is a crucial ultimate advice for Muslims, whose affairs will be very, very difficult in the End Times. Moving from the reality that there will hardly be any saints or guides left, it emphasizes the importance of reading the works of one of the deceased saints instead and making a connection (rabita) to that scholar and saint. That is, to be an "Uwaysi" of a past saint to escape the filth of disbelief, innovation, and sin, to receive spiritual grace from that saint's heart, and with such a power, to gain protection against dark forces is said to be very effective and will surely yield benefit.

     All these points are more than enough to completely change the world of a zealous Muslim who is committed to their religion. Indeed, experiences, observations, and information from all over the world since the book was first published in 1956 show that whoever sincerely and earnestly wishes to learn their religion correctly, this work somehow finds its way into their hands. That is, a shepherd in the middle of Africa, who has never seen electricity, a telephone, or the internet in their life, if they open their hands and pray with tears and sincerity, and desire to learn the truth, this book will find a way to reach them!

To read this gem online!

The Theory of Evolution and Islam

     One of the topics that enemies of religion have relied on most, especially in the last hundred years, is Evolution. Led by a few amateurs and individuals far removed from scientific approaches, the Industrial Revolution, the withdrawal of Christianity from Western life (leading to the rise of Atheism), the emergence of various Materialist philosophies finding suitable ground, and these movements largely following the same path, all contributed to the flourishing of the theory of evolution.

     Evolution, as explained in the modern online encyclopedia Wikipedia, is "the process by which living species undergo hereditary changes from generation to generation, acquiring characteristics different from their original state." It continues, "According to this theory, the origin of animals, plants, and all other living things on Earth lies in species that lived before them, and distinguishable differences are the result of genetic changes that occurred in successful generations." Let's delve into the background of this seemingly innocent explanation:

A Brief History of Evolutionary Thought

     At the beginning of the 19th century, the French doctor Lamarck wrote that living organisms might have originated from a single species and that they change from simple to perfect. Later, in 1859, the amateur biologist Charles Darwin, in his book "On the Origin of Species," wrote that living things struggle to adapt to their environment, and in this struggle, the strong survive while the weak perish (natural selection). He stated that all living things, including humans, might have originated from one or a few common ancestors. Claims emerged that humans and monkeys came from the same ancestor (primate). Following these, the Dutch botanist and biologist Hugo de Vries introduced the "mutation theory" at the beginning of the 20th century. This was a perfect "pass" for bigoted individuals, disguised as "scientists," who disliked Abrahamic religions, were particularly fed up with Christianity, and sought revenge! They eagerly embraced this "pass" to "score a goal"... but not for science, rather for their fantasy worlds!

     Funds, institutes, and laboratories were established with large sums of money. Methodologies, procedures, and rules were determined. Highly esteemed individuals with many titles began loudly proclaiming that humans descended from monkeys or, more innocently, "from the same ancestor as monkeys." The bones of pigs, monkeys, horses, etc., found in excavations, were widely published as "missing links in the evolutionary chain" in newspapers and magazines they had acquired. With the 20th century, Marxist and Atheist foundations, which emerged from the theoretical platform and took practical form as "Socialist" and "Communist" states, desperately embraced this Theory of Evolution. Darwinism, Atheism, and the Theory of Evolution went hand in hand, crafting a great taboo. Over time, it reached a point where those disguised as "scientists" elevated the issue to "no evolution, no modern science!"

The Underlying Motive

     So, what was the purpose? Why did so many seemingly rational and modern people embrace this theory and the "monkeys" who were unaware of what was happening? Let's try to answer that:

     If a complex-ridden individual, posing as a "scientist," claims that "the cell, the building block of living things, spontaneously came into existence in the seas millions or billions of years ago, and over time transformed into marine plants and animals, then land animals, and finally humans. Early humans were ignorant, lived in caves, wrapped themselves in undressed animal skins, humanity developed from scratch... Stone Age, Bronze Age...", this is a clear denial that the first human was Prophet Adam and an assertion that the Al-Quran Al-Kareem and other sacred books are nonsense, and that there was no Creator who created that first cell. Islam and other Abrahamic religions repeatedly and definitively state that the first human was created from clay. Believing this is a "necessity of religion." In short, the red lines of Islam (and therefore, all Abrahamic religions in their uncorrupted form) on this matter are:

1. Saying, "The first living thing originated accidentally in the sea or elsewhere." Neither science nor religion accepts such a "perfect coincidence"!

2. Saying, "There are transitions between species," and even more irrelevantly, "humans evolved and developed from animals."

     So, if a "scientist" says things like, "humans evolved and developed from monkeys or another animal, the ancestor of humans is the monkey...", this person is not a "scientist," but an ignorant individual hidden behind the curtain of science, and all rational scientists would laugh at such an ignorant person. If another scientist says, "matters, cells, and beings came into existence later when they did not exist," this statement is accepted in both science and religion. Islamic scholars have mentioned the existence of a "development" in the structure of living things, from simple to perfect, and have recorded these in their books, but this does not mean that there is evolution or development "from one species to another"!

     Our religion does not state how plants and animals were created. After the initial creation, whether they came into existence accidentally in the seas or in another way, these do not harm Islam; on the contrary, they strengthen it.

A short animation about the Theory of Evolution and Islam is also available:

Were the First Humans Savages Living in Caves?

 

   In the early 21st century, a middle school student in Turkey (or similar countries), where the overwhelming majority of the population is allegedly Muslim, would encounter a scene like this when attending history and religious studies classes:

     In a history class, the teacher would explain that early humans were savages living in caves, trying to cover themselves with untanned animal skins, discovering fire and the wheel out of necessity, and drawing pictures on cave walls. In this history lesson, the child learns that their ancestors evolved from monkeys, initially moving on all fours, but gradually learning to stand on two feet to gather fruit from trees, starting everything from scratch. They learn about a period called "Prehistory," a time before writing, and that this prehistoric era is divided into various sub-periods. The student understands that during the "Stone Age," which they saw depicted in cartoons as a child, "ape-like" humans, with no skills beyond "hunter" and "gatherer," tried to chip and shape stones to protect themselves from wild animals and to benefit from their meat. The history teacher would even confidently instill in the children's impressionable minds that humanity's first beliefs, their initial pagan stirrings in the face of natural phenomena and giant creatures, began in this era, leading them to draw pictures and various shapes in caves, and to make figurines. The history lesson would then bombard young minds with a multitude of "polished" but nonsensical names—such as Paleolithic, Epipaleolithic, Old Stone Age, Chipped Stone Age, Rough Stone Age, Copper Age, Chalcolithic Age, Metal Age, Bronze Age, etc.—as if to say, "We classified these for ignoramuses like you, so appreciate it." As it stands, the "history" lessons the child receives directly overlaps with the "history" taught during the Soviet Socialist Republics era, a system we are supposedly diametrically opposed to in ideology.

     The student's next stop after this lesson is the "Religious Culture and Ethics" class. Here, the Religious Studies teacher, as if in defiance of the history lesson described above, explains that the first human was also the first prophet, that Hazrat Adam and his children were literate, lived in settlements, and possessed skills like weaving and farming. The teacher also states that 50 scrolls (small books apart from the four major ones) were sent to Him.

     Now, if this student accepts the depiction of early humans from the history class, they would clearly be contradicting the Islamic faith they claim to belong to. If they believe the religious studies class, they would be considered "narrow-minded" and "reactionary." Just look at this insoluble dilemma encountered at such a tender age!

     So, what's behind all this? Which ideology and which force, so to speak, is "selling snails in a Muslim neighborhood"? Let's examine that.

     It all began, as stated in the article "Islam's View on the Theory of Evolution," when circles with imaginations as inflated as their pockets, whose ears smoke at the mention of the word "religion," and who quickly organize and pour their wealth into the cause when it comes to opposing religion, heard about something called "Evolution."

     The claims of French biologist Jean Baptiste Lamarck, followed by the works of English amateur biologist Charles Darwin, who laid the groundwork for this ideology, quickly bore fruit thanks to the well-organized and diligent efforts of those circles who weren't fond of Abrahamic religions (some of their characteristics listed above). This found its legal platform in the early 20th century with the emergence of Marxist-based, socialist or communist-looking atheistic movements.

     Now, in "secularized" schools, students were taught that early humans descended from monkeys, or at least from a common ancestor shared with monkeys, that semi-ape, semi-human creatures evolved over time, and that religions, too, evolved from the idolatry of these humanoids in the face of natural forces to monotheistic religions. In simpler terms, they taught that "there is no such thing as creation," "the belief in the first human as the first prophet is a fallacy," and therefore, "the concept of a Creator" is an empty superstition.

     However, Islam, as repeatedly stated in the Al-Quran Al-Kareem and Hadith, definitively states that the first human was created from clay (or mud), meaning from nothing. The first human was also the first Prophet, and all names were taught to him; his lineage knew how to read and write; there was no "Prehistory" devoid of "writing."

     From all this information and the reports of Islamic scholars, it is understood that civilization or progress has not shown a continuous upward trend. Some civilizations developed under the leadership of the Prophet of their time and then faded (which is indeed proven by very ancient civilization ruins found in various parts of the world, astonishing modern people who think they perform wonders with their tablets or "smart" cell phones). Some regions have never developed. Even now, there are still many places in Papua or the untouched Amazon Rainforest, where people live in the jungle, unaware of clothing, and showing no signs of development. Can the existence of such places and the "savage" life led by their inhabitants be considered a parameter of underdevelopment for the civilized world? Does the continued existence of these "savages" mean that today's world should be called the "Early Age" or the "Stone Age"? Absolutely not.

There's even a video of it!

The Magic Word Crafted Through Wordplay: Salafiyyah

     Today's world is witnessing the unstoppable spread and rise of a reformed Salafism, striving to adapt to the modern age in some way. The reaction of youth and new converts to the fragmented, weakened, dependent, and humiliated state of the Islamic world is generally (consciously or not) "Salafi." The way those in the West who seek to preserve their identity and refuse to be oppressed act is "Salafi." The resistance of those who believe their country is under occupation is generally "Salafi"... in short, Salafism is experiencing its golden age. So, who are these people and what are their ways and methods?

Hassan al-Banna and Sayyid Qutb

     Essentially, "Salafism" or more accurately, "Salafiyyah," began in the fourth Hijri century, according to Muhammad Abu Zahra's book "History of Islamic Schools", when some individuals who separated from the Hanbali school gave themselves this name. However, in its true sense, it can be said to be the school established by Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah of Harran and his loyal student Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya. Ibn Taymiyyah, whom Imam Abul Hasan Subki described as "one whose knowledge outweighed his intellect," was initially a Hanbali scholar but later went astray and began to follow his own distinct path. He started saying things no one had ever said before, such as "Allah is a body composed of particles, He moves, and He is obliged to create good things," and "Hell is not eternal; it will end one day." He began to deny Sufi scholars and disliked words like "tawassul, istighathah, tashaffu". He even criticized some of the great Sahaba.

     As for the word "Salafiyyah": The word "Salaf," as is known, means "predecessor" or "one who came before." The disinformation and illusion Established by this language have been accepted even in today's most reputable sources. According to those who follow this path and are unaware of the matter, or those who fall under the sway of Salafis, Salafiyyah is "the path Muslims followed until the Ash'ari and Maturidi schools were established." It is even called "Ahl al-Sunnah al-Khassah." This is a very innocent statement for someone with weak or no knowledge of religion and history. However, with a little research, an incredible amount of misinformation and manipulation emerges. Firstly, stating that "the Ash'ari and Maturidi schools were established later" is fundamentally wrong, because Abul Hasan al-Ash'ari and Abu Mansur al-Maturidi did not establish new schools. They merely codified the existing Ahl al-Sunnah creed in books and explained it in a way that even new converts to Islam could understand.

     Another claim of the Salafis is that "Imam Azam Abu Hanifa and Imam Ghazali explained the Salafiyyah path in their books." However, the word or phrase written in the books of these scholars is "Salaf" and "Salaf al-Salihin" (meaning the name given to the Muslims of the first two centuries praised in hadith). In other words, the Salafi group, seeking a legal basis for themselves and wanting to deceive the Islamic world, has displayed a strange example of wordplay by transforming the term "Salaf" and "Salaf al-Salihin" into "Salafiyyah." It is quite clear in the sources that the term "Salaf" was used for the Sahaba and the Tabi'in. Therefore, the mujtahids and imams explained the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah, which is the creed of the Salaf, not a "Salafiyyah" school. There is no such school as Salafiyyah within the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wal Jama'ah.

     Let's move on to its historical development: Approximately five centuries after Ibn Taymiyyah and his student Ibn al-Qayyim laid the foundation of this path and codified its principles in books, Salafism was revived as a deceptive element of another movement. After the second half of the 18th century, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab emerged from the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, a region called Najd. He took Muhammad ibn Saud, the tribal chief of a place called Diriyah, with him and opened a completely new path for the Bedouins, who had no share in Islam, whose hearts were hardened, and whose morals were low. The name of the path, quickly established with ample British money and weapons, was seen as "Wahhabism" by those who knew its true nature, purpose, and essence, but as Salafism and the revival of Salafism by those who were unaware and saw it as an innocent movement (the fabricated excuse was: in creed, it was the Salafi school of Ahl al-Sunnah, and in practice, the Hanbali school).

     Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab further advanced the principles established by Ibn Taymiyyah, such as hostility towards Sufism, istighathah, and intercession. He also tried to criticize the imams of the various schools of thought. He began to declare that people living before his time and principles worshipped tombs and graves and were polytheists. He accused both Ahl al-Sunnah and Shia of polytheism. This label most pleased the desert Bedouins. For the desert people who had never seen the light of day, "Dolce Vita" was beginning! Since a legal basis had now been provided, marauders plundered settlements, shared women as concubines, and goods as spoils of war. Due to internal unrest and problems with Russia within the Ottoman Empire, the Wahhabi bandits quickly reached the Haramayn-i Sharifayn (Mecca and Medina). As a result, after conflicts, intrigues, and so on, Saudi Arabia, considered by many to be the first Salafi state, was founded in 1932.

     Over time, the Saudis reduced their harshness and reliance on sword and shield. They saw that besides the money from Hajj and Umrah, oil revenues were also increasing, so they began to spread their books with gilded, coated paper, and luxury prints all over the world, establishing centers everywhere. They tried to establish a theoretical framework for their cause and influence young people... and time worked in their favor! The religions of pure and unadulterated Wahhabi-Salafi states were presented as "Sunni" in sources. With the involvement of Jamal al-Din al-Afghani, Muhammad Abduh, Rashid Rida, Sayyid Qutb, and Hasan al-Banna, who emerged from Egypt, the center for producing discord and innovation in the 20th century, the scope further expanded.

     Then... Communism and Socialism collapsed worldwide (leaving a few dysfunctional remnants). As soon as the Cold War ended, a new enemy needed to be formed, and this enemy immediately presented itself in a - supposedly - "green" color: Al-Qaeda, terrorist acts, attacks in Kenya and Tanzania, the Taliban, September 11th, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen... the situation quickly became chaotic!

     The golden age of modern Salafism was about to begin... The struggle against Russia, the remnant of the USSR, in Chechnya, in Bosnia under Serbian oppression, in the mountains of Pakistan and Afghanistan, and in the lands of Iraq against the US and its allies, was the most preferred scene for the Salafi-looking Wahhabi movement, because it involved defending a homeland, and naturally, the simplistic logic of "one person is one person" applied. However, innocent defensive struggles in some places gradually degenerated, ranging from the killing of innocent civilians to terrorizing areas as suicide bombers. Furthermore, in places where Salafis settled, theoretical dissemination also accelerated with abundant Saudi money and aid. Concepts like homeland defense and jihad caused hot-blooded young men eager to do something to easily fall into this trap.

     Additionally, Salafis played an active role in the rapid spread of Islam in the West. They caused the young people they contacted to learn Islam in this way and to experience difficulties with their living environments.

     So, how do you recognize a Salafi, or someone who unknowingly falls into this path, or at least is somehow influenced by the Salafi mentality? Here are a few clues: If a person constantly talks about "taghut" (a word used in the Al-Quran Al-Kareem in a few places meaning things or people worshipped besides Allah, or things that distance one from Allah) and describes taghut as the regimes and forms of administration in many of the countries in the region called the contemporary Islamic World, and if they refer to Sayyid Qutb, Hasan al-Banna, Abdullah Azzam, Jordanian Khattab, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam, and the book "Milestones, and if they try to subtly criticize Sufism, Muhyiddin ibn Arabi, Wahdat al-Wujud, and the four imams of the schools of thought, and if they speak of the door of "ijtihad" not being closed and that it should not be closed, and if they try to derive meaning from the Quran according to their own understanding, and if they say that shaving the beard is forbidden, and if they claim that voting in Turkey or similar countries leads to shirk (polytheism), and if they call Ibn Taymiyyah "Shaykh al-Islam" and a great imam, and if they say that actions are a part of faith... if they hold such claims, which an average Anatolian person or someone who has studied in a madrasah, read the books of the four imams of the schools of thought and their students, and has been exposed to Sufism, or at least loves great Sufi figures, would not hear, then it can be understood that this person is at least unconsciously inclined towards the Salafi mentality!