Recently I had the privilege of being part of a celebration for my friend’s son, who has memorised the entire Quran. It was an incredibly moving occasion, and as I sat there reflecting on the significance of his achievement, I couldn’t help but think about the world we now live in. Isa’s accomplishment of memorising the Quran made me realise why I’ve been feeling so unsettled about our current culture of shallow, fast-paced information.
Lately, I’ve been constantly reminded—mostly by my son and close friends—that when it comes to social media, everything needs to be kept short. The advice to “keep it brief” has almost become a mantra, and it frustrates me to no end. Apparently, people no longer have the patience for anything beyond a 30-second video or a post that takes more than a minute to read. This obsession with bite-sized content has been bothering me, and Isa’s accomplishment of memorising the Quran made me understand why on a deeper level.
The first thing that concerns me is the sheer complexity of the world we live in. Real-life issues, whether they’re about geopolitics, culture, or even religion, are far too intricate to be crammed into 30-second summaries. Take geopolitics, for example. To truly understand what’s happening in the world, we need to delve into layers of history, political motivations, and socio-economic factors. You simply can’t gain that understanding from a 1-minute video. The same applies to the study of religious texts. Whether it’s the Quran or the Hadith, these are profound teachings that demand time, reflection, and deep engagement—not a quick skim through a social media post.
The second issue is one that I find even more alarming: the shrinking attention span that seems to have become the norm. I worry that we’re raising a generation that lacks the capacity—or even the desire—to engage in deep, meaningful thought. Are we creating a world where quick, shallow content is prioritised over real, thoughtful understanding? If we continue down this path, we risk losing something essential: the ability to think critically, appreciate nuance, and make well-informed decisions.
It’s almost as if these 30-second videos have become accepted as fact. I’m not even talking about whether the content is fake news or not—it’s deeper than that. There’s no real validation, no critical examination, and yet scores of people walk around, fully accepting a narrative that’s been packaged and sold to them in 30 seconds. The problem isn’t just misinformation; it’s the sheer lack of inquiry that’s concerning. When quick, unverified content becomes the norm, people stop questioning what they see, and that’s when we lose our capacity for real, informed understanding.
Is it any wonder, then, that ruling systems go unquestioned, and contemporary economic models are accepted without challenge, even as the wealth gap continues to grow? When we become accustomed to accepting surface-level information without digging deeper, we stop questioning the systems around us. The broader societal implications are significant: if we don’t cultivate the habit of inquiry and critical thought, we risk allowing structural inequalities and injustices to persist unchallenged, simply because we’re too used to accepting the world as it’s quickly presented to us.
Historically, brevity provided free thinkers with an edge over the clergy, enabling them to convey concise, engaging ideas more effectively than the lengthy, detailed writings of scholars or clergy. However, in 2024, it seems this approach has been deliberately used to create a world filled with shallow, reactionary arguments, as part of a plan to dumb down a nation, rather than fostering the deep, thoughtful discussions that are urgently needed.
In contrast, Islam has always promoted a tradition of deep learning and reflection. The very first word revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was “Read” (Iqra), emphasising the importance of knowledge and literacy. The Quran, the Hadith, the Seerah—all of these require us to take time, to study, to reflect. There’s no shortcut to understanding something so profound.
Isa’s memorisation of the Quran is a perfect example of the benefits of deep focus and sustained concentration. Watching him reach this incredible milestone made me realise just how powerful the human mind is when it’s given the time and space to grow. His achievement isn’t just a spiritual one—it’s also a testament to the strength of his intellect and character. And in a world where attention spans are shrinking by the day, it’s heartening to see young people like Isa embodying the depth and dedication that I fear we’re losing.
As I celebrated Isa’s achievement, I couldn’t help but think about the lessons his journey teaches us. In an age dominated by quick swipes and shallow engagement, Isa’s accomplishment reminds us of the value of depth, both intellectually and spiritually. His journey is proof that real growth, whether of the mind or the soul, comes from sustained effort and dedication.
We need to encourage this kind of engagement, especially for the younger generation. Instead of being swept up in the world of short videos and sound bites, they should be encouraged to dig deeper, to think critically, and to engage meaningfully with the world around them. We need to foster a culture that values deep understanding and thoughtful reflection—not just when it comes to religious teachings, but also in how we approach the pressing issues of our time.
The world may be shifting towards brevity, but I believe it’s more important than ever to uphold the tradition of deep, reflective learning. It’s not just about resisting change for the sake of it; it’s about preserving what it truly means to be knowledgeable, thoughtful, and informed in an increasingly confused world. Isa’s achievement serves as a powerful reminder that real depth still matters—and that, despite the noise of the swipe-up world, we can still choose to embrace it.
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