Story time guys; around 50-60 years ago when scientists were studying “addiction” they took a rat, put him in a cage and supplied it with two streams of water; one was regular and other was drugged water laced with cocaine/heroin and similar sort of drugs. They found out the Rat almost always took the drugged water and they overdosed and ultimately killed itself.

SO they concluded. Addiction is normal. If given a choice people will always choose to be addicted/drugged etc.

Then there was another scientist, Dr Bruce Alexander, around 50 years ago who said wait a minute; this rat is in a cage. And that’s abnormal situation. So he made another cage called the rat park. Where he put multiple rats in a fun place, they were given food, they were free to roam and play; they had toys – and they had the same access to two types of water; plain and drugged. They found out that rats living in rat park almost always opted for plain water. Even if they tried the drugged water they never overdosed!

COMMUNITY/being loved/feeling belonged BEATS THE POWER OF DRUGS!

Before I tell you why I shared this story with you; reply back and tell me what insight you get from this? What stood out for you! What will you better/different with this knowledge?

So why I shared this story? In the last week there was one topic that stood out in all the conversations I have had – Depresssion / lonliness / depressive symptoms.

In all the calls that I have had with people of my family, some of my very close friends, in the groups that I am a part of, our local community socials, the Clients calls I have had and even some of the emails I have received from you guys.

It was about depressive feelings. Lethargy, Inaction! Distant from Allah swt!

Subhan Allah, it is becoming so rampant. We as a community are feeling grief, and justifiably so! But Depression! Its like an epidemic and every other person is suffering from similar symptoms. Its just too much guys 😦

Okay before we continue further; I want you to skim through the short essay I wrote on dangers of AI, Just to make sense of it all (I later made a reel out of that essay too):

Look at this comic:

Reply back and tell me what do you think about it! I think Huda does tell us the essence of AI.

 We know we live in the age of deception and AI probably is and will likely become the tool of Dajjal! Given that background; these are the 5 Biggest of dangers of AI in my opinion, more than just stealing/loss of jobs etc.

1. Loss of human connection. (AND THIS IS THE BIG ONE GIRLS) We are already struggling with this in age of SM; it will likely get extremely worsen with AI and chatbots! Which will lead to more isolation and hence easily corruptible people! lone sheep! Easy followers. Easy army of Dajjal (just read an article on a teen suicide after he was desperately in love with an AI chatbot!!!! And its just the start!)

1. loss of connection with our own selves; There is a verse in quran where Allah SWT mentions that lack of self-awareness was a punishment from Allah.

(59:19)

وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ نَسُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فَأَنسَىٰهُمْ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ ١٩

And do not be like those who forgot Allah, so He made them forget themselves. It is they who are ˹truly˺ rebellious.

unawareness from our own selves to the point that the AI would know us better than our own selves! This is extremely dangerous; And all the repercussion of that!

1. Loss of truth and ability to distinguish truth from falsehood! Literally Dajal! Deception! And AI is getting exceptionally better at mixing falsehood and truth!

 On every level possible! And its kind of scary tbh

1. Next is well we are all feeding this machine with our data- specially us Muslims! What will it become capable of! We know its not neutral; its not all Good! The evils and horrible possibilities of this “knowing” is scary; specially when we know that AI might be A big tool of dajjal.

1. Lastly; Rapid control and Rapid dumbing down of masses! AI is massivly used to students and teachers; for reserches and what not! We are losing our abilities/rationale and thinking super fast while While getting addicted to it! (This is also a big one! Stupid people are again easy followers, easy army of dajjal).

SO what to do?

1. This dua! Make it a lot.

اللهم ارنا الحق حقاً وارزقنا اتباعه وارنا الباطل باطلا وارزقنا اجتنابه

Allahumma arinal haqqa haqqaw warzuqnat tiba’ah, wa arinal batila batilaw warzuqnaj tinabah

Translation: O Allah! show us the truth as true, and inspire us to follow it. Show us falsehood as falsehood, and inspire us to abstain from it.

1. If you are using AI; be careful. Be intelligent about it! Be awake and informed about it; We can not let these algorithms shaping our hearts and corrupting our souls.

1. And if you can – just be away from. We DO NOT need to have the most latest technologies and gadgets. And know that all that ease comes at a cost. (remember ease and difficulties goes hand in hand) the cost could be environmental, physical, emotional and/or spiritual for you! So consider these before using these stuff.

1. Lastly; its scary but we wont let fear run our lives. We know if these are the trials Allah swt sent our way; there Must be many strengths He SWT has already placed in us too. So Insha Allah we will lean into those.

1. Most importantly lets Nurture our relationships,  – with ourselves/Allah/our families/our communities and with nature as well.  Back to the two points we discussed in last email. A) Action.

B) Community

Invest your time/energy/resources in it! It literally like our only possibly way to be able to survive and even thrive in these current situations. If WE MUST RESIST all that this world is forcing on us, THERE HAS TO BE A COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT US.

No wonder islam is such a communal religion. No wonder in order to recover from any addictions, whether food/SM/drugs we must become an active part of some community.

Better if it’s a community that reminds you of Allah swt. I could not find one myself for so long so I created it here (and also work to be an active member of the physical community we have where I live).

This email group is one community; RY course attendees (Reclaimers) are a community; I also run a small more close knit community where we meet daily and work on our progress and I will be starting another group coaching session from next week.

It is a paid one which I have kept budget friendly at $50 per month or $150 in all, and even if that’s not what you can manage right now and want to be part of my inner community reply back and we will find a way insha Allah.

This round we will exclusively work on strengthening ourselves physically/emotionally/spiritually, detaching from the dunia, people pleasing, and raising strong independent kids.

One last thing; how does coaching work?

1. If you are in a haze and not sure about things; my coaching brings clarity Insha Allah.
2. If you have some clarity but no action steps; I help you breakdown your goal in actionable steps.
3. If you have the clarity and even have actionable steps; I offer you the support you need to stay motivated and continue working towards your goal

And at the same time working together to be better people from all angles.

Hit reply and let me know what stood out for you and how else can I help you?

In the next post insha Allah we will discuss more on depressive symptoms and how we are people of action and how feelings follow actions.

Till then,

Love and dua

Asbah