by Rami Mahmoud Elsawah
Set forth to them the similitude of the life of this world: It is like the rain which we send down from the skies: the earth's vegetation absorbs it, but soon it becomes dry stubble, which the winds do scatter: it is (only) Allah who prevails over all things. (Surat Al-Kahf, 45)
x = Everything in the dunya. F(x) = x ÷ ∞
Then, F(x) =0
Wealth and sons are allurements of the life of this world: But the things that endure, good deeds, are best in the sight of thy Lord, as rewards, and best as (the foundation for) hopes. (Surat Al-Kahf, 46)
x = Reward for good deeds = ∞. F(x) = x ÷ ∞
Then, F(x) =1
The parable of those who spend their substance in the way of Allah is that of a grain of corn: it groweth seven ears, and each ear Hath a hundred grains. Allah giveth manifold increase to whom He pleaseth: And Allah careth for all and He knoweth all things. (Al-Baqarah 261)
Yield = Final Value ÷ Present Value Present Value = F(x) = 1
Yield = 700 ÷ 1 = 700%
After reinvestment...
Therefore:
Say: Shall I give you glad tidings of things Far better than those? For the righteous are Gardens in nearness to their Lord, with rivers flowing beneath; therein is their eternal home; with companions pure (and holy); and the good pleasure of Allah. For in Allah.s sight are (all) His servants,-
(Namely), those who say: "Our Lord! we have indeed believed: forgive us, then, our sins, and save us from the agony of the Fire;"-
Those who show patience, Firmness and self-control; who are true (in word and deed); who worship devoutly; who spend (in the way of Allah.; and who pray for forgiveness in the early hours of the morning.
Tere is no god but He: That is the witness of Allah, His angels, and those endued with knowledge, standing firm on justice. There is no god but He, the Exalted in Power, the Wise.
The Religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His Will): Nor did the People of the Book dissent therefrom except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. But if any deny the Signs of Allah, Allah is swift in calling to account.
May Allah subhanna wa taala forgive us, and make us of those who are truly successful.
Salaam Brother Rami:
a quick look at this shows some inconsistent assumptions in your mathematical equations to represent the message from each Ayat.
however, I think its a fresh approach, and I will give you kudos on that.
I will write to you later to explain how and what I see, it may be that you have sound reasons to explain your conditions/assumptions clearly to me.
Ma'assalaama
on August 6, 2005 2:13 PMI have another equation of interest
F(X) = Length of this life ∕ Length of Next Life
If (Length of this life) remains constant, as (Length of next life) goes to infinity, F(X) approaches zero. However, if (Length of this life) remains constant, as (Length of next life) goes to zero, F(X) goes to infinity.
Muslims argument: (Length of next life) approaches infinity therefore F(X) approaches zero.
Atheist argument: (Length of next life) approaches zero therefore F(X) approaches infinity.
Math can work both ways akhi. Be careful!
Asalaam Aleikum Warahmatullah Wabarakatu,
Br. Faisal,
Very good, but divison by zero is impossible. Therefore, the aetheist calculation would only give an error. Proving that Islam is correct.
on August 6, 2005 3:38 PMAsalaam Aleikum Warahmatullah Wabarakatu,
I also just added the equation for re-investment, since seeds can be re-planted.
I knew there was some purpose to school.
on August 6, 2005 4:07 PMCorrect! However we can reasonably calculate what will happen the the whole equation as the denominator appraoches an infinitely small number. That is the law of limits in calculus. Therefore, it has long been established that divison by zero is impossible but, we can under certain circumstances define division by zero and esitmate it. Any number divided by zero appraoching from either the positive or negative side gives an infintely high number.
Read the following for more info
on August 6, 2005 4:14 PMAsalaam Aleikum Warahmatullah Wabarakatu,
This is going to turn into a math debate.
But anyway, the aetheis argument is that the afterlife does not exist and never did exist and never will exist.
Therefore, we are talking in terms of real numbers and not limits, since we are never approaching zero. Therefore, the aethist argument would simply be DNE(does not exist).
on August 6, 2005 5:06 PMLOL!
I love you Bro.
on August 6, 2005 8:33 PMSalaam:
hahahaahaha...you guys are awesome!
I enjoyed the "math debate" mucho grande.
OK I think, lets leave the article as is.
Again it was quiet refreshing to see this approach Br. Rami.
Ma'Assalaama
Question:
what does F(x) signify in the equation by Br. Faisal? I'm not looking for the mathematical explanation here ...
If I understand correctly, in any equation, f(x) would lead to some equation that is dependent on x. Over here, are we saying x is each individual in question? If so, what does f(x) approaching zero mean? If the afterlife, in relation to life in this world, is infinite, then ...
Thanks
on August 7, 2005 11:18 AMBrother questioner. Since I have done some research on Atheism, here is the argument they put forth. These are not my words mind you, this is what the atheists say
"Theists and those who believe in an after life are unrealistic. They cannot deal with the reality that there is no life after and this world is all we get. We only have one chance to make the best of what we have while we have it. Theists are contemptuous of this life because they believe in a life after this one. However, since there is no life afterwards, this life is infinitely valuable."
Now thiests retort
"It is the atheist that cannot deal with the reality of accountability. Since there is an after life, this life is worthless in comparison to that one. It is the atheist who is contemptuous of the life after and it is he who cannot deal with reality. We must make use of what we have while we have it in this life since the life after, we won't get another chance. In that life, we will either be rewarded or punished for what we did here."
So how much value should we put on the life we have on this planet?
Say x is the length of this life and the value/utility/happiness we receive in this life is a function of x.
F(x) = (Some function of x)
Since we know that the length of this life is finite, the right hand side will be finite therefore the utility received in this life F(x) is finite.
Bother theists and atheists agree so far. We can only live so long and we can only be so happy in this life but eventually, all theists and atheists die. Therefore, utility of this life finite. Everyone agrees so far.
Now lets introduce two other equations. What if there is/isn’t an after life? Let us build another equation and call it G(x) where G(x) is the utility received in the next life.
G(x) = (Some function of x)
The theist claims that it is some function of x (how good/evil you were in this life) and approaches infinite disutility (you will be in hell) or infinite utility (you’ll be in heaven).
G(x)= -∞ or G(x)= +∞ (Theist position)
Now the atheist claims that there is no after life, no hell or heaven therefore no utility or disutility in the next life.
G(x) = 0
Now with both positions in mind, how do we value this life?
First the theist position
F(x) / G(x) = (Utility of this life / Utility of the after life) = Finite number / (Either a negative or positive infinity) = 0
Therefore in comparison to the after life, this life is worthless. We should be concerned with the next life and not this one.
Now the atheist position
F(x) / G(x) = (Utility of this life / Utility of the after life) = Finite number / 0 = ¥
Therefore, this life is infinitely precious. We should be concerned only about this life and not about a non-existent next life.
Before someone says division by zero is impossible, let us take brother Rmai’s equration above and see what happens if we do a little manipulation
F(x) = x ÷ ∞
Then, F(x) =0
Now plug back in 0 for F(x) we get
0 = x /∞
If we multiply both sides by infinity and divide both sides by zero, we get
∞= x /0
And if there are still doubts, refer to the math link I provided above.
Now the point of this whole post is that math does not concern itself with the proof of the after life. It just takes that position as given. If we assume there is no after life, then the atheists are right and if we assume there is, then the theists are right. But these equations do not provide us with the proof of whether or not the after life exists. Depending on the input (whether the after life exists or not) the math can swing the vote either way. That is why, I said we need to be careful.
Peace!!!
Asalaam Aleikum Warahmatullah Wabarakatu,
Multiplying both sides by infinity:
0 * ∞ = (x * ∞) ÷ ∞
0 = x
on August 7, 2005 2:14 PMThere should be a warning at the top of this piece for liberal arts majors.
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