Pearls of Umar ibn Al-Khattab (3)

“Go easy on yourself, for the outcome of all affairs is determined by Allah’s decree. If something is meant to go elsewhere, it will never come your way, but if it is yours by destiny, from you it cannot flee.”

“Sit with those who have sinned and repented for they have the softest of hearts.” 

“Learn dignity and tranquility.”

“No amount of guilt can change the past and no amount of worrying can change the future.”

“Sometimes the people with the worst past, create the best future."

-- Umar ibn Al-Khattab

ChatGPT - Stoicism and Islam - common principles?

Yesterday, I had a good conversation with ChatGPT exploring Islam Inc. as a way to explain Islam from the perspective of a Silicon Valley company. As part of this chat, we explored the leadership principles of the people from Islam who were instrumental in making Islam Inc. endure over centuries.

As a long time reader of the modern books of Stoic philosophy, I acknowledged most of Stoic principles from the lens of Islamic principles. A large part, IMHO overlaps and so I don't have any issues promoting Stoicism - although I do advise one doesn't have to look outside the leaders of Islam to find what they're looking for.

I wanted to inspect my opinion so I asked ChatGPT - turns out, I am right... :-) I like the way ChatGPT empathises and also respectfully put PBUH (Peace Be Upon Him) when referring to the prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

I wonder if the source of ChatGPT's response came from here? It would be great to see how the machine reasons and cites references that seeded its response.

When viewed from Stoic philosophy lens, would you say Islam Inc's leaders embodied Stoicism or exceeded it?

Stoicism is a school of philosophy founded in Athens by Zeno of Citium in the early 3rd century BCE. It teaches that the path to happiness and virtue is found in accepting the present moment and focusing on what one can control, rather than being disturbed by external events or emotions. Stoicism emphasizes rational thinking, self-discipline, and emotional resilience.

When examining the leadership of Islam Inc. through the lens of Stoic philosophy, there are certainly some parallels and overlapping principles. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the successive leaders of Islam Inc. exhibited traits such as self-discipline, patience, perseverance, and emotional resilience, which align with Stoic ideals.

However, it is important to recognize that Islam is a distinct belief system with its own set of values and teachings, which are not identical to Stoic philosophy. For example, Islam places a strong emphasis on the belief in God, the importance of prayer, and submission to the will of God. These concepts are not central to Stoic thought, which is more focused on the individual's control over their own reactions and emotions.

It would be an oversimplification to say that the leaders of Islam Inc. either embodied Stoicism or exceeded it. Instead, it is more accurate to acknowledge that there are areas of overlap and shared values between the two belief systems, while also recognizing their distinct philosophical and theological foundations.

Yes, agreed. Let's focus on the areas of overlap. What are they?

There are several areas of overlap between Stoicism and the teachings of Islam Inc. when considering the leadership traits of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the successive leaders. Some of these shared principles include:

1. Self-discipline: Both Stoicism and Islam emphasize the importance of self-discipline and self-control. In Islam, self-discipline is practiced through prayer, fasting, and adherence to moral guidelines. Stoicism encourages self-discipline to maintain rational thinking and emotional resilience in the face of external events or emotions.

2. Patience and perseverance: In both belief systems, patience and perseverance are regarded as essential virtues. Stoicism teaches that individuals should accept the present moment and focus on what they can control, while Islam emphasizes patience in the face of adversity and maintaining faith in God's plan.

3. Emotional resilience: Stoicism and Islam both encourage emotional resilience and the ability to maintain inner peace and tranquility, regardless of external circumstances. Stoicism emphasizes the power of rational thought and self-control to manage emotions, while Islam teaches that reliance on God and spiritual practices can bring peace and contentment.

4. Gratitude and contentment: Both Stoicism and Islam encourage gratitude and contentment with one's circumstances. Stoicism teaches that individuals should appreciate what they have and avoid excessive desires, while Islam encourages gratitude for God's blessings and discourages envy or greed.

5. Compassion and empathy: Both belief systems value compassion and empathy toward others. Stoicism teaches that humans are all part of a larger community and should support one another, while Islam emphasizes the importance of compassion, charity, and helping those in need.

6. Focus on virtue and moral character: Stoicism and Islam both stress the importance of developing strong moral character and living according to ethical principles. Stoicism teaches that virtue is the ultimate good and that individuals should strive to act with wisdom, courage, justice, and moderation. In Islam, moral character is essential in following God's guidance and becoming a righteous believer.

While these areas of overlap exist, it is important to remember that Stoicism and Islam are distinct belief systems with their own unique philosophical and theological foundations. The overlaps can provide an interesting point of comparison but should not be taken as a complete equivalence between the two systems.

Pearls of Umar ibn Al-Khattab (2)

“Remind yourselves of Allah, for it is a cure. Do not remind yourselves of the people, for it is a disease.”

“A man should be like a child with his wife, but if she needs him, he should act like a man.” 

“The most beloved of people to me is he that points out my flaws to me.”

“Learn the Arabic language; it will sharpen your wisdom.”

“Sit with those who love Allah, for that enlightens the mind.

-- Umar ibn Al-Khattab

Pearls of Umar ibn Al-Khattab (1)

The best way to defeat someone is to beat him at politeness.

Do not grieve over what has passed unless it makes you work harder for what is about to come.

Whosoever shows you your faults is your friend. Those that pay you lip service in praise are your executioners.

I have never regretted my silence, as for my speech I’ve regretted it many times

The less attachment to the world. The easier your life.

-- Umar ibn Al-Khattab

Imam al-Ghazali on Time Management

Your time should not be without any structure, such that you occupy yourself arbitrarily with whatever comes along.

Rather, you must take account of yourself and order your worship during the day and the night, assigning to each period of time an activity that must not be neglected nor replaced by another activity.

By this ordering of time, the blessing in time will show itself. A person who leaves himself without a plan as animals do, not knowing what he is to do at any given moment, will spend most of his time fruitlessly.

Your time is your life, and your life is your capital: by it you make your trade, and by it you will reach the eternal bounties in the proximity of Allah.

Every single breath of yours is a priceless jewel, because it is irreplaceable; once it is gone, there is no return for it.

So do not be like fools who rejoice each day as their wealth increases while their lives decrease. What good is there in wealth that increases while one’s lifespan decreases?

Do not rejoice except in an increase of knowledge or an increase of good works.

Truly they are your two friends who will accompany you in your grave, when your spouse, your wealth, your children, and your friends will remain behind.

-- Imam al-Ghazali

 

You're not so perfect either, consider your failings too

Whenever you take offense at someone's wrongdoing, immediately turn to your own similar failings, such as seeing money as good, or pleasure, or a little fame -- whatever form it takes. By thinking of this, you'll quickly forget your anger, considering also what compels them -- for what else could they do? Or, if you are able, remove their compulsion.

-- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 10.30

Remember Socrates's tolerant belief that "no one does wrong on purpose". The clearest proof of that hypothesis? All the times we did wrong without malice or intention. Remember them? The time you were rude because you hadn't slept in two days. The time you acted on bad information. The time you got carried away, forgot, didn't understand. The list goes on and on.

This is why it is so important not to write people off or brand them as enemies. Be as forgiving of them as you are of yourself. Cut them the same slack you would for yourself so that you can continue to work with them and make use of their talents.

* Source: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman 

Just do it, even when you feel lazy and you don't want to

 Anything that must yet be done, virtue can do with courage and promptness. For anyone would call it a sign of foolishness for one to undertake a task with a lazy and begrudging spirit, or to push the body in one direction and the mind in another, to be torn apart by wildly divergent impulses.

-- Seneca, Moral Letters, 31.b-32

Quality is b=much better than quantity...one home run is much better than two doubles. -- Steve Jobs 

* Source: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman 

Want less, want nothing = have everything

 No person has the power to have everything they want, but it is in their power not to want what they don't have, and to cheerfully put to good use what they do have.

-- Seneca, Moral Letters, 123.3

John D. Rockefeller, who was as rich as they come, believed that "a man's wealth must be determined by the relation of his desires and expenditures to his income. If he feels rich on $10 and has everything he desires, he really is rich."....Today, you could try to increase your wealth, or you could take a shortcut and just want less.

* Source: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman 

Don't sweat the small stuff

 It is essential for you to remember that the attention you give to any action should be in due proportion to its worth, for then you won't tire and give up, if you aren't busying yourself with lesser things beyond what should be allowed.

-- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 4.32b

"...don't spend your time (the most valuable and least renewable of all your resources) on the things that don't matter. What about the things that don't matter but you're absolutely obligated to do? Well, spend as little time and worry on them as possible....If you give things more time and energy than they deserve...then sadly, you've made the important things - your family, your health, your true commitments - less so as a result of what you've stolen from them."

* Source: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman     

Don't be miserable in advance

 It's ruinous for the soul to be anxious about the future and miserable in advance of misery, engulfed by anxiety that the things it desires might remain its own until the very end. For such a soul will never be at rest -- by longing for things to come it will lose the ability to enjoy present things.

-- Seneca, Moral Letters, 98.5b-6a

"The pragmatist, the person of action, is too busy to waste time on such silliness....let the news come when it does. Be too busy working to care."

* Source: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman     

Cut out the unnecessary, simplification leads to tranquility

 It is said that if you would have peace of mind, busy yourself with little. But wouldn't a better saying be do what you must and as required of a rational being created for public life? For this brings not only the peace of mind of doing few things, but the greatest peace of doing them well. Since the vast majority of our words and actions are unnecessary, corralling them will create an abundance of leisure and tranquility. As a result, we shouldn't forget at each moment to ask, is this one of the unnecessary things? But we must corral not only unnecessary actions but unnecessary thoughts too, so needless acts don't tag along after them.

-- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 4.24

"What vanity obligates us to do, what greed signs us up for, what ill discipline adds to our plate, what a lack of courage prevents us from saying no to - all of these we must cut, cut, cut"

* Source: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman     

Only fools rush in

 A good person is invincible, for they don't rush into contests in which they aren't the strongest. If you want their property, take it -- take also their staff, profession, and body. But you will never compel what they set out for, nor trap them in what they would avoid. For the only contest the good person enters is that of their own reasoned choice. How can such a person not be invincible?

-- Epictetus, Discourses, 3.6.5-7

"Some people think that 'choosing your battles' is weak or calculating. How could reducing the amount of times we fail or minimizing the number of needless injuries inflicted upon us be weak? How is that a bad thing? As the saying goes, discretion is the better part of valor. The Stoics call it reasoned choice. That means be reasonable! Think hard before choosing, and make yourself unbeatable. 

* Source: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman    

The buck stops with you, your mind

 For nothing outside my reasoned choice can hinder or harm it -- my reasoned choice calone can do this to itself.  If we would lean this way whenever we fail, and would blame only ourselves and remember that nothing but opinion is the cause of a troubled mind an uneasiness, then by God, I swear we would be making progress.

-- Epictetus, Discourses, 3.19.2-3

"Start where you need to. Even one minute without playing the blame game is progress in the art of living."

* Source: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman     

Turn your obstacle into an advantage

 Just as the nature of rational things has given to each person their rational powers, so it also gives us this power -- just as nature turns to its own purpose any obstacle or any opposition, sets its place in the destined order, and co-opts it, so every rational person can convert any obstacle into the raw material for their own purpose.

-- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 8.35

What things do you think have been holding you back that, in fact, can be a hidden source of strength?

* Source: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman    

Be consistent in virtue

This can be swiftly taught in very few words: virtue is the only good; there is no certain good without virtue; and virtue resides in our nobler part, which is the rational one. And what can this virtue be? True and steadfast judgment. For from this will arise every mental impulse, and by it every appearance that spurs our impulses will be rendered clear.

-- Seneca, Moral Letters, 71.32

* Source: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman   

Blow your own nose, get active in your own rescue

We cry to God Almighty, how can we escape this agony? Fool, don't you have hands? Or could it be God forgot to give you a pair? Sit and pray your nose doesn't run! Or, rather just wipe your nose and stop seeking a scapegoat.

-- Epictetus, Discourses, 2.16.13

The world is unfair. The game is rigged. So-and-so has it out for you. Maybe these theories are true, but practically speaking -- for the right here and now -- what good are they to you? That government report or that sympathetic news article isn't going to pay the bills or rehab your broken leg or find that bridge loan you need. Succumbing to self-pity and "woe is me" narrative accomplishes nothing -- nothing except sapping you of the energy and motivation you need to do something about your problem.

We have a choice: Do we focus on the ways we have been wronged, or do we use what we've been given and get to work? Will we wait for someone to save us, or will we listen to Marcus Aurelius's empowering call to "get active in your own rescue -- if you care for yourself at all -- and do it while you can." That's better than just blowing your own nose (which is a step forward in itself).

* Source: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman   

 

Control and Choice

The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. Where then do I look for good and evil? Not to uncontrollable externals, but within myself to the choices that are my own...

-- Epictetus, Discourses, 2.4.4-5

* Source: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman  

Stick with just the facts, don't get carried away

Don't tell yourself anything more than what the initial impressions report. It's been reported to you that someone is speaking badly about you. This is the report -- the report wasn't that you've been harmed. I see that my son is sick -- but not that his life is at risk. So always stay within your first impressions, and don't add to them in your head -- this way nothing can happen to you.

-- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 8.49

* Source: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman 

Start with where the world is

Do now what nature demands of you. Get right to it if that's in your power. Don't look around to see if people will know about it. Don't await the perfection of Plato's Republic, but be satisfied with even the smallest step forward and regard the outcome as a small thing.

-- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 9.29.(4)

As an  organizer I start from where the world is, as it is, not as I would like it to be. That we accept the world as it does not in any sense weaken our desire to change it into what we believe it should be -- it is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be.

-- Saul Alinksy in Rules for Radicals

* Source: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman 

There is always more room to maneuver than you think

Apply yourself to thinking through difficulties -- hard times can be softened, tight squeezes widened, and heavy loads made lighter for those who can apply the right pressure.

-- Seneca, On Tranquility of Mind, 10.4b

* Source: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman