Sunday, Safar 25, 1445 AH / 10 September 2023

as Salaamu Alaykum

Welcome to another issue of the Optimized Muslim Newsletter on all things self-development from a Muslim's perspective. I synthesise and filter ideas, quotes, resources and more so we can become better Muslims in sha Allah

In today's email: Hedonic adaptation, warrior-scholar AI, just-in-time information, recommended links & more)

Probably a 5 minute read or so

What's happening at Optimized Muslim?

Alhamdulillah recorded my first guest podcast since March! I interviewed a serial entrepreneur and founder of a fintech start-up. The whole thing was completely serendipitous. We connected over LinkedIn and within 10 minutes, I was pleasantly surprised by the brother's ideas and thinking.

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I'm currently accepting new clients for my high-performance coaching, Find out more, see testimonials and book a free call here:

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Prompt: A 10th-century Muslim warrior-scholar overlooking the city of Baghdad with a sword in hand whilst observing his bookshelf. Realistic, detailed and awe-inspiring. (made with Microsoft Bing which is free)

Qur'an Ayah

وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا لَعِبٌۭ وَلَهْوٌۭ ۖ وَلَلدَّارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌۭ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

“The life of this world is nothing but a game and a distraction; the home in the Hereafter is best for those who are aware of God”. [6:32]

Hadith

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If Adam's son had a valley full of gold, he would like to have two valleys, for nothing fills his mouth except dust. And Allah forgives him who repents to Him." Sahih - al Bukhari 6439

More on this topic below

JIT VS JIC Drowning in an information deluge, aren't we all? ℹ️

Consider this, what if we managed our mental diet just like businesses manage inventory?

Let's not use our minds like a warehouse crammed with random facts and figures. Let's use it more akin to a finely tuned machine, ready to execute tasks with superior precision and efficiency.

Hundreds of years ago, most of human knowledge was confined to grand libraries. If you were living in Baghdad at the time of the House of Wisdom or the Grand Library of Baghdad, you arguably had the World’s knowledge a few hours away depending on your location. With the advent of the printing press, then the internet, and now artificial intelligence, knowledge is virtually instantaneous.

Sure, we can drown in oceans of videos, books, podcasts, and more. We can mindlessly consume 'informative' content (better than scrolling TikTok, right?). But is it optimal and is it closer to "Ihsan"?

Yes, it contributes to building general knowledge and frameworks around a topic and there's a place for that, but what's the more optimized strategy?

Enter 'Just-In-Time' and 'Just-In-Case' inventory models. Businesses use the former to cut the flab, and the latter to safeguard against sudden demand.

Here's the strategy: Dive into action first. Then revisit the information reservoir with a focussed approach. Seek the golden nugget that propels you to the next sub-goal. Think of it as the 'Just-In-Time' approach to mental diet.

This notion resonates with the concept of "Ihsan," which encourages us to strive for excellence and do things in the best possible way. Yes, consuming information about creating a pitch deck for podcast sponsors is “useful” but not if you have yet to record an episode. It’s “productive procrastination”

Next time you're about to dive into that article or podcast, ask yourself - is this 'Just-In-Time' or 'Just-In-Case'?

"I'm just so busy to do this:"⌚

Questions often act as powerful self-checkers. They should be part of our self-reflection and muhaasabah exercises.

You say you're so busy but what does your screen time app on your phone say? What does your calendar say? What does your Netflix account say? What does your (you get the idea) say?

"Wisdom & Intelligence"🧠

"Wisdom without intelligence can still lead to a good, simple life. Intelligence without wisdom is a special (and dangerous) form of stupidity.

Intelligence is the ability to understand many ideas. Wisdom is the ability to identify the few ideas worth understanding." James Clear

Hedonic Adaptation and the Valley Full of gold" hadith 🪙

Ever pondered over the concept of 'Hedonic Adaptation'? Once I started to understand this powerful hadith, it completely changed my perspective.

The first time it struck me was when I visited Pakistan as a child. You have a massive divide between rich and poor. Yet, when it came to apparent joy and happiness, especially among kids in the village, it was nowhere near commensurate.

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If Adam's son had a valley full of gold, he would like to have two valleys, for nothing fills his mouth except dust. And Allah forgives him who repents to Him." Sahih - al Bukhari 6439

This hadith reinforces the idea that constantly looking for happiness or fulfilment by chasing more material gains is a fool's game.

Isn't it ironic? Our Deen has bestowed this wisdom upon us and life itself reflects it time and again, yet we chase ephemeral material gains, in search of everlasting happiness.

What is hedonic adaptation?

Hedonic adaptation, also known as the hedonic treadmill, refers to the tendency of individuals to return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite significant positive or negative life events or changes.

So, what does this mean for our personal development journey? It means that the pursuit of lasting fulfilment requires a mindful approach.

As Muslims, we have a profound guide in the teachings of Islam. The hadith reminds us that even if we had treasures beyond imagination, our souls would yearn for more.

True contentment lies not in amassing wealth but in nurturing our faith and character.

Understanding hedonic adaptation can help set and achieve long-term values-aligned or akhirah-centric goals.

Essentially, before setting a ladder against a wall to climb over it, ensure it's the right wall to begin with.

Interesting links and recommended content🤔

• Marc andreeson on whether AI will take over the world: Link

• About one in seven people in the UK now take medication to treat depression and not being aware of side-effects: Link to news article

• Japan considers a four-day workweek for civil servants to attract talent and address long working hours. Link to article

• Does AI spell the end of Islamic Law (fiqh)? Sh Ruzwan (Isyllabus). Link to 1 hr 27 YouTube video What an awesome discussion. Btw SH Ruzwan is like a hidden gem (a former teacher of mine 😌)

Note: none are affiliate links unless specified

Currently Reading:📖

The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey. Link

The key idea is that you should trust the "subconscious" part of your brain more when it comes to learning skills and performing. However, it talks a lot about tennis (I should have gotten that from the title 😂 but the subtitle got me: "The ultimate guide to the mental side of peak performance" - the lessons are transferrable.

"Judgment results in tightness, and tightness interferes with the fluidity required for accurate and quick movement. Relaxation produces smooth strokes and results from accepting your strokes as they are, even if erratic"

Question to ask ourselves

If an alien looked at your daily routine, would it conclude that you're likely to achieve your 5-year goals?

Some more quotes from my readings:

“Death is one prophecy that never fails.” 

Emerson’s line was, “If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what books he reads.”

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Aadil

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