#04 Data-driven mantra of a conscious mind

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.

Often unreasonable asks, advice like "Do what your heart says!" and poor logic have plagued my personal and professional spheres, hopefully, obscured behind the trustworthy blue UI of LinkedIn. I earnestly hope.

Operating at the intersection of emotionless strategists, data-led analysts, intuition-led bosses, emotionally-charged customers, and team and close family members' irrationality added to my life experiences.

I know everyone goes through the same experiences because everyone is subject to the same trials and tribulations of life. One should embrace challenges and discomfort to grow. Haven't you heard about it?

It's all part of the journey of development of human beings. A man or a woman is the 'sum-product' of their choices, struggles, and intelligence. Don't you agree?

Human beings are invigorated by the Qur'an to be data-driven in making decisions.

In the Ramadan of March 2024, I earnestly started a study of the Qur'an. For the first time, after 32 years of having lived and breathed.

I had no job to log in to for over 12 hours a day and 7 days a week; Limited obligations. Doting parents helped me maintain life's daily schedule, and the mosque in front of our house reminded me faithfully of the prayer times while I was engrossed in contemplation. Alhumdulillah, such luxury!

While I found it easy to read the literal translations and transliterations of the Arabic Qur'an, I felt ill-equipped to understand the context of the verses, and my untrained brain sought more help. After several attempts and weeks of searching online for written material or helpful guides, I found most content to be heavily sectarian, dividing not only the Muslim world but also the People of The Book and humanity at large. Ironically, the Qur'an is to benefit those who do not believe in Allah (SWT) and be a source of mercy for those who do. And Allah (SWT) knows best!

One such contextual search took me to a YouTube video of Ustad Nouman Ali Khan's (NAK) Tafseer (assistance on interpretation, background of revelation) of a verse from the Qur'an, which led me to the wealth of knowledge of other tafseers by him and curated and uploaded by the kindest of people worldwide who have had the pleasure of being his audience. It's been both eye-opening and life-changing. Subhanallah!

In one of his tafseers, Ustad NAK directed his audience to a YouTube video titled The Purpose of Life by Jeffrey Lang, a maths teacher and an American Muslim convert. Upon watching this video, one of the unexpected takeaways that shook me is how human beings are invigorated by the Qur'an to be data-driven in making decisions. The following image is a screenshot of a partial summary of this YouTube video.

Source: https://reinspyre.com/2023/06/25/purpose-of-life-by-jeffrey-lang/

So, I deep-dived into how the Qur'an emphasizes the importance of clear, evidence-based thinking and discourages making assumptions without knowledge.

1. Contemplation and Reasoning:

The Qur'an continually encourages believers to use their intellect and reason. It's not just about faith; it's about understanding the world around us with clarity and logic.

[a] Verse 3:191, Surah Al-Imran, Qur'an, states:

"????????? ??????????? ??????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ??????????? ???????????????? ??? ?????? ????????????? ??????????? ? ???????? ??? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????????? ??????? ??????? ????????"        

Transliteration: "Allatheena yathkuroona Allaha qiyaman waquAAoodan waAAala junoobihim wayatafakkaroona fee khalqi alssamawati waal-ardi rabbana ma khalaqta hatha batilan subhanaka faqina AAathaba alnnari"

Translation: "Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], 'Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.'"

[b] Verse 2:164, Surah Al-Baqarah, Qur'an, states:

"????? ??? ?????? ????????????? ??????????? ???????????? ????????? ???????????? ??????????? ??????? ??????? ??? ????????? ????? ??????? ???????? ????? ??????? ??????? ???? ?????????? ??? ?????? ????????? ???? ????????? ?????? ????????? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ???????? ??????????? ?????????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ??????????? ???????? ????????? ???????????"??        

Transliteration: "Inna fee khalqi alssamawati waal-ardi waikhtilafi allayli waalnnahari waalfulki allatee tajree fee albahri bima yanfaAAu alnnasa wama anzala Allahu mina alssama-i min ma-in faahya bihi al-arda baAAda mawtiha wabaththa feeha min kulli dabbatin watasreefi alrriyahi waalssahabi almusakhkhari bayna alssama-i waal-ardi laayatin liqawmin yaAAqiloona"

Translation: "Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, and the ships that sail in the sea with that which benefits people, and what Allah has sent down from the sky of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness, and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and the earth are signs for a people who reason."

[c] Verses 67:3-4, Surah Al-Mulk, Qur'an, state:

"??????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??? ?????? ???????????? ??? ????????? ? ????????? ????????? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? * ????? ??????? ????????? ??????????? ????????? ???????? ????????? ???????? ?????? ???????"        

Transliteration: "Allathee khalaqa sabAAa samawatin tibaqan ma tara fee khalqi alrrahmani min tafawutin faorjiAAi albasara hal tara min futoorin * Thumma irjiAAi albasara karratayni yanqalib ilayka albasaru khasi-an wahuwa haseerun"??

Translation: "He who created seven heavens in layers. You do not see in the creation of the Most Merciful any inconsistency. So return your vision to the sky, do you see any breaks? * Then return your vision twice again. Your vision will return to you humbled while it is fatigued."

This reflective observation and reasoning — are principles fundamental to data analysis.

2. Avoiding Assumptions:

One of the most profound lessons I've learned from the Qur'an is the danger of making assumptions without proper evidence.

[a] Verse 49:12, Surah Al-Hujurat, Qur'an states:

"??? ???????? ????????? ??????? ??????????? ???????? ????? ???????? ????? ?????? ???????? ??????"        

Transliteration: "Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo ijtaniboo katheeran mina alththanni inna baAAda alththanni isthmus"

Translation: "O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin."

[b] Verse 17:36, Surah Al-Isra, Qur'an states:

"????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ? ????? ????????? ??????????? ???????????? ????? ?????????? ????? ?????? ??????????"        

Transliteration: "Wala taqfu ma laysa laka bihi AAilmun inna alssamAAa waalbasara waalfu-ada kullu ola-ika kana AAanhu mas-oolan."

Translation: "And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart—about all those [one] will be questioned."

[c] Verse 49:6, Surah Al-Hujurat, Qur'an states:

"??? ???????? ????????? ??????? ??? ????????? ??????? ???????? ????????????? ??? ????????? ??????? ??????????? ???????????? ?????? ??? ?????????? ??????????"        

Transliteration: "Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo in jaakum fasiqun binaba-in fatabayyanoo an tuseeboo qawman bijahalatin fatusbihoo AAala ma faAAaltum nadimeena."

Translation: "O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful."

It was a paradigm shift. I reflected on how my assumptions had led to grave errors and had harmed me personally and professionally.

I was intrinsically encouraged to seek clarity, ask questions, and verify information before concluding. These are fundamental principles in the practice of data-driven decision-making.

3. Starting from Evidence

The Qur'an places a high value on evidence and the pursuit of knowledge.

[a] Verse 16:43, Surah An-Nahl, Qur'an, states:

"????? ??????????? ??? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ?????????? ??????????? ?????? ????????? ??? ??????? ??? ???????????"        

Transliteration: "Wama arsalna min qablika illa rijalan noohee ilayhim fais-aloo ahla alththikri in kuntum la taAAlamoona"

Translation: "And We sent not before you [as messengers] except men to whom We revealed [Our message]. So ask the people of knowledge if you do not know."

[b] Verse 21:7, Surah Al-Anbiya, Qur'an, states:

"????? ??????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ?????????? ? ??????????? ?????? ????????? ??? ??????? ??? ???????????"        

Transliteration: "Wama arsalna qablaka illa rijalan noohee ilayhim fais-aloo ahla alththikri in kuntum la taAAlamoona"

Translation: "And We sent not before you [as messengers] except men to whom We revealed [Our message]. So ask the people of knowledge if you do not know."

[c] Verse 29:20, Surah Al-Ankabut, Qur'an, states:

"???? ??????? ??? ????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ? ????? ??????? ??????? ??????????? ?????????? ? ????? ??????? ?????? ????? ?????? ???????"        

Transliteration: "Qul seeroo fee alardi faonthuroo kayfa badaa alkhalqa thumma Allahu yunshio alnnash-ata al-akhirata inna Allaha AAala kulli shay-in qadeerun"

Translation: "Say, 'Travel through the land and observe how He began creation. Then Allah will produce the final creation. Indeed, Allah, over all things, is competent.'"

These verses guide Muslims to question and seek knowledge and expertise when making decisions. Whether it's market research, customer feedback, or performance metrics, the Qur'an's teachings remind us that decisions should be evidence-based, not conjecture or instinct-led.

I never thought my faith could be the roadmap for navigating challenges that arise in the pursuit of earning a livelihood in this world. Subhanallah!

I started reflecting on key aspects of my work experiences:

1. Leading high-performing teams and driving operations in fast-paced environments demanded not just upskilling technically but also a deep understanding of human behavior and motivation;
2. Spearheading initiatives involved the integration of data-driven insights with customer feedback because empathy alone wasn't enough, and frequency & severity of occurrence of issues are other needs for prioritizing problems to solve with limited resources.

... several more that I aspire to add here later. Inshaallah!

Within Islam, reason and logic are pragmatic life choices.

The following image is a screenshot of a partial AI transcript of the YouTube video: The Purpose of Life by Jeffrey Lang.

Source: https://muslimcentral.com/jeffrey-lang-the-purpose-of-life/

It's Day 0; I am just getting started.