The Journey of Civilization
This journey of human civilization has been mentioned in the Quran in terms of the changes that take place on earth from daytime to night time. In a similar way, a much bigger event shall take place on earth. As the Quran puts it: “You will surely move from one stage to another stage.” (84:19) The evolution of history makes it clear that human civilization is continuously advancing along the path of progress and development. The final model of this progress and development will be that which is called “spiritual civilization” or Paradise.
The evolution of history makes it clear that human civilization is continuously advancing along the path of progress and development. The final model of this will be that which is called “spiritual civilization” or Paradise.
The history of civilization shows that it has passed through three major phases and now all the indications are that it is in the fourth and final stage of its journey. The three major phases of civilization are as follows:
- The Stone Age;
- The Agricultural Age;
- The Industrial Age
It is a matter of common knowledge that these three phases of civilization have already taken place. However, Alvin Toffler, author of the bestseller, “Future Shock” says that the fourth phase or probably the last period of civilization will take place in the not too distant future. This author calls this fourth phase the Super-Industrial Age, which, as compared to the previous phases will be less materialistic. Therefore, it would be more appropriate to equate this fourth phase with spiritual civilization.
Let us take the first period of civilization, the Stone Age. It was a time when man could only use whatever material was present on the earth in its original form. Of all the materials, stone was the most readily available and the most useful. Although many other things existed on the earth apart from stone, like wood and animals, and there was even a simple form of agriculture, but because stone took pride of place as the most widely used material, this phase came to be called the Stone Age. So far as early homo sapiens was concerned, he possessed the same natural qualities as the people of the present day. For example, the latest research has shown that during the Stone Age civilization, the human brain contained one hundred billions particles, no less than what is contained in the human brain today. It was only because of a lack of education and knowledge that man at that time could not utilize his hidden potential.
So far as early homo sapiens was concerned, he possessed the same natural qualities as the people of the present day.
Then came the dawn of the agricultural period, during which man discovered more and more ways of harnessing nature. This period saw the development of irrigation, ploughing, the rearing and breeding of animals, and the use of iron and carts with wheels. In this way it was possible to lead a better life as compared to that of the previous age.
The industrial period began at the point when man moved ahead from animal power and invented mechanical power. Now man converted water into steam power and made steam engines. There was a further leap forward when petrol was discovered and used for propulsion. Similarly, modern methods of communication were developed which converted the whole world into a global village.
In the Industrial Age, by using mechanical power, man engaged in new enterprises such as the building of cities along modern lines, the production of fast-moving vehicles, the rapid communication of news, the setting up of paper mills, radio, television and eventually the coming of the Internet and social media.
In this way, there came into existence a whole new world, both beautiful and meaningful, with a fresh viewpoint on education and learning, which was called the industrial civilization.
The fourth phase of civilization is what Alvin Toffler has called the Super-industrial Age. In his view, the most exceptional aspect of this age will be complete automation, i.e. the use of electronics will be on such a large scale that most jobs will be performed with the absolute minimum of human control or intervention. In a normal situation a man would, ideally, be able, single-handedly, to fulfill all of his own personal requirements.
The advent of automation is an advance intimation of the joys of Paradise. Indeed, of Paradise, the Quran says: “Therein you shall have all that your souls desire, and therein you shall have all that you ask for as a rich provision from One who is ever forgiving and most merciful.” (The Quran 41:31-32)
From the scientific and academic standpoint, the above-mentioned facts make the ideal age of the future—the “spiritual civilization”—understandable in terms of being a super-industrial age.
This Super-Industrial Age is yet to reach completion, but it is in this fourth phase that the ideal world—in religious terms, Paradise—will probably take shape, in the world hereafter.
Apparently this fourth phase of civilization is yet to reach completion, but it is in this phase that that ideal world—in religious terms, Paradise—will most probably take shape, in the world hereafter.
