Tawheed in Science Through the Lens of Human Behaviour

"And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out and will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him" - (Quran 65:2-3)

When I obtained my bachelor's degree from a technical school in Algeria, I had the opportunity to continue my graduate studies and work in different cities worldwide. These living and educational experiences allowed me to learn about very different aspects of natural sciences by conducting experiments in research laboratories, but also to discover the diverse facets of human nature by interacting with people of different cultures, religions, and social backgrounds.

When I first set foot in New York in October 1980, I entered a world unlike anything I had known. Here, I wasn't just studying science; I was learning the deeper science of human connection across cultures and faiths. I especially had fun picking up some words from various international languages and dialects.

Being for the first time in a hotel for international students called "International House", I remember spending my first months trying to guess the country and the language of the students I crossed in the hotel's corridors. After some time, I could remember some names and became friends with some residents.

Arriving in Quebec City (Canada) in January of 1990, I realized that the French language has a very different accent from the one spoken in France, and the interaction of the local people with nature taught me many lessons.

For example, I was surprised to see some people very impatiently waiting for the first snowstorm of the long and icy winter. I realized later that winter in Quebec City is not only a season but also part of their cultural heritage. I also remember going to Laval University one day of February 1992, while a northern wind was blowing, and the sky had a magic blue color. On my way to the bus stop, I met a few people, and they were completely wrapped up in warm clothes. That day the temperature reached - 50oC with the wind-chill factor, and I felt my face burning.

As I was walking very fast to avoid freezing, I thought that hell is not only about fire but could also be about extremely cold temperatures. I also learned during this long, cold winter that patience is the best cure for hardship.

When I landed in Osaka (Japan) in November of 1994, I felt like I was on a different planet. Every bit of wisdom I learned in New York City and Quebec City was almost useless. My most challenging experience is that people don't always tell you what they think, but what pleases you. This is called "Harmony" in Japan.

For example, to have a welcoming start, a party was organized for me in a restaurant where all the members of the research group seemed very relaxed and happy talking to me. However, when I started my work the next week, I was surprised to notice that nobody seemed to know me anymore. I also learned that Japanese society is a "group society", and parents teach their children how to behave in society, like parents in other countries teach their children about religion.

While living in these cities, I saw some people using cutlery to eat, whereas others used their hands or chopsticks. However, I knew that everyone was eating for sustenance and survival. Similarly, I heard many languages and dialects, but everyone had the same common need to communicate and express human feelings.

My best experience as a human being was in New York City when some friends of different cultures found love and embarked on intercultural marriages. Indeed, during a wedding ceremony of a Turkish friend and a Korean lady, I asked myself, "Why is love stronger than the difference in cultures?"

One day in the Fall of 1982, I attended a cultural event organized at International House. During the event, I saw international students wearing their different colorful dresses; I also heard many types of international music and tasted many kinds of food and drinks.

In the middle of the colors, I noticed one young lady wearing a black maxiskirt and a white shirt. To learn about her culture, I asked her, "Where are you from? She gave me the answer to my previous question. She replied with a big smile, "I am from my parents, just like you". I said to myself, "Exactly, going from our parents to grandparents to ancestors, we all end up being from Adam (as) created by Allah (SWT)". So, why was love stronger than the cultural differences for those new couples in New York City? I have the answer from Allah (SWT), as He says:

"And one of His signs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves so that you may find comfort in them. And He has placed between you compassion and mercy. Surely this is a sign for people who reflect" (Quran 30:21).

I also realized that the practice of faith varies widely, which I noticed in detail from visiting churches in New York City and Quebec City and shrines in Japan, and observing religious practices in those cities. It seemed that people from different religions were worshipping different Gods, but again, by reading the Holy Quran, Allah (SWT) comforted me by saying:

"O mankind, indeed, We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted" (Quran 49:13).

Remembering my scientific research activities in those cities, I utilized diverse sources of scientific knowledge to interpret data from my lab experiments. The different mathematical models I used to analyze my lab data seemed different in their applications.

However, I realized later that they have a similar profound concept. I imagined that these scientific laws could belong to one fundamental principle. This supposition informed my spirituality and encouraged me to look for the hidden laws beyond the material world. To find an answer, I tried to make an analogy between the mathematical models used in my lab experiments and my life experiences with people of different cultures.

I said to myself, "People behave differently (because of different cultures) for the same human needs as they all belong to One Creator (SWT). In the same way, all the mathematical models I used to interpret my lab data look different because they belong to different fields of natural sciences (like different cultures). However, they also could belong to one Divine Science imposed by Allah (SWT) on the whole universe".

In conclusion, my current knowledge and perception have led me to conclude that spirituality is needed in Islam to be able to perceive that Allah (SWT) alone governs everything behind the stage of the visible material world. For my part, I realize now that the hidden Hand of Allah (SWT) was guiding me through every event of my life, whether positive or negative. At times, this has created beneficial opportunities in my life and has also steered me away from potentially harmful situations or choices.