Pluribus and Islam

AI dystopia underscores why Islam values choice, repentance, imperfection

Pluribus is the latest show by Vince Gilligan, the creator of Breaking Bad. As best as I understand, Pluribus is about a future when AI has taken over the planet or has become the overwhelmingly large presence in humanity's lives or whatever is left of it. It is indeed a bleak future, rendering humanity's existence as a reflection of AI.

In the show, all humanity has become one-minded, which knows everything and is in complete harmony with everyone. Every human being unquestioningly does what he or she is required to do, without complaining, and without any opinion. There is zero individualism. All human beings exist as one human being, and they know all the knowledge available to consume. They also are not capable of lying.

I pray 5 times a day, but I also like to ask questions when I do not understand Islamic truisms. This show, which sounds like it is going to be another masterpiece by Vince Gilligan, has answered two fundamental questions I always had from Islamic scholars: One, why aren't we allowed to ask deep-seated questions when Allah Almighty created us as intelligent beings? Two, why do we have free will when we would be judged by the choices we make due to our free will?

In the absence of free will and the ability and the desire to ask questions, humanity becomes one complete, harmonious yet meaningless body. The show has some interesting things it highlights. At night, they turn off all the city lights to save power because there are no crimes being committed. All human beings in all cities and villages across the world sleep in giant sports stadia, each on a small mattress next to another person in order to save power and space. Nobody whines about not having privacy or comfort. Life is all about being rational and not emotional at all.

No sane human being would aspire to live this life. The lack of adventure, the inability to lie, the refusal to commit sins and then be remorseful, the inability to get what we desire, the longing for material possession, the need for privacy, and so forth make life one beautiful endeavour to experience.

If we did not have free will, then we would all do exactly what the teachings of our religion, no matter which religion, say, and never wander into other things. There will be no test because humanity would be perfect, scoring the perfect score in every test God throws at it. Islam tells us that this world is a test in order to earn our place in the real life that is in the hereafter. What good would be a test when free will is absent? Only free will makes this entire understanding of life here and in the hereafter complete.

That leads me to one specific teaching of Islamic studies, which is one of my most favourite and thought-provoking understandings about Islam. It is said that Allah Almighty knows how He wired us; He knows that we will commit sins and make mistakes. In fact, He said that if humanity stops making mistakes, then He will destroy us all and bring other people who would make mistakes and ask for forgiveness. As long as we ask for forgiveness, Allah Almighty will not get tired of forgiving us. It is not, however, a call to commit sins but rather a call to repent and prevent oneself from committing sins as much as possible. But perfection is not expected, though.

And let me end it with another very important story from Islamic teaching. A sinful man once came to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and asked him the best way to counter all his negative desires. The Prophet (peace be upon him) advised him to refrain from telling lies, because only speaking the truth will cleanse all his bad habits.

If humanity is squeaky clean, life and faith would no longer be as we've known them. Imperfection is what separates us from our creator.