The World is Not a Worthy Prize: A Philosophical View on Global Wars

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The modern world, despite its technological prowess, is passing through one of the darkest and most volatile periods in history. As the Russia-Ukraine war continues to devastate lives in the North, the escalating nuclear and strategic tensions between the US and Iran in the Middle East bring humanity to the brink of a collective catastrophe. Amidst this chaos, a timeless truth from Bediuzzaman Said Nursi’s work, Letters, resonates: "The world is not such a commodity that it should be worth a conflict."

This statement is not merely a piece of individual advice; it serves as a "Global Peace Manifesto" against the race for greed where nations and leaders risk destroying one another. To shed the blood of millions for the sake of the transitory benefits of this world—which are worth less than the wing of a fly in the grander scheme of existence—is a profound existential failure.

Russia-Ukraine: Generations Sacrificed for "Commodity"

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine is more than a struggle for territorial integrity or geopolitical influence; at its core, it is a battle for "dominance and commodity." The geopolitical ambitions of various power blocs are locked in what Nursi defines as the "third face of the world": the dimension of "play and amusement," which leads to spiritual heedlessness.

The reality that "the life of this world is but play and amusement" is manifested in the tragedy of young lives lost on the front lines and the ruins of once-vibrant cities. This conflict over temporary political borders and strategic ports wounds the collective conscience of humanity. If the world possessed the value of even a fly’s wing in the sight of the Creator, it would not be a stage for such immense oppression. While this transience triggers the greed of the powerful, it transforms the suffering of the oppressed into an eternal expectation of justice.

US-Iran Tensions: Nuclear Power and False Gods

The rising tensions in the Middle East, primarily shaped by the ambition to possess nuclear weapons, reflect a dangerous illusion. The materialistic philosophy injected into modern humanity equates power with divinity, turning states into "monsters". The discussions surrounding military options and nuclear brinkmanship are reflections of "metaphorical loves"—the obsession with power and status—on a global scale.

From a philosophical standpoint, "renunciation" (zuhd) does not only mean an individual leaving the world behind in their heart; it means states must also abandon their greed for exploitation and domination. Rather than rising by placing the world under their feet, superpowers that harbor the world in the center of their hearts are destined to sink, much like a ship that takes water into its hull.

The Key to Peace: Leaving the World Heartily, Not Materially

The principle of "leaving the world heartily" does not mean rejecting work or economic development. Historical figures like the companions of the Prophet, who were wealthy yet remained spiritually detached, prove that modern states can possess technology and prosperity without becoming slaves to them. However, this wealth should be seen as a mirror of Divine names and a "field for the hereafter," rather than a tool for subjugation.

Focusing on the first two faces of the world—art and service—brings peace, while viewing it solely as a "playground" for exploitation makes war inevitable. The "selfishness, theft, and exploitation" driven by capitalist and materialist systems are the greatest obstacles to global stability today.

Conclusion: A Future Not Worth the Conflict

In the face of the truth that the hereafter is better and everlasting, every inch of land—from the steppes of Russia to the deserts of Iran—is merely a temporary lodging. "The things you have are transitory, while the mercy with God is eternal".

Global peace is only possible if leaders and societies stop conflicting over the transitory face of the world, which is "worth less than a fly's wing". The salvation of humanity lies in repairing the spiritual destruction caused by materialist philosophy and viewing the world as a stepping stone for the elevation of the soul. Ultimately, neither the vast lands of Russia nor the nuclear arsenals of the US are worth the price of a single drop of innocent blood.

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