Nov 30

Nov 30 On Doing Your Own Research...

You know what drives me crazy? 'I'm doing my own research.' I would like someone to answer this: What does that look like? You doing your own research? Are you doing studies yourself? Are you in lab nightly? I don't understand what that means. -Jeff Van Gundy

Spoiler alert: When people say they’re doing their own research, they are, in fact, not doing their own research.

What is actually happening is they are rapidly processing opinions from multiple people. Where they land has nothing to do with the veracity of the material (even though they'd like to think it does).

Where they land has more to do with which of these people most creates an instantaneous connection, or a "gut feeling", or -for lack of a better term- a vibe. It's a reaction to both cues and subconscious/involuntary communication.

In other words, its less about what opinion someone has, and more about whether the person giving it is in alignment with you.

We may see only 2 lines worth of "information" but we are instead quickly processing other cues - some apparent and some subconsciously. What they look like, sound like, who they follow, who follows them, whether they give off any keywords or signals to indicate affiliation with something else we value, and so on.

This isn’t necessarily meant to be critical of this process or even suggest that we stop. It's an important shortcut or heuristic that can be helpful in many cases.

What is important is that we are cognizant that it is happening, and we don’t rely on this shortcut where it’s not appropriate.

Covid is one obvious example. What was research was really a process of finding whose information we trusted. While most of us are clearly not able to go and perform our own double blind studies of the vaccine in a laboratory, we are able to be more thorough in deciding who to follow.

Some took the route of following those who shared alignment on another issue important to them (i.e. something that is a core part of their identity) - most often political affiliations such as left or right. They took cues on issues like vaccines based on their connection to someone on an unrelated issue like race or abortion. Experts in the field (those able to actually do the research) then get cast aside and labeled untrustworthy because they do not create the same personal connection.

The recent internet controversy surrounding the veracity of hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (rA) also illustrates this. The long story short here is some people are claiming that hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah are not authentic, or should be discarded, because they go against a particular worldview of this group of people [see: Do You Have a Values-Based or Opinions-Based Identity?]

Going down this path means grappling with the complexities of the sciences of hadith - a deep and well developed science with a millenium of scholarship and verification behind it.

To sit and read hundreds of tweets and Facebook messages (even if it be from ‘both sides’ of the debate) does not constitute research even if it feels like it is.

In this case, what is required is to seek out the experts in the field to seek understanding while also having respect for the fact that this is a subject people get advanced degrees in, and just an introduction to the vocabulary of the subject encompasses entire books. In other words, unless you become a full-time student of Islamic studies and set out to study hadith sciences for the next 5 years - you will not be able to do your own research on this topic.

For those who are not scholars of Islam, an advice is often given when seeking a ruling or fatwa. You should go to someone who’s knowledge and taqwa you trust.

In other words, when you are facing a confusing situation and are not qualified to delve into the specifics to reach an accurate conclusion, find people who you trust in terms of their credentials and also their character.

This is a much healthier way to evaluate an issue. Along with this, it is essential to maintain the mindset of a student. You do your best with what you have, knowing it may be incorrect, and you may have to adjust or change your opinion. This gives you the freedom to follow the truth without feeling like you are going against a core part of your identity.

In some of the discussions around the question of hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah you see this quite overtly. People who are not qualified to understand the technicalities of the science are riled up because of what the debate means in context of something that they value as a core part of who they are.