The Spectrum of Human Action According to the Qur’an

Spectrum 0 Ordinary

Level 0 is the middle point in the spectrum of action. It refers to actions that, at their outward beginning, do not clearly carry a specific goodness or a specific evil. They exist within the space of routine, normal life, daily needs or permissible matters.

Examples include eating, sleeping, walking, sitting, conversing, working, buying things, wearing clothes, using a phone, resting, driving, watching something, cleaning the house, cooking, doing business, learning worldly skills or managing daily affairs.

However, level 0 must be understood carefully.

0 does not mean the action is not seen by Allah.

0 does not mean it has no effect at all.

0 does not mean it remains neutral forever.

0 only means that the action has not yet clearly risen toward the side of goodness or fallen toward the side of evil at the first point of observation.

In the Qur’an, every human action remains within the knowledge of Allah.

Surah az-Zalzalah 99:7-8

فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُۥ
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُۥ

“So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it. And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.”

This verse becomes an important foundation for level 0. It shows that even small actions do not disappear from Allah’s knowledge and reckoning. Therefore, something that appears ordinary in the sight of people can still change in value when it carries an element of goodness or an element of evil.

Eating may appear ordinary.

But eating to strengthen oneself for worship, lawful work and family responsibility can rise toward the side of goodness (+1).

However, eating excessively, wastefully, arrogantly or consuming what is unlawful can fall toward the side of evil (-1).

Therefore, 0 is a middle point that can easily move.

The Qur’an also mentions that Allah knows what people reveal and what they conceal.

...وَإِن تُبْدُوا۟ مَا فِيٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ يُحَاسِبْكُم بِهِ ٱللَّهُ...

“And if you reveal what is within yourselves or conceal it, Allah will bring you to account for it.”

Excerpt from Surah al-Baqarah 2:284

This verse shows that the value of an action is not judged only by its outward form. There are matters that look the same outwardly, but differ in value because of the intention, purpose and what is inside the person.

Two people eat the same food.

One eats merely to satisfy appetite.

The other eats with gratitude and with the intention of strengthening the body for obedience.

Outwardly, both are the same, but their inner value may differ.

Two people remain silent.

One is silent because he is too lazy to defend the truth.

The other is silent to prevent a greater fitnah.

Outwardly, both are the same. Their value is not necessarily the same.

Two people work.

One works with trustworthiness and lawful provision.

The other works while deceiving, stealing time and betraying his duties.

Outwardly, both are working. Their value moves in different directions.

The Qur’an also mentions that human beings were not created in vain.

...أَفَحَسِبْتُمْ أَنَّمَا خَلَقْنَٰكُمْ عَبَثًا

“Then did you think that We created you in vain?...”

Excerpt from Surah al-Mu’minūn 23:115

This verse gives a major foundation that human life is not an empty space to be filled however one wishes. Therefore, even daily matters that appear ordinary are still within the field of trial. They can become a path of gratitude or heedlessness. They can become trustworthiness or betrayal. They can become discipline or wastefulness. They can become worship or sin, depending on how they are used.

The Qur’an also states:

قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

“Say, indeed my prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death are for Allah, Rabb of all worlds.”

Surah al-An‘ām 6:162

This verse is very important for understanding how ordinary matters can rise. Allah does not only mention prayer and specific acts of worship. Allah also mentions مَحْيَايَ, meaning my life. This shows that the whole space of human life can be directed only to Allah.

Therefore, ordinary matters do not necessarily remain ordinary. If they are brought into the direction of living for Allah, they can rise.

Sleep may be ordinary.

But sleeping with the intention of resting the body so that one can wake for prayer, do lawful work, study and fulfil trust can rise toward goodness.

Work may be ordinary.

But working for lawful provision, guarding trust, avoiding begging and benefiting people can rise.

Conversation may be ordinary.

But speaking to reconcile, advise, comfort a weak heart or convey knowledge can rise.

The Qur’an also gives a warning that ordinary matters can fall when they are polluted by evil elements.

...وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟...

“…And eat and drink, but do not be excessive...”

Excerpt from Surah al-A‘rāf 7:31

Eating and drinking are ordinary matters and necessities of life. However, they can fall when the element of isrāf enters, meaning excessiveness. Therefore, an ordinary matter is not ruined by its outward form alone. It is ruined when its manner and limits are violated.

The Qur’an also states:

وَلَا تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِيرًا
إِنَّ ٱلْمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوٓا۟ إِخْوَٰنَ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينِ

“And do not waste with wastefulness. Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils.”

Surah al-Isrā’ 17:26-27

Buying things can be ordinary.

But buying out of wastefulness, showing off, pressuring others or neglecting responsibility can fall toward the side of evil.

This shows that level 0 is not a stable space that cannot change. It is a space that can always rise or fall.

Technically, Spectrum Level 0 has several characteristics.

First, the action is outwardly routine or permissible at the beginning. It is not a specific act of worship such as the obligatory prayer, and it is not a clear sin such as slander or zina. It exists within the space of daily life.

Second, its final value is not determined by outward form alone. One must look at the intention, the manner, the limits, the effects and the relationship of the action to Allah’s guidance.

Third, it can rise when connected to a good intention and a correct manner. Eating, sleeping, working, studying, resting and conversing can rise if they support obedience, trustworthiness, gratitude, benefit and the guarding of limits.

Fourth, it can fall when polluted by prohibited elements. Ordinary matters can become bad when unlawful elements, wastefulness, heedlessness, showing off, deception, oppression, humiliation, slander or neglect of obligations enter them.

Fifth, it is not a place for feeling free from responsibility. Human beings remain servants of Allah in every space of life. The difference is that not every space of life begins as a great deed. Some of it begins as an ordinary routine waiting for direction.

Sixth, 0 is a point of observation, not a final ruling. When information about intention, manner and effect appears, an action can move to +1, +2, +3, +4 or fall to -1, -2, -3 or -4.

Example from the Angle of Eating

Eating lunch is an ordinary matter. It may stand at 0. But if we eat lawful food, give thanks, avoid waste and intend to strengthen the body for work, worship and family, it can rise to +1 or +2. If we eat excessively, wastefully, complain about provision or consume what is unlawful, it can fall toward the side of evil.

Example from the Angle of Sleep

Sleep is a bodily routine. Outwardly, it is ordinary. But sleeping to restore energy so that one can wake for prayer, study, work and guard trust can rise. Sleeping out of laziness, neglecting prayer, abandoning responsibility or running away from trust can fall.

Example from the Angle of Work

Office work, business, farming, driving or performing daily tasks may stand at 0 when viewed as a routine of earning a living. But it rises when done with trustworthiness, lawfulness, care and the aim of fulfilling responsibility. It falls when deception, time theft, bribery, wronging customers, falsifying reports or taking people’s rights enter into it.

Example from the Angle of Conversation

Talking with friends can be ordinary. It rises when the conversation calms the heart, conveys knowledge, strengthens relationships or prevents misunderstanding. It falls when it turns into backbiting, spreading suspicion, insulting people or wasting time until obligations are neglected.

Example from the Angle of Social Media

Opening social media may stand at 0 if it is merely to view general information. It rises when used to learn, convey goodness, remind people of Allah or help others. It falls when used for slander, showing off, uncontrolled time-wasting, entertaining desires, provoking conflict or spreading news without verification.

Example from the Angle of Buying Things

Buying clothes, food or household items can be ordinary. It rises when the purchase fulfils a need, preserves the dignity of the family and supports life’s responsibilities. It falls when the purchase is made out of wastefulness, unnecessary debt, showing off or neglecting a more obligatory right.

Example from the Angle of Rest

Resting after tiredness can be ordinary. It rises when that rest helps us return stronger for worship, work and family. It falls when rest becomes an excuse for heedlessness, abandoning prayer, neglecting family or drowning oneself in entertainment without limits.

Example from the Angle of Learning Worldly Matters

Learning how to repair cars, computers, finance, agriculture, languages, work skills or technology can be ordinary. It rises when that knowledge is used for benefit, lawful provision, helping others and strengthening trust. It falls when that knowledge is used to deceive, exploit people or cause damage.

Example from the Angle of Silence

Silence may stand at 0 if it is merely non-involvement. But silence can rise when it restrains fitnah, preserves someone’s dignity or avoids conflict. Silence can also fall when it becomes cowardice in defending the truth at a time when speaking truth is obligatory, or when it allows oppression to continue while we are able to prevent it in an appropriate way.

Example from the Angle of Clothing

Wearing clothes is an ordinary matter. It rises when the clothing covers the ‘awrah, preserves dignity, is clean and is not excessive. It falls when clothing becomes a tool of showing off, tabarruj, arrogance, wastefulness or violation of Allah’s limits.

Example from the Angle of Driving

Driving to work can be ordinary. It rises when done with patience, care for safety, giving way and not harming other road users. It falls when one curses, endangers others, drives unjustly, violates rules or turns the road into a place for releasing ego.

Example from the Angle of Using Knowledge

Reading a book or listening to a lecture may be ordinary at the beginning. It rises when the knowledge is understood, practised and brings us closer to Allah. It falls when the knowledge is used to show off, insult the ignorant or make the ego victorious.

Conclusion

Therefore, level 0 is the space of life.

It is not empty.

It is not valueless.

It is not outside the sight of Allah.

It is the middle point waiting for direction.

If the intention is good, the manner is correct, the limits are guarded and the effect brings benefit, it can rise.

If the intention is corrupt, the manner is wrong, the limits are violated and the effect brings harm, it can fall.

Ordinary refers to an action that, at its outward beginning, exists within the space of routine or permissibility. But it does not remain empty. It can rise into goodness when directed toward Allah, and it can fall into evil when polluted by violation, heedlessness or corruption.

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