· How can selfish and egotistical societies escape this spiritual sickness?
Omniscient Allah has created the human soul with a predisposition to
selfishness as a test. Unless he lives by the moral values of the
Qur'an and tames his earthly desires, this feeling will come to
dominate his whole moral framework. Such a person generally thinks
of himself alone, rather than everyone else. He always wants the
best, finest and most perfect of everything for himself. He wants to
have possessions and children and for his own family merely to be
comfortable. Whenever he encounters any difficulties he will expect
the people around him to undergo all kinds of risks and troubles for
him and to support him, even at the cost of their own interests. He
seeks to protect his own whims and interests and to ensure his own
ease and comfort. When the situation is different he can forgo many
things he values, for the sake of protecting his own interests and
preventing any harm coming to him. Allah has revealed this passionate
selfish feeling in human earthly desires as follows in the Qur'an:
" Truly man was created headstrong –
desperate when bad things happen,
begrudging when good things come –."(Surat al-Ma'arij, 19–21)
Selfishness and Egotism Are a Major Threat to Modern Societies
The materialist, Darwinist thinking that is widespread in modern
societies that do not live by religious moral values reinforces the
selfish and egotistical spirit in human nature and disseminates a
"me-first" philosophy. Indeed, the idea of " So long as I'm all
right, who cares what happens to anyone else?" or "Looking out for
number one" generally dominates such societies. But selfishness and
egotism are a major threat to society because ideas like truth,
justice and law vanish in such a society . Feelings such as beauty,
love, affection, compassion and respect become regarded as
unnecessary. Thus, people who are oppressed and slaughtered,
innocent babies, people who lack the money for proper hospital
treatment, or who have to wait for hours or even days in hospital
queues, despite being old or weak, people who are forced out of
their homes or lands because of their faiths and tiny, defenseless
children thrown out onto the streets to survive as best they can
are of no interest to such people. This structure generally leads
to a troubled and unhappy air in society.
This structure among people and societies who are selfish, loveless,
aggressive, who protect their own interests and violate everyone
else's, who wear a harsh mask and who have no love or fear of Allah,
can only be eliminated through people living by the moral values of
the Qur'an, as Islam and cultivating love of Allah is the only way
to acquire such instances of good conscience as compassion and
helpfulness, features at the root of Qur'anic moral values, and to
escape selfishness and egotism. Our Lord reveals how the Qur'an
leads people from the darkness to the light as follows:
"… A Light has come to you from Allah and a Clear Book.
By it, Allah guides those who follow what pleases Him to the ways of
Peace. He will bring them from the darkness to the light by His
permission, and guide them to a straight path." (Surat al-Ma'ida,
15-16)
People Can Only Protect and Watch over One Another with Love and Fear of Allah
Fear and love of Allah enables people to submit themselves to Him,
to see the best in everything and to have compassion. In the verses
Allah reveals how the only interest of concern to believers is His
approval:
" They fulfill their vows and fear a Day whose evil will spread far and wide.
They give food, despite their love for it,to the poor and orphans
and captives:
'We feed you only out of desire for the Face of Allah. We do not
want any repayment from you or any thanks.
Truly We fear from our Lord a glowering, calamitous Day.'
So Allah has safeguarded them from the evil of that Day and has made
them meet with radiance and pure joy."(Surat al-Insan, 7-11)
Our Prophet's (saas) words that " He who goes to bed full when his
neighbor is hungry is not one of us" is an important warning that
believers desire to earn Allah's approval. Therefore, anyone aiming
to earn Allah's approval will not just settle for a solution to his
own problems; he will also assume responsibility for resolving the
problems of others around him in need. This may of course require
people to give up things they love or to sacrifice their own
comfort. The way that Muslims look to protect and watch over the
poor by giving alms, help people in need by canceling their debts
and spend their possessions on Allah's path, rather than
accumulating and hoarding them, are moral virtues bestowed by the
ethical values of the Qur'an.
Responding to people's needs and treating them kindly are forms of
behavior that prevent atrophocation of the conscience. Empathizing
with others, treating the needy with affection and showing respect
and love make it possible to eliminate cruelty and selfishness.
Verses reveal that the reward for good behavior comes in the
Presence of Allah:
" Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him. Be good to
your parents and relatives and to orphans and the very poor, and to
neighbors who are related to you and neighbors who are not related
to you, and to companions and travelers and your slaves. Allah does
not love anyone vain or boastful." (Surat an-Nisa', 36)
In modern, Darwinist societies one frequently encounters people who
look gloomy, keep their eyes fixed on the ground, walking around
never greeting or speaking to anyone. But because of the climate of
peace and security that Islam provides in those model societies in
which Islamic moral values prevail, everyone will trust and love
everyone else, greet people, and be their friends.
Faith perfects people's behavior, as it does so many other traits. A
believer who constantly heeds his conscience as required by
religious moral values will always behave in the best, most
considerate, trust- inspiring and tolerant manner. Someone possessed
of these moral attributes has earned merit for his own life in the
hereafter. At the same time, he is instrumental in freeing the
world from its self-interested and selfish nature, and making it a
place of the delights of Islam.
The Moral Values of the Qur'an Bestow Altruism, Love and Kindness on People
Someone aware that his purpose in this world is to earn the
approval, mercy and ultimately the paradise of Allah can never
remain unmoved by and insensitive to what goes on around him. He
knows that everything is an opportunity to gain the approval of
Allah and always acts out of that awareness. The flaws or
oppression he sees around him will trouble his conscience. For
example, he will feel himself responsible for a child with no
family forced to live out on the streets. As Allah reveals in the
verses,"So as for orphans, do not oppress them, and as for beggars, do
not berate them." (Surat ad-Duha, 9-10), andhe will treat them well.
He will strive to help them out of their predicament. However, he
knows that the child in question cannot be saved solely through him
and those around him behaving well. He will therefore strive to
ensure that everyone lives by the moral values of the Qur'an. This
is a major responsibility incumbent on all Muslims. Allah promises
a fine outcome for those who assume a great and honorable
responsibility:
"Allah has promised those of you who have faith and do right actions
that He will makethem successors in the land as He made those before
them successors, and will firmly establish for them their religion
with which He is pleasedand give them, in place of their fear,
security. 'They worship Me, not associating anything with Me.' Any who
are unbeliever after that, such people are deviators."(Surat an-Nur,
55)
"[There are men who are] not distracted by trade or commerce from
the remembrance of Allah and the establishment of prayer and the
payment of alms ; fearing a day when all hearts and eyes will be in
turmoil –" (Surat an-Nur, 37)
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