Are we Losing our Conscience ?

It is so scary lately. Just grab the newspaper or watch the news, you would fine piles of harrowing news pertaining to all sorts of crimes and despicable acts which are prevailing in our society today. People throwing acid at people in the name of jealousy, people were brutally murdered and cut into pieces, incest, killings, abortion and so many acts of terror which are hard for us to conceive that human are willing to do these days. It’s not my intention to disgust you, but these are in fact real cases that are prevalent in our society( at least in this part of the world). We might wonder why these things are happening in our society?. People with sound mind and reason would never resort to such despicable acts no matter how much they are compelled to do. In fact, people of faith would never resort to such acts. Nonetheless, in this age where people are very proud with modernity, they have somewhat forgotten about sanity. Yes, modernity should come with sanity and rationality and not lunacy and immorality !

Given this fact, I believe we should do something about this. I’m not sure how, but there must be something that we can do. Perhaps the very least that we can do is to share a word of advice to our loved ones and colleagues. It’s totally not a blaming game as we are all part of it, no matter how far we want to run. It might be happening in our town, it might be happening in our neighborhood and Naudhubillahi Min Zalik, it might be even happening in our lovely home !. The possibilities are everywhere and the responsibilities fall upon all of us. Isn’t it that we are all protectors of one another? Allah says:

“The Believers, men and women, are protectors one of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, practise regular charity, and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour His mercy: for Allah is Exalted in power, Wise.”

(Holy Qur'an 9:71 )

Allah also says:

“Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: They are the ones to attain felicity.”

(Holy Qur'an3:104 )

I am not sure myself about the solution, but I believe the best one would be the spiritual solution which is for Muslims, we should go back to the basic (me especially!). Meaning, we should go back to the Qur’an and live our life as a true Muslim. If we hold on to the Qur’an wholeheartedly, InsyaAllah we wouldn’t resort to such immoral acts. Last night as I watched Halaqah on tv, the Ustaz had remind something that I normally take for granted. He said

’The Qur’an is not to be read only, Rather it also need to be studied.

He really made his point last night. As a non Arabic speaker, it’s already hard enough for me to understand it. That’s why I must do something to enhance my understanding. If I read without trying to understand it, that’s where problem arises. I read with no understanding of what I’m reading and as a result, it cannot give any impact on me. InsyaAllah, to help this, it would be best to take up a tafsir or even read on Hadith to elevate my understanding of the Qur’an. Only then I would understand this book better. Isn’t it?
 I believe It’s ok if it takes times, but with all our efforts, InsyaAllah it will be fruitful for us.

I’m sure many of us know that Al Qur’an deals with those real cases more than we can ever imagine.
For instance, on the sanctity of life. Allah says:

We ordained ….. that if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. ..

(Holy Qur'an,Al maidah 5:32)

He also commands us to do justice and good acts:

Allah commands justice, the doing of good, and liberality to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, that ye may receive admonition.

(Holy Qur'an 16:90)

The maladies of the souls are something that is very much discussed in the Qur’an, That’s why it’s vital to go back to the basic i.e. the Qur’an. As Allah says in the Qur’an;

“We have indeed created man in the best of moulds,
Then do We abase him (to be) the lowest of the low,-
Except such as believe and do righteous deeds: For they shall have a reward unfailing.”

(Holy Qur'an,At Tin 95:4-6 )

“By the Soul, and the proportion and order given to it;
And its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right;-
Truly he succeeds that purifies it,
And he fails that corrupts it!”

(Holy Qur'an,As Shams 91:7-10 )

No matter how advanced our educational system is and no matter how many scientists or engineers we have produced, it means nothing if it cannot even produce a sound mind of people. Producing human which are humane and producing souls which are soulful.

I remember once a dear of lecturer of mine, Dr Yamin used to tell us:

Education is about being a human being

Don’t you agree?. He’s right isn’t he? It’s all about being a human being who has conscience and sense of what is right and what is wrong. Knowledge should lead us closer to God and not otherwise. That’s why I very much agree with the beautiful words of the late Dr. Muhammad Iqbal. A beautiful words which I would never forget throughout my entire life. He said:

Knowledge for the sake of knowledge is a maxim of fools

I’m sure you have heard that some people say that they seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Personally, I also used to say that. Nonetheless, the words of Dr. Iqbal had opened my eyes that it is really the opposite case. The knowledge that we acquired should have an impact on us. It should mould us into what we are ought to be. To be a human which is humane and to be person who knows His creator. That’s why knowledge for the sake of knowledge is a maxim of fools. It is as if to say knowledge has no impact whatsoever in your life.Agree?

Knowledge, education, Qur’an and Sunnah - I guess that’s the vital elements that we must not disregard in our society. InsyaAllah, if we stick to these, we would be able to avoid such immoralities and diseases of our times so that we would not lose our conscience and fall preys to our self baser . In other words, “turning ourselves to the lowest of the low”.
Naudhubillahi Mindhalik !

As Baba Ali said, a reminder just in case you forgot. In fact, a reminder just in case I forgot =)

Allahau A’alam…

image: credit to here