Rise of social ills in absence of Islam
Javed Ahmad
In the newspapers everyday there are news on killing, mugging, stalking, robbing, raping, stealing, terrorism, threats, drug abuse, unsocial activities and what not; that clearly indicates decline of morality and ethics and in the country, pointing to one single thing – absence of 'justice'.
"O ye who believe! stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even as
against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for God can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily God is well-
acquainted with all that ye do." (4:135).
Islam is a religion of order and justice. In the days when Islam was a practiced religion in the society we did not have many problems. Justice prevailed so did the law and order.
We grew up in an environment when Islam was practiced and taught at schools and homes. I remember our imam of the local masjid used to come everyday for private tutoring on reading Qur'anic Arabic. I am still indebted to my uncle who was the first to tell me to offer prayers regularly and encouraged me. I remember majority of the people I knew at the time used to offer their prayers, used to fast in the month of Ramadan and observed other religious rituals. Thus I too grew up in an environment where I have learnt to offer prayers regularly, fast during the month of Ramadan without fail entertaining no excuses.
People at the time were cordial and the neighbors were like family member looking after one another keeping close ties with each other. Our parents never worried about us if and when we went out with friends to play. There were no doubts among each other as we were totally sincere in our lifestyle and never had to lie or deceive. Therefore, 'honesty is the best policy' was something we grew up with believing.
Today, Islam is under attack. Instead of seeing the religion as a solution provider it is seen as a problem by both the Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Totally ignoring and forgetting that it was actually Islam that made us who we are. Those who held to the rope of Islam became better than those who ignored it.
While living overseas, I have seen families where Islam was practiced who reared their children better than the families that had no sign of Islam. Many of the non-Islamic families lost their children to the society and do not care for their parents anymore. It is Islam that teaches –
"And remember We took a covenant from the Children of Israel (to this effect): Worship none but God; treat with kindness your parents and kindred, and
orphans and those in need; speak fair to the people; be steadfast in prayer; and
practise regular charity. Then did ye turn back, except a few among you, and ye
backslide (even now)… They ask thee what they should spend (In charity). Say: Whatever ye spend that is good, is for parents and kindred and orphans and those in want and for wayfarers. And whatever ye do that is good, -God knoweth it well." (2:83, 215).
Islam is a religion for civilized people. It is a religion if followed sincerely is bound to make one 'civilized'. Islam is all about changing people from bad to good. Islam survived through transformation of people from time to time on its own appeal. Justice, not Islam was spread through the power of sword. If the power of sword was applied to spread Islam then there would be no non-Muslims around today. Islam safeguards freedom of religion –
"Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error:
whoever rejects evil and believes in God hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-
hold, that never breaks. And God heareth and knoweth all things." (2:256).
There are plenty of references in the Qur'an about taking care of parents and to uphold justice in the society and state. People who bash this religion do not actually know this religion. In fact majority of the people around the world do not know their own religion. Realizing this matter, in March 2003 I wrote an article "When religion is just a label" discussing the matter in details.
Muslims too today no longer knows Islam. They do not practice it nor do they teach it to their children. As a result all religious practices are disappearing from the society, so are the tolerance, cordiality, harmony and justice. Without the Islamic philosophy people are becoming more and more materialistic and greedy ignoring what is right and what is wrong.
Today our girls are no longer safe in the streets, unable to move in the society freely as they used to do in the past. Now they worry about being stalked by unknown people and if anyone stand up her defense gets humiliated and even killed. We get plenty of news in the newspapers on a daily basis of fathers, brothers and male cousins getting killed when they attempt to make a stand against the stalkers for justice. Worse yet, even a cop got suspended for stalking a college going girl in Goplaganj!
Not too long ago news headlines covered the news of Eden College – a wholly girls college in Dhaka where students are forced into unsocial activities against their will by political thugs. This brings us to the issues related to prostitution in Bangladesh. Prostitution is now common at the local residential neighborhoods and hotels in Bangladesh. The sad part is, "…a sizeable number of prostitutes are seen wearing burkha. In order to hide their face and to dishonoring the Islamic symbol they use burkha without the resistance of Tejgoan Police Station..".
The above quote is taken from an article "Dhaka 's prostitute -spot , background , preventive law " available online at the link given at the references below. This same article also says -
"…What does the Bangladeshi law say?
The constitutional law is committed to prevent the prostitution According to clause 18(2) of the constitution of Bangladesh the state shall adopt effective measures to prevent prostitution and gambling. Punishment and Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act, 1933 is widely used to deal the prostitution. According to the section 35 of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance, 1976 the Police can order the offender to leave the Metropolitan area as per the act of Punishment and Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act, 1933 , a per the section 74 of the act Police can fine five hundred or impose the both who call and inspire the client for prostitution . Before the enter of English the Mughal/Nabab implemented Shariah law, they simultaneously tried to eliminate the poverty and implemented the law strictly. According to Sirajul Islam (1984) it is learn that during Mughal era Hid was applicable to the women engaged in adultery, If she/he is married he is ordered to be died by throwing stones, and if unmarried, he /she was ordered to be given 100 lash and if any body brought false claim of prostitution against any other was ordered to put 80 lash. Through the implementation of this law the prostitution did not become widespread.
The poor implementation of existing law and widespread corruption to halt strong economy and to make easy earning through prostitution by a group of so called VIPs are strong supporter to prostitution.
To Sum,
Prostitution is not religiously and socially supported activities in Bangladesh .Deformation of society and widespread anti- moral policy patron by different secular politicians and NGOs, prostitution became the part of our society. Shall we not be prevented from this disease? …"
Another area in social ill is female child rape that is growing considerably around the country. Rape itself is bad enough and child rape makes it even worse. Free availability of porn CDs and videos in the open market could be blamed for increase of perverted sexual desires in the people's minds. Now that the Internet connectivity is becoming largely available and affordable downloading the porn contents off the net is becoming even easier and cheap!
Then again we have problems related to drug abuse and alcoholism. The problem is now so dire that the law and enforcement agencies are having a hard time controlling. See the quote below from "15 injured as narcotics officials, villagers clash at Benapole" –
"At least 15 people including a deputy director of the Directorate of Narcotics Control were injured in a clash between the directorate officials and villagers over recovery of addictive substance from Bhoberber village… A clash ensued between the two parties when a group of villagers obstructed the directorate officials… On information, police rushed to the spot, rescued the officials and brought the situation under control…"
Imagine all these are happening in a Muslim majority country! In absence of Islam, all the western social ills have entered our culture and society. Now we have come to a situation that we are not even sure how deep the problems are, which is dangerous as it may compound to such a degree that we would not be able to deal with the problems anymore.
It seems like that Bangladesh has the laws and policies in place, but what actually is lacking is the desire to contain. Therefore, we have grounds to doubt if any of the new laws and policies would do us any good if the 'desire' for a change is absent. Besides, whom are we going to count on to implement and execute those policies and laws? Law and enforcement agencies too seem to have lost their strength and morale!
The bottom line is, none of it would work as long as the base is rotten. By abstaining from Islam we have done ourselves a great harm. We have destroyed our very foundation of goodness. Therefore, we have become weak and unable to stand up for truth and justice anymore. Our faith level is so low that we no longer care to see what is going on around us and give a blind eye to all the bad things that happens around us as long as they do not affect us directly. This change in attitude is sufficient enough reason for our ultimate destruction to come.
Finally, let me share with you some of my personal understandings. If you think I am a good person then you should know that I am good because of Islam. This religion has made me what I am today as I follow its teachings as a believer. Therefore, the way I see it, if everyone follows Islam then chances are most (if not all) of the people would become good. An increase in their level of faith would make them responsible citizens in the society enjoining good and forbidding evil. If and when this happens, we would not require any laws and policies to make a stand against social ills; because Islam itself have its own laws and policies that are similar to what we have in our present secular system.
Keeping this view in mind, I have put my son at an Islamic English Medium School hoping to get him a blend of Islamic and traditional education that would make him a better person than I am. I strongly suggest our government to add Islamic subjects in the school syllabuses and curriculum so that every young ones gets to know Islam from an early stage. We could establish Islamic schools modeled after International Islamic School (IIS) of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) headed by Dr. Zakir Naik at Mumbai, India (http://www.irf.net/ ).
"O ye who believe! Fear God as He should be feared, and die not except in a
state of Islam. And hold fast, all together, by the rope which God (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude God's favour on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus doth God make His Signs clear to you: That ye may be guided. 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." (3:102-104).
Do you have anything else to try before reverting back to Islam that you once left willingly? Don't be a hypocrite and do not fight Islam, take it and grab it instead and spread the light of Islam to others especially to those who are advising you leave it, as the Holy Qur'an suggests –
"Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching;
and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance." (16:125).
Islam is not a 'problem' rather a 'solution' for all of mankind. Welcome back to Islam!
References:
Govt mulls new law to stop stalking of girls: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=138138
When religion is just a label: http://javedahmad.tripod.com/islam/label.htm
Cop suspended for stalking college girl: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=137931
Greed and its consequences: http://bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidRecord=317574
Prostitution in Eden College: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwT6nhVDljo
Dhaka 's prostitute -spot , background , preventive law: http://www.bd64.com/today.php?id=6855
Sexual behavior and our society: http://javedahmad.tripod.com/islam/sex.htm
Good Governance in Bangladesh: A Quest for a non-political Party Approach: http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jpl/article/view/4584
15 injured as narcotics officials, villagers clash at Benapole: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=138108
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