Do Social Situations Make You Uncomfortable?

Do Social Situations Make You Uncomfortable? Should We Wait For The Change Or Change Ourselves? Gawah express 21st october2023 Dr.Fiaz M Fazili on the rot that has set in our society and the need to reform and follow the divine path of Islam. “Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls)” From Ar-Ra’d: 11. Kashmir, the valley of rishis, saints and Sufis, has a situation of moral decline prevailing everywhere. Every sensitive Kashmiri is naturally disturbed and restless about what should be done in these circumstances. When one looks at the history of nations whom Allah intended to destroy, He warned them first with trials and afflictions. Present Kashmir situation is no different. Cases of Incurable diseases, substance abuse, erratic driving behaviors, increasing teenage crime and corruption of all types are on the rise. There is frequent destruction of our fruit crop by natural calamities of rain and floods. Our fruits, being the highest source of disease fighting antioxidants, are inflicted with scab. Our homes are destroyed by sporadic fires. The natural water resources, for which Kashmir was known for, are shrivelling. Fear is that merciless deforestation may convert our land into deserts. Food and medicines are adulterated,duplicates or fake brands are sold in place of the original our earning has lost “barakah” and debts are soaring sky high. Doesn’t these all hint towards the fact that our deeds have brought these punitive actions from Allah swt . Despite efforts of print media and some conscious Muslims to awaken our conscience, we have failed to rise to the occasion. Unfortunately, there seems no end to rampant corruption, sky high inflation, biased selections, undeserved promotions, favouritism, and nepotism in our society. Our valley has come a long way from the traditional to the modern. In this transition many bad things have crept in. The evil of obscenity is gaining ground with no check exercised from the side of parents. When we look around, our society seems to be in a race for desiring this world’s life and forgetting the life hereafter. As people of Faith, we have the duty of commanding good and forbidding evil. How many of us as individuals or as a group have tried to probe into the circumstances which lead to the genesis of occurrences substance abuse, disappearance of girls or other cases of self-inflicting harm in our community. To eradicate this menace completely and to prevent its recurrence wasn’t it our moral responsibility to rehabilitate or to reform these misguided people. How many of us try to find needy people in our neighbourhood and help them? Should we forget our responsibilities and leave these things for the philanthropists? What Quran says about us,” Whosoever desires the life of the world and its glitter; to them we shall pay in full (the wages of) their deeds therein, and they will have no diminution therein. They are those for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter but Fire; and vain are the deeds they did therein. And of no effect is that which they used to do.”(Hûd: 15-16). “There are some people who say, " Our Lord! give us in the world, and they shall have no resting place.” And there are some among them who say: Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter and save us from the chastisement of the fire.” “They shall have (their) portion of what they have earned, and Allah is swift in reckoning.” (Al-Baqarah: 200-202). Seismologists have declared Kashmir as a dangerous zone for volcano eruptions. When sins become abundant, natural disasters strike. It is necessary for every faithful to learn a lesson from the calamities and disasters in the lives of individuals and nations. We weren’t shaken even after the warning signals from Allah in the form of major natural disasters like floods, hail storms and earthquakes. To call them a turn of events or merely an accident and move on can prove disastrous for all of us: “And verily we will make them taste of the near torment (in this world) prior to the supreme torment (in the Hereafter) in order that they may return (repent).” (As-Sajdah: 21). But does the solution to a distressing situation lie in getting distressed and remain inactive? Or do the present conditions demand something else from us? Who should we turn to in these circumstances? Whose help should we seek? Who will guide us? Common man on the street is suffering from disappointment, despair in morals, behavioural collapse, division in addition to confusion about enlightened moderation and sectorial divide.. He is looking for personal interests more than the interest of the community. He is following bad examples without having the vision of what to follow and what not to follow, by being away from Allah and abandoning the heavenly laws. As a result, our community has lost its consciousness on morality, lost its awareness of its goals and an initiative to change. Maybe this social disease is more dangerous than physical illness because it affects the minds of people. That’s why the honest and sensitive people of our community are screaming and asking how to get out. Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Is there guidance after being lost in the wilderness? Is our community really going to wake up, change and reform? If we really want to change this spiteful reality, let us not evade our own responsibilities by leaving it entirely for political and socio-religious leadership. Change in a society cannot come by addressing only individuals, since society is not made up of just individuals. Our Society is made up of a majority of individuals who are bound together by a certain faith called Islam which imposes certain responsibilities on every one of us as an individual and as a community. But no change will happen in our lives except if we start by changing ourselves by following the divine social rule. This law is “Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls)”13:11. This law is not an empty logo, but it is the only way to get out of the hardships we are suffering from. Extraordinary situations call for some extraordinary actions at all levels. Allah Ta’ala says: “O you who believe! Seek help in patience and As-Salat (prayer). Truly Allah is with the patient.” (Al-Baqarah: 153). The Prophet (SAW) said: “Supplication is beneficial regarding things (calamities) that have happened and things which have not yet happened, so devote yourselves to supplication”. “And whoever repents and does good, he surely turns to Allah a (goodly) turning.” (Al-Furqân: 71). Our Faith behoves us not to search for faults in others and we would do well to heed the advice of our beloved Prophet (SAW): “The worst of people are those engaged in slandering others, those who ruin relationships between dear ones who try to find fault with innocent people.” What is needed is a change in our attitude. Instead of slogan-chanting, verbosity, fault finding and emotionalism, we need to work on substantial grounds. Instead of wallowing in regrets and voicing condemnation we must equip ourselves with the guidelines as shown by our Prophet (saw). If one defends the honour of his fellow Muslim brother, Allah, the Almighty, will keep the hellfire away from his face in the hereafter. (Narrated by Tirmidhi) We must make ourselves stronger in all fields and prepare ourselves realistically with conviction and cohesiveness to meet the challenges at every stage. Despite our minor worldly differences, we need to refrain from prejudices, rashness, bad mannerism and work towards building an honest society by mutual harmony and trust. A strong connection with Allah and His Book (the Quran) can unite the Muslims. Allah Ta’ala says: “And hold fast all of you together to the rope of Allah (i.e. the Quran) and be not divided.”(Al-Imran: 103).Now, can the one who knows that whatever has been revealed to you from your Lord is the truth, be equal to one who is blind? Only the people of understanding respond to the advice.(Surah Ar-Ra’d, ayah 19).Those who are guided feel as if their eyes have been opened to a whole new world. They are grateful for everything God has given them and put around them. There are no coincidences, only God’s Plan. -Author besides being a medical doctor is very active in positive perception management of various moral and social issues. He can be reached at drfiazfazili@gmail.com & twitter @drfiazfazili) -