By Mohamedarif Suleman,
(Nairobi, Kenya)
If there is one very significant trait of a Muslim, it has got to be related to manners, etiquettes, or what has been referred to as honourable morals. When Allah (SWT) referred to His creation this: “And indeed you are of a great moral character” (Al Qalam:4), He was not only praising the seal of the Prophets (SAW), but was as well, setting a standard for his followers to emulate.
Khateeb Uthman Dhumayrihhah, in his sermon on Truthfulness and Honourable Manners, states, “High morals are the protecting fortresses which Muslims seek security in and the Holy Prophet (SAW) pointed to its importance when he said: “I was sent to perfect honourable morals.”…”
The trouble is, like everything else, morals and morality today have modified meanings and abridged comprehensions. Whereas Islam, through its Messenger (SAW) has always propagated the need for high moral standards in society as a way to creating harmony and respect for others, the new Global Culture, whose victims and subscribers are resident in the younger generation across the world today, has other messages to imprint in our minds through the potent vehicles of information and technology at their disposal.
In the scheme of things, a class calibrated society that adopts “equal opportunities” for all is a paradox of the highest nature. But it exists in our midst. The developers of this class society, which dictates the honour and repute of a person on the basis of his or her wealth and possessions, is concurrently spreading the use of information, communications and technology on the pretext of its ability to be “democratic” and universally progressive. So, what makes this so unusual? Naturally, from the time immemorial, the aristocratic class of any society, have even shed innocent blood in order to protect their privileged lifestyle, and have never been known to accommodate those lower in the wrung to enjoy similar, let alone equal benefits.
But we must be able minded to understand that the main agenda is not to create prosperity, that of course is a by product which then enables the further success of such actions. The main agenda is to spread a culture of irreligiousness or moderation, as it is nowadays known as. And yet, whereas we must not dare to exclude ourselves from this technological revolution lest we are left behind, we must also ever shun what we must call responsible practice and logical knowledge simulation.
The very anti-religious concepts such as “live-in” partnerships, homosexuality and lesbianism, coupled with the need and desire for the fulfillment of physical and material needs, that were not very long ago mocked at, have today found unchallenging acceptance in most societies. The result? Young people all over the world are questioning the motives of the leaders as to why they should not allow people to practice their sexual and material preferences. Today, no one is prepared to accept that the basic objection is based on each and every religion, and therefore accepting such sinful activities, are tantamount to atheism or nihilism. For once, man and woman are getting above their gods.
The rot is rapidly spreading into the Muslim youth at an incredible rate. The new world order mow says that you can wear open clothes in a strictly Hindu setting and at a family gathering in front of their godly idols (see Indian Channel TV dramas); that what once were harmless embraces between to (Muslim) brothers can today be interpreted as gay culture which is not in any way bad (see Western Films and Pop Culture), that respect for the elders on a matter if right and wrong is subordinate and insignificant, and where the determination of right and wrong is one’s own prerogative.
When the former US President Bill Clinton underwent the Lewinsky scandal, the writing was on the wall that Americans (Global culture) can forgive obscenity but not lies. And the punishment for such lies was “censure”.
As Muslims, isn’t it about time we thought hard on how to divert this negative influence on society and on our youths? Don’t we owe it to the Holy Prophet’s (SAW) mission to save our own generations from going completely astray?
