In today’s world, suppressing the decent individuals and nurturing the wicked ones are on the rise. Sometimes I think, if we closed our eyes from our surroundings and secluded ourselves in a room, we could avoid hearing the news of these unfortunate occurrences. Every day, we have to hear and see news that makes our bodies and minds paralyzed. Occurrences that a civilized society cannot imagine, let alone an Islamic society, are taking place every day. Spouses kill each other, parents kill their own children- these types of incidents have become common. Therefore, I have decided to converse with Alkawser's readers about this subject.

A month or more ago, the newspaper reported a disturbing incident where a man killed his wife and children by mixing poison with food. It goes without saying how demonic such activities are. That is something that everyone understands. Nobody will deny that these are severe criminal offenses. In Islam, killing an innocent person is equivalent to killing the entire human race.

According to the Quran:

مَنْ قَتَلَ نَفْسًۢا بِغَیْرِ نَفْسٍ اَوْ فَسَادٍ فِی الْاَرْضِ فَکَاَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِیْعًا.

Whoever kills a person, not in retaliation for a person killed, nor (as a punishment) for spreading disorder on the earth, is as if he has killed the whole of humankind. ( Sura Ma’idah, 5:32)

It is essential to grasp the significance of Allah Ta'ala's words: if one individual is killed, it symbolizes the destruction of the entire human civilization. If a man is a real human being, he cannot even contemplate to kill someone without a just reason, (which is allowed by Shari'ah.) Allah declares: فَكَاَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِیْعًا as if he killed the whole of humankind

That is about the murder of general people. But, a wife is the most faithful person to a husband, and a husband to a wife. They are aware of each other's secrets. How gruesome will be the matter, if they betray each other? Children are the dearest ones for parents, and for children, parents are the most favorite persons. It is said in the proverb, the weight of a child's lifeless body is the heaviest burden a father can bear. When a child passes away, it is not possible to mention the dimension of grief of parents. In this situation, if a person conspires to murder his wife and children, then barbarism crosses all its limits. I therefore don't want to see this news. But, does turning a blind eye halt the tide of these atrocities?

 How far has society strayed from morality? Why are we continually exposed to these stories? Why do these incidents seem to occur more frequently in Muslim societies and countries? Why are we getting news about murders every day? Divorce rates are soaring and parents are increasingly abandoning their children, while children are leaving their elderly parents in nursing homes. All of these actions contradict the teachings of Islam. Islam not only emphasizes strengthening family bonds but also encourages positive societal relationships, strong state ties, and peaceful coexistence. As Muslims, we seem to be losing our identity, fostering enmity among ourselves, and we cannot tolerate one another. Why is this happening?

These are very painful. When we hear them we feel very sad. But after a few days, we forget them. We got submerged in other aspects of lives. Then, another incident occurs.

The weakness of our judicial system, the lengthy process, and the complexity in seeking justice for the poor embolden criminals to commit more crimes. They escape in various ways. Murderers are being acquitted through special mercy of the President. That's why we need to think from the beginning. Imams, Khatibs, Ulama, writers, intellectuals, leaders, thinkers and those who have the opportunity to do something for society should think about its remedy. Investigating the causes of these happenings and taking steps to solve these problems is more necessary than ever.

Create human values among people. The primary source of human values is their religion, Islam, and the fear of Allah. If these values are not reinstated, such incidents will continue to occur. Sociologists offer various explanations, often blaming people's selfishness, greed, and isolation as the underlying causes of these incidents. Undoubtedly, these factors play a role. However, selfishness or greed does not manifest in people without reason. We find in Hadith that humanity possesses two inclinations: one drives them to perform virtuous deeds, while the other inclines them toward behaving like violent animals.

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:إن للشَّيطانِ لَلَمَّةً بابنِ آدمَ، ولِلْمَلك لَمَّةٌ، فأمَّا لمَّةُ الشَّيطانِ فإيعادٌ بالشَّرِّ وتَكْذيبٌ بالحقِّ، وأمَّا لَمَّةُ الملَكِ فإيعادٌ بالخيرِ وتصديقٌ بالحقِّ. فمَن وجدَ ذلِكَ فليعلم أنَّهُ منَ اللهِ، فليحمَدِ اللهَ، ومن وجدَ الأخرى فليتعوَّذ منَ الشَّيطانِ. ثمَّ قرأَ : اَلشَّیْطٰنُ یَعِدُكُمُ الْفَقْرَ وَ یَاْمُرُكُمْ بِالْفَحْشَآءِ، وَ اللهُ یَعِدُكُمْ مَّغْفِرَةً مِّنْهُ وَ فَضْلًا الآيةَ

Abdullah bin Mas'ud Narrated: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Indeed the Shaitan has an effect on the son of Adam, and the angel also has an effect. As for the Shaitan, it is by threatening evil repercussions and rejecting the truth. As for the effect of the angel, it is by his promise of a good end and believing in the truth. Whoever finds that, let him know that it is from Allah, and let him praise Allah for it. Whoever finds the other then let him seek refuge with Allah from the Shaitan (the outcast) then recite: Shaitan threatens you with poverty and orders you to commit Fahisha (2:268)."  (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2988)

Man should rush towards anything that encourages him to perform good deeds. However, it is well recognized that no one becomes motivated to do good acts suddenly. If his environment is full greed and lust, and if his family does not practice religion, does not fear Allah, and does not adhere to Shariah, he cannot develop the inclination to do good deeds overnight. Rather, his surroundings and society gradually lead him to selfishness, making him contemplate how to acquire more. Greed for wealth gradually consumes him as instinct pulls him in that direction. Capitalist society spreads all kinds of materials everywhere to make people greedy. That's why many people can't control their greed. They commit the heinous crimes to satisfy their greed.

Another important factor is wicked inclination. Because of this, when husband and wife quarrel, they want to torment and even kill each other. They kill their own children due to their quarrel. The safest place for a child is his mother's lap. But now mother is murdering her child. Parents are leaving their children. They get involved in illegal relation. What is cause of this? This is all due to evil inclination. One could argue that providing some motivational guidance is sufficient for controlling this inclination. Actually, this is not the case. Only motivational advice is not enough. Quran did not say -

حَرَّمَ اللهُ الزِّنَى.

Allah has forbidden zina.

Rather, Allah says:

وَ لَا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنٰۤی.

Do not even go near Zina. - Surah Bani Israel (17): 32

What does this mean, exactly? Its objective is to close every door that leads to engagement in such activities. We must consider these pathways carefully. These activities include the free mixing of men and women and not adhering to Islamic rules regarding hijab (modest dress and conduct). The situation has deteriorated to the point where husbands are allowing their wives to go out in revealing clothing and mingle with their friends. Even if women wear modest clothes at home, they dress immodestly when they go out. Consequently, one husband becomes distracted by his wife, while another's wife falls victim to the distractions of other men.

As they deviate from Islam, they engage in these actions. Unconsciously, they are gradually drifting toward selfishness. A woman may leave her home without considering her husband and children's well-being, and a man may do the same without thinking about his wife and children. We are neglecting the practices that Islam has prescribed, such as lowering our gaze and not staring at the opposite sex, seeking permission before entering someone's house, and observing the rules of hijab(modest dress and conduct). Instead, we have flung open all the doors without restraint. In the past, when someone watched TV or movies, they did so secretly out of fear. Now, we are openly embracing these mediums. We may feel remorse for these incidents, but, in reality, we should feel sorry for ourselves. We have left these protective measures to society, and these consequences have manifested as a result of opening the door to such transgressions.

We must make an effort to regain our humanity. To control our wicked inclinations, we must address the root causes. We need to draw closer to God, follow His guidance, and show Him reverence. Practicing Taqwa is essential; there's no substitute for it.

Western societies are feeling remorse with the consequences of their actions. Their intellectuals are questioning, 'What has happened to us? Where did we go wrong? We've lost our sense of community and the institution of marriage. Our children have gone beyond our control.

Why do elderly people want to die in their old age in western countries?  The main reason should be understood. Their family and society are not giving them what they want. At this age, they are supposed to spend time with their loved ones. They are supposed to spend time with their creator. But unfortunately, they have already drifted away from Allah. Their loved ones are not with them in their old age. They made the law that children become independent when they are 21 years old. Now children are busy with themselves. They do not have time to spend with their elderly parents after being preoccupied with worldly needs, partners, and friends? So the old parents die in old age homes. They are waiting for their own death.

I read a column in a daily newspaper discussing old age homes. The author praised the concept of old age homes. He wrote, 'Old people can find a new lease on life by residing in old age homes, where they have the opportunity to spend time with their peers.

However, if the writer had personally visited an old age home, he might have gained a deeper understanding of the residents' experiences. We have heard stories from those who have spent a few days in old age homes, sharing their struggles and expressing the pain of being separated from their sons, daughters, and grandchildren. At that stage of life, they seek more than just services in exchange for money; they value their dignity and often find that their needs and desires are unmet.

In a country like ours, where 91% of the population follows Islam, the concept of old age homes is being circulated. This is against the teachings of the Quran, which strongly emphasize avoiding shirk, the gravest sin, and repeatedly command kindness and care toward one's parents. This directive in the Quran is highly relevant to this situation.

These teachings are found in the Quran, yet today, we incline to place our elderly parents in old age homes. The concept of old age homes is gaining popularity among the people, because of capitalism and blind imitation of foreign culture. It is crucial for us to uncover the underlying reasons behind this trend. Otherwise, acts of cruelty, inhumanity, and moral decline will continue to rise rather than diminish.

May Allah Ta'ala grant us the ability to deeply understand the core principles of Islam. May He keep us away from societies that have deviated from these principles. Additionally, may Allah guide those who are promoting these values in our country and grant them success in spreading the right path. Amin.

Abridged translation: Alauddin Rafiq & Enam Hasan