Moral Degeneration in Disbelieving Societies

Swerving from the real purpose of life is, in a way, losing one's values. Indeed, one does not expect those to have elevated values who believe that the world is the one and only place in which to live and that all persons, including oneself, will cease utterly at death. Similarly, one does not expect humane qualities in someone who does not think he is being tested in his deeds in this world and that he will be paid in full according to them in the hereafter.

It is unavoidable that those communities clinging to such distorted philosophies will experience spiritual idleness. In this short life, individuals are mostly concerned about gaining personal benefits and satisfying their own desires, with the basic objective of leading a life for which they do not have to be responsible. Meanwhile, their ambition is never to attain perfection of character, believing that this will not add anything beneficial to their life. On the contrary, on the basis of their distorted outlook on life, they consider helpful, conscientious, compassionate and indulgent people somewhat "foolish." Their rationale commands the strong to exert pressure on the weak and use violence against them, without respecting any of their rights. Allah, in the Qur'an, stresses that those having no faith in the hereafter and the Day of Judgement see no limits to committing wrong actions:

Woe that Day to the deniers: those who deny the Day of Reckoning. No one denies it except for every evil aggressor. (Surat al-Mutaffifin: 10-12)

These people, who have drifted from the religion aspire to possess more and they instil this ambition into the minds of others around them, predisposing them to disobey the limits of Allah.

We are living in a time when those who have entirely abandoned religious values are in the majority. Not content with what they personally do, these people are willing also to cause others to drift along this dark path. This is the time when all forms of immorality are being revitalised: not seeing any limits in committing wrong actions, violent aggression, spiritual idleness, moral degradation, prostitution, inciting to "avarice" as in the words of one verse, perverted sexual orientations, drug addiction, gambling… In the following pages, we will dwell on the dimensions of moral degradation consequential to disbelief.

INDOCTRINATION OF IMMORALITY

A disbelieving person as well as a person who has poor faith in Allah and the hereafter readily commits fornication, gambling or theft, deeds made unlawful by Allah. Disbelief actually lays the basis of this inclination. This rationale maintains that human beings came into existence as a result of chance and that thus man does not have to feel responsible toward his Creator. The Theory of Evolution, which ideologically nurtures disbelief, holds human beings to be a developed form of animal. In this sense, nothing should be a matter of concern for us, except meeting our own needs. As for meeting the desires of the wicked side of his soul, we do not have to observe any limits; we can act just like animals. In brief, such philosophies, which do not contain any spiritual dimension, fail to recognise moral values.

Newsweek, 4 June 2001

Indeed, renowned materialists and advocates of Darwinism clearly express how disbelief sees moral values. William Provine, a professor from Cornell University, explains how materialism assesses morality:

Modern science directly implies that the world is organized strictly in accordance with mechanistic principles. There are no purposive principles whatsoever in nature. There are no gods and no designing forces that are rationally detectable... Second, modern science directly implies that there are no inherent moral or ethical laws, no absolute guiding principles for human society. Thirdly, human beings are marvelously complex machines. The individual human becomes an ethical person by means of two primary mechanisms: heredity and environmental influences. That is all there is. Fourth, we must conclude that when we die, we die and that is the end of us...11

As this scientist, a materialist himself, puts it, disbelief allows no faith in the hereafter. People simply believe they will perish with death. This perverted belief of disbelievers is related in the Qur'an as follows:

What is there but our life in this world? We die and we live and we will not be raised again. (Surat al-Muminun: 37)

Those not believing in the resurrection from the dead, observe no limits and see no harm in immorality. For these people, there is no reason a man should exert his willpower. This is why disbelief is the foremost reason accounting for moral degeneration, as is also affirmed by the aforementioned words of W. Provine. The distorted thoughts and moral values of a disbeliever are evident in these words.

It also deserves mention that not everyone engaging in immorality does this having Darwinism or materialism in mind. However, one should remember that these ideologies and their disbelieving mentors instil these distorted notions into the minds of people and, consequently the majority of people feel greedily attached to this life rather than leading their lives with the hereafter in mind.

The Daily Telegraph, 26 June 2000 Newsweek, 28 May 2000

The understanding of those of the 60's generation who seized upon sensual liberation was also a consequence of seeing no limits to behaviour. They are remembered for all forms of immorality such as free sex, drugs, arrogant independence and rebellion. Three decades later, today, many of those 60's iconoclasts are either ruling countries or teaching at schools. The parents who raised today's youth also belong to the same generation. Today, we observe an immorality that is almost unprecedented in world history. One cause of this is the existence of a highly degenerated generation, who were raised by disbelieving parents. Allah, in the Qur'an, mentions the community who are unaware of the religion because their fathers were not warned:

(You are one of the Messengers) so that you may warn a people whose fathers were not warned and who are therefore unaware. (Surah Yasin: 6)

Newsweek, 15 May 2000 The Daily Telegraph, 11 May 2000 A person having no inner fear of Allah observes no limits. This accounts for moral degeneration in societies.

As is also stressed in this verse, the generations who are born to disbelieving people become irreligious and devoid of moral values like their parents.

Today, the main cause of moral degeneration pervading the world, from America to Holland, Far East to Russia, is the existence of people who because of their disbelief assume themselves not to be answerable for their actions and to be independent. Because disbelief is so widespread in our day - as never before in world history - homosexuality has become a social norm. For the same reason prostitution, paedophilia, gambling, fraud and bribery are out of control. The rot in society is self-evident with distrust everywhere - even among immediate family members - evil habits becoming a matter of prestige, pre-marital and extra-marital sex becoming a defining characteristic of "modernism". Again, disbelief accounts for people's loss of virtues such as modesty, shame and good conduct. People are steadily encouraged to adopt behaviour as a norm that was morally unacceptable only a few decades ago.

Time, 23 Nov. 1998

It is undeniable that disbelief brings immorality. Yet, there may be people claiming to be moral, albeit disbelieving. They assert they do not get involved in any of the aforementioned immoral behaviour. Indeed, it is all possible that a person having no faith might never become involved in any form of corruption, and that he could be determined to remain so. Yet, this does not indicate that he is a morally good person. A person who displays virtuous conduct only because he has fear of Allah remains consistent in his manners no matter what the circumstances. A disbelieving person, who claims he has never received bribes, can readily lie if it serves his interests. Alternatively, the same person admits to receiving bribes to pay his son's hospital bills. In brief, as conditions change, under the pretext of "compelling circumstances", a disbelieving person may well commit things he himself accepts as wrong. For instance, a disbelieving person who deems murder unimaginable may one day give in to his anger and commit it.

Having good values, however, demands patience and willpower. No matter how compelling the circumstances, one has to strive for good character. To display such unyielding patience and willpower, one needs to have a purpose. Believers manage this because they have an ultimate aim in life: to attain the good pleasure of Allah, His mercy and the Garden. They know that as the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, "There will be nothing heavier in the balance of the believer on the Day of Rising than good character."12 To this end, they take every opportunity to strive for excellence. A disbelieving and purposeless person, on the other hand, has no reason to persevere in patience and willpower. For instance, those earning their living by prostitution claim that it is the only way they can support themselves. If they had faith in Allah and the hereafter, however, they would never tend to such a shameful way of earning a living. Being aware that they will not be able to give an account for it, they would meticulously avoid it with great fear.

Satan threatens you with poverty and commands you to conduct unseemly. Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and abundance. Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing. (Surat al-Baqara: 268)

As indicated in the verse, because of the fear of impoverishment, a majority of people dare to indulge in all forms of immorality. On the other hand, even the thought of living immorally does not occur to the mind of a person hoping to earn the mercy of Allah. In one verse, Allah stresses that the fear of Allah that believers have makes them strive with good character:

Those who join what Allah has commanded to be joined and are afraid of their Lord and fear an evil Reckoning; those who are steadfast in seeking the face of their Lord, and establish salat and give from the provision We have given them, secretly and openly, and stave off evil with good, it is they who will have the Ultimate Abode… (Surat ar-Ra'd: 21-22)

PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGED TO GO INTO IMMORALITY

Today, under the guise of "modernism" or "liberation", people, especially teenagers, are conditioned towards immorality. Values strictly avoided a few decades ago are readily internalised by societies today. All forms of vice are displayed on TV, in the tabloids and magazines. Forgers, homosexuals, those who sell their bodies, parents pushing their daughters to prostitution, gamblers, the so-called celebrities with deplorable manners are presented to public as role-models. Even if they are sometimes genuinely abhorred, they become people whose life-style is emulated by the masses. Meanwhile, the dissolute lives they live are offered as a defining value of "modernism" or even "civilisation".

In recent years, widespread effeminate behaviour, style and clothing among men typifies one consequence of this indoctrination. That societies tend to such degradation is a token of their imprudence. Similarly, renowned people in the public eye promote extramarital relations and drug use. The ignorant masses imitate everything associated with these people - from behaviours to philosophies, clothing styles to use of language. They hardly realise that these people - the objects of adulation to millions - are simply shallow people battling serious psychological, sexual and spiritual problems and thus constantly humiliated by their close associates who are aware of their real inner worlds. Yet, the majority of people fail to comprehend this. Allah draws attention to the fact that those having no faith are devoid of wisdom:

Anything you have been given is only the enjoyment of the life of this world and its finery. What is with Allah is better and longer lasting. So will you not use your intellect? (Surat al-Qasas: 60)

However, thoughtful, wise, conscientious, intelligent people with strong fear of Allah have to be the ones forming the moral framework of society. They would nurture a healthier social model pushing all vices out of society. Rather than trifling matters, teenagers could be far more preoccupied with enriching their characters. Obviously, conscientious people are those who would commit themselves to the betterment of society instead of its destruction. These are the open-minded people, who can think freely and independently of society's conditioning. Having dismissed disbelief, they do not become blind and thus can grasp the purpose of life. Being aware that Allah created them, these people only feel responsible to Allah and so display excellent character. Since they only adhere to the Qur'an and the Sunnah, they only follow the example of sincere, wise, conscientious people who strive with good character:

You have an excellent model in the Messenger of Allah, for all who put their hope in Allah and the Last Day and remember Allah much. (Surat al-Ahzab: 21)

Newsweek, 23 November 1998 The Daily Telegraph, 22 July 2000 Time, 23 April 1979 As this 1979 Time magazine story indicates, decades earlier homosexuality was propagated among the masses as a natural phenomena.

Praising those striving for excellent character in society and presenting the virtues a good character brings to the human spirit while expressing dislike for moral failings will surely stop people tending to immorality.

A TOKEN OF THE LACK OF WILLPOWER PECULIAR TO DISBELIEVERS: DRUGS

Drug use has had an alarming increase especially during the last decade. That the majority of teenagers use drugs is a fact confirmed by surveys. Similarly, the number of addicts around the world is in no way negligible. A survey conducted in 1992 concluded that 50% of the teenage population of Britain were drug users. Addicts constituted 30% of British teenagers. Another survey indicates that, between the years 1988 and 1995, Americans spent $57.3 billion on drugs.13

All drugs are detrimental to human health. A drug user ultimately ends up in society's dark corners. He needs substantial sums of money for drugs, yet, paradoxically, drugs physically hinder him from working. At this stage, the addict starts to make his or her living outside the law, stealing, cheating, in heterosexual or homosexual prostitution, etc. Ultimately, the urgency of obtaining money and the failure to become involved in any decent work reinforce each other in a self-perpetuating spiral.

That a person from his own free will drift into such an ignoble life is inconceivable. A wise and conscientious person never falls into such a situation. Yet, the lack of willpower, which is purely a consequence of disbelief, may cause one even more harm, as stated in the verse: "Allah does not wrong people in any way; rather it is people who wrong themselves." (Surah Yunus: 44)

Those tempting young people into using drugs show another aspect of the effects of disbelief. Drug dealers, who have entirely lost values such as conscience, compassion, mercy and pity, strive to attract more young people just in order to earn more. For instance, in some countries such as Latin America or Russia, drug smuggling for commercial gain is among the most profitable activities. By and large, the state in these countries controls the drug trade or allows networks involved in the drug trade to keep working. If, at least, one of these parties were faithful and had belief in Allah and the hereafter, the world would be rid of such a problem. If, due to fear of Allah, nobody got involved in drugs in any form - neither trading with them nor using them - this problem would end forever.

Time, 11 August 1997 The Daily Telegraph, 25 Feb. 2000 Being deprived of the wisdom and conscience the Qur'an grants explains why young people yield to drugs.

Today, initiatives against illegal drug dealing and drug use fail to provide lasting solutions. For instance, if addicts lacking the will to overcome addiction are treated in hospital, they soon return to their former habits. In jail, members of drug networks continue to traffic in illegal drugs internationally. The only way to rescue a drug addict, on the other hand, is to give him strong willpower. Only the religion provides man with unshakeable willpower. Even disbelievers who demonstrate strong willpower have a passion for something, a factor making them weak. Only the fear of Allah and of torment in the Fire provides the sort of willpower no one and nothing can overcome.

SOME SHAMEFUL BUT WIDESPREAD ACTS: PROSTITUTION ADULTERY AND HOMOSEXUALITY

Prostitution, as a way of earning a living, is rapidly becoming widespread. With each passing year, the average age of young prostitutes decreases. Even their own families force very young girls and boys to sell their bodies. At an age when they still need protection and care, that children are pushed into such repulsive areas should alarm the world countries enough so that they protect them from such damage. On the contrary, however, countries like Philippines are promoted as popular tourist attractions for obtaining children for sex. In many parts of the world, tourists pour into these locations only for this purpose.

Fornication is another indecent but widespread act. According to the National Certified Health Statistics, 32% of all children born in the USA are born extra-maritally, which means, every year, 1,267,383 babies are born to unmarried couples.14 A concept, which was unimaginable only 2-3 decades ago, has now become a part of daily life.

Newsweek, 19 March 2001

The material and spiritual harms fornication gives society are evident. Nor is there any need to point out that children born to unmarried parents or single mothers, who are themselves still children, inherently have a problematic upbringing. The future of these children is often blurred. "A Synopsis of Current World Crisis Reports" (March 9, 1998) remarks on the moral degeneration in family structure as follows:

The last transformation in the early part of this century necessitated the ruin of three societal foundational factors… The first factor this time around was a more complete dissolution of morals and the family as a foundation. This was brought about primarily since the 1960's. The radical elements which now govern the country were called the hippies in those days. Free love was their watchword. Hardly anyone noticed that they were not free since they were always fighting someone, and it wasn't love they had. It was immorality and degeneracy.15

Fornication is an evil prohibited in the Qur'an. The end of those who commit it is torment in the Fire unless they turn in repentance from it:

Do not go near to fornication. It is an indecent act, an evil way. (Surat al-Isra: 32)

…those who do not call on any other god together with Allah and do not kill anyone Allah has made inviolate, except with the right to do so, and do not fornicate; anyone who does that will receive an evil punishment (Surat al-Furqan: 68)

After intense indoctrination, the majority of people see fornication, which is in fact an act leading to the Fire, as "modernity" and many are lured into it.

Homosexuality, which was unacceptable in the moral code of societies until the recent past, is another shameful act that today permeates our social life. Homosexuals in our day enjoy many social rights, from homosexual marriages to having babies through surrogate mothers or the right to adopt children. They have access to parties, clubs and congresses organised only for their own purposes. Meanwhile, many magazines and press organs instil into our minds that homosexuality is a popular and acceptable way of life. Homosexuality is, however, a perversion. Nevertheless, with words like "everyone is free to choose his preference or his sexual orientation", an "intellectual" quality is attributed to it and thus it is legitimised. As everyone would agree, there is an absence of moral values in the lives of homosexuals and prostitutes. They are usually aggressive people who are hard to convince on any given subject. They curse a lot. They do not keep their bodies and homes clean. Their hearts are full of rage and hatred towards people to such an extent that, without any feeling of quilt, many of them readily transmit their infectious diseases to other people. They do not observe any limits in any subject and are devoid of honour. Being in poor health psychologically, they are highly prone to suicide or even murder. These people do not have any contribution to make to society at all. Rather, they always become a source of unrest, tension, sickness and immorality in their environment. The reason why press places homosexuality at the top of its agenda is to degenerate public. Since there is a high proportion of homosexuals in the media and the world of entertainment, their active campaigning for homosexuality is extremely effective. Their spreading this propaganda even further weakens the moral values of society forever.

Newsweek, 19 March 2001 The Daily Telegraph, 14 Sep. 2000 Young people, unaware of chastity, one of the blessings of the values of the Qur'an, see no reason why they should not sell their bodies.

Disbelief is the most essential attribute of a degenerate society. Homosexuality is a form of perversion, for which in return Allah promises torment both in this world and the hereafter, unless the person turns to Him in repentance. Allah, in the Qur'an, proclaims that the cities of the people who disobeyed the prophet Lut were razed to the ground because they practised homosexuality, a disaster which went down in history. When the prophet Lut, peace be upon him, told them to give up this perversion and brought them Allah's warning, they denied him and carried on with their perversion. Upon this, his people were destroyed by the disaster of which Lut had informed them in advance:

Of all beings, do you lie with males, leaving the wives Allah has created for you? You are a people who have overstepped the limits.' They said, 'Lut, if you do not desist you will be expelled.'

He said, 'I am someone who detests the deed you perpetrate. My Lord, rescue me and my family from what they are doing.' Therefore We rescued him and all his family - except for an old woman who remained behind. Then We utterly destroyed the rest and made a rain come pouring down upon them. How evil is the rain of those who are warned! There is certainly a Sign in that, yet most of them are not muminun. (Surat ash-Shu'ara: 165-174)

The way social institutions and related bodies deal with the problem is so alarming.

None of these institutions give emphasis to the fact that this perversion is a wrong action displeasing to Allah and the reason for pain in this world as well as eternal suffering in the hereafter. The sickness these perverted people give to society should be removed. However, what is more urgent is to save these people from that in which they indulge. Today, there are millions of people around the world living in perversion and depravity, who through intense indoctrination have incorporated immorality, rebellion and all forms of awful behaviour patterns into their lives.

On the other hand, in a believing society people strive for what is better, more honourable, more aesthetic and honest. Allah informs us about the people who are rightly guided in the following verse:

…Allah has given you love of iman and made it pleasing to your hearts, and has made disbelief, deviance and disobedience hateful to you. People such as these are rightly guided. (Surat al-Hujurat: 7)

The only force that prevents man from indulging in wicked deeds and perversion and that makes good values spread in society is the deen. In a verse, Allah informs us thus:

Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish salat. Salat precludes indecency and wrongdoing. And remembrance of Allah is greater still. Allah knows what you do. (Surat al-Ankabut: 45)

GAMBLING IS DETRIMENTAL TO HUMAN LIFE

A Perversion Brought About by Disbelief Some young people think that by obeying Satan, they will be able to continue their perversity with him in Hell. Hell, however, is under the complete control of Allah, and they will suffer the penalty of their deeds in Hell along with Satan.

In our day, gambling blights societies. Nevertheless, gambling continues to be one of the most profitable sectors. However, enormous amounts of money spent for pure pleasure, namely for gambling, could well be channelled to better purpose, i.e. to promote the public welfare.

The influence of gambling over people is entirely malignant. Society cannot afford gambling, which is also evident from the news in the newspapers and TV. People commit suicide due to debt, they cannot keep their family together, they suffer from depression, and even commit murder, since they gamble away what they amassed over years in only a few hours. This sector of the economy, established on broken families, ruined marriages, and money made outside the law, is a significant example of moral degeneration.

It is astonishing that gambling, which does so much harm to society, is extensively promoted. To make money out of gambling and legitimising it is surely not done by people who are listening to their consciences.

Those who allow gambling to become widespread in society, which is a source of mass suffering, confess to this vice when they themselves start to suffer from it. Until they meet such an undesirable end themselves, however, they cause many people to drift into a gloomy life.

Satanism is an evil that occasionally comes onto the agenda. When the subject comes to the attention of the public, everyone makes a comment according to his own ideas and offers various ways to protect young people from this threat. However, it is obvious that none of these solutions are deep-rooted and permanent, and that there is only one way to protect people from this perversity: having faith in Allah, to appreciate the signs of His existence and power, fear Him, live by the Qur'an and educate the young people. No other way will help to free people from this threat.

Eradicating such conscienceless attitudes is only possible through adherence to the Qur'an. Allah defines gambling as filth and warns man to stay away from it:

You who have iman! Wine and gambling, stone altars and divining arrows are filth from the handiwork of Satan. Avoid them completely so that hopefully you will be successful. Evil wants to stir up enmity and hatred between you by means of wine and gambling, and to debar you from remembrance of Allah and from salat. Will you not then give them up? (Surat al-Ma'ida: 90-91)

What is incumbent on faithful and conscientious people is to raise awareness about the harms gambling brings and summon people to avoid this vice.