David Brooks says in his book “The road to character” that it is hard to follow the ethical model practically when you do not find one nearby.
The widespread culture and norm of the day easily become ones behavior and ultimately a habit. From habit, it takes little time to become a part of ones character.
If we look across Muslim countries, unfortunately we find a common pattern of hatred, animosity, lust, greed anarchy, confusion, lack of morality and dishonesty everywhere. In midst of such influences and practices, it becomes hard for younger cohort to exercise higher set of morals and ethics. Not only this, but there are some additional factors to be concerned about which are lack of motivation from academic side.
Academia only incites a desire to reach to high-scale jobs and power. It does not advocate for ethical attributes like honesty, truthfulness, peace-building and social advantages of universal shared values. Therefore, the society everywhere is laden with materialistic hunger of earthly power and lust of physical amenities like house, bank balance, car, job, brands and gadgets. For a younger generation, it is hard to cognitively relate the values they read in their textbooks with what they observe on a daily basis around them through their parents, teachers, elders and peers.
But, if the patterns of immoralities have to be changed then why should we change?
We definitely need this “why”. We can hardly change until and unless we do not necessarily get the answer of this “why. To find it we have to ponder what may happen if we will not change? what would occur if generations after generations will stay under the overwhelmingly negative influence of these social ills. Would we be able to establish a reputable recognition in this world and if not then what would happen to our future generations?
Secondly, one needs to reflect on history of Islam and nations at large to understand cultural shifts. The Nations which fail to change their shortcomings and ineffective traditions vanish with time far easily by stronger or much more powerful nations.
Last but not the least, the poet of East, Muhammad Iqbal, had this desire within him which he presented in one of the famous poem “Saqi-nama” that a younger generation should become a master of elders as elders are not sound in character and practices.
Khirad Ko Ghulami Se Azad Kar
Jawanon Ko Peeron Ka Ustad Kar
Free young men’s minds from slavery,
And make them mentors of the old.
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