Syed Maafid/Syed Irtiqa
Moral values are a set of standards that govern the behaviour of an individual. These determine what kind of a person one actually is. A person with high moral values restrains his or her self from illegal practices and contributes positively towards the development of a society. Moral values ensure and guide an individual towards perfection of his overall personality.
A society is built up of individuals: one which comprises those individuals having lofty values progresses and prospers in contrast a society whose members possess no values or poor principles, which falls apart.
Today our society is on the verge of disintegration with regard to relationships as only are moral values are in a state of decline; and we have none but ourselves to blame.
Growing modernisation seems to have had a counterproductive effect on our moral values. People have adopted the western culture in such a way that they are unable to distinguish between just and unjust practices. They seem to be in a state of dilemma. Youth are unable to clearly visualize things that pertain to their motive of existence. The present generation seems to have forgotten the meaning and importance of moral values.
Morals have deteriorated; in terms of respect that we ought to give to others, our responsibilities towards them and more particularly in terms of ethics that have always governed others towards success in life.
Respect for parents has been lost to a large extent. Parents are not treated in a way befitting their stature and place in a family. Their children no longer consider it a duty to fulfil their intended obligations. They are shown very little or no humility at all, even when the Almighty Allah has clearly commanded that they be honoured and treated with kindness. It has been clearly mentioned that Allah’s pleasure and approval is subject to the pleasure and approval of the parents and that His anger lies in the displeasure of parents.
Is being modern and looking trendy more important to us than to honour our moral values, which lay a foundation stone in one’s existence?
When we take a cursory look at our society, it is not only parents that are not given due respect, but also our teachers. Teachers are the building blocks of a nation. It is up to them to impart quality education among the students. They work hard to serve the nation, but on the contrary what they get does is unfair; ill treatment by today’s youth. The modern generation students do not respect teachers in a way they are supposed to.
In Islam, teachers are held in high esteem. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: He is not of one us who does not respect the elderly, is not merciful to the youth, and does not know the rights of those who teach us. In another Hadith (sayings of the prophet), it has been said: Venerate the ones you learn from, and venerate the ones you teach.
If we as Muslims have been commanded to respect the ones we learn from, then why are we unable to do justice with it? Why are our moral values so meek that we end up with performing those acts that are contrary to standard behaviour?
Our dress must be that which avoids three deadly sins: show-off, arrogance and self-indulgence. But the moral values that govern the same are missing and so is the gap between the right and wrong choice. Our dressing sense should reflect our humility and modesty which is too far from what is actually happening.
Provocative dressing has resulted in unfortunate incidents that have a very bad impact on society. But none of us seems to be bothered about the way things are going around because our moral values are such that it has become hard for us to correlate our present actions with the consequences. It is as if we have lost our conscience.
Lack of ethics has increased unfair practices which have eroded the true meaning of society. Benefiting by deceiving others has become common these days and people seem to be least bothered. Lying has become an integral part of our lives. Almost all of us lie several times in a single day. Drug addiction has also surfaced to be a major issue.
Who is going to bring a change when people lack the much needed moral values? Where are the moral values that have been taught to us? Why are our moral values so degraded that we are unable to shun evil practices.
It is rightly said that ‘respect for ourselves guides our morals and respect for others guides our manners’. So what is the need of the hour is to have self-respect: which would pave way for good moral values. It is the need of the hour that we bring a change in ourselves; otherwise there would be no place to live on this earth. We need to mould our behaviour to bring about a change in ourselves as individuals’ immoral values can breakdown a society’s equilibrium and harmony.
We cannot run away from the fact that we all are the members of a society. Therefore; it is we who have to make it a place worth living; where all understand their rights and obligations and work collectively to bring a change that better suits the interest of its people.
Our education system can also work for this noble cause by inculcating a good set of moral values among students which would help them in the rest of their life. Parents too should impart good moral values among their children. Example is better than precept and the elders need to be good human beings themselves so that their children learn to be so.
It is a fact that human beings have to change themselves with the changing trends. But that does not mean that they should forget their moral values.
(The authors are students. Feedback at [email protected])
