THE BEAUTIES
FROM LIVING BY THE QUR'AN'S MORALITY
 In
such societies, people are vulnerable to all forms of immorality.
Devout believers avoid immorality because they heed and are
conscious of Allah, acknowledge that He knows whatever they
try to conceal, and are aware that they will have to account
for their deeds on the Day of Judgment. Thus, they do not
engage in any immoral behavior, commit fraud or murder, take
bribes, and so on.
But the unbelievers can indulge in such vices
with ease. Since they have no fear or awareness of Allah,
they have no motive to acquire a good attitude and thoughts
or to urge themselves to follow their conscience. In an unbelieving
society, all forms of immorality can be considered legitimate
depending on the conditions because its people have arrogated
to themselves the power to decide what is right and what is
wrong.
The pervasive spread of immorality and degradation
is the most telling attribute in societies that are far from
the Qur'an's morality. In such societies, family and business
life, politics, and human relations undergo rapid degeneration,
for a life devoid of fear and consciousness of Allah sees
no rules or limits. In this kind of life, the self's pleasures
and ambitions see no limits.
A natural consequence of degeneration, namely,
the degeneration of the family structure, which is the basic
unit of all societies, is the destruction of society as a
whole.
In societies that are far removed from the Qur'an's
morality, nobody thinks about the good, comfort, security,
and health of anybody else. Selfish desires guide people's
decisions, for the goal is always to earn and possess more.
Such people feign ignorance about what is going around them,
and it never occurs to them that they should try not to be
so wasteful or to help those who are starving or facing other
difficulties. When they make unjust gains or attempt to achieve
wealth through plunder, they see the plight of those who suffer
from the consequences of this process, and yet are not moved
by such people's misery. People treat one another well only
if they can perceive that it is somehow in their interest
to do so.
Failure to embrace the Qur'an's values accounts
for theft, bribery, suicide, abuse, and social injustice,
for only people endowed with such values behave justly under
all circumstances, constantly do good deeds, and seek Allah's
good pleasure and the eternal life of the Hereafter.However,
the believers never swerve from justice, tolerance, patience,
honesty, and moral excellence. Allah describes such people
as follows:
Those who fulfill Allah's contract and do not
break their agreement; those who join what Allah has commanded
to be joined, stand in awe of their Lord, and fear an evil
Reckoning; those who are steadfast in seeking the face of
their Lord, establish prayer, give from the provision We have
given them, both secretly and openly, and stave off evil with
good—they will have the Ultimate Abode. (Surat ar-Ra'd:
20-22)
In this blessed period that is coming closer,
there will be morally excellent people who will exercise justice,
live by the letter and the spirit of the Qur'an's values,
and communicate them to people.
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