
THE BEAUTIES RESULTING FROM
LIVING BY THE QUR'AN'S MORALITY
In order to understand the beauties that people will enjoy
in a society ruled by Qur'an's values, one needs to analyze
the corruption found in societies that follow other values.
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. 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)
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. Feelings
of respect, love, and compassion are replaced by selfish
desires; people start to pursue nothing but their own interests
and violate others' rights. Nobody helps the needy, and
the well-off seek only to hoard all they can, and harbor
no humane values.
In a society made up of believers, however, helping people
or making sacrifices display a believer's morality, which
is praised by and recommended in the Qur'an. Muslims give
to the needy and, in return, expect only Allah's reward:
Those who recite the Book of Allah, establish prayer,
and give of what We have provided for them, secretly and
openly, hope for a transaction that will not prove profitless.
(Surah Fatir: 29)
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. Furthermore,
in a society made up of such morally excellent people, justice
penetrates every sphere of life.
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. One factor that will secure
the prevailing peace, security, and comfort of the Golden
Age is the moral excellence displayed by Muslims. Abundance,
blessings, and wealth will reach their peak level. With
a subtle understanding of justice, everyone will be treated
equally, and no one's wants and needs will be neglected.
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