What we refer to as "moral values" are the concepts introduced by
religion that make life beautiful and rewarding. Whenever these values
are distorted, we face a really disturbing picture in society. First of
all, in an environment where no rules and limits are observed,
"lawlessness" prevails. In this system, everyone lays down his own rules
and principles, based on highly variable criteria. In the ignorant
society the basic principle that is applied is not to go to extremes in
social conduct and hence not to incur any reaction from the society. It
is wholly acceptable to do anything wrong, as long as it is not publicly
disclosed. Ignorant people deliver speeches about virtuous conduct and
morals, or severely condemn those who hold a contrary view. However,
they themselves violate these values when they are convinced that nobody
sees them.
This is actually the main basis upon which their philosophy rests. They
never think that God surrounds them all at every moment; they never
conceive that He sees every deed they commit and hears every word they
utter. They perceive degeneration as a "modern" way of living.
They fear being humiliated if they do not project the image of a
"modern person." This image essentially calls for the flouting of such
moral values as honesty. Someone, for instance, who returns the money he
found on the street to its owner is ridiculed. In such a situation,
acceptable behavior according to ignorant people would be not to give
the money back. This example reflects only one aspect of the ignorant
society's understanding about moral values however. Concepts like
honesty and chastity also lose their importance. Forgery and lying are
accepted as normal. A person may commit burglary since he finds nothing
wrong with it. Likewise, anyone can tell a lie whenever he wishes.
In this system other people have no right to object because they also
have the right to behave "freely"(!) in accordance with their own moral
values.
The Qur'an makes it clear that people who adhere to the moral values of the age of the ignorant suffer for doing so:
Indeed, God will not deal unjustly with man in any way. It is man who wrongs his own soul. (Surah Yunus: 44)
In a society where people adhere to religious values, they conduct
themselves responsibly towards each other since they go in fear of God.
They never deign to be dishonest or insincere, and certainly never push
things to such extremes as to make life difficult for others. Moral
values become the basis of all acts and conduct.
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