By Professor Dr Anees Ahmed
The existence of virtue and vice, right and wrong, purity and impurity, modesty and vulgarity is as old as human societies in the known history of mankind. The first victory of Satan was when the first-ever human couple was stripped off. His second feat was inciting the vicious act of murder in the first human family.
Later on, this devil played the role of a catalyst for all those historical events that can be seen as the most barbaric events of human history. For example the behaviour of Ashaab As-Sabt (the people of Saturday) who violated the moral and divine guidance with their excuses and bigotry. Some people in this society got engaged in transgression despite clear guidance from their Lord. They turned a blind eye towards injustice and tyranny and kept mum. However, these people would pray, recite the Torah and strictly adhere to their day of worship known as Sabt. But their all of the worship and sincerity couldn’t save the entire locality from destruction. The sinners who transgressed the boundaries and violated the teachings of their Lord also took the pious ones with them to the path of destruction.
They (modest people) had been considering that silence in such a situation is an act of “Taqwa” (piousness) so they chose the so-called neutrality.
Since the economy, education, law, society and communication have been a victim of the so-called “enlightened moderation” and “liberalism” in the country so the doorways of vulgarity have been opened in the name of the freedom of speech. A large number of responsible members of this society have been compelled to say that enough is enough and the vulgarity has surpassed all its limits. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) should ensure that its laws are being followed. The authority must expose such elements and punish them for spreading vulgarity.
So what is the solution to this issue?
The existing laws for stopping these crimes should be enforced in true letter and spirit. The loopholes and confusion in the implementation of these laws should be fixed. The process of investigation and providing justice should be made active.
The apologetic tone toward implementation of the Sharia laws should be given up for these laws are necessary to curb such crimes.
Western powers may be showing sympathy for a criminal but compassion for the oppressed is rare.
On the contrary, Islam chooses the way of justice. It does not allow the victimisation of the innocent by the judicial system. It leaves no stone unturned in helping out the victim.
Sharia laws need to be applied publically. In this connection, the guidance of the everlasting Sharia should be implemented in the society in its true spirit. A few key steps that can help strengthen the system are as follows:
Stabilising the culture of modesty
The moral values of Islam revolve around modesty. This means an individual, a man or a woman, avoids all the situations that may cause vulgarity. Modesty is not just about covering the body parts. Modesty is behaviour. It’s a way of life. It is not hard to understand that why modesty requires the covering of enticing body parts. A reward is determined by human deeds. As long as modesty is not revived at homes, madrasahs, schools, society and assemblies, the horrors of lust and sexual frustration would continue unabated.
So society can do a lot on its own if the state is helpless in such a case.
Social consciousness
When vice, vulgarity, sexuality and the use of women as a commodity (sex exploitation) for economic gains becomes common, it affects the collective consciousness of a society. A befitting response by individuals is needed to tackle this situation and root out the wave of vulgarity.
The role of mass communication
If people stop watching programmes on TV and the Internet to register a countrywide protest against vulgarity just for three days, the broadcasters would realise that what people want to see. It is something practical and not rhetoric. But this kind of “peaceful resistance” would be fruitful only when youth practically implement it at universities and colleges with their positive attitude.
Social media and the culture of modesty
Social media has dramatically changed our way of life and way of thinking. However, despite its positive and constructive sides, it needs an immediate examination of its mental and social impacts. Social media can be used for developing the future of the nation. Short messages can be used to launch an awareness drive that the so-called political leaders or government won’t take any step until people take the initiative.
The role of higher educational institutions
It is the need of the hour that college and university students across the country declare a day of protest against vulgarity. Different types of activities including speeches, declamation contests and poster competitions should be held to mark the day. Steps should be taken to strengthen the protest across the country.
National identity
The new generation is psychologically a victim of an inferiorly complex which is evident from their westernised lifestyle. There is a need for a serious dialogue between university students to get rid of this mental slavery.
Progress and determining the point of perfection
Calling every immoral activity a “social need” and later declaring it as an act of virtue and even a liberal moral act, neither makes sense nor does it comply with our national identity, norms and values. Even a secular cannot claim that the foundation of this country is secularism.
Pakistan was founded based on a “Kalima” ie there is no god but Allah. So our identity and our existence are only because of being attached to the concept of Pakistan.
The revival of our renaissance and culture of modesty is practically possible.
We have to start from ourselves, from our homes with sincere efforts, pure intentions and determination to achieve the goal and leave the success to Allah’s will.
