Losing Compass of Morality in These Times

What exactly do we think about the field of Medicine when we say, “ Is mein bahut scope hai ( it has a lot of scope ) ” or “ Aaj kal dentist bahut paise kama rahe hain ( dentists these days have rapidly increased profit earning  ). ” While not to forget, “I want to be a doctor because THAT DOCTOR’s COAT uh”

Our higher education system, popular culture and our own parents – followed by approval of ourselves, have embedded in us the need to “BE-come”. Be an astronaut. Be a psychiatrist. Be an analyst. Undoubtedly, the medical profession too, has become one of the many money-making professions in the 21st Century. As this BE fuels selfishness, enrooted in I-only .

This unfortunately has jeopardized the fundamental morality linked to Medicine. It was known to Muslims of the past as a field of service; where patients’ interest and well-being were kept above everything else. Now this sense of selflessness has gone extinct. 

As we can see, this loss of genuine care and concern has much to do with negligence of the beautiful teachings of Islam. See, worship Islam says is of two types: Individual and Communal (latter being about the relationship with others). Our Merciful Prophet (SAW) had said: 

“anyone of you would not be truly faithful unless he loves for others what he loves for himself ”

Consequently, the ethics and morality in Islam covers all aspects of life, including the field of Medicine. However as people are being driven to worldliness, the glittery materialistic and individualistic lifestyle is resulting in loss of sincerity in being a healer, a doctor, a life-savor!

What we also pay less heed to is the fact that a white-man’s dream of this; I may end up with a mid-life crisis by around 40, or much earlier. When one  questions the cause of his unending emptiness, despite all personal achievements. 

In addition, why has it suddenly become a suburban norm to shirk the rights of neighbors, essentially to disconnect with them. Everyone is busy in their own homes, clung to their screens. However, back in the day, the neighborhood used to be a haven. People used to be there for each other in times of need. It also used to be a place to make sweet friendships. Who among us remembers load shedding at 9:00 p.m. at night, and everyone would gather outside. Adults would chatter, as the younger ones played. Nowadays, neighbors by and large, only come together occasionally.  Does not this also have to do with losing consciousness, or being moralistic enough to maintain the bonds with people nearby?

Even more alarming is the situation that our youth love hanging out with cool friends, which may not be questioned until they realize that they are clueless about the fact that extended family has to be more closely looked after than outside friends.

“The person who severs the bond of kinship will not enter Paradise” (al-Bukhari)

It is time that you and I question ourselves: do we really appreciate our family system, values and Islamic ethics enough to hold onto them.

Having said this, even when it is THE TIME when these principles of basic morality are being violated, we must strive to maintain mercy. Our response to this should be sadness which inspires us to commit ourselves to learning and understanding  religion and morality to implement it around us, first and foremost. Instead of  grabbing others and especially youth, by the neck. This is how we help others around us in Islam – by changing ourselves.

As a wise saying goes, “It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming, but who does actually strive to do the deeds …”