It is beyond doubt that humans show natural tendencies towards beauties does not matter whether it is internal or external beauty. In other words, one naturally feels a strong spiritual thirst which is only satiable through religious practices. For instance, honesty, selflessness, moral nobility and so on are emphasized by all religions and such moral values are praised by all human beings.
An inner feeling impels one to show kindness and sympathize to other humans and animals in one way or another. Whenever we respond to this urge positively, we feel satisfied and happy; otherwise our conscience continuously reproaches and pricks. Furthermore, one naturally hates unethical conduct such as dishonesty, hypocrisy, falsehood, and crime and corruption. Surprisingly, even if one is deep in moral crimes, deceiving and harming others, parallel to that one does not want to be deceived or harmed at all.
Unfortunately, the simplicity and pureness of nature is eroding in the world of lust, hypocrisy, crime, jealousy, prejudice, moral corruptions, etc. People trample upon moral feelings and conscience, so gradually crime and evil become second nature for them. Then, they feel restless and guilty for committing crime, harming human beings, violating human rights and shedding blood. Gradually, their nature turns so cruel that they find solace in their inhuman and deadly actions. Yes, ‘Man is man’s wolf.’ How correctly the Holy Qur’an says that those who yield to lusting after evil and immoral ways shall become worse than animals. The Holy Qur’an also adds that those who follow their moral feelings of spirituality, they will rise higher than angels.
Currently, we live in the era of inhumanity. Human beings lack virtue and piety and moral standard is below zero. Honesty is a bogus word which is used to trick people. The sanctity of love is broken widely and it is a word which is used by actors and actresses in the cinema. In other words, love has changed into lust and descended from soul into body. Hence, love is used to prey on our fellows rather than to pray to our God.
Moreover, people are so irresponsible and unconcerned about the difficulties their neighbors and fellows suffer from. The good example for this can be the skyscrapers built among the homes which are in a shambles. Of course, those who live in the mud-built houses will suffer from serious poverty and may sleep hungry especially in the cold nights of winter. But does the rich who live in the luxury apartments know about their difficulties?
I believe that, on the one hand, some people suffer from serious hunger and on the other hand some suffer from overeating in our society.
However ridiculous this comparison seems but it shows the contrast between the rich and poor in our society. The wide gap between these two classes fills one with great despondency. Doesn’t this fact reflect a society’s lack of concern and moral codes?
Martin Luther King says very aptly, “All our tasks are so intertwined no matter where we are in the society, in our churches, in our factories. If one of us does not do our task well it brings down the entire group. At the same time if for some reason one of us is having a genuine difficulty in accomplishing our task, it is important for the others to pitch in and help out in order that the wheels of progress are not slowed down or stopped. Just imagine for a second how an automobile cannot move if we get a flat in one of the tires even though the remaining three tires are fine.”
Human beings have a deep religious mission in their lives which must be achieved properly. They are expected to nurture their talents and use human achievements for the benefit of others. They have to upgrade their moral standards through worshipping God, respecting people’s rights and performing selfless service to society.
Hence, it is time for us to revive our conscience and polish our souls from the dirt of vice. Mahatma Gandhi says nicely, “There are times when you have to obey a call which is the highest of all, i.e., the voice of conscience even though such obedience may cost many a bitter tear, and even more, separation from friends, from family, from the state to which you may belong, from all that you have held as dear as life itself. For this obedience is the law of our being.”
“It wants not merely microscopic but telescopic power to know humanity in its essence; a power to discern its grandeur as well as its littleness, the infinity of its relations as well as the meanness of its pursuits. The human soul is a great deep. We must take into view the nebulous possibilities that are brooding and waiting there, and notice the buds and films of light that reveal themselves even in the darkest spaces” E. H. Chapin rightly said.
I would like to conclude my article with the nice saying of Emile Durkheim, “Man’s characteristic privilege is that the bond he accepts is not physical but moral; that is, social. He is governed not by a material environment brutally imposed on him, but by a conscience superior to his own, the superiority of which he feels. Because the greater, better part of his existence transcends the body, he escapes the body’s yoke, but is subject to that of society.”