After three decades of war and bloodshed, frustration is total; we are fed-up with violence. We cherish our freedom. Every Afghan dreams about living in a war-free atmosphere. Freedom is attractive. Some migrate from the country in pursuit of freedom and security, some chose to live in the heart of large cities and others build high walls for safety. The more you seek freedom the further it escapes.

To embrace freedom, we have to adopt some moral qualities or free ourselves from immoral characteristics. Shaheed Mutahhari, an Islamic philosopher and thinker, says that besides social freedom there is spiritual freedom. First of all, we have to free ourselves internally from lust for shedding people’s blood or harming someone; from greed and from many other immoral practices. Shaheed Mutahhari adds that if one does not gain spiritual freedom first, there is no social freedom at all. He argues that if you are tied by chains of immoralities, then you will always harm people and jeopardize their freedom. Therefore, you are threatening social freedoms. Hence, acquiring spiritual freedom is essential for gaining social freedom.

Shaheed Mutahhari considers the Muslims’ religious leaders, Prophets and Imams, as role models. He says about Imam Ali when he arrived in Anbar City, a city in Iraq, that, people started running before his horse as a traditional way of honoring kings. Imam was surprised and angry. He asked them what they were doing. They answered that it was their tradition for honoring the kings. Imam forbade them from honoring in that way because he was not superior to them; rather he was as ordinary as them. He explained that they are humiliating themselves by such activities. Then Imam started advising them not to talk or behave with him fearfully or subserviently so that a feeling of pride may not develop in him. He advised them to be in touch with him and to criticize him if he is not performing his responsibility correctly. Then, Mr. Mutahhari says that a person who is free from the immoralities will act the same way and Imam is a perfect human and a role model not only for spiritual freedom but for all moral behaviors.

Mr. Mutahhari narrates a love story to illustrate someone who is not free intrinsically. One day Romeo rode a camel to go to Juliet’s home. The camel had a baby and Romeo did not take the baby so that he could reach Juliet’s home quicker. On the way to her home, Romeo fell in a deep thought about Juliet and the bridle loosened from his hand. Meanwhile the camel was in deep thought about her baby when she saw the loose bridle she returned home. After a while Romeo suddenly found himself before his own house and made the camel return towards Juliet’s home. Three times the same behavior repeated itself. Finally, Romeo left the camel alone.

So, the same is the case with the love of money, property, possession etc. If one loves money, then there will be a desire to acquire it in any possible way, legal or otherwise. This results in selfishness; a lack of generosity. They are bereft of spiritual freedom.

So, our officials cannot bring freedom to our society unless they free themselves from immoral characteristics. Fate has trapped in a greed for power and material possessions. Spiritual freedom is the most meaningless word for them. They try to get money and possession more than ever before even through trampling upon the rights of the poor. They do great injustice without feeling a tinge of guilt or responsibility. It is sad and shameful; our officials just concentrate on comfort of their own families, despite deep poverty of other people.

If our officials really intend to bring freedom in our society, they have to emulate the justice of Muslims’caliphs and religious leaders. When the brother of fourth Muslim’s caliph asked for greater share from common properties (Baitul-mal), the Caliph, Hazrat Ali, asked him to touch fire. His brother, Aqil, was surprised. He wanted to know the reason. Hazrat Ali replied that if he was afraid of that fire the Caliph was afraid of the Doomsday’s fire. Therefore, he said that he could not give him a greater share, as it would be a great injustice. Moreover, Hazrat Abobakr Seddiq, the first Caliph of Muslim, and Hazrat Omar Farooq, the second Caliph, lived very simple lives the same as our Prophet. It is beyond doubt that they could live in lofty buildings and luxurious palaces the same as our officials; however, they denied doing so. 

Corruption is one of the great challenges in the country. Government must take effective measures to curb the corruption. The people are concerned about this. In the same country, we witness two opposite types of life. One person dies from serious hunger while another burst from overeating. The rights of powerless people are violated by the powerful. Hence, freedom which is a component of the basic rights is violated.

Nelson Mandela says very aptly about freedom, “I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended.”

It is our officials to learn from the simple life-style of our historical religious leaders. They will have to develop justice and consider the challenges of the society and our people. Hope they will pay due attention in this regard and value the freedom and rights of each citizen of Afghan society.