In this part of the article titled “Man’s Duty towards the Society”, we shall focus on other relevant aspects of the topic here.
Teasing People and Mischievousness
These two attributes are closely linked together, for teasing people means annoying them and inflicting pain on them either by means of the tongue, such as cursing and using words which annoy others or by means of the hands, such as performing an action to make the people unhappy. Mischievousness means doing things to cause evil for people. At any rate, these two attributes are at the opposite pole of the dreams of the comfort of life and peace of mind, for the sake of which, man has established society.
Therefore, the religion of Islam, which gives the top priority to the interests of society, has forbidden people to tease others and to make mischief, as the Almighty Allah states: “And those who speak evil things of the believing men and the believing women without their having earned (it), they are guilty indeed of a false accusation and a manifest sin.” The Holy Prophet (S) states: “Whoever bothers a Muslim, has bothered me and bothering me is bothering Allah. Such a person has been cursed in the Tawrat, the Injil, and the Qur’an.” He also states: “One, who casts an angry glance on a Muslim and frightens him, will be frightened by Allah on the Day of Judgment.”
Association with the Good People
Although man associates with a large number of people, he is obliged to associate with some people more than others due to the exigency of his life. These are the people who are called “friends.”
Surely, the main cause for this friendship and relationship is a kind of similarity in ethics, manners, profession, and the like which exists between the two persons or among a group of individuals.
Since companionship gradually transfers the habits and character of one of the two companions to the other, a man must choose the company of good people, for, in this case, the decent ethics of his friends will be transferred to him and he will benefit from their taintless and benevolent friendship and cooperation.
He will also be enthusiastic about the continuation of their friendship. Furthermore, he will improve his own social value and dignity among the people. Amir al-Mu’minin ‘Ali (as) states: “Your best friend is the one who leads you to do good deeds.” He also states: “Man is evaluated on the basis of the friends he chooses.” First, let me know with whom you have associated so that I can describe your identity. It is the value of your acquaintances that determines the value and worth of your life.
Companionship with the Bad People
Companionship with bad people and the evil-doers is the source of all sorts of wretchedness and misfortune. To clarify this matter, it suffices to say that if we ask the criminals and the evil-doers such as thieves and bandits the cause of their aberration and deviation, they will undoubtedly reply that the companionship and association with bad people have put them in such a situation. From among a thousand wicked and defiled people, not even one can be found who has chosen an indecent course of action deliberately.
Amir al-Mu’minin ‘Ali (as), states: “Shun the companionship of bad people, for a bad friend makes you similar to himself. Unless he succeeds in this respect, he will not accept you as a friend.” ‘Ali (as) also states: “Avoid the friendship of an evildoer, for he will sell you for a trivial thing.” Associate less with bad people, for you, will be distressed; since human nature is apt to acquire habits,
Truthfulness
The relationship of human beings with one another, which is the basis of human society, is established through speaking. Thus true words that reveal a concealed reality to man are one of the essential bases of society. Great advantages, which are always necessary for a society, are acquired by means of telling the truth. The advantages of truthfulness can be summarized in a few sentences as follows:
(1) A truthful person is trusted by his fellow men and relieves them of determining the truthfulness of his remarks.
(2) A veracious person is honoured by his conscience and is relieved of the pain of falsehood.
(3) A truthful person keeps his promise. He will not be disloyal to what he is entrusted with, for truthfulness in action is not different from truthfulness in words.
(4) Many differences of opinion and disputes will be eliminated as a result of truthfulness, for the main reason for most quarrels is the denial of truth and reality by either or both parties.
(5) As a result of truthfulness, a large part of moral imperfections and violations of laws and provisions is eliminated automatically, because most people lie in a bid to cover these kinds of deeds and actions. Amir al-Mu’minin ‘Ali (as) states: “A true Muslim is one who prefers truthfulness, although it may be to his detriment, over falsehood from which he may benefit; and gets internal satisfaction as a result of this preference.”
The Disadvantages of Falsehood
From the aforementioned statements, the disadvantages of falsehood also become clear. A liar is the wicked enemy of human society. He endeavours to ruin society through his falsehood which is a big crime.
This is because falsehood resembles narcotics which kill the intelligence and commonsense of society and hide reality. Falsehood is also similar to alcoholic beverages which intoxicate people and render them unable to distinguish between good and bad. Therefore, Islam considers falsehood as one of the mortal sins and does not believe in any religious stature of a liar.
The Holy Prophet (S) has stated: “Three groups of people are munafiqin even if they recite salat and observe sawm. They are the liars, those who do not keep their promise, and those who are disloyal to what they are entrusted with.” Amir al-Mu’minin ‘Ali (as) also states: “Man derives pleasure from his faith when he gives up falsehood; even he should give up his lying which may be for fun sake.”
Falsehood has not only been introduced as a sin and an indecent deed in Islam but its indecency and unfairness are also clearly perceived by commonsense. The prevalence of this indecent deed in society will soon shatter the confidence of the people towards one another which is the only basis for their social relationship. By the disruption of such a relationship, the people will, in effect, live in isolation because of having utmost anxiety from one another although they may apparently seem to be living in a knitted society.
Man always deals with external matters in his life. He keeps himself alive through his activities and by bringing about changes in matters and thus fulfils his desires. This creature who works by commonsense and willpower has based his vast and extensive life on knowledge. His work is directly related to the knowledge available to him. He constantly adjusts his learning and performs his external activities accordingly.
Therefore, receiving true information is essential for man and is of prime importance. If the correct outside news is not revealed to man, for instance, if he sees the ditch as a road and the road as a ditch, or if he sees the distance as the nearby and the nearby as the distant, or if he receives the news in an untrue way, he will not be able to continue his living. Thus it becomes clear that falsehood is a serious threat to social life and a liar is a person without any personality and dignity. He is the enemy of society and his remarks are considered invalid and unreliable by the people. He himself is cursed by Allah.
Backbiting and Libel
Slandering others and backbiting them, if true, are called backbiting, and if wrong, is called libel and sometimes calumny. Surely, the Almighty Allah has not created man (except the prophets and the Imams) free from sins. As a result of his shortcomings, man is fallible and all people live behind the curtain with which the Almighty Allah has covered their deeds by His Divine Wisdom.
If this divine covering is lifted from over the defects and shortcomings of the people, they will be repugnant from one another and will avoid the company of each other, thus leading to the destruction of the foundation of their society. Therefore, the Almighty Allah has declared backbiting as haram, so that everyone may live in peace from backbiting by one another and the outward appearance of the environment of their lives would seem adorned until gradually the same outward beauty corrects the internal obscenity.
The Almighty Allah states: “…Nor let some of you backbite others. Does one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother?… .”(2) The sin and obscenity of libel are definitely greater than backbiting and the wise are thoroughly aware of its obscenity. In His words, the Almighty Allah has made the badness and obscenity of libel quite clear and states: “Only they forge the lie who do not believe… .”(3)
Damaging the Prestige of People
Damaging one’s chastity is a mortal sin in Islam and, in different cases, severe punishments such as whipping, killing, and stoning to death have been laid down for it. Allowing the commitment of this indecent deed, although it may have been agreed upon by both parties, will shake the foundation of families which is of prime importance in Islam and will cease the proceeding of the precepts of inheritance and the like. Finally, it makes parent-child affection and relationship invalid and leads to the disappearance of the true guarantee of society which is the natural result of reproduction.
Self-Respect and Honesty
The world of creation, which has created man sociable and in need of cooperation, has prepared him in such a way as to be able to manage his own affairs in society with his own capability and to handle his living from what he gains in his life. With consideration of what has already been discussed above, there remains no doubt that the attribute of self-respect means that man should take advantage of Allah-given powers in his life and should utilize them for attaining his goals. He must not rely upon the powers of others and this, indeed, is one of the natural and praiseworthy qualities of man.
Self-respect is like a barrier which protects man from an inferior life and from many unjust acts and indecent deeds. Whoever is not endowed with self-respect and fixes his eyes on others, would easily sell his willpower and personality to others and would offer whatever he is asked for, even if it may be his natural freedom, prestige, honour, and dignity.
Most crimes such as murder, banditry, theft, pickpocketing, the crime of lying, flattery, disloyalty to one’s country, reliance on foreigners, and the like are the evil consequences of greed and reliance upon others.
But whoever wears the crown of honour of self-respect, does not submit himself to any splendour but the splendour of the Almighty Allah does not yield to any authority and pomp, and always defends what he considers to be true. Self-respect is the best means by which one can acquire the attribute of honesty and safeguard it.
Continue in the next article: ( Man’s Duty towards the Society (3) )
NOTES:
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1. The Holy Quran: 33:58
2. The Holy Quran: 49:12
3. The Holy Quran: 16:105
