New World Order Versus Natural World Order

IT is true that human beings are animals. But it is equally true that ‘human beings’ are human beings. They may eat, mate and die like animals. But in addition, they possess an extraordinarily healthy relationship with fellow human beings, a highly sensitive conscience that censors their activities, and a supreme spirituality that seeks to instil divine virtues in them. “Liberty”, in the modern era, has only become an iron-chain prepared by the economic fundamentalists for the purpose of shackling the conscience and spirituality of human beings. These must now be liberated and allowed to function without fear. Once the conscience and spirituality are set free, humanisation of mankind will progress rapidly. Man will then not only enjoy the fruits of material developments, but will also ensure this is done in a way as would not disturb his mental peace and social order. The agenda for the future must be to establish Natural Word Order rather than New World Order. New World Order is unstable by its very meaning; what is new now will become old tomorrow. The Order has only brought chaos at all levels. It has led to the development of a strange kind of world, which appears to be paradise from outside, but as one enters it, one finds nothing but hell.  We are living in a world where, thanks to the designs of merchants, immorality reigns. Where it is easier to be bad than good. Where wearing a scarf is banned and baring the body is promoted. Where being a wife or husband is outdated and being a bed partner is smartness. Where piety is ridiculed and impudence glorified. Where prosperity is considered to be the synonym of peace, education that of knowledge and entertainment that of happiness. Where condoms are presented as wonderful little bags possessing everything required for a wholesome life. We are living in a world where children are aborted in the name of women’s rights. Where, murderers and rapists are protected in the name of ‘right to life’. Where, criminals are given all amenities of life in the name of human rights. Where, sexual perverts receive all kinds of sympathy and attention. Where those talking of righteousness in life are condemned as “bloody moralists”. Where, the media do everything to change the choices of the people, but if some reformer tries to warn them against evils, he is dubbed as a retrogressive, who has no business to teach lessons of good behaviour to the people. Alcohol, smoking, gambling and unrestrained-sex are considered to be the biggest symbols of liberty, brothels, beaches, bars and casinos the citadels of “freedom”. One third of the total population of the world smokes, millions of people take drugs, millions drink and gamble and a sizeable percentage indulges in all forms of unhealthy sexual behaviour, including promiscuity, homosexuality, purchased sex, etc. In short, we are inhabitants of a world where the biggest virtue is to openly indulge in the biggest sin; and the biggest sin is to try to exhibit virtuousness.

The globe of New World Order is therefore rapidly developing into nothing but a fireball of chaos. It is hardly surprising then that

·         More than 1 million people are murdered every year. (More than 240 million people lost lives in wars in the last century)

·         More than 2 million people commit suicides

·         More than 5 million people die of sex related diseases (more than 20 million have died of AIDS in recent years)

·         More than 2.2 million die of alcohol related problems

·         More than 5 million die of smoking related problems

·         More than 70 million children are not allowed to take birth and are aborted.

The deaths due to poverty and unhygienic conditions are also there, but for these, it is ignorance, not knowledge that is to be blamed. They occur in the poor and undeveloped areas and are not the result of the designs of human minds, though the people of the area particularly the leadership has to share the blame. The above-given are however the figures related to damages consequent upon the deliberate acceptance of certain concepts of individual freedom and the deliberate promotion of a legal, social and economic system that supports the interests of the economic fundamentalists. Apart from death, other diseases, addictions, family disintegration, exploitation of men, women and children are other dangerous consequences of economic fundamentalism in the developed regions of the world. So

* More than a hundred million suffer from alcohol related illnesses

More than 2000 millions smoke

·     Hundreds of millions indulge in gambling. 500 million are now using Internet alone for gambling. (In US alone, 20 millions show some signs of gambling addiction and 2 million divorces had gambling as a significant factor.)

·      More than 100 million suffer from sex transmitted diseases (42 million from HIV/AIDS)

·     Tens of millions of women are in prostitution and other sex related businesses (more than one million Americans alone have served as prostitutes)

·     More than 1.2 million of children are exploited annually in prostitution and other sex trades

·     More than 800 million watch pornography

·     Millions of homes are broken every year

·     Millions of women are raped every year; in many Western countries one tenth to half of all women have been raped  (The total number of women who have been raped at least once is in hundreds of millions)

·     Sexual abuse of children is on the rise all over the world; in many Western countries up to one third of all people have been sexually abused in their childhood

·      Drug addiction is also persistent; tens of millions of people are addicted of harmful drugs

·     Civil wars, wars and riots for various reasons are also not showing any remarkable decline, consuming thousands of lives every year

·     Economic disparity between different countries and people of the world and among the people of the same countries is continuously growing; poverty may be on the decline but relative poverty is showing steep rise.

It is in the backdrop of this universal disharmony that Islam has to play its role. The whole social, legal, economic, administrative, scientific, health and educational set-up all over the world is founded on un-Islamic premises. Yet Muslims seem to be in a permanent somnolence. Everything that Quran expressly prohibits is destroying the social fabric everywhere. Polytheism of various kinds is prevalent all over the world; even those that are not pagans have become slaves of money, addiction or sex. Alcohol has become the water of life for the people. Early marriage is banned while premarital sex is promoted. Promiscuity is glorified while polygamy is mocked. Sex has become one of the biggest industries with the result that it has become as much associated with death as it has been with life. The economic system is based on exploitation and marketing of evils. Crimes are ever on the rise. For a few hundreds or thousands of deaths caused by “Islamic terrorists”, the whole world is being terrorised; for millions of deaths caused by the modern sexuality promoted by merchants of sex, alcohol and smoking, criminal silence is maintained. All international organisations including the UN, WHO, WTO and Amnesty have been dancing to the melody of globalisation trampling, in the process, individual’s physical, mental and spiritual health, family peace and social order.

Islam, not Muslimism

It is unfortunate that most Muslims seem to have forgotten the real objectives of Islam. Islam is being equated with Muslimism. The truth is that Islam is for all, not just for Muslims. But Muslims are generally insensitive to the needs of others and the needs of mankind as a whole. Neither at the national levels, in different countries particularly where Muslims are not in majority, nor at the international level, Muslims come up with demands that can have bearing on the lives of the whole society. Most of the times they are busy preparing charters of demands for themselves. Normally these demands comprise reservations for Muslims in jobs or political institutions and favours in different fields. This is not that they do not have the right to air their genuine grievances. They must not hesitate in demanding what they need. But their folly is that they have little interest in setting the agenda of national and international policies.  In India, for example, Muslim organisations do not even respond to the declaration of the National Budget, which is one of the most important policy-setters in the life of a nation.

System, not just individuals or community

The so-called Islamic and Muslim organisations have been unable to recognise their role. Either they have been busy in reforming individuals, or are trying to strengthen Muslims as a community. There is no endeavour whatsoever to influence the direction the world is heading.

It is high time Muslims rose to the occasion. They must clearly know that Islam aims to achieve a comprehensive peace throughout the world. They have been fighting in the fields, in which they are weal rather than in those, in which they are strong. Instead of getting entangled in military warfare, which though must remain an open option wherever required, they must engage in a full-fledged ideological and intellectual aggression. Quran has clearly outlined the objectives of Islam, which are as follows:

(1) To work for the common good

“Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong. They are the ones to attain felicity.” (3:104)

(2) To endeavour for the unity of mankind

“O mankind! Reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single person, created, of like nature, His mate, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women.” (4: 1)

“Mankind was but one nation, but differed (later).” (10: 19)

“And verily this Brotherhood of yours is a single Brotherhood, and I am your Lord and Cherisher: therefore fear Me (and no other). But people have cut off their affair (of unity), between them, into sects: each party rejoices in that which is with itself…” (23: 52-53)

“Verily, this brotherhood of yours is a single brotherhood, and I am your Lord and Cherisher...” (21: 92)

(3) To work for peace at every level

“The System in the sight of God is that of PEACE (Islam).” (3: 19)

(Islam, literally, means Peace and is defined as total submission to God.)

“But God doth call to the Home of Peace: He doth guide whom He pleaseth to a way that is straight.” (10: 25)

“Therefore if they withdraw from you but fight you not, and (instead) send you (Guarantees of) peace, then God hath opened no way for you (to war against them).” (4: 90)

“There hath come to you from God a (new) light and a perspicuous Book,- wherewith God guideth all who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace and safety, and leadeth them out of darkness, by His will, unto the light,- guideth them to a path that is straight.” (5: 15-16)

(4) To maintain universal harmony and balance

“Thus, have We made of you an Ummat justly balanced, that ye might be witnesses over the nations, and the Messenger a witness over yourselves…” (2: 143)

“And the Sky has He raised high, and He has set up the Balance (in it) in order that ye may not transgress (due) balance.” (55: 7-8)

(5) To work for justice at every level

“And God means no injustice to any of His creatures.” (3: 108)

“O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for God can best protect both.” (4: 135)

“Say: “My Lord hath commanded justice.” (7: 29)

“God commands justice, the doing of good, and liberality to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion.” (16: 90)

If Muslims have to play an effective role in the world affairs they must immediately set a plan for it. This is a pretty kettle of fish. The application of Islamic principles to the contemporary world has to begin without wasting any more time.

(Dr Javed Jamil is Executive Chairman of International Centre for Applied islamics, India)

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