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‘Jihad’ of ideologies 2008
There has always been a need by the governments of the world and the non- governmental organizations to scrutinize the products available to the public so as to ensure the well being and safety of the public.
Most recently the discussion about genetically modified food, the clamp down on the advertising and sale of tobacco products, the crackdown on dyes used in spices, the return of toys painted with led paints, attempts to stop global warming and the nuclear proliferation treaty are such examples.
Sadly however is the fact that although we fight to be protected to a certain extent as to our physical well being we are totally negligent when it comes to fighting what we and our children are exposed to when it comes to our spirituality, morality and good habits.
All religions teach that the spiritual aspect of our lives is more important than the physical aspect of our lives yet humanity and the media especially neglects to create public awareness and to take action against products that harm our souls.
Under the guise of democracy, all sorts of social ills that harm the soul is allowed. What we fail to realize is that by neglecting the development of the human soul we are ultimately creating people of poor character, a violent community and an unsafe environment which ultimately still results in our lives being in danger.
Thousands of innocent people loose their lives in alcohol related accidents, in wars, hijacking, bombings and murders throughout the world each year and many more are exploited by being raped and abused. All this because we lacking in morality and spirituality.
In the past a censorship board existed which edited what we saw and read and with each passing year these laws were relaxed. These days they barely exist. Although censorship had its drawbacks, the general public was protected to a certain extent, against certain material.
It is a known fact that TV Movies influence the way people think and behave. By broadcasting rape scenes, violence, boozing parties, homosexuality, stealing and enjoyment of the world, the media is indirectly advertising such practices.
By repeatedly watching such scenes it becomes normal and acceptable for the unsuspecting viewer to behave in such a manner and it becomes normal and acceptable for society to tolerate such behavior.
In short, our sense of morality and conscience is being gradually eroded without us being consciously aware of it.
Not watching TV is not the solution because this is only one small segment of the media.
With each passing day the media is becoming more and more a part of our lives whether we like it or not. As media techniques advance it is becoming increasingly difficult for an individual to ascertain whether he\she is being influenced or not and it is for this reason that we need to educate ourselves, not about prayer only, but also about every aspect of life from an Islamic perspective. This is the jihad of ideologies that we referring to and its important.
It starts off from ourselves. We must not pray ritualisticly only but instead we must also study Islam so as to eventually accept it from the bottom of our hearts. Islam must NOT be something we inherit but it must be something we choose.
In order to do this we have to make Allah SWT our primary Goal, we must emphasize religious knowledge above circular knowledge and we have to follow a spiritual way of life instead of a materialistic one.
With this, we also need to earnestly ask Allah SWT to help and guide us and our children to strive for all that is right.
This fighting for what is right is so important that it is a part of emaan.
I head the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: If any one you sees something objectionable, he should change it with his hand if he can change it with his hand. (The narrator Hammad broke the rest of the tradition which was completed by Ibn al-‘Ala’.) But if he cannot (do so), he should do it with his tongue, and if he cannot (do so with) his tongue he should do it in his heart, that being the weakest form of faith. Abu Dawud
Author: Mahommed Hassan Gaffoor (WhatsApp +27849101486)