THE world today may well be in its worst shape in history. Torture and oppression are unleashed on helpless men by powerful states, made legal by authorities that cannot be brought under any laws; men kill each other daily; despite international laws on non-discrimination and rights, homes are razed by rogue occupiers who bomb innocent civilians, and faith and religion are turned into commodities.

Perhaps not a single place exists where human beings can live under conditions where they may be relatively free from harm caused by fellow beings.

These events and incidents are caused by the wilful actions of man. Only in very few instances has God brought His wrath upon the people who refused to heed His prophets, when they communicated His messages to them. Mostly, God allows human beings to do what they will — one small act of commission or omission setting off a chain reaction that affects the collective ethos of society.

The choices we make define who we are and what our impact is on others

We often wonder why God does not take matters into His own hands, and prevent the mayhem and destruction that is taking place. The innocent are often those suffering the most, and among them young children and the defenceless, the old and the sick bear the brunt of man’s brutality.

If the Taliban and the so-called Islamic State wreak havoc upon the world, their reign of terror may well be due to decisions taken by a few powerful men in the US and Muslim countries.

The turmoil in Iraq and Syria is the ramification of the actions of George Bush, who convinced likeminded men to invade Iraq. The rise of terrorism in the name of Islam can also be traced to repressive policies of Muslim rulers.

In Pakistan, the pervading atmosphere of intolerance, sectarianism, hatred, illiteracy, poverty, poor health and dismal infrastructure development has been created through individual actions, or the inability or unwillingness to take action. Discriminatory laws have been passed, political decisions have been made on the basis of appeasement, and misunderstood religious interpretation has been given wide-ranging support, leading to extreme violence and lack of social discourse.

Whether it is the abject poverty of landless farmers — strengthened by declaring land reforms as un-Islamic — the persecution of minorities and refusal to allow religious debate, the high maternal and child mortality due to lack of basic health facilities, the deaths by starvation due to hoarding of grain and the misappropriation of development funds, every social and economic issue exists due to individuals and their choice of action at a particular time in history.

Man has the freedom of choice — the only significant factor that distinguishes him from other species. His life on this earth is marked by the multitude of decisions that he is required to make, at a personal, family and societal level.

As he gains the power to influence the lives of others, the process he must use to come to his decisions becomes even more important, as should his ability to think, ponder, read, listen and consult with others. The path that he must follow towards the most optimal decision becomes more difficult, for he must hold strong against temptations that come with positions of influence and control.

As it is stated in the Holy Quran, “Verily, proofs have come to you from your Lord, so whosoever sees, will do so for (the good of) his ownself, and whosoever blinds himself, will do so to his own harm” (6:104).

If man has been given freedom of choice, and is therefore responsible for the consequences of his actions, it does not matter whether these consequences are related to him, or affect people at large. Just as God does not intervene in one’s personal life, except through the individual’s willingness and sincerity of faith, prayer and atonement if he does wrong, God usually does not intervene at collective levels, except as in the case of the times of the prophets.

God has also promised total and completely fair accountability in the Hereafter, followed by an eternal reward, or punishment. The actions of a few may continue to oppress and hurt a majority in countless ways, but divine intervention in the world might not be forthcoming. God, in His scheme of the universe, must allow human freedom to take its natural course, even if it means pain and suffering for many.

It is not only through our own actions, but through the response to the actions of others, that we shall be judged. Are we silent and apathetic, as we witness the impact of personal greed and the vileness of human actions? Or do we make an effort to raise a voice to stop injustice and cruelty when we see it?

These are the choices we must make.

The writer is a freelance contributor with an interest in religion.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2015

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