Evolution of Morality: Navigating Change in Society & Faith

The Evolution of Morality: Right or Wrong?

Defining Morality

Before discussing morality, it is important to define what is meant by morality. In philosophy and ethics, there are three main categories of morality: self-cultivation, management of the home, and politics. In Sufism, it refers to the completion of servitude, which has ten stages: patience, gratitude, contentment, modesty, honesty, selflessness, character, humility, generosity, and joy.

Morality in Daily Life

I am referring to the morality that we, as ordinary humans, understand. That is, the behavior we adopt with other people in daily interactions, relationships, friendships, and transactions. We now know that morality is not a fixed entity, but something that changes continuously in subtle ways. It is directly related to technology, means of transportation, and the overall economic state of society.

Role of Religion in Morality

Our society is different in that religion plays a central role in determining the "standard of morality." In fact, it would be more accurate to say that every moral change is viewed through the lens of religion, and the decisions regarding its goodness or badness depend entirely on religious perspective.

Islam’s Moral System

Now the question arises: if Islam is the final message from Allah, then it must contain a moral system that is applicable in every era, because Allah knew that human society is a constantly evolving entity.

Time and Change

It is also established that nothing is more powerful than time and the changing eras. No matter how much we try, time changes everything.

Historical Perspective

After the arrival of the British, wearing trousers and shirts, offering prayers, greeting the British, working for them, adopting their ways of life, copying their lifestyle, learning their language, going to their courts, studying philosophy and science, even using their medicines, were all considered "against Islam." This was an attempt to stem the tide of time, but naturally, these fatwas were forgotten. This has been happening ever since. From women riding bicycles to the use of loudspeakers for prayer, from passport pictures to working in banks, initially forbidden, reluctantly accepted as permissible, and finally considered entirely permissible. Every large-scale social change goes through these three phases to become a part of society.

Pace of Change in the Modern Era

Initially, these changes occurred over the span of at least one generation. However, since the 2000s, the internet has greatly accelerated the pace of these moral changes. The dominance of the West has mentally, physically, and emotionally enslaved us. Many scholars who curse the West day and night often have children abroad and desire to go to America, Canada, Germany, or Europe to "serve Islam."

Changing Social Norms

Our lifestyle, habits, preferences, relationships, especially the bond between parents and children, siblings, husbands and wives, friendship norms, and standards, are changing rapidly. In the 1970s, men’s clothing became Westernized, in 2000, women’s clothing followed. Western-style dance floors became common at weddings, weeks of dance practice took place, group studies between boys and girls, parties, etc., have all become a regular and accepted part of life. The concept of boyfriend culture has also arrived in large cities and even into middle-class households. We all know what the next step will be.

Fatwas and Social Changes

These changes have been bombarded with fatwas for many years, but no one asks about them anymore.

Can We Stop These Changes?

Can we stop these changes? Will an "Islamic" government come and stop all of this?

It is absolutely impossible. No government can do anything. We see the fate of Iran, where even the toughest artificial restrictions cannot be endured by the Muslim public for more than 30-40 years. Pakistan is a perfect example of this—just look at the era of Zia-ul-Haq and today.

Islamic Governance and Society

Today’s Islamic version is from the seventh century. Complete male dominance in society, every new thing being considered haram or at least disliked, always referring to the past scholars for correctness, every new perspective being seen as an innovation (bid'ah), new interpretations crossing boundaries, finding every solution in the fiqh (jurisprudence) of that time.

Western Values and Technology

The flood of Western values, along with technology, has long since entered our homes. Its tide is increasing every day. Education, politics, and even the purpose of life and ideals are now derived from there. Those who think that changing the curriculum is the solution are the greatest fools, as they believe that teaching an additional 40 minutes of Islamic studies is enough, while our children live every moment in Western philosophy and culture, through computers, phones, and TV screens.

The Impossibility of Halting Moral Evolution

We cannot stop the evolution of morality; it is impossible. We must adopt the method that Prophet Muhammad used in Makkah. The first step is to correct the basic morality, to reform men through practices like the beard and miswak, starting with consuming halal (lawful) food instead of focusing on women’s veiling which was introduced later in the revelations. Instead, emphasize their best education and the development of their confident personalities. When we change our perspective on women, the imitation of Western women will gradually cease. Let us bring back a culture of books, stop reprimanding children for missing prayers and instead focus on stopping them from lying. Let us work with realism, not artificial courtesy, and not indulge in flattery or tolerate laziness.

Prophet Muhammad’s Approach

This is what Prophet Muhammad did. After Tawhid (belief in the oneness of Allah), he corrected the morals of the Arabs. In a short period, these changes filled their hearts with happiness and their lives with comfort. Afterward, the Shariah (Islamic law) was revealed. The last sections of the Qur’an focus on Tawhid and moral teachings—let us make this our guiding light.

Returning to the Source of Islam

The second step is to leave behind all the great scholars and revisit the Qur’an, the life of the Prophet, the Hadith, and the works of the companions of the Prophet as though they have just been discovered today. Let us return to Allah's religion without intermediaries. In every matter, instead of following Allah’s commands, let us reflect on the reasons behind them: Allah’s will is justice, not the testimony of women or men; Allah’s will is the care of the poor and weak in society, not the rules of the bank; Allah’s will is to protect the dignity of women, not just covering their faces, and so on.

The Need for Change in Us and Our Scholars

We must change ourselves and our scholars. Otherwise, this flood will wash everything away. Like the Christians, we will be Muslims in name, but atheists in practice. The decision is ours today, so that when death comes, we can meet our Lord with peace.