How religion can help overcome social woes

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KUALA LUMPUR: Social menace like gambling, drugs and alcohol abuse, prostitution and corruption were among the multitude of woes within the Malaysian society of today.

As there is no sign of these social woes diminishing, there is now the real fear that they would prove to be detrimental to the future well-being of the Malaysian society.

So is there a way out of this never ending social problems? Can religion provide a solution to our problems?.

The Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia’s (Ikim) director general Datuk Nik Mustapha Nik Hassan during an exclusive interview with Bernama in his office here recently noted that religion could be the effective solution for the social woes in the country.

“Religion is important and Malaysians are known to uphold their respective religion. Moreover, one of the five national guiding principles of the nation or the Rukun Negara emphasises on the believe in God.

“However, using religion to address present day social woes does not mean using religion to penalise wrongdoers but more to creating understanding through education on the virtues promoted by the religion.

“If our society understands religion, the Muslims will be more appreciative of Islam and the same goes to non Muslims who will be more appreciative of their respective religion, then definitely at the least we will be able to reduce the statistics of social woes,” explained Nik Mustapha.

Referring to Islam, he noted that the calls for the society to return to the Al Quran and the Sunnah (traditions) of the Prophet should be above rhetoric.

“We have to confide them through understanding and intellectuality. Only then we can deliberate academically,” he explained.

Nik Mustapha made immediate reference to present human civilisation that is in the brink of collapse.

Taking Europe and United States as the examples, he touched on the worsening economic downslide with the ill effects being felt by other nations in the world.

“In Europe their economies are collapsing one after the other, some have already gone bankrupt. The United States alone is saddled with huge debts amounting up to US$50 trillion.

“But not only the economy is collapsing there, the family institution too is collapsing with legal marriage is no longer the desired option and instead couples choose to cohabit for their convenience.

“This is what happens when the society thinks the human mind can provide all the answers and there is no need for guidance from God,” added Nik Mustapha.

One should not forget that the social woes also cause economic implications! So it is time for all parties to take seriously the social woes and if it is not addressed social menace will certainly retard the national development.

“We will not be able continue with the achievements if the social problems contribute to a dysfunctional society? For example, drug addicts have to undergo treatment at rehabilitation centres.

The cost to operate this centres are borne by taxpayers.

“If there is a big number of addicts incarcerated in this centres this is a sheer waste of human resource.

“The economy won’t grow if our children are of no use. Moreover, we have to bear the cost of rehabilitating them. What about those addicted to alcohol and gambling?” asked Nik Mustapha.

The family institution is synonymous with civilisation and the same institution is blamed for the current social woes.

Nik Mustapha pointed out one of the contributing factors for the social woes among children of today is the lack of guidance and parental love.

As for example, he said, there are children who are involved in drug abuse because they lacked parental love and ended up with the wrong company.

“Parents are no longer close with their children as taught by religion and thus the children seek friends from outside,” he said.

Nik Mustapha illustrated the way to bring up children as shown by Saidina Ali Abi Talib, the fourth Caliph of Islam.

“Saidina Ali said play with the children who are seven years and below, and shower them with your love. After seven, instill some discipline but that does not mean you have to use the cane.”

Nik Mustapha added: “Children above seven should be encouraged to pray.” — Bernama