Social Reform Springs from Personal Reform
To form a society of peace and contentment, individuals should concentrate on their duties, inculcate mutual trust and promote positive values.
The Prophet of Islam once observed: “Very soon the rulers will become corrupt.” The people asked what should be done at that time. The Prophet replied: “Give them their dues and ask for your rights from God.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 7052)
The same was stated thus by Jesus Christ: “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Romans 13:1). This is one of the important divine teachings which may be expressed in these words: a human being should keep his eyes on his duties and not on his rights. Instead of clashing with others in the name of rights, he should try to know his duties and engage himself in discharging those duties.
A person’s eyes should not be on his rights but rather on his duties. He should not look to what he has been deprived of but should see rather what he has. All his attention should be focused on what he has given to others and on what he has added to the benefit of humanity.
The attitude of demanding one’s rights leads to conflict and confrontation in society. It puts an end to mutual trust in society and instead produces hatred and enmity. On the contrary, in a society where individuals concentrate on their duties, positive values will be promoted and mutual trust will flourish. People will respect one another and in such a society peace and contentment will prevail.
The government is formed out of society: society is not formed out of the government. If in any society positive values prevail, the government that will be formed there will be a good government. On the contrary, where society is marred by negative values, its government will also fall a prey to negativity. The principle mentioned in this prophetic saying, if adhered to, is a guarantee of the reform of society and along with it the reform of government.
Personal reform is the greatest guarantee of social reform.
