Moral and Ethical Factors behind the Decay of Islamic Society (Part 1)

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam

28 April 2025

Introduction

Throughout history, civilizations have risen and fallen, often according to the strength or weakness of their moral and ethical foundations. For Muslims, understanding the causes of societal decay is not a mere academic exercise but a religious obligation, for Islam was sent as a complete and comprehensive way of life. When moral corruption spreads unchecked, it results in the loss of divine blessings, political humiliation, and ultimately the collapse of civilizations.

In this part, we will examine some of the root causes of societal decay, focusing on three crucial pillars: the family, educational institutions, and the media — structures whose weakening directly threatens the moral fabric of the Muslim Ummah.

Defining Society

A society is a collective of individuals interconnected by shared needs and responsibilities. By this broad definition, individuals need not belong to the same ethnicity or religion. However, when discussing a specific community, a qualifier is added — such as "Indian society," "Western society," or "Islamic society."

The hallmark of a pure and upright society lies in the character of its individuals, reflected in:

Moderation and balance

Compassion and brotherhood

Mutual love and respect

Upholding life, property, honour, and dignity

When economic systems, laws, and social norms are grounded in fulfilling rights and duties, societies naturally flourish and remain protected from backwardness, immorality, and injustice. In an Islamic society, promoting virtue and prohibiting vice are not optional ideals — they are sacred obligations.

This moral strength sustained the Muslim Ummah for centuries, even during times of political decline.

Historical Example:

My late grandfather often recalled that before the independence of 1947, Muslims in the Indian subcontinent were so trusted for their honesty that Hindu merchants would accept a Muslim’s word on market prices without hesitation. Trustworthiness was the soul of social and commercial life.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

"One who has no trustworthiness has no faith."

(Musnad Ahmad, 4/271, Hadith: 12386)

A Painful Decline

Sadly, alongside political independence, Muslims in many regions abandoned the very moral virtues that had once distinguished them. Over the past few decades, the consequences have become tragically evident:

Rampant Child Abuse

The erosion of women's dignity

Rising rates of suicide, murder, and violence

Widespread drug addiction

This moral collapse demands both personal repentance and collective reform. It calls for an urgent revival of Islamic values, beginning with a serious reassessment of the core institutions shaping society.

Upon close analysis, the primary causes of societal decay can be identified as follows:

1. Home and Family: The Crumbling Foundation

The family is the first and most critical institution of moral education. Today, however, it stands weakened under the pressures of materialism and career obsession.

Parents are increasingly absent from their children's lives, emotionally and spiritually.

Bonds with grandparents and extended family have eroded, depriving children of wisdom and nurturing.

Moral training has been side-lined in favour of academic and financial success.

Many parents are unaware not only of their children's school performance but also of their religious practice and moral development.

Solution:

There must be a conscious revival of family culture. Children's Tarbiyah (moral nurturing) must take precedence over career ambitions, and Islamic manners should be instilled from an early age.

2. Madaris: Guardians of Faith Needing Renewal

Historically, Madaris (plural of Madrasa, Islamic educational institutions) have been the fortresses of Islamic knowledge and spirituality, producing scholars and reformers who safeguarded the Ummah’s religious identity. Their noble services are undeniable and remain a source of pride.

However, in today’s rapidly evolving world — marked by scientific advancement and new intellectual challenges — Madaris must adapt to better serve the needs of the Ummah. This does not mean compromising on the sacred sciences; rather, it means complementing them with essential modern subjects to prepare graduates for contemporary realities.

Many Madaris still adhere to centuries-old syllabi, developed in different historical contexts. While preserving the richness of Islamic tradition is essential, scholars must also be equipped to engage with the modern world.

Why Modern Education is Necessary in Madaris:

Empowering Scholars: Mastery of science, economics, and world affairs enables scholars to represent Islam confidently on national and international platforms.

Addressing New Challenges: Issues like bioethics, artificial intelligence, and global finance require Islam-based responses rooted in current understanding.

Protecting Future Generations: Without worldly education, religious leaders risk becoming isolated from the broader society.

Economic Stability: Skill-based training (e.g., languages, IT, journalism) enables graduates to serve Islam while remaining financially independent.

Suggested Improvements:

Introduce essential subjects (English, mathematics, sciences, IT) alongside traditional Islamic studies.

Teach modern knowledge through an Islamic worldview, maintaining spiritual integrity.

Implement teacher training programs that emphasize Islamic manners and values.

Partner with reputable Islamic institutions to design authentic and contemporary curricula.

Encourage critical thinking and qualified ijtihad (independent reasoning) to address modern issues.

Modern education, when rooted in Islamic values, is not a threat but a shield. It strengthens Madaris, ensuring they continue to guide humanity effectively. As the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"Wisdom is the lost property of the believer; wherever he finds it, he has a right to it." (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2687)

3. Mass Media and Social Media: Engines of Moral Corruption

Mass media, under the name of "freedom of expression," has become a powerful influence on people's thinking — but often in harmful ways. TV shows, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram have made vulgarity, shamelessness, and disbelief seem normal. In dramas and advertisements, women are often shown as objects rather than respected as human beings. Disobeying Islamic teachings is presented as something modern and attractive. As a result, when young people from wealthy families commit terrible crimes, it is not just their personal mistake — it is the result of living in a corrupted environment shaped by bad media, careless parenting, and poor education.

Solution:

Parents, scholars, and leaders must take a stand. They must prioritize moral media alternatives and enforce disciplined, family-controlled media consumption.

Conclusion

The decay of Muslim society is not an accident but a direct result of neglecting the very institutions that once upheld its moral and spiritual strength. The revival of home, Madaris, and media — grounded in Islamic values — is essential for restoring the Ummah’s dignity and divine favour.

(To be continued in Part 2, where we will explore further causes, including the weakening of religious education, spread of bribery and usury, and the abandonment of Islamic values in daily life.)

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Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam

 

URL:   https://www.newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/moral-ethical-decay-islamic-society-part-1/d/135339

 

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