2.Infulencing
Factors in an Individual's Conduct
The human conduct, itself, forms a relatively objective unit, which is the outcome of different factors and activities, hence, the humanbehaviour
, like mercy, honesty, justice, uttering good words, or telling lies,hypocracy
, crime, murder, using drugs and practicing monopoly, are clear signs of how different factors are united in itself, thus, by it asymphathetic
human being or a criminal one is made or a complicated one who suffers from a nervous andpychological
disease. Indeed, the psychological studies and the researches of criminologists andpychologists
have been able to present to us analyses and interpretations to the humanbehaviour
and refers them to their original factors. These studies and researches discovered that the human conduct, being good or bad - isbiult
from diverse factors and causes social, hereditary and natural instincts...etc
It is beneficial to summarize these factors, so as to shed light on some circumstancesepecially
thepychological
crises and complicated ones, and also the conditions of deviation and unnaturalbehaviours
and manners which are clearly visible among the youths. The state of rebellion against the law, sexual deviation, crime, theft and aggressions, degradation of personality and wandering, taking alcohol and drugs, suicide and social vices; which usually turns to bodily diseases, can be attributed to the essential causes and stages that form the human personality.
But whatever the circumstances may be, we ought to understand that man is an existence which has desire and power of change and transformation, and the freedom to choose what is right, instead of deviation; that is why seeking forgiveness is decreed, as well as, enjoining good and prohibiting evil.
However, the main factors which contribute in the formation of individual conducts are:
a. The Family and the Circumstances of the First Upbringing
b. Genetic Composition
c. School Education
d. The Media and Its Affect on the Conduct of the Youths
e. Political Power and Authority
f. The Culture and Beliefs of the Youths
Later on, we will see the role of each of these factors, and their effect on the conduct of the youth in particular. This kind of enlightenment will give the youthvis
-a-vis
the condition ofcomtemplation
and controversy, a forum of dispute and the stimulus of emotion and instinct, as well as, the impulses of conduct, before he attends to them, and takes any stance. Howmarvellous
and superb is this guidance of the Holy Prophet, which says: "Should you set your mind on doing something think of its outcome. If it is good, go ahead, but if it is bad, refrain from doing it"(1)
We must understand that among the most important factors behind the corruption in the conduct of the young generation is their unconscious drift toward the stimulus and personal interests, and their submission to the pressures of the sexual instinct and otherbehaviours
which affect the personality of the youth; aware or unaware.
However, we can understand this brief explanation, scientifically, by considering the relationship between the intellect, consciousness andbehaviours
, as we can see it clearly in some reports and researches in this field, as well as, the record and statistics which show the spreading of crime, deviation and other irregular practices in a community covered by ignorance, intellectual and cultural retardation, disbelief in Allah, which is another result of human ignorance, and the misinterpretation of this world, thus, analyzing it negatively.
a. Family and the Circumstances of the First Upbringing
The Islamic view pointvis
-a-vis
the scientific perspective for the growing and formation of man through the stages of his existence manifest in the relationships between those stages, from the time of the uniting of the sperm and the egg up to the stages of elderliness.
Islam shows that even the relationship between the different kinds of food eaten by the parents and the zygote, which forms the baby, as well as, the behaviors of the parents toward the child in his early stage and the community and the environment which surrounds him, all have a great role in the upbringing of a newly born child.
Accordingly, we see the holy prophet (s.a.w
.) explains that a man's embracing a certain ideology andbehaviour
in his maturity and responsibility is related to the way he was raised and educated by his parents.
Thus, a person becoming a Muslim, having goodbehaviour
, or a person becoming a deviant, shows that his parents and the way he was raised has had a hand in it. But, a person is, initially, born with a pure and clean intellect.
Although his intellect is subject to adjustment and theaccomodating
of different ideas andbehaviours
, it is in the first stage that a person and his nature is formed from this the saying of the holy prophet (s.a.w
.) will become clear, i.e., "Every man is born on moral constitution unless his parents' will causes him to become ajew
orchristian
or idol worshipper."(2) And the Holy Qur'an talks about this reality, i.e., the relationship between the early education given by the parents and the humanbehaviour
after the grade of maturity and intellectually and bodily perfection.
Allah the most high is saying: "And Allah has brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers - when you knew nothing - and He gave you hearing and sight and the hearts that you may give thanks (to Him)". Holy Qur'an (The Bee 16:78)
"O You whobelieve
: Save yourselves and your families from a fire whose fuel is men and stones..." Holy Qur'an (Prohibitions 66:6)
In this view, the Holy Qur'an connects what man learns and obtains in his early stage, what he hears, sees and comprehends and with what comes to him after that, hence, it enjoins the parents to educate and discipline their children aright and warns them against negligence and carelessness (toward their children).
Imam Ali (a.s
.) in his sermon to his son Imam Hassan (a.s
) also connects between what man obtains and learns during the infancy stage and what his person will become in terms of thought and conduct at his puberty stage. He says: "Certainly, the heart of a young man is like uncultivated land. It accepts whatever is strewn upon it. So, I hastened to mold you properly before your heart hardened up and your mind became occupied, that you might be ready to accept, through your intelligence, the results of the experience of others and be saved from going through these experiences yourself..."(3)
Verily, by this, the Imam (a.s
.) proves to us the basis of education, i.e., undertaking the education of a child (before his heart becomes hardened and his mind becomes occupied).
Certainly, this principle of education stands on a scientific or educational basis calling us to undertake the discipline of children and educating them before they grow up and their mind becomes busy with experiences and other corrupt teachings and ideologies, otherwise, we will have to start from the beginning and repeat the education once more. But, most likely, we cannot cure some deviations, and, if so, man becomes a victim and will be left in total distress the whole of his life. Thus, the foundation of most of the problems, social vices and corruption in conducts is the childhood stage which is not founded on the basis of goodness and piety.
The studies conducted on the rate of crimes in the U.S.A., in 1910, shows that 50 % of the 7,598 crimes came from family problems and separation, and that 50 % of the children in reformatorycentres
in England and Scotland came from broken homes. Also, the studies conducted by a German researcher on 144criminals
shows that all of them came from broken homes. And the research conducted by another German on some 2000 criminals shows that 26 % of them came from families in which the parents were separated for some reason or other. In 1942, a French researcher conducted research in the city of Paris on crime, and it shows that 88 % of the criminals came from separated families.(
4)
In general, the reason for good conduct is correct family education, and, likewise, most social vices, which a person practices in his puberty stage; like jealousy and having an inferiority complex, laziness,dependance
, selfishness, aggression, drinking alcohol and using drugs, telling lies, stealing,hypocracy
and showing bad behavior toward his fellow being, all these are attributed to the family education and discipline which herecieved
in his puberty stage. Man'sbehaviour
, morals and attributes grow, even though escaping from them and controlling them is possible. Thus, man is an existence having will, freedom of choice and power of change, although his education, if not undertaken properly, creates difficulties for him, and others may become victims of such erroneous education.
Hence, among the ways a man can understand his personality and the problems he faces or the positive side of his personality is that he should remember the nature of his first growth, and study the environment and atmosphere in which he grew up, in order to understand the source of his problems or the positive side of his personality.
b. Genetic Composition
Studies and field researches performed on the conduct of individuals, particularly the abnormal and unnatural ones, like of those who were inflicted with sexual deviations, tribalism,aggression
...etc. show that there are some biological, physiological, and hereditary factors which have anaffect
on the conduct of a person, as well as, other educative, environmental and communal factors. Indeed, it iscomfirmed
, scientifically, that the endocrine gland and hormones have a great effect on a person, and their effect increases - both in males and females, in the puberty and youth stages.
However, man, with his power, is able to change his stand and displace or divert his desires, selfishness and personal interests. These scientific studies confirm that the nature of the body structure of a person, and his composition, has an effect on his conduct and humanbehaviour
. Therefore, the bodily structure of both a young boy and girl, like beauty and power, or weakness, simplicity and ugliness, has an effect on their variousbehaviours
.
Like the affiliation to a certain class or social rank of a person, physicalstrenghth
or weakness, and even thecolour
and body size of a person, like the breasts and hair in young girls and the strength and height in body in young boys, and eveneloquency
in speech, has a great effect on their conduct and humanbehaviour
.
By considering all these, the bodily structure of a person has an effect on his conduct andbehaviour
, or even in the formation of bad habits, like pride and arrogance, inferiority complex, zeal and jealousy, and the sense of wanting to oppress others. But, Islam has cured all these problems by warning man against pride and arrogance, as it warns him against zeal and jealousy and the feeling of inferiority, and emphasizing that man's value lies in his intellect, conduct andbehaviour
. In view of this, humanity has value and worthiness which depends on the intellect, morals and will, not just on man's bodily structure or other material things whichdecieve
him. Allah, the Most High, says: "Surely the mosthonourable
of you in the sight of Allah is the one among you most careful (of his duty). Holy Qur'an (Inner Apartments 49:13)
Warning against the deception of the bodily structure in the case of theMunafiqeen
(hypocrites), Allah, the Almighty, describes them: "When you see them, their exteriors please you; and if they speak; you listen to their words. They are as (worthless as hollow) pieces of wood clad with garments, (unable to stand on their own). They think that every cry is against them. They are the enemies; so beware of them. The curse of Allahbe
on them; how are they deluded (away from the truth)." Holy Qur'an (Hypocrites 63:4)
In an advice,Luqman
warns his son against pride andarrogancy
: "And do not go about in the land exultingly, for you cannot cut through the earth nor reach the mountains in height." Holy Qur'an (Luqman
31:37)
In this respect, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w
.) says: "Surely the Almighty, Allah, does not look at your structure and wealth, but He looks at your hearts and deeds."(5) Also came a warning against pride and arrogance or pride of the body structure, like havingeloquency
in speech, strength, health...etc., and likewise, another warning came against those who feel a sense of deficiency, because they have lost some part of their body. And the spirit of zeal and jealousy sometimes makes them feelembarassment
and shame or creates a spirit of retaliation in some of them. Allah the Most High says: "Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the Dawn, from the evil of what He has created; and from the evil of the utterly dark night when it comes; and from the evil of those who blow on knots, and from the evil of the envious when he envies." Holy Qur'an (The Dawn 113:1-5)
And Allah, the Almighty, also says:
"And do not covet that by which Allah has made some of you excel others. Men shall have the benefit of what they earned and women shall have the benefit of what they earn, and ask Allah of His grace, surely Allah knows all things." Holy Qur'an (Women 4:32)
Surely, the calling to self perfection, and perception of the self and essence without the feeling of inferiority or as a result of what a man has in his structure, is manifested in this supplication of ImamZain-ul
Abideen
Ali binHussain
(a.s
.): "O Allah put my wealth in myself."(6) Thus, the supplication summarizes the highest peak of relationship with the self and prevents it from feeling inferior, zealous or jealous. Therefore, in every man, there are certain specifications and qualities with which he enjoys and which are enough to make him satisfied with his personality if he makes good use them.
This is the justice of Allah, the Most high, and it is His wisdom to His creatures, and the feeling of superiority over others opens one's will to work hard and feel that he needs the hand of others. The Holy Qur'an sheds more light on this, when it says: "...And We have exalted some of them above others in degree, that some of them may take others in subjection..."
Holy Qur'an (Adornments 43:32)
Hence, we can see this enlightenment to a cure for this self problem, which came from the bodily structure of a person. In this regard, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w
.), describing the attributes of a true believer, says: "Faith and jealousy cannot be gathered together in the heart of a person."(7)
c. School Education
The issue of education and its influence on the futurebehaviour
of a person is not regarded as a scientific or practical issue, because it is among the clearest issues in the field of science. Therefore, the educational elements in school life have the most effect in the forming of one's personality and creating one's identity. Thus, a child, in our present world, spends the most important part of his life in the school atmosphere. He starts his life in its environment and from the nursery schools andkindergartens,
it participates in the stages of his life through the primary and secondary schools, colleges anduniversites
. Thus, he spends his childhood, puberty and youth in a system of life designed and arranged according to particular programs and purposes.
Therefore, he grows and forms his personality according to the philosophy of education and a life system governed by school, whether the schools are run by the state or by private funds and associations.
So, the school that adopts materialistic ideas or notions in its programs and does not give much concern to morals and belief in Allah, will produce licentious personalities who are craving after worldly gains without principles, and whose bases are built on social and political platforms. Surely, such schools will produce materialistic and capitalistic minds. General reforms and changes basically start from the school in its educational philosophy, programs and the ways of life in it and, also, the personality of the teachers who practice teaching. Thus, the school's elements - programs, methods, thebehaviours
inside school and the teachers, will play a great role in the formation of one's personality.
Hence, the school teaches a student how to live with tens or hundreds of students and how to deal with different customs and cultures and how to gain from them.
The school builds its educational life on some certain principles and helps in forming the social conditions, choosing what suits its principles and refusing whatever is against its aims and purposes, therefore, it, in essence, is a small model of a community and a state. Certainly, it is more, in that, the school plays a vital role in the life of a student from the time he understands his self and starts to think about his future ambitions andexpections
. So, the school becomes an essential source for him to achieve his future aspirations and ambitions. In view of this, the general opinion polls, among the students, will give us the knowledge of hope, opinions and the approaches of the student, as well as, where they are heading in the future. Likewise, failure in their studies will cause great problems for most of them, and can also affect their conduct and the future of their lives; even among their families and communities. Therefore, it is advantageous to study the problems of children and teenagers before they become more complicated and difficult to find solutions for and which may cause them to give up their studies in the primary or secondary stages, without gaining scientific training, culture and knowledge which may help them to achieve their future ambitions.
So often the teacher, or the method of education and the way of dealing with students, plays a vital role in creating problems for children and teenagers. Therefore, it demands that the school employ a social- psychology researcher to study the students' problems according to their ages and conditions, as well as, their problems from their childhood, young age and youth stages with the aim of solving them, before they become complicated anddistructive
to the student and his studies, though most of the recent schools have already adopted this method. Also, bad economic conditions play a vital role in causing a student, at this age, to give his studies and his concentration to be fully focused on earning his living, or he gives up studying forever because of being unable to pay his school fees.
Bad companions and friends, also, participate greatly in the failure of the continuation of studies. Because, in this stage, it is easy to attract a child toward vices and bad habits, directing him towards loitering, vagrancy and playing in vain instead of thinking, seriously, to his respected future.
In addition, the culture of the parents and their appreciation of the future of their children, and their good relationship with them or bad habits and negligence toward them,has
a great role in the failure or prosperity of their studies and life. All these show the importance of having good relationships with the youth and younger generations, because it helps them a lot in the success of their school life.
It is worth mentioning that Islam considers the seeking of knowledge compulsory for all Muslims on two levels; i.e.,Ainii
andKifa'i
.?????? It considers knowledge with its diverse branches, as a way to human perfection, faith in the Divine messages, knowing Allah, practicing good conduct, community's growth and life organization. This is clearly seen in thesayings
of Allah, the Most High: "...Those truly fear Allah, among His servants, who have knowledge..." Holy Qur'an (The Originator 35:28)
And also says, "...Allah will raise up to (suitable) ranks (and degrees) those of you who believe and who have been granted (mystic) knowledge.."
Holy Qur'an (The Woman WhoPleads
58:11) And also says: "Read and your Lord is MostHonourable
. Who taught (to write) with the pen, taught man what he knew not." Holy Qur'an (The Clot 96:3-5)
Making a connection between ignorance and moral deterioration, the Almighty, Allah, says: "What! Do you indeed approach men lustfully rather than women? Nay, you are a people who act ignorantly." Holy Qur'an (The Ants 27:55)
And the Most High said: "...And if you turn not away their snare from me, I will yearn towards them and become (one) of the ignorant." Holy Qur'an (Joseph 12:33)
"...and man has turned unfaithful to it; surely he is unjust, ignorant." Holy Qur'an (The Allies 33:72)
"...surely I admonish you lest you may be of the ignorant." Holy Qur'an (Hud
11:46)
"...but I see you are a people who are ignorant." Holy Qur'an (The WindingSandtracts
46:23)
The Holy Qur'an founded the Islamic Message on the principles and basis of knowledge and education, and called for the establishment of faith on the basis of knowledge, evidence and proof. In view of this, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w
.) continued the call for seeking knowledge and motivated people towards it, and, in addition,he (s.a.w
.), himself
, propagated knowledge and education. Thus, after the battle ofBadr
, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w
.) demanded that each of theQuraish's
prisoners of war should teach ten of the Muslims to read as a ransom from captivity, so as to show that being free from captivity is equal to being free from ignorance. At various times, we read in the Prophetic traditions, commandments andguidances
, motivations and stimulations toward seeking knowledge, like in his (s.a.w
.) saying: "Seeking knowledge is compulsory upon every Muslim."(8)
And: "The angels spread their wings to a seeker of knowledge."(9)
And: "Whoever prepares a way for seeking knowledge, Allah will prepare a way to Paradise for him." All thesehadiths
, and the like, show us the importance, in Islam, of knowledge and seeking it. And also it makes clear, to us, the interest and concern Islam has toward biologicalknowledges
, like pharmacology, engineering, physics, agriculture and chemistry, as well as,differnt
professions and works, if we understand that IslamicShari'a
regards thoseknowledges
and professions as compulsory duties, i.e., it is compulsory to obtain it as much as permissible. Thus, we understand the importance of knowledge and Islam's aim in seeking knowledge.
Both the government and the individual should take the responsibility to execute this duty by preparing some people with knowledge, and teaching them different professions, so that the community will be acquainted with thoseknowledges
and professions.
Islam puts great emphasis on the parents with regard to teaching their children, being merciful to them and, also, solving their problems. It is obvious that the family has a great role in providing a suitable atmosphere for their children's education, and encouraging them to seek knowledge, and preventing them from having relations with bad friends who disturb their studies. Likewise, the parents, by cooperating with the schools, can solve their children's problems.
In view of this, what we ought to give special attention to is directing the students toward the rules and principles ofstuding
, showing them the importance of knowledge, encouraging them to continue their studies to the higher levels, and giving them advice and guidance which will prevent them from abandoning their studies and their professions. Likewise, the government should participate, greatly, and give a helping hand in education and solving the economic problems of the students which force them to leave their studies.
However, a young man should think, seriously, about his future and that the continuation of his studies and learning other works and having a profession are basic issues in his life, therefore, it is compulsory upon him to put forth more effort on his part and take a lesson from the life of those people who have lost their future, so that he will not become a victim like they.
d. The Media and Its Affect on the Conduct of the Youths
In our present world, the means of communication and conveying thoughts and information, has developed rapidly, seeming to travel at the speed of light and sound, and reaches every angle of the world within a few seconds. There are a great number of institutions, equipment and special devices for mass enlightenment, establishing general opinions and individual resolutions.
In addition, the means of communication and information, like television, radio, internal waves, computers, newspapers, books, magazines...have become the dominant power upon the thoughts and a means of establishing a pattern for conduct. Therefore, the media contributes in the establishment of political thoughts, as well as, individual positions and thoughts, and it contributes immensely, especially the pictorial type, like, television, cinema, Video, and pornographic magazines, in affecting the general thought and conduct of the people.
The youths - especially at the puberty stage - are active and ready, more than other people, to copy other personalities, and are influenced by the people who appear on the screen of television or cinema.
They are influenced by other people who play a vital role in the political, social and revolutionary arena, as well as, great historical heroes. This is because a youth - whether male or female - is in the stage of building his or her personality. Therefore, he or she needs someone to copy. Since instinct and desires, especially the sexual instinct, are at their highest peak and putting pressure on the youths, so they are looking for a solution to it, therefore, the media have contributed, immensely, in stirring and arousing the sexual instinct by means of pornographic and seductive films, pictures, stories, as well as, cultures, like the use of guerilla warfare tactics and aggression in films which contribute, a lot, in deviating the youths and teaching them criminal acts. In view of this, some governments are prohibiting the showing of pornographic and guerilla warfare films, often prohibiting the youth from attending the theaters where these films are shown.
The result of the statistics on viewing videos conducted by Dr. AlexanderAldila
in Lebanon shows that: "The viewing of social and emotional films wins the first position while detective films win the second position..."(10)
Another report states that: The studies conducted in the U.S on 110 people in a corrections institute show that 49% of them got the desire of carrying weapons from watching the cinema and 12-21 % of them found the audacity to steal and kill police from the same source. While the studies conducted on 252 deviated young girls, between the ages of 14-18, shows that 25% of them had sexual relationships as a result of watchingpornoqraphic
films in the cinema and 41 % of them were led to glamorous ceremonies, night theaters and 54% of them cut school in order to watch films, while 17% of them left their homes as a result of the conflict between them and their family on going to the cinema.
A W.H.O report and, also, a French Judge, about the factors of deviation, say: "I don't have any doubt that some films, especially detective films, play a great, harmful role in most of the cases."
A questionnaire and cross examination on 1344 personalities conducted in Britain on the relationship between the cinema and corruption of children under 16, found that 600 of them answered that there is a relationship between the cinema and children's deviation. Other studies also show that most of the stealing and robbing, which happens in the West, has an effect from the cinema.(
11) At last, it can be concluded that watching emotional films, pornographic and detective films is corrupting people, and furthermore, as scientific studiescomfirm
, the youth at this stage, can be influenced by all this, because he is on the verge of his growth. From all these statistics, we can deduce that the work of the mass media in the formation of emotions and conduct involving instinct, as well as, copying the role of the heroes, is important.
e. Political Power and Authority
With the advancement of social living and civilization and its complications, the role of government and its importance in the life of an individual and community becomes high, and the interference of government in vital and necessary issues, becomes apparent, as well as, in social, intellectual, educational, economical, cultural and informative matters.
In addition, it is upon the government to undertake the responsibility of education and its organization, supervise the ministry of information and direct other ministries according to its general politics and aims, and enact rules and regulations governing its citizens, therefore, thegoverment
plays a vital role in the formation of individual conduct and culture, positively or negatively.
Thus, the Islamic message considers the formation of an Islamic government as an obligatory matter, and defines Islamic government as: "A government established on the basis of Islam and its principles", and tries to make the government an instrument of execution,indvidual
and community building and governing the community on the basis of IslamicShari'a
. In view of this, the Islamic scholars term the existence of an Imam (a leader) as a mercy, i.e., he can encourage people toward obedience and submission (to Allah's Commands) and discourages them from sin and disobediences, because he is the one who coordinates life's construction and leads it on the basis of Islamic values and principles through his government.
The government contributes in the formation of an individual's conduct, and the political powers and parties also contribute in the formation of an individual's conduct, especially the youths, because they are more emotional and easy to be affiliated with a particular political group or movement and accept its thoughts and manifestations, whether it carries luminous ideas based on Islamic principles and its original values or being deviated parties, ideas and thoughts. Thus, it is the parents' duty to direct their children toward the right direction, and guard them against affiliating with deviated parties or groups.
f. The Culture and Beliefs of the Youths
"It is He Who brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers when you knew nothing and He gave you hearing and sight and the hearts; that you may give thanks (to Allah)."Holy Qur'an (The Bee 16:78) "Read!
and
your Lord is MostHonourable
, Who taught (to write) with the pen, Taught man that which he knew not. Nay!man
is most surely inordinate, because he sees himself free from want." Holy Qur'an (The Clot 96:4-7)
"...those truly fear Allah, among His servants, who have knowledge..." Holy Qur'an (The Originator 35:28)
These holy verses, among others, show the importance of knowledge and education, and the relationship between knowledge and conduct. For instance, thanksgiving and fear, i.e., submission and obedience to the laws and morals, before it transforms into reality, passes certain stages starting from imagination, which is the first step of an action, then, it inclines to this imagination, then, after being satisfied with it, chooses it and transforms it into action.
This is how imagination transforms into action through intellectual and psychological processes. It is clear that the belief and culture of a person contributes in creating the ideas and imaginations governing his stance and actions, as well as, depending on it.
The studies and researches conducted, in this field, show that the culture, ideas and beliefs of a person contribute immensely to his conduct, the statistics confirm that the aggression and deviation in the ignorant people, or who lack civilization and knowledge or who do not believe in Allah or theJudgement
Day and the Hereafter, is related to their ignorance and unconsciousness.
Therefore, knowledge and cultural adaptation which a person bears, participate in guarding him against failure and practicing crimes and aggression, as it, also, participates, immensely, in the belief in Allah and the Hereafter, good conduct and morals. Thus, a person who is wise and conscious, socially and knowledgeably, about the actions that tempt him, and understands their bad consequences, both in this world and the Hereafter, will refrain from performing these acts due to the knowledge he has.
And a knowledgeable and civilizedperson
who is conscious of his knowledge, respects his personality, because he knows the essence of his being in the society and evaluates his responsibilities before the Lord of the worlds Who bestowed on him knowledge and consciousness. Therefore, he refrains from committing crimes, sins and other immoral actions.
However, the more knowledge, piety, chasteness and self-respect in a person increases due to his civilization, social consciousness and his belief in Allah, the more his social dignity, respect for the laws that protect his interest, as well as, the interests of the community will increase. This will also help him in shunning the acts which downgrade his personality, put him under the divine and world by punishments, social contempt and general hatred.Whereas, an ignorant and uncultured person who does not know the essence of his carelessness to commit any kind of atrocity and crime will downgrade his own personality.
It is reported, in one of the traditions of the Holy Imams ofAhlul
-Bait (a.s
.) about the importance of respecting man's personality, and knowing the essence of his existence and consciousness about the consequences of his actions, thus: "Do not feel secure from the evil of a person who outrages his self."(12) Anotherhadith
says: "An ignorant companion is an inconvenience."(13)
And it has come in anotherhadith
; an explanation of the difficulty of guiding an ignorant man after he has become deviated and changing his accustomed conduct, which shows the danger of ignorance and its effect on deviation and committing crimes. In ahadith
, ImamJa'far
al-Sadiq
(a.s
.) says: "Teaching an ignorant (person) and changing his accustomed conduct appears to be a miracle."(14) Certainly the researches, field statistics and scientific analyses reveal that self sincerity and conduct require three basic elements, they are: 1. Knowledge and awareness on the conduct and actions which a person will present, thus, a person who knows the harm of beer, drugs, smoking, gambling and recklessness, and the danger of fornication and adultery, will not go close to them talking of committing them. But, as for a person who is controlled by instinct and ignorance, will become the victim of thosedestuctive
actions, destroying his wealth, health and dignity in them. Therefore, it is obligatory to enlighten the youths, and educate them on the incidents, statistics and experiences which victimized others (men and women), so that they can be of those who are alert and refrain from committing those acts.
And for strengthening the conduct of a person, there is a need to spread knowledge, awareness, and civilization and control ignorance and illiteracy. The school and cultural curriculum, or system for the people, should be a system which concerns itself with man's guidance against deviated, criminal acts.
Because knowledge gives man awareness on what is going on and understanding it in a true, scientific way, thus, he can have correct relations with it, far from deviation and ignorance. Likewise, it gives his self awareness and understanding of the essence of his existence andpersonality,
therefore, he can have good relations with his person and guard his dignity and security. It gives him understanding of the actions and processes which stir in his self and direct him toward his actions, so as to study it and act consciously toward it in order to turn down those which direct him to evil and viciousness and to follow those that guide him to virtue.
Also, knowledge gives man the ability to understand the usefulness and harmfulness of an action which returns to him or his community. He responds to the useful and good ones and rejects the evil and vicious ones. It gives him anablity
to understand his past, present and future and protects him against falling into danger, mistakes and wasting good opportunities, as it gives him the understanding of reality and his surroundings and he knows how to deal with it and guard himself against problems...this is how knowledge becomes man's protector and director in life.
2. Beliefs: Beliefs, ideas and civilization of a person forms a basic stimulant upon performing a particular action or refraining from it. Thus, malicious ideas and thoughts, likemarxism
and capitalism, which call for unbridled freedom and the malicious ideas of psychologists and other ideas which were formed on a material basis deprived of morals and belief in Allah inflict a lot of damages on the community. Surely, the only pure and real ideology for the human generation is Islam, which has arranged human conduct on the basis of belief, because it prohibits everything which afflicts harmful results on the wellbeing of man, as well as, community interests.
In addition, Islam prohibits fornication, homosexuality, beer, gambling, drugs, slaughter, rape and violation of women, a stage that has reached untold proportions of selling millions of young girls for sexual purposes in Western countries. Therefore, the youth who believe in Allah and the Day ofRessurection
, protect themselves against those actions which result in loss of health, wealth and dignity and often end with imprisonment and death, and the downgrading of the personality.
Furthermore, the researches and statistics conducted by some institutions confirmed that the percentage of crime, deviation and social problems and vices in Europe, America, Russia, Japan and other countries of the world, is increasing upon all the educational, scientific and economicaldevelpments
enjoyed there. This is because the knowledge, awareness and social welfare (in those countries)does
not safeguard man from crime, deviation and negativism.
Man can understand the evil and danger of lying, forgery, fornication, drugs, smoking, extravagance, oppression,manslaugther
, stealing, raping, pride...etc., but he is practicing it, because the knowledge which is deprived him of the belief in Allah and the Hereafter will not protect against those crimes...in view of this, the holy Qur'an joins knowledge with belief, and says: "...Allah will raise up to (suitable) ranks (and degrees) those of you who believe and who have been granted (mystic) knowledge.." Holy Qur'an (The Woman Who Pleads 58:11) Therefore man's progress and priority will not be achieved unless through interaction between knowledge and belief.
3. Willingness: Will is the ability to perform an act or refrain from it. In short, it is that stance which shows a human's essence, and willingness is the basis ofsharia's
responsibility of doing an act. Thus, a man who has the power of will is able to access the self stances and desires, and face the problems and events... forthis,
his conduct will be well founded. The secret of personal power, basically, is will power, as will power is one of the effective ways of man's success, achieving his goals and the security of his future...thus, with the power of will, man can fight against fornication, forbidden wealth and those who want to direct him to evil work. And, likewise, with the power of will, man drinks alcohol, smokes, takes drugs, etc.,
hence, educating the power of will is Islam's interest and aims at it morally and through education.
Therefore, the youths need to respect their self will, so as to enter the world of life with full dignity founded on good conduct and behavior. Before taking any resolution, he has to weigh the consequences, and think, seriously, about what he wants to do, especially because he is on a dangerous stage. And the most important factors for strengthening the will are: belief in AllahTa'ala
, patience, worshipping like Fasting, prayers and jihad, teaching the self to stand against prohibited things, practicing and preserving the obligatory acts, self satisfaction, struggling to achieve good acts and aims and expelling indecision and anxious ideas.
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Author: Ayatullah Makarim Shirazi
