How to Grow Sense of Responsibility towards Others?
Ihsan Al-Amin, former chairman of the Board of Trustees of Bayt Al-Hikma (The House of Wisdom), made the comments in a seminar in Tehran on Monday. Here is a summary of his remarks:
Basically, the requirement for the realization of every theory is paying attention to its social aspects and details. When we encounter a city in the Muslim world, we should ask whether it is developed in accordance with the teachings of Islam and Ahl al-Bayt (AS) or not.
Three pillars should be in place for building civil society; rights, responsibilities, and laws. Lack of relations or adequate growth in these pillars can be seen in some countries. For achieving social justice, we need to pay attention to all these together.
I put extra emphasis on the role of order in society because if it is formed, it acts as a guide for the citizens and paves the way for the implementation of the law. That, in turn, will help grow piety in society and create an air that would help avoid lawlessness.
This requirement for the order is based on Shari'a and if people understand the need for this order, they will not oppose it. Although, if this order is not in line with the requirements of today's world, it will not help to realize justice or observe the law in society.
I emphasize the importance of electronic services in government, which can lead us to achieve order and social justice because it causes a reduction of monopoly which can help achieve social justice. If we can pay attention to these services in Islamic countries, we have taken a fundamental step towards realizing social justice.
Even a pious person may be forced to break the law when he lives in a disorderly society. The fact that some people don’t feel responsible towards society and others is a growing dangerous development in today’s world.
All contemporary problems of the world such as war, colonialism, etc. are rooted in a lack of responsibility towards others. So they all go back to moral problems.
Unfortunately, this is also seen in Muslim countries as we see some citizens who do not pay attention to public interests. Islam emphasizes the fact that God has appointed humans "as His deputies on earth” (Surah An-Nur, verse 55). Elaborating on this concept will offer a practical solution to grow a sense of responsibility toward others.
