By Karim Muhammad Khan
A popular saying goes, “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.” Wishes and desires are inherent to human nature, and no one can deny their existence. In ancient times, facilities were limited, and human desires revolved primarily around the basic necessities of life: food, clothing, and shelter. People were generally satisfied with the way they produced goods and services. Internal strife was minimal, and mutual jealousy was rare. Relatively speaking, people lacked the lust and greed for excessive material possessions. Furthermore, socioeconomic needs were met through mutual cooperation, with goods and services exchanged directly since currency notes did not yet exist for buying and selling. Consequently, people led more peaceful and harmonious lives compared to today’s modern era.
However, as humanity progressed, the scope of basic needs gradually expanded, raising living standards alongside advancements in science and technology. Today, we stand at the threshold of the second quarter of the 21st century, experiencing the fifth generation of the Industrial Revolution driven by artificial intelligence. Yet, despite tremendous progress in all spheres of life, a large portion of our country’s population still struggles to meet its basic needs and secure fundamental rights. A major contributing factor is the irrepressible desire of ruling elites, public office holders, corporate mafias, and profiteers, who have entered an unstoppable race to accumulate wealth, bypassing ethical, moral, and legal boundaries.
Nevertheless, wishing to become wealthy is neither a crime nor a sin if wealth is acquired through fair and transparent processes driven by honest effort and ability. Rather, pursuing riches through unethical and corrupt means is an evil act because it deprives needy and deserving people of their basic rights. Furthermore, the pursuit of narrow personal ambitions has widened the gap between the haves and the have-nots. This disparity continues to deepen because laws and policies are often framed to safeguard the interests of a small segment of powerful ruling elites and influential mafias. Their unquenchable desire for wealth has hollowed out the very foundations of the country, leaving the underprivileged segments of society in a state of deprivation and despondency.
In addition, prioritizing personal and party interests over the collective good has plunged the country into a quagmire of chronic crises. These include recurring political instability, a history of military coups, structural economic challenges, energy shortages, rampant corruption, internal and external security threats, growing poverty, and the heavy burden of domestic and foreign debt. Obsessing over material possessions is foolish, given that life is ephemeral. We enter this world with nothing and leave it empty-handed. Yet, during our brief time here, we fight for everything, often crossing ethical and legal boundaries.
It remains an undeniable fact that human life is mortal, and material possessions alone cannot buy peace of mind or foster harmonious relationships with family and friends. Instead of becoming prisoners of insatiable desires by depriving the underprivileged of their rights, this short life should be lived in accordance with the golden principles of Islam, the teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), and the guidance enshrined in the Holy Quran. The core message of the Holy Quran is to uphold equality, justice, generosity, truthfulness, honesty, and integrity in our daily lives. Moreover, our earnings must come through legal and ethical means. Only then can we lead satisfied and successful lives in this world and the hereafter.
To put these ethical values and golden principles into practice, the roles of educational institutions, family support systems, religious leaders, a vibrant media, and civil society are critical. Together, they can help transform the younger generation into responsible, honest, diligent, and civilized citizens at the local, regional, national, and global levels. However, simply teaching and preaching ethics is not enough. It is the fundamental obligation of the state to enforce the rule of law, provide swift justice, and ensure equal opportunities for all its citizens. Ultimately, the endless craving for opulence at the expense of others’ fundamental rights must be regulated through firm and impartial enforcement of the law, irrespective of caste, creed, or color.
