by Aubaid Akhoon
If we fail to awaken now, future generations will inherit a world stripped of ethical principles, mental resilience, and spiritual grounding. The need for action is immediate.
The fabric of society is fraying, unravelling under the weight of psychological distress, moral decay, and widespread indifference. We live in an era where unethical behaviour, irrational actions, and a general disregard for values no longer provoke outrage.
The normalisation of such conduct signals a deeper crisis—one that extends beyond individual failings to a collective erosion of consciousness. The true tragedy lies not merely in the decline of ethical and social structures but in our growing apathy towards this loss.
Allama Iqbal captured this peril with striking clarity in his verse:
“Waaye nakaami! mataa-e-kaarvaan jaata raha,
Kaarvaan ke dil se ehsaas-e-zayaan jaata raha.”
Iqbal’s words serve as a clarion call, warning that a nation is not undone solely by external adversaries but by its own negligence. He likens a nation to a caravan, stripped of its wealth while its travellers remain oblivious to the plunder. The gravest catastrophe is not material loss but the death of awareness (ehsaas-e-zayaan).
A growing crisis looms large: mental illnesses, depression, anxiety, and trauma have reached unprecedented levels. Economic instability, social pressures, fractured family structures, and the pervasive influence of materialism have left individuals feeling hopeless and adrift. The relentless pace of modern life bombards people with distractions, yet the void within remains unfulfilled.
Society now equates success with material accumulation, sidelining ethical consciousness, emotional intelligence, and mental well-being. The erosion of spiritual grounding has created a vacuum in which moral corruption flourishes. Many no longer distinguish between right and wrong, and social media has exacerbated this decline by rewarding self-centredness, manipulation, and superficial interactions.
A recent incident in Kashmir laid bare the perilous depths to which blind faith can drag a society. A self-proclaimed ‘Baba’ persuaded his followers to partake in an audacious act of deception—a counterfeit ‘Umrah’ around a replica of the Kaaba. He gathered people, instructed them to circumambulate the structure, and urged them to remain for seven days as part of their ‘spiritual journey.’
What renders this incident profoundly alarming is not merely the act itself but the ease with which people were duped. Many educated individuals, rather than questioning the absurdity, glorified the so-called ‘Baba,’ sharing his videos and heralding him as a saintly figure. This is a troubling reflection of how deeply superstition has entrenched itself in our collective psyche.
The Quran issues a clear warning against associating partners with Allah:
“O my son! Do not associate anything with Allah. Indeed, shirk is a great injustice.” (Surah Luqman: 13)
Yet, despite these unequivocal teachings, many continue to place their trust in self-proclaimed saints—individuals who possess neither religious knowledge nor genuine piety. Instead, they rely on theatrics, unkempt appearances, and eccentric behaviour to convince others of their ‘spiritual’ stature.
This phenomenon is not new. Throughout history, fraudulent saints, corrupt scholars, and deceitful religious figures have preyed upon the vulnerable. They thrive not through wisdom but through society’s willingness to follow without question. The rise of figures like Razzaq Baba is not merely a failure of individuals but a collective failure of our religious and educational institutions.
One might assume that education would serve as a bulwark against such deception. Yet, time and again, even educated individuals succumb to the allure of blind faith. The reason lies in our education system’s emphasis on rote learning over critical thinking. People memorise religious texts without grasping their meaning. They adhere to traditions without interrogating their validity.
When logic is excised from education, superstition rushes in to fill the void. The result is a society where a man smeared in ashes, wandering the streets unclothed, is venerated as a saint rather than recognised as someone in need of psychological care.
The recent demolition of the fake Kaaba by courageous individuals was a necessary act, symbolising a rejection of ignorance and a stand against the corruption of faith. Yet, while destroying a structure is straightforward, dismantling the mindset that gave rise to it remains the true challenge.
To honour our religious heritage authentically, we must return to the teachings of Islam in their purest form—rooted in knowledge, guided by reason, and untainted by superstition. The destruction of a false shrine marks a beginning, but the ultimate victory will be achieved only when people cease to fall prey to such deceptions altogether.
A civilisation that fails to recognise its decline is destined to perish. The revival of lost awareness is imperative. Institutions, families, educators, and policymakers must collaborate to restore the core values that once formed the backbone of society.
The family unit stands as the cornerstone of any society. Parents must take responsibility for instilling moral values in their children, fostering open conversations about ethics, faith, and mental well-being as part of daily life. Communities should cultivate a culture of mentorship, where elders guide the youth toward wisdom rather than allowing them to be swayed by the fleeting trends of social media.
Education must transcend academic achievement to nurture holistic development. Schools should integrate mental health awareness programmes, ethical and value-based education, and emotional intelligence training into their curricula. A focus on self-reflection and social responsibility is essential. Producing graduates devoid of moral or social awareness only perpetuates a society of lost and disillusioned individuals.
Religious and spiritual wisdom has long provided humanity with a sense of direction. Islam, for instance, emphasises self-accountability (muhasabah), patience (sabr), gratitude (shukr), and the pursuit of knowledge (ilm). Religious leaders and scholars must guide individuals toward self-awareness and personal growth, moving beyond ritualistic practices to foster deeper understanding.
Governments and policymakers must treat mental health as a societal emergency. Awareness campaigns, affordable therapy, and accessible counselling centres should be made universally available. Psychological distress must be addressed with the same urgency as physical ailments.
Social media and the entertainment industry wield significant influence over public consciousness. Content creators should be encouraged to promote ethical values, empathy, and responsible behaviour. Rather than glorifying negativity, media should focus on content that fosters self-improvement and social harmony.
Iqbal’s warning resonates with greater urgency today than ever before. Nations that lose their sense of purpose become complicit in their own decline. The first step toward revival lies in recognising the disease—acknowledging that mental decay, moral corruption, and societal apathy are not isolated issues but interconnected symptoms of a deeper collapse.
If we fail to awaken now, future generations will inherit a world stripped of ethical principles, mental resilience, and spiritual grounding. The need for action is immediate. As Iqbal reminds us, the moment ehsaas-e-zayaan (the sense of loss) dies, so too does the hope of revival. This verse is not mere poetry; it is a desperate plea to awaken before it is too late. The time to act is now.
The question remains: Will we heed the call, or will indifference seal our fate?
(Author is a columnist, motivational speaker and Associate Editor of Education Quill. Ideas are personal.)
