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Thursday April 25, 2024

How to evolve a welfare society?

By Zafar Alam Sarwar
May 30, 2016

Many questions worry patriots. They want to know why ordinary citizens are not happy with prevalent system and which kind of social and economic life can solve various problems of lower middle and poor segments of society.

Broadly speaking, they first of all want freedom of expression, and a living society based on principles laid down in the Quran.

A majority of practicing Muslims agree to the view that people, literate or semi-literate, should read and study the Quran with clear heart and mind, and act upon the message of Almighty God as was done by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Masses as they say feel crippled by most of time rising prices of necessities of life, for instance, flour, bread, vegetables, fruit, fuel, electricity, clothes and shoes etc. Their grievances relate to children’s education, health-care and squalid and overcrowded ‘mohallahs’ and colonies.

Scarcity of clean drinking water makes them feel they are living in a hell-like environment.

Sewerage system has not improved yet; flies and mosquitoes seem on good terms with the civic bodies.

Mentally disturbed citizens impatiently pray to God for help, and look for someone who can show them a ray of hope.

In their discussion they recall verses of the Quran, sayings of the prophet (PBUH) and speeches and Eid messages of the founder of Pakistan relevant to the current situation.

Questions they raise: Why the new homeland was created for Muslims in the sub-continent, why feudalism and capitalism have not been replaced by a welfare system when the new state was achieved after a long struggle in the name of Islam, and why the masses are still being exploited by landlords.

They psychologically get heartened when a righteous person makes them understand the need for studying the Quran.

Why read and understand the Quran? Elders say that will help evolve a welfare society as ordained by Almighty God.

The society thus organised must live under laws that guide their everyday life based on eternal principles of righteousness and fair dealing, cleanliness and sobriety, honesty and helpfulness one to another—yet shaped into concrete forms to suit and circumstances, and the varying needs of average men and women. The food will have to be clean and wholesome.

In such welfare society, charity and help to the poor is organised; drink, gambling and violence are banned; rights of women are protected. And, in short, defending the motherland against all internal and external threats is duty of all able-body citizens.

zasarwar@hotmail.com