The Moral Vision
The Root Cause of Riots
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THE ROOT CAUSE OF RIOTS
What is the reason for the senseless manner in
which Muslims react in the face of provocation?
Perhaps we can trace it to their pride psychology. It
comes into being when religion is no longer treated
as a matter of responsibility, but as a matter of
pride. Such an attitude towards religion plays a fair
share in contributing to the degradation of the
Ummat, the community of believers.
The Qur’an says: “The faithful servants of God are
they who walk upon the earth modestly and, when
the foolish ones address them, answer: Peace.” (AI-
Furqan, 63) However, the attitude is reversed when
religious teachings cease to inspire people to do
good deeds and a moral decline sets in. People then
become proud and haughty. Whether or not they
act upon the teachings of their religion, they believe
that they continue to be the chosen people of God.
Their attachment to their religion is reduced to lip
service: it exists in theory but not in practice; in the
outward form but not in spirit. When religion
serves only to show one’s superiority over others, a
high degree of moral perversion has been reached.
