Ethics

Have you ever thought about a man without responsibility? Would you think about seeing yourself free from any responsibility in life? Then how would the shape of life be ?

Indeed, a life that is free from responsibility is just like schools without work and assignments, the students are not feeling any sense of responsibility and law, and therefore, how can studies continue in such a school? And how can the end result be achieved? And how will we be able to differentiate between a hard working student and a lazy one, a successful one from an unsuccessful student? By mere thinking about an empty life, in which a man doesn't find his humanity through being a responsible person, it makes us feel the feeling of jest and a joke, because it becomes only the life of instincts.

When you live in a state of feeling responsibility in your house, then you are living in a moral state towards other members of your family. A father has his own responsibility toward his children and wife, the wife has her own responsibility towards her husband and children and, likewise, the children have their own responsibility towards their parents and themselves. If we are free from all these, then, the system and arrangement of the family will be under great danger. The father will not feel the responsibilities of his wife and children towards him.

A world that is free from responsibilities, is a world that is full of corruption, wars and an unlimited misunderstanding, it is a total breakdown. An example of a responsible person is like a captain of a ship, if he leaves the ship unguided in a highly wind situation, it means he has surrendered it, and its passengers, to a great and deadly danger.

Therefore, among the beautifulness and wisdom of this universe is the responsibility that surrounds it and the competition in doing good.

The Beginning of Responsibility

Here you are leaving your childhood playground in order to start a new life…leaving a stage in which you were not responsible…it was your parents who were taking the responsibility for your growth and education…today the situation has changed. You are still closer to them, benefiting from the care, but you are not like that small child…many things have changed in you, physically and spiritually. Now, you are entering the world of big men; you have turned from a child to a man.

These changes, that occur in all young boys and girls, is a natural change for both of them and, likewise, is a new stage in the world of responsibilities…from a playful child to a responsible man or woman. In this stage, called 'the adolescent' stage, a young boy or girl will be responsible in the sight of Allah, the Almighty; he must be obliged to perform some duties prescribed for him to the end of his life.

What does this mean?

It means a youth - no difference between a boy and a girl - from that day on will be the same as the grown up ones in the field of responsibility and account. Me, my father and mother, who came before me, are responsible for their work and, likewise, I am responsible for my work.

The time of dependence, looseness and childhood play has passed; it is the stage of hardwork that is knocking on the door. In this wide and big work, which you are responsible for it; it is closer to a workshop, in that you are working toward a particular purpose, which is seeking Allah's pleasure: (O man! Verily thou art ever toiling on towards thy Lord painful toiling, but thou shalt meet Him) (Holy Qur'an: 84:6).

Adapted from the book: "Youth Aspiration Towards Responsibility" by:  "Al Balagh Foundation"