Prof Masood Akhtar Hazarvi
Today’s world presents itself as the greatest champion of progress, freedom, and human rights. Yet behind these shining claims lies a deep darkness that has now been fully exposed. In the corridors of power, the palaces of wealth, and so-called civilized societies, the moral decay that has been nurtured for decades is no longer the failing of a few individuals; it has become clear evidence of the intellectual and ethical misguidance of modern civilisation as a whole. In the words of Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
“Have you not seen the democratic system of the West?
Its face is bright, but its inner self is darker than Genghis.”
The case of Jeffrey Epstein is a symbol of this very decline an unmistakable mirror in which the face of Western civilization can be seen along with all its misdeeds. Billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was found dead in jail in 2019, was not a lone criminal; rather, he was part of a well-organized yet morally repugnant system of contemporary civilization. Under the “Epstein Files Transparency Act,” approved with the signatures of U.S. President Donald Trump in 2025, when more than 3.5 million pages of investigation were made public in 2026, the world was shaken. These files reportedly contained the names of former presidents, global business figures, and members of royal families. Sadly, the system of justice still appeared to stand behind a wall that protects the powerful.
This tragedy is not merely the immorality of a few individuals; it is a collective reflection of a civilization that has turned wealth into a god, desire into law, and pleasure into the purpose of life. Behind the scenes, law has become a whip for the weak and a shield for the powerful, while morality has been reduced to speeches and books. This crisis is not only an internal illness of the West; it is a civilizational threat to all humanity. It is undeniable that materialism, obsession with desire, and digital lawlessness have hollowed out human values. Human history bears witness that when freedom is left unrestrained, when base desires are made the axis of life, and when religion is confined to a purely personal sphere by removing divine guidance from collective life, society inevitably descends to an animalistic level.
Islam stands in complete contrast to this. It offers humanity a balanced way of life. A human being is neither a slave to desires nor someone who abandons the world in the name of religion. Islam encourages marriage, and the Qur’an lays down a fundamental principle: “Do not even go near adultery” (Surah Al-Isra, 17:32). This teaching protects not only the individual from sin but safeguards the entire society from moral corruption. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “The nations before you were destroyed because they would pardon the powerful and punish the weak” (Bukhari and Muslim). The Epstein scandal is but one glimpse of such a God-forsaken civilization. Indeed, distance from and heedlessness of Allah reduces a human being to an animalistic state. Islam presents a system of life based on justice, modesty, and responsibility, where conscience remains alive and the law is applied equally to all.
Yet, sadly, these distortions have also seeped into our own Muslim societies. We too have begun to interpret freedom as licentiousness and progress as mere material glitter. Our places of worship may be illuminated, but our morals are lost in darkness. The time has come to take Islam beyond slogans, debates, and speeches, and to implement it practically in our individual and collective lives.
The distinction of Islamic civilization lies in the fact that it grants human beings dignity, protection, and a clear purpose of life. It does not turn women into objects of advertisement, but upholds them as symbols of respect, chastity, and honor. Islamic civilization does not sacrifice innocent, flower-like children at the altar of desires; rather, it considers them a sacred trust and the architects of the future. It makes the law not a tool of power, but a means of protecting the oppressed.
The “Epstein Files” are a mirror for the modern world. They show that when a civilization becomes detached from divine guidance, it rots from within despite outward progress. The real question is not how the West will emerge from this crisis; the real question is what role we Muslims will play. Will we remain silent spectators, or will we become a living example for the world through our justice, forbearance, and modesty?
Today, humanity does not only need advanced technology, countless laws, or lofty slogans; it desperately needs a living conscience and an awakened heart. This is the light that Islam offers. If the Muslim Ummah recognises and fulfills this responsibility, this moral funeral of modern civilisation can give way to the dawn of a new morning. Otherwise, history will record that the system of truth and justice existed, but its followers chose to remain silent spectators.
Let us pledge to revive Islamic values in our individual and collective lives, to make our homes centers of faith and justice, and to present the message of Islam to the world through exemplary character. As the Ummah of response, this is our true responsibility, this is the path to salvation, and this alone is the hope for the survival of humanity.
