By Prof Masood Akhtar Hazarvi
My dear son, This letter is the voice of a pain that I see spread all around me every morning. Faces wear smiles, yet a deep emptiness has taken residence in the eyes. Every hand holds a glowing screen, but within the heart lives an unknown fear. I do not wish merely to explain things to you; rather, I want to descend with you into the depths of this age, so that together we may understand whether this glittering world is true light or merely an optical illusion.
My dear son, our civilization today stands at a delicate threshold. We have acquired the ability to transmit news across oceans in moments, yet we have lost the capacity to understand our own inner restlessness. The internet has made access to information easy, but it has prevented knowledge from turning into lived experience. Mobile phones have given us the power to stay connected every moment, yet unfortunately through them we have drifted away from those closest to us. Laughter is now confined to superficial chat smiles, grief has been reduced to emojis, and human existence has shrunk into a handful of pictures. This is an age where relationships are formed online, but hearts remain offline.
My son, you may not fully realize it, but this transformation has changed the atmosphere of our homes. The houses where conversation, shared laughter, and the light of parents’ experience once prevailed are now illuminated by silent screens. The mother is busy in WhatsApp groups, the father lost in news analyses, the son absorbed in games, and the daughter counting likes and followers. Four people live in one house, yet their worlds are scattered in four different directions. What a strange new torment it is—to live close together while distances in hearts continue to grow.
This digital world has plunged us into a deep psychological divide. People can no longer tolerate waiting. They want instant replies, instant appreciation, instant happiness. But the most beautiful experiences of life are always formed slowly. Anything acquired in haste is superficial, and whatever is superficial does not endure.
My dear son, another dangerous trend of this era is what I call the “artificial light of images.” Everyone presents their life as a celebration—pictures of travel, attractive food, smiling faces. Yet this glitter often serves to hide inner darkness. Behind these charming images lie countless withered emotions, silent restlessness, and hearts writhing in the pain of loneliness. But we fail to see these realities.
Moral decline is the most tragic aspect of this entire scene. Matters once kept behind the veil of modesty have now become topics of public discussion. Secrets once buried in the chest are now exposed to the entire world with a few clicks. Standards of modesty and restraint have changed. Human private life has become a public spectacle, and we have named this spectacle “freedom.”
We possess millions of books, thousands of lectures, and countless courses, yet instead of knowledge we now have content. The breadth of information has increased, but depth has vanished. This is precisely where modernity has defeated spirituality.
My dear son, I want to give you a direction in the form of a few principles of life, so that you may remain safe in this storm:
Give precedence to reality over illusion. The world on the screen can be deceptive; therefore, learn to see with your own eyes, feel with your heart, and speak the truth with your tongue.
Prefer quality over quantity. See less, but see well. Instead of trivial entertainment, build a relationship with intellectual, scholarly, or spiritual content.
Strive for depth. Rather than shallow knowledge of everything, seek profound understanding in a few areas.
Prefer creation over consumption. Instead of merely watching what others have made, create something yourself—write, think, build.
Embrace solitude. Every day, set aside some moments just for yourself and your Lord.
Return to nature. Step out of artificial lights and reconnect with trees, birds, clouds, wind, and rain. This connection keeps the soul alive.
The desire for instant results weakens a person. Patience not only grants strength but also nurtures sincerity.
My son, remember: every invention is a double-edged sword. Fire gave light but also burned; electricity provided power but brought the possibility of destruction; vehicles made travel easy but increased accidents. The internet spread knowledge but also spread temptation and chaos. The real decision lies not in the tool, but in intention and usage.
The greatest test facing today’s younger generation is to maintain balance between two parallel worlds: one that shines on the screen, and one that breathes behind it. Recognize both and keep each within its limits. Do not drift with the storm; learn the skill of choosing your direction. Your faith is your protector, your intellect your guide, your character your asset, and the purpose of your life is the pleasure of your Lord. If these are with you, no storm can drown you.
My son, I pray that Allah Almighty protects you from the pitfalls of this age. May He grant your mind wisdom, your gaze modesty, your heart peace, and your hands the strength to do good. Wherever you are, be an ambassador of goodness.
My son, remember that these tools of scientific advancement are your servants, not your masters. This world is a vast field of trial for you and for all of us; our true home is the one where there will be no internet and no screens—only our deeds, our intentions, and our Lord. There, light will rise from our character.
May Allah Almighty protect us from being lost in the glitter of this world while neglecting the Hereafter, keep us firm upon guidance, and make our tongues truthful, our hearts faithful, and our hands a means of goodness.
Ameen, then Ameen, O Lord of all the worlds.
