Prof Masood Akhtar Hazarvi
A serious study of history demonstrates that the decline of any civilization never occurs abruptly; rather, it begins with internal decay. When power becomes a means of domination instead of service, when wealth transforms from a trust into an instrument of plunder, and when desires break through moral boundaries and run unchecked, fissures emerge within society that ultimately shatter the entire social order.
A contemporary manifestation of this moral deterioration can be seen in what are commonly known as the Epstein files. These materials do not merely expose the crimes of a single individual; they reveal an interconnected network of wealth, political influence, and sexual exploitation that collectively undermined human dignity. The disclosures related to Jeffrey Epstein sent shockwaves not only across the United States and Britain but also through Europe’s political, diplomatic, and royal institutions. The repeated mention of high-profile figures—including Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Bill Gates, and Prince Andrew—suggested that the matter extended beyond individual misconduct, pointing instead to a broader culture of privilege and mutual protection among segments of the elite. Institutions that publicly champion human rights were, according to the allegations, implicated in shielding powerful individuals accused of exploiting vulnerable and underage girls.
Throughout human history, lust and envy have functioned as destabilizing forces. From the first recorded murder to the devastation of modern warfare, these impulses have propelled humanity toward oppression, injustice, and exploitation. The Qur’anic account of Cain and Abel illustrates how envy culminated in the first act of bloodshed. Likewise, the conspiracy of Prophet Joseph’s brothers, the tyranny of Pharaoh, and the greed of Qarun demonstrate how unchecked desire and jealousy erode moral restraint and strip individuals of their humanity.
Modern history reflects the same structural pattern. Colonial empires were constructed upon greed for resources and geopolitical dominance, devastating Asia, Africa, and Latin America while dismantling indigenous cultures and economies. The First and Second World Wars were not solely ideological confrontations; they were also struggles over markets, territory, and political supremacy. In economic systems where material profit is prioritized over ethical constraints, widening inequality, financial crises, and social unrest have followed. The decline of the Roman Empire, the Ming Dynasty, the Mughal Empire, and the Republic of Venice all began with moral corruption, indulgence, public distrust, and institutional fragility.
The Epstein files represent a contemporary iteration of this recurring historical trajectory. Beyond sexual exploitation, they reveal abuse of authority, attempts to evade accountability through influence, suppression of evidence, and manipulation of institutional mechanisms. When legal systems appear lenient toward the powerful and severe toward the weak, justice collapses, institutional legitimacy erodes, and society descends into cynicism.
Envy further corrodes social cohesion. In politics, it manifests as the relentless drive to discredit opponents at any cost; in academia, as the obsessive pursuit of prestige and status. Social media has amplified these tendencies, normalizing character assassination, rumor proliferation, and personal attacks. Psychological research consistently indicates that persistent social comparison intensifies envy, fostering dissatisfaction, resentment, and aggression.
The remedy begins with individual moral reform. Without internal accountability, external regulation remains insufficient. In moral philosophy, this corresponds to virtue ethics—the formation of character as the foundation of ethical life. Psychology similarly confirms that greed and envy degrade mental well-being, encouraging selfishness, relational breakdown, and emotional instability.
Islamic teachings offer a structured and integrated framework for addressing these tendencies. The Qur’an outlines the spiritual evolution of the human self through the stages of the commanding soul (nafs al-ammārah), the self-reproaching soul (nafs al-lawwāmah), and the tranquil soul (nafs al-muṭmaʾinnah). Fasting disciplines desire; zakāt mitigates greed; pilgrimage cultivates equality, unity, and accountability; and prayer reinforces consciousness of ultimate responsibility before a higher authority. Islam encourages constructive competition in good deeds rather than destructive envy—urging individuals to strive without harboring resentment.
At the level of governance, Islam emphasizes equality before the law. During the era of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, rulers did not consider themselves exempt from accountability. The decision of Umar ibn al-Khattab to apply legal punishment even to his own son, and his judgment in favor of a Coptic youth against a governor’s son, exemplify principled justice. Similarly, Ali ibn Abi Talib appeared before Judge Shurayh in a legal dispute with a Jewish citizen, demonstrated meticulous care regarding public funds, and upheld justice even when it concerned his adversaries. These precedents affirm that justice is anchored in principles rather than personalities.
If contemporary societies were to implement transparent, impartial, and non-discriminatory accountability, networks such as those exposed in the Epstein files would find little space to flourish. In an era where information circulates instantaneously, moral crises expand with equal speed. Ethical and religious values must therefore be recognized not merely as private beliefs but as structural foundations of collective life.
Financial and sexual greed are silent volcanoes within the human soul, capable of hollowing out individuals and civilizations alike. The Epstein files have illuminated a troubling dimension of modern society—where power and unchecked desire converge to undermine human dignity. Preventing further fragmentation of humanity requires spiritual purification at the individual level, justice at the societal level, and impartial accountability at the state level. Islam is not a collection of ceremonial injunctions; it is a comprehensive moral framework oriented toward justice, moral refinement, and mutual respect as the basis of a healthy civilization.
As Muhammad Iqbal wrote:
تُو رازِ کُن فکاں ہے، اپنی آنکھوں پر عیاں ہو جا
خودی کا راز داں ہو جا، خدا کا ترجماں ہو جا
ہوس نے کر دیا ہے ٹکڑے ٹکڑے نوعِ انساں کو
اُخُوّت کا بیاں ہو جا، محبّت کی زباں ہو جا
غبار آلودۂ رنگ و نسب ہیں بال و پر تیرے
تُو اے مُرغِ حرم! اُڑنے سے پہلے پَرفشاں ہو جا
You are the secret of “Be, and it is”—manifest yourself before your own eyes.
Become the knower of your inner self; become the interpreter of God’s will.
Lust has torn humanity into fragments—
Become the voice of brotherhood, the language of love.
Your wings are stained with the dust of race and color—
O bird of the sanctuary, cleanse yourself before you take flight.
