IN A recent international seminar on “Value-Based Total Performance” organised by Ikim, Sirim Berhad and Ad-Macs Corp Consultants (M) Sdn Bhd, everybody agreed there was a positive correlation between practising values and performance. In fact, there were real cases that proved this.
Values, which can be defined as ideals or principles accepted by a given society, have to be based on religious or ideological beliefs.
By relating values to their belief system, it will be much easier for individuals to practise values.
Values can become universally recognised and accepted when they are in line with human nature.
Islam, being a revealed religion, is very much in tandem with human requirements and thus, its values are universal and eternal in nature.
Even in this modern society,one should not assume the nature of man has changed.
His urges and needs are the same.
Similarly with the kind of problems that he encounters, the passions and pleasures, the hatred and jealousies,
are in most cases similar to those in the past.
It is with this in view that Islam insists that individuals learn from the past by not repeating the mistakes of their
predecessors.
Man should thus understand himself from Divine perspective in order to succeed in all spectra of his activities.
The Islamic worldview, principles and values are very dynamic and relevant towards creating a quality individual and productive society.
Islam believes an individual devoid of values will be groping in the dark.
This can create confusion in his life.
The usefulness of values is to overcome the feeling of nomie – disillusionment, isolation and hopelessness – a
mental disease common in modern secular society.
To Islam, the practice of values such as truthfulness, righteousness, justice, brotherhood, tolerance and productivity in the society is very essential.
Islam believes that man has to be developed in all his dimensions.
His spiritual aspect, worldviews, attitude, character, intellect and life skills require proper coaching and training.
In this process, the inculcation of Islamic values is definitely of prime importance.
Islamic values can best be inculcated and adopted once man has comprehensive knowledge about Islam.
Proper understanding can lead to genuine commitment and confidence in man of the relevance and dynamism of Islamic values.
Allah says: Those who know and those who don’t, will they ever be equal?” (Qur’an 39:9).
Secularisation began among Muslims when they failed to comprehend Islam in its totality.
This confusion led to the failure to see the relevance and dynamism of Islamic values as the winning formula in leading a successful life in this competitive era.
Besides having proper knowledge and understanding, man needs to foster a close relationship with the Almighty Creator, Allah.
This will enhance his spiritual strength. Man cannot properly develop his character and personality without having a relationship with Allah.
The rupturing of that relationship results in disaster for man. Past civilisations have proven this and contemporary events would likewise testify to this truth.
Islam believes that the spiritualisation of man is to realise the development of character that is purposeful, courageous, just and benevolent.
Man needs to perform obligatory rituals and also if possible to improve the practice of commendable rituals to be closer to Allah.
By becoming spiritually developed, man can practise values easily in his daily life.
The role played by social culture which creates a conducive environment for man to practise values is another important factor.
Being a social being, man cannot operate in isolation. It is human nature that man needs society to develop and prosper.
This means that man needs an organised and just society where he can perfect his nature.
Abu Ali Miskawayh (died 421AH), a prominent Muslim philosopher and historian, believed man could improve in piety only through mixing with people and sharing their sorrows and pleasures.
Virtuous qualities can be developed collectively and by living in co-operation with others.
Thus, man cannot attain the perfection of practising good values unless many people come together co-operatively to help one another to enhance good behaviour.
The quality of a society’s leadership can also have great influence on the practice of Islamic values. The best approach to inculcate is through leadership by example. Leaders are the best models to emulate.
Everybody looks upon his leaders for examples. Being the leader for humanity, Prophet Muhammad is always the model for Muslims to emulate.
By having a clear and perfect model, Muslims should be less confused as to how they should behave.
The confused mind of the present secular society is caused largely by the absence of a model that people can follow.
Every single individual who has public appeal becomes a model for society. This model will keep on changing from time to time and from one place to another.
In our present approach to adopt Islamic values in our lives we must not be overzealous and rigid. We must understand the social realities, be practical and optimistic of the evolutionary process for success. The Islam of the past was not built in a day. It took 23 years for the Prophet to realise a solid Muslim society.