Islam's Response to Contemporary Issues — Page 85
Social Peace 85 lopsided in its pursuit of pleasure. Hence, any behaviour, howsoever innocent as it may appear in the beginning, which is likely to lead towards unrestrained permissiveness in the society, is discouraged. The damage done to society is immense and manifold. Such societies are bound to end up in the state of promiscuousness we find in the world today. In such societies, the unrestricted tendency to pursue pleasure leads, among other things, to the erosion and ultimate destruction of family ties. Contrary to this, Islam cherishes and zealously guards all fatherly, motherly, brotherly, sisterly and filial relationships. Islam wants to promote friendships, which are more platonic than sensual. Chastity Beginning with a plan for women in society, it is essential, according to Islam, to take all such measures to promote chastity, fidelity, and restraint and clean living. An emphasis on chaste living, well insulated against the dangers of a short-circuiting of sexual urges is an important feature of Islamic society. This aspect of Islamic social teachings is extremely important for the protection and survival of the family system. This is the dire need of the hour. Islam seeks to widen the unit of family rather than to squeeze it to a bare minimum: a family in which the human capacity to love and the desire to be loved is satiated not by the mere fulfilling of sexual urges, but by more sophisticated and refined friendship and association such as naturally prevails between close and distant blood relations. It is surprising how the wise men of modern society fail to notice human weakness once sex-related pleasures are permitted to play an