Economic crisis leads to family and relationship crisis and dragging individuals to a dark life of isolation and deprivation….. whoever disagrees with that haven’t lived the situation or they’re oblivious to the reality of it. After the coronavirus pandemic or plan-demic that turned the world upside down for almost two years , now we are in the phase of a global inflation, the economic situation in every part of the world is drastic.Unfortunately at the moment its not just one country ,but every nation , in every part of the planet is going through a period of hardship. In fact, over social media this debate is a burning topic for many these days, the prices of potatoes and tomatoes from Europe to Afghanistan and farther are talked about, and everyone is worried about the coming days.
It all seems like a satanic plan , that statement is not some conspiracy, but a fact. To begin with ,this generation called millennials and then we have “generation z “are already anti commitment, they crave relationships without the ties of marital contract. Deep inside they fear any human being in their life that threaten their idea of individualism.They see marrige a burden, a prison , a commitment ending their freedom and burying them under serious responsibilities. Woefully, our homes are getting smaller and unaffordable, our kitchen cupboards are full of processed and expensive food, due to our hectic , machine like routines, we just want quick to cook or ready to eat food .We have no time to spare for our families. Our social lives are full of showoff and materialistic comparison and competition.
To add more in this exasperating life style ,the economic stress is adding fuel to the fire , those who are of marriageable age they are scared about the idea of taking care of a family more than ever .When they’re paddling the canoe for their own survival from day to night , for a bed and twice a day meal ,presentable clothes and a mountain of bills. However, that’s not all ,on the other hand those who are already married, they do not want to have kids, they feel they’re not ready. Everything gets worse when one spouse or both cannot handle the pressure at all , with gruelling working hours and dealing with toxic workplace bullying and politics, no one has any positive energy left for the family or their partners.
In the Islamic tradition family and marrige has huge importance , and Prophet Muhammad PBUH warned us about the traps of satan ,as his most favourite task is breaking the families ,It is narrated “Jabir reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, Satan places his throne over the water and he sends out his troops. The closest to him in rank are the greatest at causing tribulations. One of them says: I have done this and this. Satan says: You have done nothing. Another one says: I did not leave this man alone until I separated him from his wife. Satan embraces him and he says: You have done well.” (Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2813)
Undoubtedly family is everything, good or bad families is another debate , as Leo Tolstoy in his novel Anna Karenina wrote “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” According to commentators, Tolstoy meant that for a family to be happy, several key aspects must be given,such as good health of all family members, acceptable financial security, and mutual affection. But in the present times such expectations are becoming a dream , a wishful thinking.
We are on the brink of complete individualism , which is not free of selfishness and synonym to isolation. One might say its just the economy , we cannot deny it will only effect businesses or buying and selling behaviours. Whilst saying that we forget that it’s the individuals who makes the societies, the economics and life. Everything begins from one person and expands to a family and later into a community. We are certainly being played by the satanic governments and individuals enjoying the slumber . It’ll be too late if we do not wake up and fight for our families and happiness.
By Khuş Editor-at-large WEDA