SHAFAQNA- Alkafeel: The Supreme Religious Authority stated that Iraq is known to be a country of culture, literature, thought and mature minds, and our responsibility is to protect it from hybrid cultures that have surfaced it because of neglect of the family, teacher and friend. And none of us would like that this country gets this culture of swearing, insulting and impurity.
These were the important points stated in the second sermon of Friday prayer of 24th Shawwal 1440 AH, corresponding to June 28, 2019, which was held in the holy shrine of Imam al-Hussayn (peace be upon him) and led by his eminence Sayed Ahmad al-Safi, in which he stated:
Dear brothers and sisters, we will be talking today about what type of education and culture young people receive and its impact on the society.
As-Safi said the educational culture is one of the most important cultures, and reading books is one of the constituents of culture as well as teachers and fathers, noting that nations, culturally different, take pride in their cultures, and each nation has a significant cultural trait.
He added that each person is keen on taking advantage of their time to achieve their goals, noting that a person’s interests and goals take a longer time than a human’s lifespan to be achieved, and one must work towards their priorities to achieve them and to decrease their excessive interests one might not be able to fulfill.
As-Safi indicated that people, at an early age, begin to explore another world, and if they find the right person to guide them, they will choose the right way in life, but if they don’t find the right person, they will flounder until they learn the proper way of life themselves or continue floundering.
He also said people nowadays are facing a preadolescent issue, which is that their children are absorbed in using modern technologies (smart devices such as phones and tablets), which will influence them. In addition, he said when a device is taken from a child, that child will cry and the family will let them use it again in order to calm them down.
When a child – absorbed in using technologies – grows up, As-Safi noted, they will develop a hybrid culture, because they are going to be influenced by the social media.
He mentioned another issue some people raise on social media, that is, some people underestimate or talk negatively about a group of people, adding that some of those who curse others think no-one knows who they are – they, therefore, feel free to insult others, and other people return the insult; this spreads the vice of profanity among people.
As-Safi pointed out that modern technologies are useful, if they’re used appropriately, especially people nowadays have no time to read books like before, by gaining good knowledge from informative websites.
He stressed the importance of utilizing time management, which requires an educator or mentor to help less experienced people learn how to take advantage of their time. He added that social media takes so much of people’s time and renders them inactive, noting that some employees attend their jobs while they’re sleepless due to using social media, noting that God has made night for rest.
As-Safi concluded, saying, “Iraq represents a great culture, intellect and enjoys intelligent, creative people, and the time-wasting culture is hybrid, unrelated to Iraq’s culture,” warning against the young people’s downfall due to this phenomenon, which is also a result of the parents’, teacher’s, and friend’s neglect.
We ask the Almighty to help us be among the people of Mercy and Compassion. And, the latest of our prayers is; praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and Prayers and Allah’s Peace be upon Mohammad and his pure and virtuous lineage.