1. Freedom Without Boundaries
True freedom is submission to Allah. When religion is dismissed, “freedom” becomes doing whatever the self desires, leading not to liberation but enslavement of the nafs.
Desires are never satisfied; they only demand more, trapping a person in cycles of consumption, comparison, and dissatisfaction. Instead of being free, the person becomes bound by cravings, addictions, and fears of losing what they cling to.
Allah says: “Have you seen the one who takes his own desire as his god?” [Qur’an 45:23].
2. Endless Pursuit of Pleasure
Without faith, the purpose of life is reduced to entertainment, wealth, and bodily pleasure. This chase never ends, leaving hearts empty.
Allah says: “But you prefer the worldly life, while the Hereafter is better and more lasting.” [Qur’an 87:16–17].
3. Breakdown of Modesty
Modesty (ḥayā’) is treated as backwardness.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Modesty is part of faith.” [Sahih Muslim, 36].
Once stripped away, shamelessness is glorified and sold as empowerment.
The human body is turned into a product for profit, advertisement, and lust, devaluing dignity.
4. Family Erosion
Marriage and parenthood are postponed or abandoned for fleeting desires.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “O young men, whoever among you can afford marriage, let him marry, for it restrains the eyes and protects the private parts.” [Sahih al-Bukhārī, 5066].
5. Loneliness Despite “Freedom”
Individualism is celebrated, but it breeds isolation.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The believer to the believer is like a building, each part strengthening the other.” [Sahih al-Bukhārī, 481; Sahih Muslim, 2585].
6. Addiction to Entertainment
Pleasure industries dominate lives. What was once occasional leisure has, for many, become a central focus that shapes habits, schedules, and even identities. The global “pleasure industries”—streaming, gaming, social media, music, sports, and endless forms of digital amusement—are carefully designed to capture attention and keep people hooked.
Allah describes such people: “But they amuse themselves with play and diversion, and the worldly life deludes them.” [Qur’an 6:32].
7. Debt-Driven Consumerism
Freedom becomes the pressure to buy, own, and upgrade, trapping people in endless debt.
The Prophet ﷺ used to seek refuge, saying: “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from sin and heavy debt.” [Sahih al-Bukhārī, 832].
8. Normalization of Immorality
What was once shameful becomes law, curriculum, and entertainment.
Allah warns: “Indeed, those who love to see indecency spread among the believers will suffer a painful punishment in this life and the Hereafter. Allah knows and you do not know.” [Qur’an 24:19].
9. Constant Comparison
Constant comparison has become one of the deepest wounds of modern society. In a world where faith and higher values are set aside, the human heart seeks meaning in what others have and display. Social media intensifies this: carefully curated images of beauty, wealth, success, and pleasure are broadcast endlessly, creating a false standard of life that few—if any—truly live.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Do not look to those above you; look to those below you, for it is more suitable so you do not belittle Allah’s favors upon you.” [Sahih Muslim, 2963].
10. Rise of Mental Illness
The rise of mental illness in modern times is not only a medical or psychological issue—it reflects the spiritual and social state of society. As faith is sidelined and materialism becomes the measure of life, people are left with endless wants but little inner peace. The human heart was created to remember and worship Allah; when cut off from that purpose, it becomes restless, anxious, and vulnerable.
Allah says: “And whoever turns away from My remembrance—indeed, he will have a depressed life.” [Qur’an 20:124].
11. Glorification of Selfishness
Individualism turns into neglect of family, community, and worship.
Yet the Prophet ﷺ said: “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” [Sahih al-Bukhārī, 13; Sahih Muslim, 45].
12. Broken Generations
Children grow in fractured homes where desires replace responsibility.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Every one of you is a shepherd, and every one of you will be asked about his flock.” [Sahih al-Bukhārī, 893; Sahih Muslim, 1829].
13. Pride in Sin
Sin is flaunted publicly under the banner of rights. In earlier times, even when people fell into sin, they felt shame and sought to hide it. Today, however, sin is not only normalized but often flaunted publicly, defended as a “right,” and even celebrated. This shift reflects a society where religion is abandoned and desires are made into gods.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “All of my ummah will be forgiven except those who commit sins openly.” [Sahih al-Bukhārī, 6069; Sahih Muslim, 2990].
14. Worship of Wealth
Money defines worth and identity.
Allah warns: “Competition in [worldly] increase diverts you, until you end up in ˹your˺ graves.” [Qur’an 102:1–2].
Conclusion: True Freedom Only in Islam
Submission to Allah liberates from every other master.
Every person is bound to something—desires, wealth, status, people’s opinions, or societal systems.
These attachments dictate behavior, often without the person realizing they are enslaved.
Islam breaks these chains by redirecting servitude to the One who alone deserves it: Allah ﷻ.
When a person submits to Allah, they are no longer at the mercy of their nafs (ego), which constantly demands more but is never satisfied.
They are no longer enslaved to social trends, consumerism, or the pursuit of fleeting pleasures.
Instead, they live with clarity of purpose, inner strength, and dignity that cannot be taken away by others.
This is why the Prophet ﷺ said: “The truly rich person is not the one who has abundance of wealth, but the one who has self-contentment.” [Sahih al-Bukhari, 6446 | Sahih Muslim, 1051]
In societies that dismiss religion, “freedom” is reduced to doing whatever one desires. But this path leads not to liberation, but to captivity—captivity to addictions, comparison, materialism, and sin.
The so-called free person becomes trapped in cycles of craving and emptiness, always chasing happiness but never finding it.
Islam teaches that true freedom is the ability to rise above these illusions and anchor the heart in obedience to Allah.
