The Environment of Islam
Islamhasbeenintenselyconcernedwiththeenvironmentsinceitisan
effectiveelementintheeducationalandsocialcomposition.Goodenvir-
onmentssupport thenationwiththe bestandthemostproficientindi-
vidualswhoprogressingreatstepsinthe fieldsofvirtueandreforma-
tion.Inlikefashion,evilenvironmentsbringaboutthevilelicentiousin-
dividuals who distribute their mental defects among people.
Islamhas identifiedthe wholedevicesandpowersof reforming and
evolvingtheenvironmentforachievingjustice,right,andequality,and
eradicating the elements of lag, retardation, injustice, wronging, and
stinginess.It has been alsopurposed forachieving security andsettle-
ment, andeliminating theseditious anddisorderly affairs. The Islamic
environmenthasproducedthose great,excellent,intelligent,andvirtu-
ousreformerswhowerethebestofmankind,alloverhistory,inbeliev-
ing in God, inciting to the right, and exerting efforts for the sake of
justice.
ItisnoticeablyimportanttodiscernthatIslamhasactuallybeencon-
cernedwith theprivateenvironments.Ithasrecognizedthe mostsigni-
ficantaspect of raising the individuals’ reactionsin acquiring customs
and moralities. This aspect is friendship, which is the most powerful
educationalelementthattransferstheindividuals’traitsandtendencies.
Sociologistshaveaffirmedthepointbysaying,“Thesociallifeisthelife
of influenceand perception.Every individualinfluences andperceives
fromthesurroundings.”Thismeaningisalsoassertedthroughproverbs
andliterarysayingsthatprovetheindividuals’beinginfluencedbytheir
friends.
Islamhasemphasizedonassociating thevirtuous,godly,noble,hon-
orable,andstraightindividuals,throughwhomgoodmannersandnoble
traitsareacquired.Imam al-Hassan(a)saysin hiseverlastingwordsof
advice:“Whenyouneedtoassociatewithmen,youshouldchoosethose
whosefriendshipgracesyouandguardsintroubles.Youshouldchoose
thosewhoassistyouinexigencies,andbelieveyourdiscourse,andback
youincharges,andparticipateinvirtues.Itistheywhocoverupyour
flaws,andregardyour favors,andgive whenyouneed,andchatterin
silence,andconsole inmisfortunes,andsavefromtroubles,anddonot
misguide or disappoint in calamities, and prefer in litigation”.
By those golden words, the Imam has assigned the Islamic duties of
friendshipthatobligatemutualsupervision,amiability,andcooperation