– Nuvera Ali
Haldwani, Uttarakhand
A nation’s advancement is apparent when society’s citizens prioritise both economic stability and moral integrity. As the youth represent the future and backbone of India, the development of strong civic sense becomes increasingly important for the upliftment of the country. The youth in this country play a dominant role across multiple spheres of society, including education, employment, and the digital ecosystem. It is supposed to be the collective behaviour and responsibility of each and every individual.
Civic sense is not limited to following laws, it is defined by the values, actions, and a sense of responsibility that young people demonstrate in society. Without civic responsibility, meaningful progress cannot be attained, and any advancement that occurs remains weak and vulnerable. The Qur’an and Sunnah consistently address the strengths and weaknesses of society and provide appropriate guidance to deal with them.
What does Civic Sense Actually Mean?
“Civic sense basically means being a responsible and considerate citizen.”
Civic sense should not exist merely out of fear or punishment, it should put forward naturally by respecting the public space, understanding the time and loss and being considerate towards others. It is about acting as a responsible citizen and respecting the public places even when nobody is watching. This is the foundation of a healthy and the growing society.
In today’s time civic sense is often looked as an option but it should be seen as an essential and a significant part of our lives even at our own homes and as we step outside. Islamic teachings always prioritised respect for others with human dignity regardless of religion or any background. There are multiple teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the two I would like to highlight:
- “A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hands others are safe” (Sahih Bukhari)
- “Cleanliness is half of faith” (Sahih Muslim)
It simply shows how Islamic teachings emphasises consideration and humility towards others and keeping public spaces clean with proper waste disposal. It also includes public hygiene that affects all over community health.
Empowered Youth Yet Uninterested
This statement says a lot about knowledge wisdom and behaviour. Youth in this country are quite more knowledgeable, digitally involved and internationally exposed than any other previous generations.
Yet the wisdom and empowerment is not directed towards responsibility and implementation that eventually turns into civic sense. Road traffic, casual littering, cyber abuse and unethical behaviour towards public institutions shows the huge gap between knowledge and behaviour.
Today’s youth is so quick and eager to criticise without introspecting their own behaviour. They see public spaces as a government responsibility when it’s our own actions that reflect are personalities with in the Indian society.
The Qur’an says that every person is accountable to God by what they do in this world reflecting that social reforms starts with self-introspection and discipline not an external force. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ demonstrated civic responsibility in the Charter of Madinah, addressed the rights for Muslims and non-Muslims and encouraged community corporation. He clearly demonstrated Freedom of religion, Equality before law, Protection of life and property, Mutual defence and security, Social and political rights and No collective punishment. The Charter of Madinah is considered one of the earliest written constitutions in history and a landmark document for peaceful coexistence.
Public Space as a Mirror of Society
Public infrastructure, such as roads, parks, public transport, hospitals, and schools, is a shared public asset. Damage to this infrastructure disproportionately affects the poor and underprivileged, particularly those who live and sleep on footpaths. It shows the lack of responsibility and empathy towards others.
The concept of Amanah (trust) in Islamic ethics from the Qur’an emphasises trust as a significant responsibility placed upon human beings. Public places are a shared trust that must be protected and preserved. Misusing the resources directly contradicts this principle of stewardship and care for the common good.
Lessons from the Sunnah which Directly Relates to Civic Sense
The Seerah of the Prophet ﷺ reveals the greatest lessons in civic behaviour. He clearly emphasised cleanliness, kindness and public good with social welfare, empathy and societal bonds long before the contemporary civic framework. One of the things that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ highlights is removing harmful objects from the pathways as it is an act of charity. This idea directly relates with modern civic responsibility. Respecting neighbours, avoiding harm, maintaining cleanliness, and showing patience in public dealings were main teachings of the Prophet’s life.
Although these teachings were rooted in religious traditions but they are universally accepted, relevant and clearly applicable in today’s urban and digital environment.
Civic Sense in Pluralistic Society
India is known to be the only nation with diverse cultures and religions. This idea clearly expects to be the ideal society with heightened civic maturity. In a democratic environment, disagreements, political, cultural or religious issues are natural; however, the reactions and disagreements determine societal stability.
The Qur’an promotes respectful coexistence long before the Prophetic period. The fact that the Prophet ﷺ lived in a pluralistic society with people belonging to different tribes and following polytheism, still he was known as Al Amin (the trustworthy) and Al Sadiq (the honest) by the non-Muslims even before his claim to Prophethood. It encourages mutual understanding rather than hostility. Responsible speech, tolerance and restrain from harm are important civic rules that prevent division and promote harmony in a pluralistic society.
Youth Power: the Shift from Criticism to Contribution
Blaming public institutions without changing personal behaviour leads to fragile and stagnant society. Indian youth needs to be the contributors before criticising the government and public laws, this idea and change should be from within. Through self-discipline and believing and working on the statement “Be the change you want to see in the world” by Mahatma Gandhi.
Islam over 1400 years ago already addressed peace whether it is maintaining cleanliness following laws or treating others with dignity for the fact that one should be consistent in doing collective good even if it is small to transform the society.
Character Before Construction
The strength of the Indian society is engraved within strong values. India’s future does not only depend on technological and economic advancement but it also depends on the character of its citizens. India’s greatest strength lies in youth which can also become its greatest weakness when civic sense is ignored. Public infrastructure which includes roads, classrooms, digital platforms reflects not just governance but the reality of those who use them on daily bases. The ethical and moral principles echoed in slamic teachings like accountability and Amanah which includes trust and caring for others or having empathy revealed the timeless guidance for civic sense. If the youth chooses responsibility and consciousness over convenience and comfort, India’s progress will be listed not only in numbers or mathematical ways but in dignity, order and social welfare with mutual respect.
