Why are Some People Indifferent to Good?

The question of why some individuals become indifferent to good is a profound and fundamental inquiry, the roots of which can be found in the comprehensive teachings of the Holy Quran. The Quran not only addresses this phenomenon but also clearly elucidates its causes and factors. The concept of 'good' (khair) in the Quran is expansive, encompassing every virtuous act, faith, righteous deeds, helping others, striving for justice, truthfulness, and anything that garners Allah's pleasure. Indifference to these matters, from the Quranic perspective, stems from spiritual and psychological ailments that a person might develop during their life's journey. One of the most significant reasons for this indifference is **excessive attachment to worldly life and forgetfulness of the Hereafter**. The Quran repeatedly warns that the adornments of this world—such as wealth, children, status, and fleeting pleasures—can distract a person from their true purpose of creation and their responsibilities. In Surah Al-Imran, verse 14, Allah beautifully enumerates these attachments, stating that they are merely the provisions of worldly life, and the best return is with Allah. When an individual focuses all their energy and concern on accumulating wealth, gaining power, and satisfying worldly desires, there is no room left for contemplating how to bring good to others, performing sincere acts of worship, or adhering to divine and human rights. This gradual heedlessness causes the reprehensibility of indifference to fade in their eyes, leading them to view good deeds as unimportant or even bothersome. Such individuals become so immersed in the whirlpool of material desires that every call to good and truth goes unheard, and spiritual values become meaningless to them. This situation leads to a kind of spiritual blindness, where a person cannot distinguish good from evil, or even if they can, they lack the motivation to move towards it. A second fundamental factor is the **hardening of hearts (qaswat al-qulub)**. The Noble Quran explicitly describes this phenomenon. In Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 74, after narrating the story of the people of Moses (peace be upon him), Allah states that their hearts hardened thereafter, becoming like rocks or even harder. Hardness of heart is a state where a person's heart becomes incapable of comprehending truths, accepting admonition, or feeling compassion and mercy towards others. This hardness results from repeated sins, persistence in error, neglecting divine signs, and clinging to rebellion. When the heart becomes hard, the light of guidance cannot penetrate it, and the individual becomes insensitive to the pain and suffering of others, or even the consequences of their own wrong actions. A hardened heart is no longer able to perceive spiritual subtleties and the beauty of good, and like a solid rock, it receives no effect from the rain of mercy and guidance. **Following one's whims and desires (hawa al-nafs)** is another significant cause of indifference. The Quran reprimands those who, instead of following divine revelation and sound reason, merely follow their base desires. In Surah Al-Jathiyah, verse 23, Allah speaks of those who have taken their own desires as their god. When a person prioritizes their personal desires above everything else, any action that conflicts with their personal interests and pleasures is set aside, even if that action is good and righteous. This blind adherence to the self casts a veil over a person's insight, preventing them from seeing truths and understanding moral values. The consequence of such adherence is falling into error and indifference to good, because any action deemed unprofitable from the ego's perspective is abandoned. Another factor highlighted by the Quran is **arrogance and pride (kibr)**. In Surah Al-A'raf, verse 146, Allah states that He will turn away from His signs those who behave arrogantly on earth without right. Arrogant individuals, due to their pride and self-importance, see themselves as superior to others and feel no need for guidance or to do good for others. They believe they are self-sufficient and do not require spiritual growth or helping others. This arrogance prevents humility before truth and the acceptance of social and ethical responsibilities, trapping the individual in a snare of selfishness and indifference. Such individuals, even if they see the signs of truth and the path of good, turn away from it, considering its acceptance beneath their dignity. **Satanic whispers (waswasa)** also play a crucial role in fostering indifference. Satan constantly strives to lead people astray from the path of truth and good by beautifying evil deeds and making good deeds seem trivial. He gives false promises and draws people towards sin and heedlessness. Indifference to good is sometimes a result of these whispers, which make good deeds appear difficult and unimportant, leading individuals to pursue fleeting pleasures and sins instead. Satan, by instilling despair and devaluing good works, diverts people from the path of righteousness. Ultimately, **weakness or lack of faith** is the root cause of all these factors. Faith that is not firmly established in the heart cannot be a strong motivation for doing good and abstaining from evil. When faith weakens, worldly attachments grow stronger, the heart becomes prone to hardness, desires rule, and satanic whispers have a greater effect. The Quran consistently emphasizes that salvation and prosperity are contingent upon faith and righteous deeds. Indifference to good is, in essence, a departure from the path of prosperity. The Holy Quran, through various narratives, also illustrates the consequences of indifference, warning that this state can lead to deprivation of divine mercy and ultimate punishment in the Hereafter. Therefore, combating indifference requires self-purification, remembrance of the Hereafter, avoidance of sin, and strengthening faith through worship and reflection upon divine verses. This indifference not only harms the individual but also deprives society of the blessings brought by benevolent individuals.