Why are Some People Indifferent to the Pain of Others?

From the perspective of the Holy Quran, indifference to the pain and suffering of others is not a natural state but rather a spiritual and moral ailment that has deep roots in weakened faith, excessive attachment to worldly life, and the hardening of hearts. The Quran does not delve directly into the psychological aspects of indifference, but it clearly articulates the factors that distance individuals from the path of compassion and empathy, and it offers solutions for returning to one's divine innate disposition. This indifference often results from straying from the fundamental divine and human values that Islam so strongly emphasizes. One of the most significant causes of indifference is the weakening of faith and a diminished connection with the Creator of the universe. When the human heart becomes heedless of God and its relationship with the Origin of existence falters, the flames of compassion and sympathy within it dim. True faith leads an individual to understand that all beings, especially humans, are creations of one Creator, and the suffering of one member of the human community is, in fact, the suffering of the entire body. The Holy Quran calls believers to brotherhood and solidarity, which implies that every individual has a responsibility towards others. If this sense of brotherhood and faith-based connection weakens, indifference takes its place. Many verses in the Quran emphasize the necessity of helping the needy, orphans, and the poor, and failure to observe these commands is a sign of weakened faith. For instance, in Surah Al-Ma'un, those who harshly drive away the orphan and do not encourage feeding the poor are condemned, indicating that indifference towards the needy is a great deficiency from the Quran's viewpoint. Another contributing factor is an excessive love for worldly life (Dunya) and the accumulation of wealth. The Quran warns that wealth and children can be a test, and one should not prefer them over God and His path. When a person becomes engrossed in worldly pleasures and the pursuit of wealth, their sphere of attention becomes limited to their personal interests. They are no longer able to see the pain and suffering of others, or even if they do, they prefer to ignore it to protect their own benefits. Greed casts a veil over one's inner sight, depriving them of understanding the bitter realities of life. In this state, giving and helping others is not only not a priority, but it might even be considered an obstacle to gaining more. This issue can lead to the hardening of the heart (qaswat al-qulub), a state where the human heart becomes harder than stone, and no love or sympathy can penetrate it. Hardening of the heart is indeed one of the primary causes of indifference. The Holy Quran speaks of hard and impenetrable hearts that do not soften even with divine verses. Repeated sins, ignoring divine warnings, and persistence in error gradually make the heart hard and dark. In such a state, an individual not only becomes insensitive to the pain of others but may even derive pleasure from their suffering or exploit it for personal gain. This hardness distances a person from their pure innate disposition and deprives them of the ability to empathize. Verses like "Then your hearts became hardened after that, being like stones or even harder" (Al-Baqarah: 74) and the warning to believers not to let their hearts become hardened like those before them (Al-Hadid: 16) clearly refer to this phenomenon. Selfishness and arrogance also play significant roles in indifference. An arrogant person sees themselves as superior to others and dismisses their suffering as unimportant. They might believe that others' problems are the result of their own actions and that there is no need for their intervention. The Holy Quran strongly condemns arrogance and considers humility a characteristic of true believers. In a faithful community built upon Quranic teachings, all individuals are like parts of a single body, and the pain of one part is the pain of the whole. This bond and sense of mutual responsibility leave no room for selfishness and indifference. In contrast to these factors, the Quran identifies the cure for indifference in strengthening faith, constant remembrance of God, performing good deeds, and repentance and seeking forgiveness. Compassion and empathy are among the most prominent characteristics of a true believer. Spending in charity, helping the needy, caring for orphans and the poor, and assisting the oppressed are acts that the Quran strongly emphasizes. Performing these acts softens the human heart and elevates it to the peak of humanity. These actions not only benefit society but also lead to the spiritual growth and development of the individual. The more one gives in the way of God and helps others, the brighter their heart becomes and the more ready it is to receive divine light, and the sense of empathy within them blossoms. Ultimately, indifference to the pain of others is a sign of straying from the divine path and neglecting human responsibilities, for which the Quran outlines serious otherworldly consequences. Therefore, Islam, by emphasizing social ethics and empathy, calls for a society built on mercy and justice, where no one remains indifferent to the suffering of their fellow human beings.