Human Civilizations

The history of mankind makes tragic reading. Down through the ages we come across a series of sequences of the rise, growth, decline and fall not only of nations but even of their civilizations and cultures. No doubt man has all along shown a remarkable constructive genius, having attained many an awe-inspiring success, now and then, despite occasional set backs and natural catastrophes. But his constructive genius was always undermined by some inherent weakness underlying his ideals or his way of life which ultimately brought about a disastrous end to his efforts. Nevertheless, there have been some notable exceptions in the series of sequences when the idea of the universal welfare of mankind took practical shape but the main characteristic of the type of the society in all those civilizations, however there is always remained one of frustration.

The same dismal spectacle is repeated age after age. We see a people incessantly striving towards the creation of a great civilization, which became the focus of their desires and ambitions, hopes and aspirations. They looked upon their success as the apogee of human endeavor. This civilization they hoped would finally liberate mankind from the clutches of tyranny and slave dom and usher in an era of eternal peace, security and contentment. They remained lost in the illusion of having built up an unparalleled civilization whose growth was always a source of pride and happiness for them. Every step they took for its progress kindled a new ray of hope in their hearts for ultimately attaining human welfare and advancement. But the process never reached the desired culmination and the main objective ever remained a mirage. Long before the goal was reached, invariably an anti-climax set in and man himself became instrumental in pulling down the imposing edifice that he had risen through the ages which are shattering all his hopes, ideals and aspirations.

History is replete with such stories of the rise and growth and the ultimate decline and fall of several human civilizations. Ancient Babylon, Egypt, Greece, Iran, Rome, India and even some parts of the New World are now graveyards of glorious old civilizations. These stand as living testimony to the story of man's tragic failures. They induce a thoughtful mood in sensitive spectators and caution them to pause for a while and reflect over this warning of the Quran :

Remember! Be not like the old woman who labored hard to spin her yarn and then shred it to pieces (16: 92)

On the other hand, let us ponder over the state of the contemporary world in which the leading role is played by the nations of the West. The splendor and brilliance of that civilization is indeed dazzling. No doubt this civilization prosperous and powerful as it claims to be enabled man to harness some of the most formidable forces of nature. The astounding progress of communication by land, sea and air has brought distant places into close contact. Never before in his long and chequered history, men were never enjoyed such power over the universe and the mighty forces of nature as he does today. This fantastic phase of human civilization is hardly a century old but unfortunately as in the past the portents of its collapse and ruin are already in evidence, as Mason says; “We began our era of scientific efficiency confident that materialistic triumphs would solve life's problems. We have found that we were wrong. Life is not as simple as that. Every thinking man is oppressed by the fear that this civilization which has already been shaken to its very foundations by two global wars will not survive a third shock. Not only will the whole edifice collapse but it will also crush the whole of mankind under it, may be totally out of existence.