The Urgency of Organized Goodness: A Call to Counteract the Rise of Evil

By V.A. Mohamad Ashrof, New Age Islam 6 March 2025 Humanity Has Long Been Torn Between Two Extremes, Characterized By A Dual Nature: The Capacity For Profound Goodness And The Potential For Destructive Evil. While Individuals And Communities Often Strive For Peace And Justice, The Modern World Is Increasingly Marred By Conflict, Hatred, And Division ---- Despite humanity’s intrinsic inclination toward goodness, the world is witnessing an alarming rise in unrest, hatred, and violence. This article explores the Quranic perspective on the necessity of organized goodness to counteract the rise of evil. Drawing on Quranic principles, global statistics, and sociological insights, it argues that the fragmentation of peace advocates and the lack of coordinated efforts have allowed evil forces to thrive. This article further proposes a comprehensive framework for uniting the righteous, leveraging technology, promoting education, and strengthening global institutions to restore balance and justice in an increasingly polarized world. Humanity has long been torn between two extremes, characterized by a dual nature: the capacity for profound goodness and the potential for destructive evil. While individuals and communities often strive for peace and justice, the modern world is increasingly marred by conflict, hatred, and division. Like a beacon of hope, the Quran, as a divine guide for humanity, emphasizes the importance of unity and collective action in the face of evil. It calls upon the righteous to stand shoulder to shoulder, cooperate in righteousness, and resist oppression. However, the current global landscape reveals a glaring imbalance: while those who propagate violence and hate operate in well-oiled machines, those who advocate for peace and justice remain fragmented and scattered like autumn leaves. This paper examines the urgency of organized goodness from a Quranic perspective, supported by empirical evidence and critical insights, and proposes battle-tested strategies to counteract the rise of evil. The Quranic Call for Co-operation Against Evil In a world often shrouded in the shadows of darkness and injustice, the Quran stands as a luminous beacon of hope, calling upon the righteous to unite against evil. Like a clarion call that reverberates through the ages, this message echoes throughout the Quran, emphasizing the urgent and indispensable need for collective action and unity among believers. Two key verses shine like guiding stars, illuminating this principle and casting a brilliant spotlight on the necessity of unity in the face of adversity. The first verse, "As for those who disbelieve, they are allies of one another. If you do not act in this way [i.e., support one another], there will be turmoil on earth and great corruption" (Quran 8:73), drives the point home like a hammer striking an anvil, underscoring the importance of solidarity among believers. It leaves no room for doubt that unity is not merely a desirable trait but a lifeblood necessity in the face of evil. By pooling their strength, skills, and efforts like a mighty river converging into an ocean, believers can form a united front against wrongdoing, combating evil and upholding justice. This collective effort is not limited to individual actions but rather snowballs into a powerful movement, gathering momentum and energy as more people join forces, much like a single spark igniting a roaring flame. The second verse, "Cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression." (Quran 5:2), draws a clear line in the sand, distinguishing between virtuous collaboration and complicity in wrongdoing. This directive serves as a moral compass, guiding individuals and communities to navigate complex situations and make choices that align with their values, like a lighthouse steering ships away from treacherous shores. By standing together for the greater good, believers can create a ripple effect that spreads like waves across a tranquil pond, inspiring positive change and promoting justice. This collective effort is not limited to individual communities but rather transcends borders and boundaries, uniting people across cultures and nations in a shared quest for righteousness, like threads woven into a tapestry of hope and harmony. These Quranic principles provide a timeless blueprint, as enduring as the mountains, for addressing contemporary challenges. They remind us that the fight against evil is not an individual endeavour but a shared burden, like a caravan of travellers supporting one another through a treacherous desert. By recognizing the importance of collective action and unity, we can harness our collective strength, forming a formidable force against evil and injustice, as unyielding as a fortress. As we navigate the turbulent waters of our modern world, the Quran's call for unity against evil serves as a beacon of hope, guiding us toward a brighter future. By embracing this call, we can create a tidal wave of positive change, inspiring a world where justice, compassion, and righteousness reign supreme, like the dawn breaking after the darkest night. The Global Rise of Evil: Key Statistics and Evidence The urgency of organized goodness is underscored by the alarming rise in global unrest, violence, and polarization, which are spreading like wildfire across the world. The following statistics and evidence highlight the scale of the problem, painting a stark and unsettling picture of our current reality: Global Conflict and Violence • The 2024 Global Peace Index reports that global peace has declined for the 13th time in 15 years, a troubling trend that shows no signs of abating. Like a ship caught in a relentless storm, the world is struggling to steer toward calmer waters. (1) • The Uppsala Conflict Data Program notes a 50% increase in state-based conflicts since 2010, largely fuelled by non-state actors and extremist groups. These conflicts are like embers in a dry forest, igniting chaos and destruction wherever they spread. (2) Hate Speech and Polarization • A 2024 UNESCO report found a 500% surge in online hate speech, particularly on social media platforms. This toxic tide of vitriol is poisoning public discourse, turning the digital world into a battleground of words. (3) • The Edelman Trust Barometer 2023 reveals that 65% of respondents believe people are "incapable of having constructive debates," indicating extreme societal polarization. It’s as if society has built walls instead of bridges, leaving little room for understanding or compromise. (4) Organized Extremism • The Global Terrorism Index 2024 highlights that extremist groups like ISIS and far-right movements are becoming increasingly organized and technologically adept. These groups are like shadows, growing darker and more pervasive as they exploit modern tools to spread their ideologies. • The Southern Poverty Law Centre reports a 50% rise in hate groups in the U.S. over the past decade, showing how ideological extremism is gaining traction. This rise is akin to a cancer, metastasizing and threatening the very fabric of society. (5) Lack of Global Cooperation • The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Report 2024 warns that only 15% of targets are on track, indicating a failure in global collaboration on critical issues. It’s as if the world is trying to climb a mountain with its hands tied, unable to make meaningful progress. • A recent survey found that a significant majority of people worldwide are dissatisfied with their governments' handling of global challenges. According to a 24-country survey by the Pew Research Centre, a median of 59% of people are dissatisfied with how their democracy is functioning, and 74% believe elected officials don't care about their opinions. (6) This widespread disillusionment underscores the need for greater unity and effective governance in addressing global challenges. The survey highlights the urgency for governments to take concrete actions and make meaningful commitments to address the concerns of their citizens. These statistics paint a grim picture of a world increasingly dominated by division, hatred, and violence. The failure to address these issues collectively has allowed evil forces to flourish like weeds in an untended garden. Now, more than ever, the world must come together, for as the saying goes, "united we stand, divided we fall." The need for organized goodness—rooted in compassion, cooperation, and collective action—has never been more urgent. It’s time to light a candle instead of cursing the darkness. Critical Insights: Why Evil Thrives The Asymmetry of Organization Extremist groups operate like a well-oiled machine, with highly coordinated networks that enable them to amplify their influence and achieve their objectives with surgical precision. They move in lockstep, united by a common purpose, much like a swarm of bees defending their hive. In contrast, peace advocates often work in isolation, scattered like leaves in the wind, lacking the structure and unity needed to effect meaningful change. This organizational imbalance is akin to a lone sailor trying to navigate a storm while their adversaries command a fleet. Exploitation of Divisions Hate-driven movements thrive by exploiting religious, ethnic, and political divisions, sowing seeds of discord in fertile soil. They capitalize on existing fractures, turning cracks into chasms. Meanwhile, the failure of peace advocates to transcend minor differences weakens their ability to form a united front against oppression and violence. It’s as if they are trying to build a bridge with mismatched bricks, while their opponents are busy tearing it down. Unity, as the saying goes, is strength, but division is the Achilles' heel of peace movements. The Role of Technology Social media has become a double-edged sword, cutting through the fabric of society with both constructive and destructive force. While it can be a tool for good, it also serves as a breeding ground for misinformation and hate speech, which spread like wildfire. A MIT study found that false information spreads six times faster than the truth, fanning the flames of polarization and violence. This rapid dissemination of lies is like a virus infecting the public consciousness, while the truth struggles to keep pace, limping behind. (7) Psychological and Sociological Factors Studies like Stanley Milgram’s obedience experiment and Philip Zimbardo’s Stanford prison experiment reveal how ordinary individuals can be influenced to commit acts of cruelty, transforming lambs into wolves under the right conditions. These experiments underscore the dark potential within human nature, a Pandora’s box of compliance and conformity. Additionally, the bystander effect explains why many remain passive in the face of rising evil—they feel like drops in an ocean, isolated and powerless to stem the tide. It’s a tragic irony that in a crowd, individuals often feel more alone, like voices drowned out in a cacophony of silence. (8) By addressing these asymmetries, bridging divides, harnessing technology responsibly, and understanding the psychological underpinnings of human behaviour, peace advocates can begin to turn the tide. After all, even the longest journey begins with a single step, and every great oak was once a tiny acorn. The Path Forward: Organized Goodness To counteract the growing influence of evil, which spreads like a shadow over the world, those who stand for peace and justice must adopt a strategic and unified approach, standing shoulder to shoulder like a mighty oak against the storm. The following strategies provide a roadmap for organized goodness, a beacon of hope in a sea of darkness: • Uniting Under a Common Vision: Establish a global movement centered on peace, justice, and human dignity, modelled after the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but with grassroots mobilization. This vision should be a lighthouse guiding humanity toward a brighter future, where every voice is heard and every life valued. • Leveraging Technology for Good: Amplify positive narratives and counter hate speech through social media, turning the double-edged sword of technology into a tool for unity rather than division. By harnessing the power of digital platforms, we can create a ripple effect of kindness that drowns out the noise of negativity. • Promoting Education and Awareness: Expand educational programs focusing on critical thinking, empathy, and conflict resolution. Knowledge is the seed of change, and by planting it in the fertile minds of the young, we can cultivate a generation that values peace over conflict and understanding over prejudice. • Strengthening Global Institutions: Reform international organizations like the UN to make them more effective in peacebuilding efforts. These institutions must be the glue that binds nations together, ensuring that no country is left behind in the pursuit of global harmony. • Encouraging Grassroots Movements: Support local peace initiatives, interfaith dialogues, and youth leadership training. Like a single spark that ignites a wildfire, small, local actions can grow into a global movement for change, rooted in the power of community and shared purpose. • Holding Leaders Accountable: Advocate for transparency and accountability in governance to prevent authoritarianism and systemic oppression. Leaders must be held to the highest standards, for power is a trust, not a privilege, and those who wield it must do so with integrity and fairness. In the face of adversity, these strategies are the building blocks of a better world, a tapestry woven with threads of hope, courage, and unity. By working together, hand in hand and heart to heart, we can create a future where peace and justice prevail, shining like a beacon for generations to come. Uniting Against Evil for a More Just World The rise of evil forces is not an inevitable tide, as unstoppable as the setting sun. Rather, it is a consequence of systemic failures, like cracks in a dam that, if left unaddressed, can lead to catastrophic floods. It stems from a lack of organization among the righteous, who often resemble scattered stars in the night sky—bright but disconnected—and the exploitation of societal divisions, which evil sows like seeds in fertile soil. By addressing these gaps and implementing coordinated global efforts, humanity can reclaim its moral compass, steering the ship of civilization away from the stormy seas of chaos and toward the calm waters of justice. The Quranic call to unite for righteousness and resist evil is not just a moral imperative but a necessity for the survival of justice and peace in our world, as essential as water is to life. The statistics and insights presented here underscore the urgency of this mission, painting a stark picture of a world at a crossroads. It is time for the forces of goodness to organize, unite, and act decisively, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, to counteract the rise of evil and build a more just and peaceful world. The hour is late, but the dawn of hope still breaks on the horizon for those who dare to act. Reference and Notes 1. https://www.economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GPI-2024-web.pdf 2. https://ucdp.uu.se/ 3. https://www.unesco.org/en/key-data 4. https://www.edelman.com/trust/2024/trust-barometer 5. https://www.ohchr.org/ 6. https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2020/02/27/satisfaction-with-democracy/ 7. Vosoughi, S., Roy, D., & Aral, S. (2018). The spread of true and false news online, Science, 359(6380), 1146-1151. 8. Stanley Milgram's obedience experiment: Milgram, S. (1963). Behavioral study of obedience, Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 67(4), 371-378. Zimbardo, P. G., Maslach, C., & Haney, C. (2000). Reflections on the Stanford Prison Experiment: Genesis, transformation, consequence. In T. Blass (Ed.), Obedience to authority: Current perspectives on the Milgram paradigm (pp. 193-237). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. These studies demonstrate how ordinary individuals can be influenced by situational factors to commit acts that go against their moral values. ------- V.A. Mohamad Ashrof is an independent Indian scholar specializing in Islamic humanism. With a deep commitment to advancing Quranic hermeneutics that prioritize human well-being, peace, and progress, his work aims to foster a just society, encourage critical thinking, and promote inclusive discourse and peaceful coexistence. He is dedicated to creating pathways for meaningful social change and intellectual growth through his scholarship. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/goodness-counteract-rise-evil/d/134797 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism