The Tragedy of Cultural Decay and Social Isolation

Author: Prof Masood Akhtar Hazarvi
Title: The Tragedy of Cultural Decay and Social Isolation

We are living in an age where the artificial glamour of social media, the false standards of fame, and the race for "trending" have devalued real human relationships. Today's youth chase after "likes" and "followers," yet in real life, they are plagued by loneliness, helplessness, and a deep sense of inferiority. This tragedy is not confined to Pakistan alone; it reflects a broader moral decline festering within modern civilization across the globe.

A few weeks ago, the lifeless body of a woman named Ayesha, an actress, was found in her apartment in Karachi after having been dead for days. The neighbors called the police only when a foul smell began emanating from her flat. She was the owner of millions and a mother of three, yet she died alone in her home, unnoticed for days. More recently, the decomposed body of another actress, Humaira Asghar, was recovered from her locked apartment—months after her passing. This event too is a painful reminder of society's growing apathy and indifference.

This is not just a death; it is a profound question mark on the moral conscience of our society. Humaira Asghar, once a symbol of media glamour and the center of attention in showbiz award functions, lay dead in her own flat for months. No one knew. It was only when the landlord, frustrated over unpaid rent, called the police that the door was forced open—and the officers had to cover their faces with masks due to the overwhelming stench. That stench told a story louder than words: no one had visited for a long time, no one had knocked, no one had asked.

And this was the same Humaira Asghar who once had millions of fans, thousands of comments on her social media posts, and countless likes on her pictures. Yet, when the sun of her life finally set, no one noticed for months. No one remembered her or even bothered to check in. This isn’t merely a personal tragedy; it’s a societal warning, a sobering truth that we live in a world where one might have thousands of “online friends” but die such a lonely death that even their decomposing body remains unnoticed for months.

Our young generation, in the name of “freedom,” is distancing itself from family ties. But this so-called freedom ultimately leads to the grim end of isolation. In the entertainment industry, you might be a star today, but tomorrow your corpse could lie unnoticed for weeks. Today, a certain "liberal segment" of society is feeding Muslim women the idea that “hijab is an outdated concept, family restrictions are suffocating, and true freedom means doing whatever you desire.” But Humaira Asghar’s death has proven that this “freedom” is, in reality, nothing but a pathway to isolation, abandonment, and collective apathy.

Is this the success our daughters and sisters are being urged to chase after, by breaking away from the four walls of their homes? Is a rotting corpse in a lonely flat the destiny of the "liberated woman"? Islam has given women a status far superior to any modern society. Hijab is a shield of dignity, not a barrier to progress. Islamic social teachings strongly emphasize "silah-rahmi"—maintaining close family ties—as a powerful safeguard against the suffocating loneliness of modern life.

Likewise, the moral boundaries that some consider burdensome are, in fact, essential to preserving societal harmony. Had Humaira Asghar been living with her family and embraced Islamic values, perhaps her corpse wouldn’t have been left to decay behind a closed door for months. Allama Iqbal, over a century ago, had already foreseen the doom of modern civilization when he said:

"This civilization will commit suicide with its own dagger;
Any nest built on a fragile branch is doomed to collapse."

Today, we witness the same civilization entangled in the very web it spun. Man, having forgotten his purpose of creation and accountability in the Hereafter, has become a machine. Relationships have turned into transactions, and life has become a "social media performance."

This heart-wrenching incident teaches us to strengthen our family bonds, care for our loved ones, especially the elderly and those who live alone. Use social media in moderation, only as a tool for beneficial and constructive communication. But focus more on real, meaningful relationships. Instead of finding joy in artificial followers, we must cultivate sincere friendships that matter in real life.

There is an urgent need to educate our youth through various media platforms about Islamic values. They must understand that worldly fame is fleeting, but the life of the Hereafter is eternal. While living in this world, we must embody the Islamic code of ethics by caring for our neighbors, relatives, and the vulnerable in our society.

Death is inevitable for all, but the real question is—are we prepared for it? What will be said of us after we're gone? Do we have any meaningful connection with God’s creation? Will anyone even remember us with kindness?

The tragic death of Humaira Asghar teaches us that we must prioritize our parents and siblings in our lives—lest another lifeless body is found abandoned in a flat one day. We must raise our children with the awareness that true wealth is not fame, but peace of heart, which comes from a strong relationship with Allah Almighty.

Let us realize that true elevation does not lie behind the camera screen but in the humility of prostration before our Lord. We pray that Allah forgives the departed soul and grants us the wisdom to learn from this painful episode. May He guide us all to the straight path.

Ameen Summa Ameen