Which is more important and which is more damaging to the nation? What is unacceptable behavior? Let us go deeper and say which is more of a violation of virtue: for a woman to walk into an all-women shopping center with her face and hair uncovered, or to sit with her husband in the non-family section of a coffee shop or restaurant, or to go out with her fiancé and sit in the family section of an eatery? I do not consider any of these to be acts of vice, but I am asking which is worse: Doing any of the above-mentioned or for someone to illegally earn cash by creating a shortage crisis in a staple diet like flour?
Which is more dangerous and threatening to the nation: a woman willingly accompanying an unrelated man or a group of people kidnapping and molesting a child, depriving him of his innocence and psychologically damaging him forever?
What truly resembles nobility in Islam: monitoring women’s movements at shopping centers and then arresting them for a vice, or checking on corruption in the way food is distributed and arresting those responsible?
Which one damages morals: an unethical person whose actions lead to a lack of bread in the market and an increase in prices to the extent that the majority of society cannot afford bread, or a woman who uncovers her hair and face?
I am not denying what the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice does, I am only prioritizing the issues when promoting virtue and preventing vice, which is the core of what the commission is supposed to be doing and is responsible for.
Is there anything more evil than the kidnappings and rapes that plague our society or the foul play with food supplies that have reached a very dangerous level? Is there anything more virtuous than working to solve these problems? It is obvious that commission members are pretty occupied with controversial issues that society in general does not approve of. At the same time, they leave important things that are their responsibility. In my opinion, this explains the huge criticism and resentment that the commission experiences.
The commission has many volunteers who help in reporting vice. What would happen if the commission used the help of these volunteers to monitor cases of the illegal import and export of flour, expose wrongdoers and then present them for justice?
If only the commission would dedicate more efforts in tracking down cases of homosexuality that have shocked society and terrified families. There are stories of kidnappings and rapes involving school children. I believe that when the commission announces in the media that it is involved in all of these cases, then will society appreciate them and be thankful for their help and efforts.
One of the main reasons why we are not succeeding in eradicating beggars — those who stand on every street corner and at every mall and mosque — is that those who are supposed to eliminate them feel that it is a vice to do so. I believe that if commission members participated in this act of morality then the number of beggars would decrease and they would receive praise from everyone.
As I said previously, I am not asking them to give up their current activities, but to prioritize: They should put dangerous issues first, the ones that the majority agrees are important.
Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Ghaith, director of the commission, is a friendly, virtuous and honest person. He always tries to do what is best and most convenient for the Kingdom. Therefore, I believe he is truly qualified to direct the commission toward a new path that does not contradict with its original mission, but makes that easier to attain.
Dear Sheikh Ibrahim, it is better and more convenient for the commission to focus on what is important, especially in this time and age when dangerous illnesses are widespread and the commission is receiving criticism for focusing on one scope of its job and leaving other crucial issues. The commission must take into account the great social changes that affect standards in virtue. Please examine the current changes in order to best serve the Kingdom’s interests. I am a sincere adviser to you.
