The test every “civilised” society FAILS today

What makes a society truly civilised? Is it wealth, military strength and global influence—or does civilisation require something deeper? In this episode of OnGuard, Dr Hamza Andreas Tzortzis sits down with Shaykh Dr Haitham al-Haddad for a profound discussion on akhlāq: the comprehensive Islamic understanding of character, morality and how we relate to Allah, ourselves, other people and the world around us. They examine who has the authority to define right and wrong, why secular moral frameworks can produce radically different conclusions over time, and whether human reason alone can provide a stable foundation for ethics. The conversation then moves from the individual to the civilisational. Can a nation become powerful without morality? Is a superpower necessarily a civilisation? And what happens when power, pleasure and self-interest take precedence over divine guidance and moral principle? Shaykh Haitham and Hamza also explore the relationship between principles and practical realities, the Islamic approach to balancing benefits and harms, and why trust is indispensable to any society that hopes to flourish. This is not merely a theoretical discussion. It is a challenge to Muslims to embody Islam as a mercy in motion—and to demonstrate what a principled, just and truly civilised society could look like. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:52 Islam as a mercy to the entire world 4:15 What do Islamic ethics and values mean? 9:32 The comprehensive meaning of akhlāq 16:37 Who has the authority to define right and wrong? 23:24 Why modern morality keeps changing 31:01 Pleasure, freedom and the values driving the West 42:58 What really motivates nations and superpowers? 45:58 Can there be civilisation without morality? 53:44 Why trust is the foundation of civilisation Stay tuned for Part 2! 🌟 Support Our Mission 🌟 To extend the reach of our impactful content, kindly consider making a contribution (https://islam21c.com/guardians). Your support helps us make a difference. 👇 Stay Connected & Never Miss an Update 👇 1️⃣ Subscribe: Hit the 'Subscribe' button and don't forget to ring the 🔔 bell, ensuring you'll be the first to know when we upload fresh content. 2️⃣ Social Media: Stay up-to-date and join the conversation on our social media platforms: 📸 Instagram   / islam21c   👍 Facebook   / islam21c   𝕏 X   / islam21c   🗨️ Telegram https://t.me/islam21c Thank you for your continued support and engagement.