How Moral Decay Caused the Fall of Greek and Roman Civilizations

Dr. Mustafa As-Siba`i (may Allah have mercy on him) stated: It is well-known historically that among the major causes of the collapse of Greek civilization were women’s immodest display, their mixing with men, and their excessive indulgence in adornment and social intermingling.

How Moral Decline Led to the Fall of the Roman Empire

The same happened to the Romans. In the early days of their civilization, women were protected and modest. Thus, they were able to conquer lands and firmly establish the pillars of their great empire. But when women began to display themselves openly and frequent forums and public gatherings in their finest adornment and most splendid attire, the morals of men became corrupted, their military strength weakened, and their civilization collapsed in a dreadful downfall.

The Encyclopedia of the Nineteenth Century states: Roman women were fond of work just as men were. They worked within their homes, while husbands and fathers plunged into the hardships of war. The most important tasks of women, after managing the household, were spinning and working with wool.

Later, however, the call of amusement and luxury enticed them to bring women out from their secluded quarters to attend gatherings of entertainment and pleasure. They emerged as though the heart were being drawn from between the ribs. Men—concerned only with their own gratification—corrupted their morals, defiled their purity, and violated their lives, until they began attending dances and singing in public forums. Their influence grew until they held the foremost voice in appointing and dismissing political leaders. The Roman state did not remain long in this condition before ruin came upon it—whether they perceived it or not.

The encyclopedia further stated: We are not the first to notice the harmful effect that women’s increasing love of adornment has on our morals day after day. Our most renowned writers have not neglected to address this grave subject. So how shall we escape this disease that gnaws at our splendid city and threatens us with a rapid fall—indeed, if you wish, an irreversible decline for which there is no cure?

European Intellectual Warnings About Moral Decay

It is noteworthy that thoughtful Europeans began warning their people of the fate that befell the Romans due to excessive female display and intermixing. The scholar Louis Bérard wrote in Revue des Revues (Vol. 11), under the title “Political Corruption”: “The corruption of political foundations has existed in every era. Strangely and astonishingly, its causes in former times are the same as its causes today—meaning that woman was the strongest factor in demolishing virtuous morals.”

He then compared the warning signs of his time with those of the late Roman Republic, saying: “In the final days of the Roman Republic, political men lived in the company of women of light character, whose numbers were exceedingly great. Today, matters have become as they were then. People have rushed in a stream of near-mad passion toward luxury and pleasures…”

The English writer Lady Cook wrote in the newspaper The Echo that intermixing is something men become accustomed to, and thus woman aspires to what contradicts their nature. The greater the intermixing, the greater the number of illegitimate children—and herein lies the great calamity for woman.

She further exclaims, if it’s time to seek what may lessen—if not eliminate—these disasters that bring shame upon Western civilization? Shall they not adopt methods that prevent the killing of hundreds of thousands of innocent children, whose only crime is that the man enticed the woman who was created with a tender heart?

She then addressed parents, asking them not to be deceived by the few coins their daughters earn from working in factories and the like, when their fate may be as described.

She tells parents to teach their daughters to distance themselves from men. To warn them of the lurking schemes lying in wait for them. Statistics have shown that the calamity resulting from illegitimate pregnancy increases and worsens wherever intermixing between women and men is frequent.

She further explains that the most mothers of illegitimate children are factory workers, domestic servants, and many women constantly exposed to public view? Were it not for doctors who provide abortive medicines, there would be so much more of what is witnessed today. This condition has to a level of baseness that could scarcely have been imagined… and this is the utmost depth of civilization’s decline.

Also Read:

• Historical Roots of Oppressing Women in Western Civilization
• Book Review: “Hands Off Our Hijab” By Farhat Amin
• Book Review: “Women’s Liberation Movement in the Balance of Islam” by Anwar Al-Jundi

-------------------------------------------------------------

Taken from: “Al-Mar’ah Fil-Islam: Hijabuha Wa Wajibatuha Wa Huququha Al-Insaniyyah Was-Siyasiyyah (Woman in Islam: Her Hijab, Her Duties, and Her Human and Political Rights)” book by Sheikh Ahmad Al-Qattan