✦ Luxury and Extravagance: The True Cause Behind the Fall of Nations ✦
✍ By: Khalid Saifullah Rahmani
Comfort, luxury, extravagance, and indulgence in worldly pleasures have been the downfall of the greatest civilizations and empires. History bears witness to the destruction of mighty powers—Rome, Greece, Spain, the Mughals, and the Ottomans—as they fell prey to ease, luxury, and moral decline.
✔ The Roman Empire
An empire that stretched across six continents became a relic of the past due to luxury and injustice.
✔ The Empire of Alexander the Great
Ruling over 51 countries, this empire vanished because of oppression and tyranny.
✔ The Sassanid Emperor – Khosrow
Despite ruling over half the world, he succumbed to luxury, extravagance, and injustice.
✔ The Mughal Empire
After six centuries of rule in India, the Mughal dynasty perished due to its obsession with music and indulgence.
The last emperor of India spent his final days in a prison in Rangoon, without even a grave in Delhi to be buried in.
Muslims proudly recall Andalus, yet luxury and extravagance destroyed this magnificent civilization too.
✔ The Glory of Cordoba
While Europe was engulfed in darkness, Cordoba boasted clean streets, 250,000 homes, 80,000 shops, and 1,600 grand mosques.
✔ The Beginning of the End
On February 28, 1492, the last Muslim king, Abu Abdullah Muhammad, handed over the keys of Alhambra Palace to Christian King Ferdinand and was later forced to beg in Morocco.
✔ Aftermath
Within five years of the fall, by 1497, no Muslims remained in Spain. Those who stayed were forced to accept Christianity, but eventually, even their traces were erased.
✔ Fear of Poverty or Luxury?
The life of the Prophet ﷺ was full of struggle, hardship, and sacrifice—but therein lay the true strength of Islam.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"By Allah! I do not fear poverty for you; rather, I fear that the world will be spread out before you, and you will compete for it, and become heedless."
(Bukhari, Hadith No. 6425)
Allama Iqbal beautifully said:
❝ Come, let me show you the destiny of nations —
First comes the sword and spear, then comes the peacock and the lute. ❞
➤ Meaning: Rise comes from struggle and strength, while decline comes from luxury and indulgence.
Scientific advancement is not a guarantee of civilizational endurance. In fact, history reveals that many civilizations saw peak scientific achievements during their decline:
✔ Babylonian Civilization
Its greatest scientific milestones emerged as the civilization was collapsing.
✔ Greek Civilization
Great minds like Euclid and Ptolemy rose when Greece’s political structure had already crumbled.
✔ Islamic Civilization
Contrary to others, Islamic science blossomed in the early stages of the civilization. Scientists like Jabir ibn Hayyan and Ibn Sina emerged when Islamic rule was still politically and spiritually strong.
As time passed, the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires—though politically and militarily powerful—began redirecting their creative energies:
➤ From science toward arts, architecture, literature, and mysticism.
✔ Testaments of Islamic Creativity
Masterpieces like the Taj Mahal, Shahi Mosque of Isfahan, and the Sultan Ahmed Mosque bear witness to the immense artistic capability of the Islamic world.
The rise and fall of nations lie in the balance between struggle and indulgence.
✦ The Muslim Ummah must reflect on its history.
✦ Progress cannot be achieved through luxury and laziness.
✦ Instead, it must be built on struggle, knowledge, and the guidance of Islam.
✍ By: Khalid Saifullah Rahmani
❖ Luxury: The Termite That Consumes Civilizations
Comfort, luxury, extravagance, and indulgence in worldly pleasures have been the downfall of the greatest civilizations and empires. History bears witness to the destruction of mighty powers—Rome, Greece, Spain, the Mughals, and the Ottomans—as they fell prey to ease, luxury, and moral decline.
❖ Historical Examples of Civilizational Collapse
✔ The Roman Empire
An empire that stretched across six continents became a relic of the past due to luxury and injustice.
✔ The Empire of Alexander the Great
Ruling over 51 countries, this empire vanished because of oppression and tyranny.
✔ The Sassanid Emperor – Khosrow
Despite ruling over half the world, he succumbed to luxury, extravagance, and injustice.
✔ The Mughal Empire
After six centuries of rule in India, the Mughal dynasty perished due to its obsession with music and indulgence.
The last emperor of India spent his final days in a prison in Rangoon, without even a grave in Delhi to be buried in.
❖ The Fall of Andalus: A Painful Lesson for Muslims
Muslims proudly recall Andalus, yet luxury and extravagance destroyed this magnificent civilization too.
✔ The Glory of Cordoba
While Europe was engulfed in darkness, Cordoba boasted clean streets, 250,000 homes, 80,000 shops, and 1,600 grand mosques.
✔ The Beginning of the End
On February 28, 1492, the last Muslim king, Abu Abdullah Muhammad, handed over the keys of Alhambra Palace to Christian King Ferdinand and was later forced to beg in Morocco.
✔ Aftermath
Within five years of the fall, by 1497, no Muslims remained in Spain. Those who stayed were forced to accept Christianity, but eventually, even their traces were erased.
❖ The Teachings of the Prophet ﷺ and the State of the Ummah
✔ Fear of Poverty or Luxury?
The life of the Prophet ﷺ was full of struggle, hardship, and sacrifice—but therein lay the true strength of Islam.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"By Allah! I do not fear poverty for you; rather, I fear that the world will be spread out before you, and you will compete for it, and become heedless."
(Bukhari, Hadith No. 6425)
❖ Iqbal’s Insightful Message
Allama Iqbal beautifully said:
❝ Come, let me show you the destiny of nations —
First comes the sword and spear, then comes the peacock and the lute. ❞
➤ Meaning: Rise comes from struggle and strength, while decline comes from luxury and indulgence.
❖ Misconception: Scientific Progress Equals Civilizational Survival?
Scientific advancement is not a guarantee of civilizational endurance. In fact, history reveals that many civilizations saw peak scientific achievements during their decline:
✔ Babylonian Civilization
Its greatest scientific milestones emerged as the civilization was collapsing.
✔ Greek Civilization
Great minds like Euclid and Ptolemy rose when Greece’s political structure had already crumbled.
✔ Islamic Civilization
Contrary to others, Islamic science blossomed in the early stages of the civilization. Scientists like Jabir ibn Hayyan and Ibn Sina emerged when Islamic rule was still politically and spiritually strong.
❖ Shifting of Creative Energy in Islamic Civilization
As time passed, the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires—though politically and militarily powerful—began redirecting their creative energies:
➤ From science toward arts, architecture, literature, and mysticism.
✔ Testaments of Islamic Creativity
Masterpieces like the Taj Mahal, Shahi Mosque of Isfahan, and the Sultan Ahmed Mosque bear witness to the immense artistic capability of the Islamic world.
❖ Conclusion: A Lesson for the Muslim Ummah
The rise and fall of nations lie in the balance between struggle and indulgence.
✦ The Muslim Ummah must reflect on its history.
✦ Progress cannot be achieved through luxury and laziness.
✦ Instead, it must be built on struggle, knowledge, and the guidance of Islam.
