Over the past century, particularly after the Enlightenment and the rise of liberal democracies, Western societies have increasingly celebrated the individual as the center of moral, social, and political life. Terms like "self-care," "self-love," "identity," and "my truth" dominate social discourse. Freedom is often understood as the absence of restraint, and fulfilment is pursued through self-expression and personal autonomy.
In contrast, Islam promotes individuality within a framework where responsibility, ethics, and divine guidance bind personal freedom. The difference between the two models, Islamic and Western, is not merely philosophical but impacts how societies approach family, law, gender, rights, responsibilities, and even mental health.
Follow Cssprepforum WhatsApp Channel: Pakistan’s Largest CSS, PMS Prep Community updated
Led by Sir Syed Kazim Ali, Cssprepforum helps 70,000+ aspirants monthly with top-tier CSS/PMS content. Follow our WhatsApp Channel for solved past papers, expert articles, and free study resources shared by qualifiers and high scorers.
The Western Notion of Individuality
In modern Western thought, especially rooted in liberalism, the individual is the primary moral unit. The self is sovereign, and personal freedom is paramount. Influenced by thinkers like John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and, more recently, existentialists like Sartre, the Western individual is imagined as free from inherited obligations, especially those from religion, tradition, or community.
This has led to:
Emphasis on subjective truth: "Your truth" and "my truth" may differ, and both are valid.
Redefinition of morality: What is right is often decided by individual choice or popular consensus.
Fluid identity: Gender, relationships and even family structures are seen as personal preferences.
Minimal authority: Institutions, especially religious ones, are seen as obstacles to personal freedom.
While such ideas promote creativity and innovation, they also create dilemmas when individual desires clash with societal needs or when moral boundaries become entirely subjective.
Islamic Ideology on the Individual
Islam recognizes the individual as a unique, dignified, and spiritually responsible being. However, individuality is not synonymous with absolute freedom. It is understood as a trust from Allah, embedded within a network of duties to the Creator, to the self, and others.
Indeed, We created man in the best stature. Then We return him to the lowest of the low—except those who believe and do righteous deeds.
(Surah At-Tin, 95:4–6)
In Islam:
The individual is morally accountable to Allah. Freedom is not license but a means to achieve spiritual excellence. The self is honored but must be disciplined through worship, modesty, and service to others. Thus, rights are intertwined with responsibilities.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
This shows how Islamic individuality coexists with community and avoids the extremes of self-centeredness.
Freedom: A Point of Divergence
In Western liberalism, freedom is often negative freedom, freedom from control, norms, or obligations. In Islam, freedom is positive; freedom to fulfill one’s purpose through submission to divine will.
- Western ideal: A person is free to choose their gender, family structure, and moral code.
- Islamic ideal: A person is free from slavery to ego, desire, or society and submits only to Allah.
Have you seen he who has taken his own desire as his god?
(Surah Al-Jathiya, 45:23)
This verse critiques a society where desire becomes the supreme authority, which is exactly what modern individualism often celebrates.
Gender Identity
A striking contrast appears in how the two worldviews address gender. Western thought promotes personal identity as self-defined, even biologically fluid. However, Islam teaches that gender is a divinely assigned reality, with dignity and purpose for both men and women.
This difference has far-reaching implications. In the West, family structures are dissolving under the pressure of extreme personal autonomy, while Islam promotes a balanced gender complementarity, securing stability for future generations.
3.5-Month Extensive Compulsory Subjects Course for CSS Aspirants
Struggling with CSS Compulsory subjects? Crack Pakistan Affairs, Islamiat, GSA & Current Affairs in just 3.5 months with Howfiv’s expert-led course. New batches every April, August & December! Secure your spot now – WhatsApp 0300-6322446!
Collective vs. Individual Obligations
Islam honors the individual but values community cohesion more than personal rebellion. Worship, charity, family care, and justice are collective responsibilities.
And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided.
(Surah Aal-e-Imran, 3:103)
In contrast, the Western model often allows the individual to override collective concerns. For example, freedom of speech may be used to insult sacred symbols, and freedom of lifestyle may include choosing complete detachment from family or community.
Mental Health and Isolation: A Western Crisis
Ironically, the rise of extreme individuality has not produced contentment. Western societies face record-high depression and anxiety rates, loneliness epidemics, especially among youth and the elderly, escalating suicide rates, even in affluent countries.
A 2023 study by the World Health Organisation noted that loneliness is a “global public health concern,” especially in individualistic societies where family and community bonds are weak.
Islam, by contrast, provides built-in emotional support through daily prayer, family cohesion, congregational life, and a clear sense of purpose rooted in submission to Allah.
Human Rights and Responsibilities
Western thought often emphasizes rights without equal stress on responsibilities. The individual is owed privacy, freedom, and recognition, but is not necessarily morally obligated to serve others.
- Islamic ideology offers a more reciprocal model
Every right is attached to a responsibility. If one has the right to be respected, they also have the duty to respect others. This dual balance prevents abuse of freedom.
Islamic Individuality: Spiritually Rooted, Socially Responsible
Islamic thought does not stifle the individual, it channels personal growth through faith, knowledge, ethics, and community service. The Prophet (PBUH) was the perfect example of a balanced individual: a leader, husband, neighbor, warrior, and worshiper, fulfilling personal excellence while serving the Ummah.
This model avoids both conformities without purpose and freedom without responsibility, the two extremes that plague many modern societies.
What is a Balanced Path Forward?
Both Islam and the West value the individual, but the purpose, limits, and expression of individuality differ sharply. The West promotes autonomy often at the cost of moral clarity and community cohesion. Islam promotes individuality as a divinely entrusted responsibility, rooted in spiritual purpose and balanced by communal harmony.
As the modern world suffers from identity crises, moral confusion, and emotional disintegration, Islam’s concept of the individual, one who is dignified, accountable, and socially integrated, offers a more sustainable and fulfilling path forward.
In a world where the self is either idolized or ignored, Islam reminds us: You are not meaningless, but you are not limitless either. You are a servant, a soul, and a trust.
