This Is a Place of Lessons, Not a Spectacle”

“This is a place of lessons, not a spectacle.” This single verse is in fact an eternal cry etched upon every page of human history a cry that has, in every era, sought to awaken nations, rulers, and empires intoxicated with the arrogance of power. Yet, alas, humanity has so often ignored this call, only to meet the very fate suffered by nations before them. The palaces that have crumbled into ruins, the mighty empires buried beneath the dust of time, and the powers shattered by the storms of history still whisper in silent but unmistakable words: oppression, injustice, arrogance, and intoxication with might always culminate in ruin.

One striking yet undeniable reality of history is that every age’s “superpower” deemed itself invincible and eternal, only to vanish within a few decades or, at most, a few centuries. The Roman Empire, the Persian Empire, Pharaonic rule, the monarchies of the Israelites, the Greek civilization, the Islamic state of al-Andalus, the Abbasid Caliphate, the Ottoman Empire, and in more recent memory, the Soviet Union all stand as testimony. Each displayed an awe-inspiring exhibition of power, yet all were swept away by the tides of time. The reasons for their collapse varied, but one common thread ran through them all: the abandonment of justice, the spread of tyranny and oppression, internal corruption, and the decay of moral values.

When we look at America and Israel today, we see the very same signs that marked the downfall of those past powers. Undoubtedly, America stands as the largest military and economic power of the modern world, commanding the globe’s greatest defense budget, the most advanced weaponry, and control over major financial institutions. Yet internally, its crises deepen with each passing day: racial discrimination, growing class divides, the widening chasm between rich and poor, deprivation in education and healthcare, and above all, the erosion of moral values. The mad pursuit of wealth and dominance has gravely wounded the ideals of humanity, fraternity, and justice. On the global stage, America’s policies have dragged many regions to the brink of devastation. Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, and Latin America bear witness that when power is exercised without justice and truth, it cannot endure.

Israel’s case too is laden with warnings. In merely a few decades, it has inflicted relentless oppression upon the Palestinian people seizing lands, trampling human rights, and pursuing an aggressive posture before the world’s very eyes. History teaches that no state built on oppression stands for long. The empire of Pharaoh, despite all its grandeur, was obliterated; the conquests of Genghis Khan were fleeting; the decline of Muslim Spain began the moment justice and knowledge were replaced with intrigue and indulgence. Israel, too, treads this path. If it believes that military strength and foreign patronage will shield it forever, it is but deluding itself.

Another similarity between fallen empires and today’s powers lies in internal disintegration. When Rome fell, it was weakened less by external invaders than by inner decay corruption, aristocratic indulgence, neglect of public welfare, and military weakness. The Abbasid Caliphate crumbled under the weight of internal conspiracies. The Soviet Union, once the world’s second-largest military might, collapsed due to economic failure, nationalist uprisings within, and political stagnation. Today, America too is riddled with internal strife: political polarization, chaotic elections, deep divisions in Congress, and recurrent economic crises. The lesson is clear: no matter how vast the power, without internal cohesion and justice it is doomed to weaken.

Another dimension of this truth is environmental and natural factors. Many civilizations perished because of natural disasters or depletion of resources. The decline of the Mayan civilization, for instance, was partly due to famine and drastic climate shifts. Today’s world stands on the brink of similar peril. Yet the powerful nations, instead of taking climate change seriously, have often chosen short-term economic gains. America has repeatedly withdrawn from or violated international environmental accords. The consequences are dire not only for the world but for America itself. Israel, meanwhile, already faces looming crises of water scarcity and environmental strain in its region. If the laws of nature continue to be ignored, these powers too will meet the same fate as the civilizations of old.

From the Islamic perspective, the principle is crystal clear: a society based on justice and fairness will endure, even if it is non-Muslim; but a society founded on injustice will perish, even if it claims to be Muslim. This is precisely the lesson the Qur’an and Sunnah emphasize. The destruction of past nations—‘Ād, Thamūd, Pharaoh, and the Israelites is narrated not as mere stories, but as eternal warnings. Yet man, in his arrogance, continues to disregard these signs.

Today’s age bears another unique dimension: globalization. No nation’s policies remain confined within its own borders anymore; they ripple across the globe. When America or Israel trample upon human rights, the backlash is not local but global. Modern media, social networks, and international institutions amplify these injustices, exposing them before the world. Consequently, it is increasingly difficult for these powers to conceal their crimes. Their moral standing erodes with every act of tyranny, and public outrage grows worldwide.

Looking to the future, the world stands at the threshold of a profound transformation. New powers China, India, Russia, Turkey, among others are challenging the existing order. If America and Israel do not recalibrate their policies to embrace justice, human rights, and global cooperation, they will find themselves increasingly isolated. The balance of power always shifts, but history consistently affirms: survival belongs only to those who uphold justice and human dignity.

Hence the lesson: ruins are not spectacles for curiosity but classrooms of history. The Roman palaces, the mosques of al-Andalus, the libraries of Baghdad, and the shattered remains of the Soviet Union all cry out the same truth empires erected on arrogance, oppression, and injustice never endure. If America and Israel wish to preserve their strength, they must embrace justice, equality, human rights, and environmental responsibility. Otherwise, the wheel of time will consign them too to the graveyard of fallen empires.

This reflection is not merely a remembrance of the past; it is also a warning for the present and a forecast for the future. If we fail to learn from history, future generations will remember our age as nothing more than ruins monuments of folly and oppression. And then, perhaps, another poet will say with the same piercing words: “This is a place of lessons, not a spectacle.”