Humanity Must Rediscover Mercy: Social Media, Global Leadership, and the Reflection of Divine Justice

By Yusuf Inan

Humanity Must Rediscover Mercy: Social Media, Global Leadership, and the Reflection of Divine Justice

Humanity Must Rediscover Mercy: A Call to Global Leaders for Compassionate Leadership

In the vast tapestry of human history, few concepts hold as much transformative power as mercy. Today, however, it seems humanity’s collective conscience has been overshadowed by apathy, violence, and indifference. Social media, the modern-day agora of shared experiences, has become the stage where humanity confronts its failings. A recent viral video encapsulates this paradox: a lion chases a doe, who, in her desperation, gives birth and flees to save herself. Instead of preying on the newborn fawn, the lion nurtures it, embodying a mercy often absent in human interactions. This poignant scene—nature’s allegorical lesson—has struck a chord globally, raising a haunting question: Can humanity claim less mercy than the king of beasts?

The Viral Paradox: A Testament to Compassion

The lion’s unexpected mercy has captivated millions, yet it simultaneously reveals the depth of humanity’s moral crisis. Social media platforms—Instagram, X, and Facebook—teem with reposts and reflections, but these posts lay bare an unsettling reality: human society struggles to find equivalent examples within its own ranks. The world's most powerful leaders—Biden, Putin, Trump, Netanyahu, Macron, Erdogan—fail to project the compassion expected of them, overshadowed instead by political brinkmanship and systemic injustices.

This disconnect—between humanity’s capacity for empathy and its leaders’ actions—manifests in the unchecked growth of violence. As lions teach mercy, humans propagate discord. From the streets of Kyiv to Gaza, from Afghanistan to Washington, the world bears witness to a devastating erosion of compassion.

A Crisis of Leadership: The Global Void of Mercy

The failures of global leadership are stark. In Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin’s military aggression ravages lives, while international responses remain tepid and fragmented. The United States, long seen as a beacon of freedom, grapples with its own crises: mass shootings, vehicular attacks, and a societal fabric strained by polarization. Meanwhile, in Gaza and Syria, entire generations grow up amidst the rubble of war, their cries for justice drowned by indifference.

These leaders wield immense power but have abdicated the moral responsibility it entails.

The Quran’s Ali Imran 103 reminds us:

“Hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. Remember the favor of Allah upon you—when you were enemies, and He brought your hearts together, and you became brothers by His favor.”

Yet, global leaders fail to heed this wisdom. Putin’s citation of this verse, while symbolically profound, remains hollow without actionable steps toward peace. Similarly, Western leaders’ rhetoric of democracy and human rights falls short when their policies perpetuate inequality and suffering.

Divine Justice and the Cry of the Oppressed

In the cacophony of geopolitical maneuvering, the voices of the weak and oppressed barely register. The words of a dying Iraqi child—“I will tell God about you”—echo as a damning indictment of humanity’s moral failure. This cry reverberates not just in the Middle East but across Africa, Asia, and even the sanctuaries of the West. It is a cry that demands accountability, not just from leaders but from every individual.

The Bible’s Amos 5:24 admonishes:

“Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.”

And the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:7 remind us:

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

Yet, the merciful are increasingly rare in corridors of power. The global community’s inaction in the face of mass suffering—whether in Gaza, Myanmar, or Ukraine—lays bare an unsettling truth: the institutionalization of apathy.

The Role of Social Media: A Mirror and Catalyst

While social media amplifies the plight of the vulnerable, it also highlights humanity’s contradictions. Videos of senseless violence, environmental degradation, and systemic injustices sit alongside viral displays of compassion. These platforms have become both the conscience and the battleground of modern society, urging collective introspection.

Yet, social media alone cannot substitute for meaningful action. It serves as a mirror, reflecting the world’s fractured moral compass, and as a catalyst, capable of mobilizing change. To harness its potential, global leaders must transcend their myopic agendas and address the systemic roots of inequality and injustice.

Toward a New Global Ethos

The world stands at a crossroads. The scientific rigor of figures like Jürgen Habermas, who advocates for a universal ethic, and Amartya Sen’s focus on equity, underscores the need for a paradigm shift. Global governance must prioritize mercy as a cornerstone of policy, not as an afterthought.

Practical measures include:

• Establishing international tribunals to address grievances of marginalized communities.

• Crafting educational curriculums that emphasize empathy and global citizenship.

• Strengthening multilateral frameworks to preempt conflicts rather than react to them.

A Call to Action

The lion and the fawn remind us of a universal truth: mercy transcends species, borders, and beliefs. If humanity fails to internalize this lesson, the consequences will be dire. As the Quran warns, and as echoed in the Bible and Torah, divine justice spares no one. Whether through natural calamities or societal implosions, the wages of indifference are steep.

Today, the world’s most influential figures—Biden, Putin, Xi Jinping, Trump, and others—must rise to the challenge. Leadership rooted in mercy and justice is not just a moral imperative; it is humanity’s last, best hope.

Let this message reverberate from the halls of power to the streets of every nation: mercy is not weakness but the essence of strength. May humanity rediscover this truth before it is too late.

YUSUF İNAN / PEACE AT HOME, PEACE IN THE WORLD (*)

Twitter : @Yusufinan2023
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(*)  As Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, once said, 'Peace at Home, Peace in the World.' This timeless principle serves as a guiding light for nations striving for harmony, coexistence, and global stability.