Morning at the campus felt alive. Students walked to and fro—some were busy working on assignments in the garden, others joked around in the cafeteria, and a few sat on the faculty building steps with earphones in, lost in their music. The sky was clear, birds chirped cheerfully, and the aroma of coffee from a small corner café added to the morning's energy.
Marlon and Riri strolled leisurely through the campus corridor. They stopped briefly near a vending machine.
"Wait, are you seriously buying that drink?" Riri frowned as she watched Marlon pressing buttons.
"Of course! It's cheap and cheerful!" Marlon grinned widely.
Suddenly, the machine made a loud clunking sound—but the drink got stuck inside.
"Well, looks like your drink just became a victim of capitalism," Riri chuckled.
Marlon sighed and tapped the machine. "Come on, have mercy. I'm thirsty!"
A passing student gave Marlon a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Try kicking it a little. Maybe it'll drop."
Marlon gave it a shot, but no luck.
"Let it go," Riri said, trying to hold back her laughter.
"This campus really teaches you the meaning of loss early on," Marlon sighed in defeat and walked away.
After chatting for a while with some friends, they finally arrived at the back garden of the campus—a quiet enough spot for discussion. There, Romo was already waiting, a small notebook in hand.
"So, what do you guys want to talk about?" Romo asked after they all sat on the long wooden bench.
Marlon took a deep breath. "We want to understand more deeply about virtue and sin from a religious perspective. You've studied religion since you were a kid, so maybe you can give us a broader point of view."
Romo nodded. "Alright. When we talk about virtue and sin, religion has laid it out quite clearly. There are verses in the Qur'an and hadith that guide us on sin and reward. For example, in one hadith, the Prophet said: 'Sin is what troubles your heart and you do not want others to know about it.' (Narrated by Muslim). So, if our heart feels uneasy or guilty, that could be a sign of sin."
Riri nodded. "So, if we feel anxious or uneasy, it means we might be doing something sinful?"
"More or less," Romo replied. "That's why in Islam, there's the concept of repentance and self-reflection. Allah also says in Surah Az-Zumar, verse 53: 'Say, O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins.' So, sins can be erased through sincere repentance."
Marlon paused in thought before responding, "But if that's the case, why are there people who commit sins but seem completely at peace? Sometimes they even live more successful lives than those trying to do good."
Romo was silent for a moment, then gave a small smile. "That's a question that confuses a lot of people. But remember—worldly success isn't the measure of true happiness. It could be that they're used to wrongdoing, or maybe God is testing them through comfort. In Surah Al-An'am, verse 44, Allah says: 'So when they forgot that by which they had been reminded, We opened to them the doors of every [worldly] thing until, when they rejoiced in that which they were given, We seized them suddenly, and they were then in despair.' So sometimes, what looks like success is actually istidraj—a deceptive delay before divine reckoning."
Marlon gave a light laugh. "So if good people suffer, it's a test. If bad people thrive, that's also a test? Seems like life is just one long exam, huh?"
Riri chuckled. "So when do we get a holiday, Mo?"
Romo laughed. "Well, in this world? Maybe never. But if we live with awareness, we might just enjoy the journey."
Marlon shook his head. "But Romo, I still feel there's a gap in this thinking. We always talk about reward and punishment from God, but what about those who don't believe in that at all? They see the world as it is: the strong survive, the clever deceive, and the kind get used. Isn't that a reality we see too?"
Romo was quiet for a moment. "Yeah, reality often does look like that. But that's where faith makes a difference. Faith keeps us grounded in principles, even when the world seems unfair. Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 286: 'Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear.' So even if it seems like evil wins, true justice will still be upheld—if not in this world, then in the hereafter."
Marlon smiled. "But we also see that greed—which is considered a sin in the Seven Deadly Sins—is what drives the economy. If everyone lacked ambition and focused only on charity, wouldn't the world stagnate?"
Romo sighed. "True. Even in Islam, there's a balance. The Prophet said: 'The best among you is not the one who gives up the world for the Hereafter, or the Hereafter for the world, but the one who takes from both.' So, greed—within limits—can be a motivator. But if left unchecked, it leads to injustice."
Riri added, "Just like virtue—taken to the extreme, it can lead to passivity. And the world won't progress. Maybe what we're really looking for isn't black and white, but balance."
Romo smiled. "You two are starting to grasp this idea more deeply. Alright, I'll join your research. But it's not because I agree with Marlon, okay? I'm coming along to keep you both from straying too far from our values."
Marlon smiled meaningfully. "Sure, sure… but I can see you're getting curious too, right?"
Romo sighed. "Fine, I admit—a little. But don't expect me to abandon my beliefs."