Parable of a ship with two decks: How individual bad decisions impact the community at large

The Prophet ﷺ said: “The example of the one who observes the limits (prohibitions) set by Allah and the one who falls into them (does not observe them) is like that of a people who drew lots for places on a ship: some of them got the upper part and some the lower. Those who were in the lower part, whenever they went to get water, had to pass by those above them. So they said, ‘If we were to make a hole in our ˹section˺, we would not harm those above us.’ If they let them do what they intend, they will all perish; but if they restrain them, they will be saved and all will be saved.”

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ: «مَثَلُ الْقَائِمِ عَلَى حُدُودِ اللَّهِ وَالْوَاقِعِ فِيهَا كَمَثَلِ قَوْمٍ اسْتَهَمُوا عَلَى سَفِينَةٍ، فَأَصَابَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَعْلاَهَا وَبَعْضُهُمْ أَسْفَلَهَا، فَكَانَ الَّذِينَ فِي أَسْفَلِهَا إِذَا اسْتَقَوْا مِنَ الْمَاءِ مَرُّوا عَلَى مَنْ فَوْقَهُمْ، فَقَالُوا لَوْ أَنَّا خَرَقْنَا فِي نَصِيبِنَا خَرْقًا وَلَمْ نُؤْذِ مَنْ فَوْقَنَا، فَإِنْ يَتْرُكُوهُمْ وَمَا أَرَادُوا هَلَكُوا جَمِيعًا وَإِنْ أَخَذُوا عَلَى أَيْدِيهِمْ نَجَوْا وَنَجَوْا جَمِيعًا».