Utilization of Modern Opportunities

TAQLID AND IJTIHAD revolutionary French thinker Rousseau famously began his book ‘The Social Contract’ with the sentence: “Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains.” This phrase became the creed of the modern age, evolving into a universally accepted belief that freedom is a birthright of every human being. It is an inalienable right for individuals to act according to their convictions, with the sole condition being that this freedom must not involve aggression and must be exercised peacefully. Two illustrative stories shed light on this principle. It is said that when America gained independence from British rule, an American citizen came out into the street to celebrate. He was walking along, swinging his arms vigorously. In the process, one of his hands struck the nose of a passerby. The passerby said angrily, “What is this nonsense?” The man replied, “America is free now. I can do whatever I like.” The passerby answered calmly, “No doubt you are free, but your freedom ends where my nose begins.” This anecdote eloquently encapsulates the modern concept of freedom: individuals are granted complete liberty, provided they do not resort to violence or infringe on the rights of others. Similarly, Mahatma Gandhi, who learned this principle during his education in the West, applied it effectively in India’s struggle for independence. In 1857, Muslim leaders in India had launched a freedom movement against British