THE REAL WORK TO BE DONE

THE REAL WORK TO BE DONE educated Muslim youth grapple with this uncertainty. The only distinction is that Rushdie, a professional writer, chose to pour the darkness of his heart and mind onto paper for temporary gain. Others, engaged in different professions, earn their livelihood without dedicating time to produce an absurd book like Rushdie did. During my visit to the United States in December 1988, I had the opportunity to visit an Islamic Centre. Situated in an area inhabited by approximately one hundred thousand Muslims, I inquired about the number of individuals associated with the Islamic Center. One organizer stated that around ten per cent of those Muslims were connected to the Center. However, another attendee expressed scepticism, suggesting that the figure was an exaggeration and that barely 5% of Muslims were affiliated with the Center. I have been informed that a significant portion of the new generation of Muslims residing in the United States lacks knowledge about Islam. They exhibit indifference towards prayer and fasting, and their lifestyle choices concerning sex, alcohol, and food mirror those of liberal Americans. This can be attributed to their identity as Muslims merely by birth. This revelation did not come as a surprise to me. Anyone acquainted with the modern educated Muslim generation is well aware of this reality. Hence, it becomes evident that “Rushdie” is not an isolated case but representative of millions of individuals worldwide. The only difference is