Islam and the Problems of Contemporary Man

this verse in the Quran: “The sun is not allowed to overtake the moon nor does the night outpace the day. Each runs in its own orbit” (36: 40). It is God’s will that everything should move in its own orbit. All astronomical bodies act accordingly, never clashing with one another on their course. If man were to apply this principle to his life, everyone would operate in his own given sphere, thus rectifying the friction which exists in human society. On the other hand, if he follows his own desires, he comes into conflict with his fellow men which causes trouble in the domestic and international arenas. UNIVERSAL NORMS The laws which man must follow, if he is to succeed in this world and the next are the same as those which are applied to the rest of the world. The difference is that man adopts these laws of his own free will, whereas they have been forced upon the rest of the universe. The Quran Says: “Give just weight and measure and do not defraud others of their possessions. Do not corrupt the land after it has been set in order. That is best for you, if you are true believers.” (7:85) According to this verse, the world made by God is a perfect world, where everything is set in order. Everything in it functions as it ought to. This disciplined system provides a model for man. He should follow the pattern of nature in all his actions. Only then can he establish a just and peaceful society. His refusal to follows nature’s pattern results in a corrupt society, and a degeneration of a previously orderly system. The secret of our success on earth lies in our ability to act in accordance with nature. Man has shown great prowess in his ability to exploit nature for technological and scientific ends; yet he has not put the simple lesson of nature to work in his life. An understanding of nature, and harmony with the world around us, has had startling effects on human progress in the material world. This success has not been repeated in the human world because man has not applied the laws of nature to his own life. Just as harmony with nature is the key to material advance so it is the key to the reform and well-being of the human soul. Islam, one might say, is an ethical application to human society of the same divine norms which are observed by the rest of the world as natural laws.