Islam and the Problems of Contemporary Man

THE LAW OF GOD The Quran states that “God created everything, and He has set for each a measure” (25:2). This principle is startlingly clear in the world of physics, where research has shown everything in this universe to be governed by laws, which every element adheres to with strict determinism. Physicists marvel at the uniformity of the universe. Man, however, fails to fit in to this scheme exactly as the universe. This is because man is free to act according to his choice, whereas the universe follows a set course. The Quran exhorts man to adopt that course for himself. “Do they seek a religion other than God’s, when everything in heaven and earth has submitted to Him, willingly or by compulsion? To Him they shall all return.” (3:83) In another place the Quran says: “God has forced the sun and the moon into His service, each pursuing an appointed course. He ordains all things. He makes plain His revelations so that you may firmly believe in meeting your Lord.” (13:2) The words, “God ordains all things” refer to the cosmic order. “God makes plain His revelations” refers to the word of God as revealed to his prophets. The laws which are directly imposed by God on the rest of the world are revealed to man through prophets to be implemented by man of his own free will. It is as if the book of God is the literal statement of the divine principle of which the universe is a practical demonstration. Man is obliged to subordinate his own will to the will of God’s; he is expected to forsake his own power for the sake of God. In this task he must apply the cosmic order to his own life, and follow the path which the prophets trod. Only then will “God’s will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) has rightly said that this world is extremely beautiful. There is only one thing in it which is not beautiful and that is man. In a world where nothing bears enmity against any other thing, man becomes the enemy of man. In a world where rains come in order that crops may grow, man destroys them by fire. In a world where harmony is in evidence in all things, man wreaks havoc. The only way that man can mend the havoc that he has caused on earth is by following the pattern which the rest of the universe