Al-Risala (English), Nov-Dec 2000

instance, modern communications; the urge to study different religions; freedom of religious expression; commercial value in religion etc. By creating such a variety of favorable conditions, God has Himself arranged for the successful outcome of Dawah work. This is a historical process which will keep advancing on its own. It will be our great good fortune to become a conscious part of it thus securing for ourselves the blessings of God. While others are working for it under the pressure of historical process, we must perform this noble task by our own conscious decision. □ Creation Plan Blessed be He in Whose hands is all sovereignty: He has power over all things. He created life and death that He might put you to the test and find out which of you acquitted himself best. He is the Mighty, the Forgiving One. He created seven heavens, one above another. Do you see any fault in the work of the Merciful? Turn up your eyes: can you detect any rift? Then look once more and yet again: your eyes will in the end grow dim and weary. We have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps, missiles for pelting devils. We have prepared a scourge of flames for these, and the scourge of Hell for unbelievers: an evil fate! (Quran, 67:1-6) W hen one studies the present world, one finds an apparent contradiction, that is, that the entire universe besides man is quite perfect and organised. At no point is there any defect to be seen. By contrast, human life is marred by oppression