Al-Risala (English), Jan-Feb 2002

of a nation. In the words of an expert on Japanese affairs the secret of Japan’s success lies in “never quarrelling amongst themselves, always doing everything together.” (The Hindustan Times, April, 1981) □ The Root Cause of Riots What is the reason for the senseless manner in which Muslims react in the face of provocation? Perhaps we can trace it to their pride psychology. It comes into being when religion is no longer treated as a matter of responsibility, but as a matter of pride. Such an attitude towards religion plays a fair share in contributing to the degradation of the Ummat, the community of believers. The Quran says: “The faithful servants of God are they who walk upon the earth modestly and, when the foolish ones address them, answer: Peace.” (25:63) However, the attitude is reversed when religious teachings cease to inspire people to do good deeds and a moral decline sets in. People then become proud and haughty. Whether or not they act upon the teachings of their religion, they believe that they continue to be the chosen people of God. Their attachment to their religion is reduced to lip service: it exists in theory but not in practice; in the outward form but not in spirit. When religion serves only to show one’s superiority over others, a high degree of moral perversion has been reached. People hold their heads high and declare that they are the upholders of a religion which has retained the pure and original form of monotheism. However, they contradict themselves by manifesting such reverence for personalities both alive and