The Preservation of Culture

king can also be preserved! We can therefore safely infer that the preservation of the Buddha statues in Afghanistan, which date back 2000 years, is as desirable in Islam as it is in other traditions and disciplines. In the context of the history of the Israelites, the Quran tells us that they possessed a sacred relic (the Ark of the Covenant), a part of their heritage which they preserved for generations as a source of peace and security. This relic, or cultural legacy, was first preserved by the generations of Moses and Aaron. We learn from the Quran that such great importance was attached to this inherited Ark that, on one occasion; it was borne aloft by the angels from one place to another! (2:248) This incident is a direct illustration of the preservation of cultural heritage. This underscores the importance of cultural heritage as well as the fact that such preservation, for the benefit of coming generations, does not run counter to the spirit of the divine shariah. An important attribute of a believer, as described in the Quran, is that of a ‘traveler’ (9:112). That is, one who travels in the land from one place to another, in order to take lessons from these historical places left for us by former generations. As the Quran in another verse says: “And how many towns have We destroyed, which exalted in their wanton life of ease and plenty! Now their dwellings are deserted—all but a few! And We are their heirs!” (28:58) It also says: “Say: Roam the earth and see what was the end of those who rejected faith.” (6:11) According to this verse, it is desirable in Islam to preserve cultural heritage of the past in order that the coming generations