MODERN CIVILIZATION

unfavourable circumstances, favourable possibilities would emerge, and by being able to use these possibilities, we would be able to build a new history of Islam. Led by their political and economic interests, the upholders of modern civilization follow many policies which might be detrimental to the collective good of Muslims. In reality this has nothing to do with any enmity towards Islam. It is simply due to the imperatives of economic competition. The affairs of this world being based on the principle of competition, such events have always taken place and will continue to do so in the near and distant future. So, Muslims must accept these things as a part of nature and turn their full attention to seeking out alternative possibilities in order to exploit them fully. Such possibilities do exist for us inspite of all the apparently adverse circumstances in which we strive to perpetuate our Islamic heritage. For this work to be accomplished many contributory factors were required—factors which had never hitherto existed. It is the modern civilization alone which has provided for the first time in human history all those means and resources which were necessary for the realization of the process of Idkhal-ekalimah (global dissemination of the message of God). In this way, according to the words of Hadith, the case of modern civilization is one neither of friendliness nor of hostility. It falls rather into a third category—that of supportiveness. A few examples of this supportive nature are given below to serve as a practical explanation of this matter. The first and foremost requirement for the performance of the mission of conveying the message is the provision of a system of global communication. It is an acknowledged fact that the scientific revolution of the modern world is the first event in human history to have placed at our disposal such a worldwide system of communication—a prerequisite for the realization of Islamic goals. The second requirement essential to facilitating this task was complete religious freedom. In the absence of religious freedom, successful communication of the desired nature had never been possible. Now this civilization has brought into being an era in which for the first time Out of unfavourable circumstances, favourable possibilities would emerge, and by being able to use these possibilities, we would be able to build a new history of Islam.