ISLAM’S COMMITMENT TO NATION-BUILDING

O UR country India has been the land of opportunities in every way. Opportunities for education, businesses, ownership of properties, employment and every other facility has been available to all to make use of and to progress in life. Places of worship, religious organizations, schools and colleges run exclusively by particular communities for their own communities are thriving all over the country. One cannot ignore this reality by citing few stray negative incidents. Islam’s teaching with regard to unpleasant incidents should be seen in the backdrop of the entire creation plan of God. According to the creation plan of God, the present world is only a small part of our eternal life. It is meant as a ground for our personality development, so that we can make ourselves deserving inhabitants for the eternal world of Paradise. It is a personality development workshop for those who freely and willingly want to develop themselves to be worthy of God’s Paradise. Negative experiences or problems in life are actually challenges and opportunities for development. If every situation were to be smooth and easy, and every experience positive, one’s personality would not flourish. For instance, unless one undergoes suffering, one will not be able to cultivate the virtue of patience. Similarly, if there were no rivers to cross, people would not have to build any bridges. God has given man freedom of action as part of His creation plan. God does not desire us to live as mechanical beings; He wants us to be thinking and conscientious beings. Freedom has been bestowed on man so that he can utilize his talents towards developing creativity and achieving progress. God wants us to turn towards Him of our own free will. However, where there is freedom, there is also the chance of misuse of freedom. Each time a person misuses his freedom it results in a negative situation for others who may be associated with him. Many challenges thus arise due to the misuse of freedom. ISLAM’S COMMITMENT TO NATION-BUILDING Islam As It Is This world is a personality development workshop for those who freely and willingly want to develop themselves to be worthy of God’s Paradise.