FROM THE EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

FROM THE EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Prof. Farida Khanam is an author, editor, translator, public speaker and former professor of Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. Among her books are ‘A Simple Guide to Sufism’ and ‘A Study of World’s Major Religions’. She has translated into English many books authored by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Currently the chairperson of CPS International, she is a regular contributor of articles to various publications. Prof. Khanam has edited Maulana’s English translation of the Quran and has also translated his Urdu commentary of the Quran into English. She can be reached at hub@thespiritofislam.org WORLDLY GAIN, SPIRITUAL LOSS O NCE, I was told by a friend of mine about how well she had done in securing a job with a big company. The job brought her a decent salary. It was good news indeed, but then she also revealed that she had lost interest in her household duties and socializing. She had become preoccupied with her office work. She did not even feel like spending time with her husband and children. All of this information was communicated to me in a matter-of-fact tone. It seemed that this behaviour was expected of her and quite normal. Her mind had become so tuned to her office work that she had stopped missing her social activities. This made me think about the willingness of people to become so totally absorbed in mundane activities for a lucrative monthly salary. Here was someone who was prepared to put her heart and soul into her work, to set all other loyalties aside, to become immersed in it to the exclusion of all other considerations. What could be the reason for this great change? It was due to the expectation of financial gain that the salary would provide. For spending a few hours in office, people mould their entire lives accordingly. Even when they know that around 10-12 years of their life on an average is spent on a job—people consider it necessary to undertake such jobs whilst sacrificing many other interests. All around us we find examples of such people, engrossed body and soul in their work, devoted to the banalities of commerce. Ask anyone of them to help in God’s cause, and you will be met with indifference or, at best with half-heartedness. There will be no zeal and dedication