EVERY PERSON IS YOUR POTENTIAL FRIEND

and then studied secular disciplines such as science, philosophy, history, etc. In this way, I gained an awareness of the times, of the contemporary age, and with full certainty I rediscovered Islam. What do you think are the basic principles for properly understanding the Quran? The basic principles for properly understanding the Quran are to ponder on the Quran with a deconditioned mind and to beseech God with true God-consciousness and piety. Could you please tell us something about your lifestyle? In matters of lifestyle, my principle is: ‘Simple living, high thinking’. What do you think might be some of the difficulties in inviting people towards God—Islamic missionary activity—in these times? In today’s age, in no part of the world is the work of inviting people towards God difficult. The only condition is that one must do this work in a peaceful manner, with wisdom. The biggest obstacle in this regard is Muslims themselves. One big mistake that Muslim thinkers made, starting in the age of colonialism, is that on account of having become politically dominated by the modern West, they began to think that modern thought or modern culture was intrinsically opposed to Islam. This led to an unnecessary confrontation and clash between them and those people who represented the modern mind. Because of this, the work that Muslims should have been engaged in—conveying the message of God to people—was unable to proceed naturally. My advice to Muslims is to put a complete stop to campaigns against modern thought. Only then will it be possible for the task of conveying the message of God to people to proceed in a natural manner. What do you think are some of the qualities a person who invites people towards God (dayee) should have? A person who conveys God’s message to people should have complete well-wishing in his heart for the one whom he addresses. No provocation from the addressee should cause him to abandon this well-wishing for them. Could you please reflect on your efforts to help Muslims secure their rights? I have always given this advice to Muslims: They should abandon all campaigns of demanding their rights; and they should spend their life