ISLAMIC MESSAGE IN A CHANGING WORLD

up opportunities for performing the task of conveying the message of Islam to people with far greater effectiveness. Take the practical aspect of the changed circumstances today. Here also we find clear indications that the present changes are only paving the way for presenting Islam the religion of nature on an unprecedented scale. Let us see for instance, what happened in the socialist world. In one of his writings, Karl Marx had said that religion was the opium of the masses. But today, the socialist Russians are themselves saying that Marxism itself was the worst kind of opium of the mind. Just a few years ago, it was well-nigh unthinkable to carry a copy of the Quran inside the Soviet Union. Then, Aeroflot (Russian Airlines) was engaged to airlift one million copies of the Quran from Jeddah to Moscow. In its March 12, 1990 issue, Time magazine gave detailed report on the religious position in the Soviet Union. It said: “Some 55 million Soviet Muslims enjoy the fruits of new religious tolerance.” The strange but meaningful title of this report was “Karl Marx makes room for Muhammad.” These changes taking place in the world today have opened up great new scope for introducing Islam a religion of nature. Muslims must remain very alert in order not to miss these opportunities. The foregoing arguments suffice to show that the changes taking place in the present world have opened up new vistas for conveying the message of God to people. These changes have made it possible for Islam to be presented to the modern man in the modern jargon. The most important task ahead is to have a thorough understanding of these changes and then to avail of them in an organized and disciplined way. This is undoubtedly a historic task. History awaits the advance of certain dedicated individuals towards this goal so that it can give them resounding credit for having shared the message of Islam to humanity in this modern age. Those who can prove themselves worthy of such historic credit will be the most fortunate of men. o History awaits the advance of certain dedicated individuals towards this goal so that it can give them resounding credit for having shared the message of Islam to humanity in this modern age.