TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE

A person should reflect on the fact that he is helpless in every respect, that he cannot survive even for a moment without the life-support system on earth. Even within the life-support system, a virus (e.g. Covid-19) invisible to the naked eye, renders him weak and helpless. These events serve to teach us that man is not the master of the world. The master of this world is God, the Lord of the universe, who is running it. Therefore, it is proper for man to surrender himself before his Creator. Being Aware of the Times A saying of the Prophet guides us in this manner: ‘A wise man must be cognizant of his time.’ (Sahih ibn Hibban, Hadith No. 361) This saying of the Prophet of Islam explains the perfection of human knowledge. It is not sufficient for a person to be conversant with bookish knowledge and the traditions of the past. Rather he needs to be aware of his times, of the past as well as the present. The importance of knowing the times is both rational and practical. Without this he fails to understand things in the universal context, therefore, an in-depth analysis of reality is not possible. Thus, in practical terms, he is a flawed person. He fails to know how to apply the eternal truths to the conditions of the time. Such a person cannot successfully plan his actions. o