ACROSS THREE CONTINENTS

Despite the fervent utterances and glowing encomiums of Muslim leaders on the subject of Islamic prowess, it is an indisputable fact that Muslims find themselves far behind the times. Were it not for the God-given might of the petrodollar, Muslims would have occupied the lowermost rung of the international ladder. As it is, with such assistance as they have, they can hold on high the banner of their religion. Some Impressions of Al-Risala In Bamako, I met a gentleman from Canada who is a regular recipient of the English version of AI-Risala. When I asked him what he thought of it, he admitted to having been impressed by its articles. “Very simple, very effective,” was his comment. There was also a gentleman from Kenya who received AI-Risala regularly. He told me that where he lived, there were at least ten people who were regular readers of Al-Risala. After reading one issue, they eagerly anticipate the next. These were all well-educated people and well-versed in English. A Swiss participant in the Islamic conference remarked that there were also several people where he came from who read the magazine every month. It was reported to me that one of the readers in Switzerland had such a high opinion of AI-Risala that he taped several of its articles and broadcast them from the local radio station. I did not take many books with me—only a few copies of an Arabic work Al-deen Fi Muwajahat Al’Ilm and certain issues of AI-Risala in English. Whenever there was any mention of my books or of AI-Risala, these were commented upon with great enthusiasm and respect, and people frequently expressed a desire to receive the entire set. This can perhaps be explained by the desire on the part of many people nowadays to read about Islam in a style that is at once contemporary, simple and direct. It would seem moreover that there is no organization other than the Islamic Centre (now CPS International) which introduces Islam to the general public in a contemporary idiom. Islam is all too often projected in a political style, under the mistaken impression that this places religious matters within a modern context. A truly contemporary style, however, would derive its inspiration less from the world of politics and more from the world of science. At present, whatever books are available in English are for the greater part written by those who wish to present Islam in a political light. This is a method of presentation which cannot have much appeal for the modern mind.