Islam_in_Focus_text

are somehow reconciled. Man does not live by bread alone.
That is true enough. But rather does he live by Prayers only.
He is both a political or materialistic animal and a religious
explorer of the holy
.
As already mentioned, the contemporary world is clearly
baffled by numerous problems. But it is equally baffled by
the conflicting diagnoses and prescriptions to cope with
these problems. Some people sing along with the popular
lyric, "What the world needs now is love... etc." Some call
for a human rebirth. Others turn to Marxism, Humanism, Sa-
tanism, or Scientisrn as the ultimate solution. Still more are
awaiting the arrival of some future Savior. Yet this long list
does not even include the indifferent, the hopeless, and the
apathetic who may in fact outnumber the optimist clubs
combined. But it seems that the greatest need today is the
pressing need for "understanding." What man needs most of
all is to understand himself and his nature, his potentials and
limitations, his place in the universe and relationships with
its elements.
The question now is how can Islam help man to under-
stand himself, unclog his mind, and clear his blurred vision?
To try an answer to this question, it will be necessary to
keep in mind the basic concepts of Islam which have been
discussed and to elaborate further some elements of its value
system. This analysis will hopefully show how they may re-
late to modern man in his contemporary predicament, and