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Islam_in_Focus_text

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Social Life<br />

The social life of the true Muslim is based upon supreme<br />

pr<strong>in</strong>cipies and designed to secure happ<strong>in</strong>ess with prosperity<br />

for the <strong>in</strong>dividual as well as for the society. Class warfare,<br />

social castes and dom<strong>in</strong>ation of the <strong>in</strong>dividual over society<br />

or vice versa are alien to the social life of <strong>Islam</strong>. Nowhere <strong>in</strong><br />

the Qur'an or the Traditions of Prophet Muhammad can one<br />

f<strong>in</strong>d any mention of superiority on account of class or orig<strong>in</strong><br />

or wealth. On the contrary, there are many verses of the<br />

Qur'an and say<strong>in</strong>gs of Muhammad to rem<strong>in</strong>d mank<strong>in</strong>d of the<br />

vital facts of life, facts which serve at the same time as pr<strong>in</strong>-<br />

cipies of the social structure of the <strong>Islam</strong>ic life. Among these<br />

is the fact that humanity represents one family spr<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g<br />

from one and the same father and mother, and aspir<strong>in</strong>g to the<br />

same ultimate goals.<br />

The unity of mank<strong>in</strong>d is conceived <strong>in</strong> the light of the<br />

common parentage of Adam and Eve. Every human be<strong>in</strong>g is<br />

a memher of the universal family established by the First Fa-<br />

ther and the First Mother, and i s entitled therefore to enjoy<br />

the common benefits as he is enjo<strong>in</strong>ed to share the common<br />

responsibilities. When people realize that they all belong to<br />

Adam and Eve and that these were the creation of God, there<br />

will be no room for racial prejudice or social <strong>in</strong>justice or<br />

second class citizenship. People will be united <strong>in</strong> their social<br />

behavior as they are united <strong>in</strong> nature by the bond of common<br />

238> >-

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