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In another basic sense, a community is a comprehensive<br />

group with two chief characteristics: (1) it is a group with<strong>in</strong><br />

which the <strong>in</strong>dividual cari have most of the activities and ex-<br />

periences that are important to him.(2) the group is bound<br />

together by a shared sense of belong<strong>in</strong>g and a feel<strong>in</strong>g of<br />

identity (Broom & Selznick, p. 31). u<br />

The historical master trend has been a movement from<br />

those <strong>in</strong>timate, deep, moral relationships of community to<br />

those impersonal, formal utilitarian relationships of mass so-<br />

ciety. The movement has been designated by different phas-<br />

es and marked by far-reach<strong>in</strong>g consequences.<br />

From this historical trend, one can <strong>in</strong>fer certa<strong>in</strong> conclu-<br />

sions. First, this historical evolution has not been total I y neg-<br />

ative or completely positive and constructive. Both negative<br />

and positive consequences have affected different people <strong>in</strong><br />

different degrees. Secondly, modern society is far from per-<br />

fect, there is a great task yet to be performed. Thirdly, the<br />

human condition is not a lost cause or a hopeless case. True,<br />

there are crises and travail, but the situation is not entirely<br />

out of control. F<strong>in</strong>ally, mank<strong>in</strong>d has grown more <strong>in</strong>terdepen-<br />

dent and human societies more <strong>in</strong>tertw<strong>in</strong>ed. Whatever hap-<br />

pens <strong>in</strong> one segment of society is bound to affect the rest.<br />

We should keep this <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d when we discuss the <strong>Islam</strong>ic<br />

concept of community.<br />

7) L. Broom & P. Selznick, Sociology: A Texi wiih \dapied Read<strong>in</strong>gs<br />

(New York: Harpa & Rowe, 1968)<br />

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