Civilisation at the Cross Roads — Page 6
. . Did you then think that We had created yoq. without purpose and that you would not be brought back to Us'l. , (XXIII: 116) God is the Creator of the universe, tl1e universe is under His control. He has created the universe and. man with a purpose. We must all return to Him and are accountable to Him. This consciousness must inspire, direct and guide ns all the time. The purpose of man's creation is that he should become a manifestation of God's attributes, in other words9 the image cf God. (LI : 57) All the ills from which we suffer to-day are a consequence of our neglect of this purpose and our apathy in its pursuit. In fact, most of us are prone to substi_tute the means which have bf'en provided for the attainment of this purpose, (or the purpose itself. We occupy ourselves - with the diligent pursuit 1. 11' the means as ends in themselves : they become the idols that we worship. Thus we constantly defeat the true purpose of our existence and by creating multiple barriers between ourselves and God, we finally shut ourselves off from Him. Our deepest roncem should be to put ourselves in accord with God, our Creator, the true Source of all beneficence. How to do it is no great mystery. The Quran puts it in very simple language : · "When L\ly servants ask thee about Me, say: 'I am n<·ar, I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he prays to ~le'. So they should hearken to L\lt' ttnd believe in Me, th~t they may follow the r. ght way. " (11:187) Ou<'e we have established our relationship with God and •H!' in ac<',ird wi lb. Him, it would become easy to think in k1 ms of humanity. It is only through God that we can adjust l'll. 11· rela t. ionship with our fellow. hcings of all races, colours, creeds and clas!;cs. Any other approach is bound to be partial a'!td must fall o;hort in somf' respect or the other. The realisation that ever lmmaR being is Go<l 's cren tun·, s~cvant, ambassurior, with F\ Spark of divinity in him or her, alone will eno:1ble