Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 373
373 moral and spiritual values which lie at the root of all beneficence. The role of Islam in the present day may be summarized as follows: It inspires faith in, and vivid realisation of, the existence of a Beneficent Creator, without partner, associate, or equal, Who is the sole source and fountainhead of all beneficence and Who has created the universe and all that is in it with a purpose. The purpose is that man shall become an image of God, a reflection and manifestation of Divine attributes, and be irradiated by His Light. To that end man has been appointed God’s vicegerent upon earth, and the universe has been “constrained to his service. ” The laws governing the universe all operate toward the fulfilment of that Divine purpose. Ample guidance has been vouchsafed through revelation to enlighten human reason and judgement, and to aid them in regulating human conduct along beneficent lines. Divine law, which includes the law of nature, and revealed guidance proceed from the same source; each is illustrative and explanatory of the other. There is no possibility of conflict between the two. Islam sets forth the intimate relationship between reason and revelation and resolves the so- called conflict between science and religion. It expounds and illustrates spiritual laws and truths by reference to the operation of physical laws and the phenomena of nature, and thus stimulates the exercise