Moral Principles as the Basis of Islamic Culture — Page 6
towards social and material aspects. The basic principle which Islam has put forward even with regard to the conception of individual own- ership elevates all social and legal relationships to a moral level. Man has been forbidden by Islam to entertain the notion that his apparent or legal ownership or proprietorship may~ :. !S~d i:. :: ·~• ·l>ur_pose of causing damage or inj'VY to others or ro discriminate ag. . ~ them or to exclu~e them from the benefits of that over which his ow. 1ership or proprietorship has been recognized; The basic principle is that absulute ownership over the whole of creation belongs to God ~lone and that the dominion bestowed by God upon inan over the rest of creation is in the nature of a trust. Man, as already stated, has been ue. ate<l so that he should become a manifestation of divine attributes. It is evident, however, that God is not dependent upon any thing. He i~ Self-existing and Eternal: everything is dependent upon Him, He doe'i not stand in need of anything. But it is rf"Cognized th~t man is dependent for ttic wntinuation of his life and the fulfilment of his n<. -eds upnn many things. He is, therefore, permitted the use of a portion of that which he owns for his personal needs and the needs of those dependent upon him. The universe has, however, not been created for the benefit of a class, section or individual. Man himself has been created for an objel:t and a purpose which is common to the whole of mankind. Therefore, the exercise by man of the dominion that has been entrusted to him over the resources of the universe and the forces of nature must be for the benefit of all mankind. If this principle were recognized and accepted and the regulation of human rel. itionshirs were b:iseJ upon it, human activity in all spheres - in- dividual. social, political - would become ";holly beneficent and man- kind would be~in to live at peace with each other. This is the basic principle if Islamic nalture. Attention may. how- ever, by way of illustration, be drawn to its application in particular spheres. The seconJ central point on which all revealed religions are. asreed is that of prophethood ·God reveals His will and His law through a prorhet who in turn. communic;. 1tes and interprets ii. to the ·- (, -