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Pickthall eloquently clarified the values that Islam holds, which are contrary to the contemporary norms. He argues that Islam aims at improving the individual while seriously building a brotherhood that is held strong by common values of love, respect, and care for our fellow beings. We want to state clearly also, that he is arguing from the perspective of the text of the religion itself, not the actions of its followers then, or even now. As we argued in our earlier article, though Muslims seem to be overwhelmingly and by a greater percentage the most successful in putting into practice what their holy book contains, followers of the religion have also been steadily moving away from the religious teachings and the influence it has on their actions.
In his discourse, Pickthall argues that material things, riches, arts and things of beauty are not the preoccupation of Muslims, neither are they obsessed with preservation of old relics in the hopes of holding onto a past culture as is common in the Western world. All material things fall under two categories to the Muslim (a) aids in one’s quest to earn the pleasure of his Lord, or else (b) refreshment. For that he says “No amount of work of art or works of literature in any land can be regarded as justification of Islam so long as wrong, injustice and intolerance remain.” The moral teachings of Islam obligate the care of every member of the human family to self. For ensuring the freedom of thought, action, and worship, tyranny and oppression has to be actively fought.
“No victories of war or peace, however brilliant, can be quoted as the harvest of Islam. It aims at nothing less than universal human brotherhood. Still as a religion, it does encourage human effort after self-improvement more than any other religion. And since it became a power in the world, it has produced cultural results which bear comparison with the results achieved by all other religions, civilizations and philosophies put together.”(Pickthall, Pg. 1)
The religion pushes man to seek knowledge and to use his reasoning in matters of religion. The first word from the Angel Jibril to the prophet of Islam was “Read.” And his followers are charged with seeking knowledge from the cradle to the grave. Seek knowledge; the Prophet was quoted as saying, even if it takes you to China. At that time it was like saying the other end of the world. A PHD is not the terminal degree in Islam. You have to keep learning your entire life, incorporating what you gain from it into improving your community, family and self. Universal education, Pickthall claims, thus became the sacred law of Islam thirteen centuries before the West adopted the concept.
How do we manage people in our society in accordance with the divine laws? How do we move away from our counterproductive behaviors in public service such as corruption and nepotism that has tied up the nation in knots? The answer is; by following closely what it means to be good and just to God’s people who have been entrusted into the leader’s care. The leaders as well as managers are charged with applying all moral and ethical principle of righteousness towards the care of their fellow citizens. God describes the person who learns but does not put into practice the good or positive reaped from it to improve his conduct, as “a donkey carrying books.” It becomes a burden to him, for which he gains nothing. “The aim of religion” Pickthall writes “is no far distant object, situated in a future life; it is present here and now, in service of our fellow men.”
Pickthall however admits that somehow the ordinarily man has lost his way and is generally oblivious to the needs of other humans, other creations, as well as the purpose of the Creator in the grand design of the whole universe. Because of that he postulates that “so long as the natural laws stand firm and certain consequences good or evil follow certain acts of men and nations, so long must stand the need of man to recognize in human life a higher will and purpose than his own, and to expect a higher judgment than his own.”
Finally, Islam, says Pickthall recognizes one leader, follows one guidance and looks towards one goal. The leader is the Prophet if Islam, the guidance is the Holy Quran, and the Goal is Allah. Everything else, be it economic survival the peak of which brings prosperity to man, man’s social life and politics must all fall in line; for none of them are ends in of themselves but means to that end. What conforms with God’s laws, is what conforms with his universal laws. What conforms with the universal laws is what gives man peace and makes God happy and usually earns one favors with him. And that path when sincerely treaded brings happiness to one and his fellow beings with which he is in contact and ultimately takes one to his Lord successfully.