Page 117 - Age of Peace Goodword.indd

Living in a New Age

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he problems faced by the Muslim community in the
Tpresent age have, directly or indirectly, only one cause—
that is, unawareness of the advantages of the present age.
The modern age is, in every respect, a new age. If the
previous age was a traditional one, the modern age is non-
traditional. However, Muslims of the present times are not
cognizant of this fact. This is why their planning, done along
traditional lines, proves to be fruitless. In other words, the
case of present-day Muslims is one of anachronism, that is,
living in the present age while still clinging to the mindset
of the previous age. Any kind of effort towards the revival of
Muslims can be successful only if it effects a change in their
way of thinking. It must make them emerge from the past and
lead their lives in the present.
During the Italo-Turkish war of 1911-12, Libyan fighters
famously used this slogan:
Mutu al-yawm aizza qabla an tamutu ghadan azilla
(Die a respected death today, before you have to die a
disrespected death tomorrow)
The banner on which this slogan is imprinted, and which
I have personally seen, is still on display in the museum in
Tripoli. This slogan may express exactly how present-day
Muslims feel, but it goes against the creation plan of God.
The right slogan should be: ‘Life is a divine gift. It should be
utilized for a creative purpose.’

Every human being having been endowed with unique

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