principles laid down in the Qur'an. All those who have the good of
humanity at heart can join hands to build up a society in which every
individual has full scope for developing his potentialities. Abraham
(PBUH), the builder of the Ka'bah, was the first to summon mankind
to this task. The Qur'an rightly says of him that he was "appointed
as a leader of mankind" (2:124).
IV. Freedom, Justice and BeautyThe need for the Qur'anic order arises from the fact that in the
absence of a universal way of life, mankind must remain divided
into mutually hostile groups. Under such conditions, there can be
no enduring peace, no permanent security for the individual and no
prosperity and happiness in the world. The Qur'an, for this reason,
constantly draws attention to the unity of mankind, although
conflict cannot be eliminated immediately:
Had it not been for Allah's repelling some men by means of others,
cloisters and churches and oratories and mosques, wherein the name
of Allah is oft mentioned, would assuredly have been pulled down.
Verily, Allah helpeth one who helpeth Him (22:40).
The urgent need for a political organisation which would
embrace all humanity cannot be denied. The existing political
systems only divide mankind into warring camps. Each group has
devised a system which serves its own interests and gives support to
its own ambitions. Each of the political ideologies is suited only to
its authors but fails to serve others. The supremacy of a single
group, racial, cultural or occupational is either implied or expressly
affirmed in these ideologies. Nazism and Fascism defend the right
of the stronger race to exploit the weaker one. Communism
theoretically asserts the supremacy of the workers but practically
places political power in the hands of the party. Democracy
inculcates belief in the cultural superiority of the people of one
state, and seeks to make them prosperous even at the expense of
peoples of other states. The Qur'an alone offers an ideology which
can appeal to all men. Human equality and human worth are its
cornerstones. Its goal is the uplift and unification of all mankind. It
counters all attempts to break up mankind into groups. It dismisses
the physical differences among men as of no consequence and
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