They recommend human beings to avoid the evils...

They recommend human beings to avoid the evils, such as envy , pride, selfishness, sensuality, etc, and cherish virtues such as truthfulness, integrity, affection, modesty, etc Or should it be claimed that self-purification is in itself an independent goal? Which of the above views should be accepted? To our way of thinking the Qur’an never approves of dualism in any sense.

The Qur’an is a monotheistic book in every sense of the word It says: “God has no like or equal”(3) It represents all the Attributes of God in their utmost perfection.[All the best Names are His,” “The Most Exalted Attribute is only God’s.”](4) It admits of no partners for Him, and no rival, and says all power belongs to Him and to none other. It is also monotheistic in not attributing any goal as a fundamental, independent and ultimate to the universe but God.

For man, too, in both his creation and his obligations and actions, no goal but God is recognized. There is all the difference between a man who wants Islam, and a man who believes in just schools of philosophy. Many of the things said by Islam are the same as those of others, but not in the same perspective. Islam always regards matters in a monotheistic perspective.

In philosophy, as we said before, man has reached a stage where he says that the world is governed by a series of constant and unalterable laws. The Qur’an says the same but in the divine context. [“You will never find God’s Way alterable.”](5) The Qur’an does not only accept the principle of social justice, but considers it most significant, though not as an ultimate goal, nor as a pre-requisite to what we understood by worldly happiness.

Islam accepts worldly happiness within the practical constraints of monotheism, that is, to be wholly devoted to God. According to the Qur’an, man gains his happiness only from God, and it is He who fills all the gaps in his life, and satisfies him. The Qur’an says: “Those who have faith and their hearts are tranquil in thinking of God, know that all hearts find peace by remembering God .”(6) Only God brings repose to the anxious and inquisitive hearts of man.

Other things are subsidiary and preliminary matters, not the final stage. The same is said of worship: “To remember God, pray.”(7) Also, the following verse says: “Prayer checks wickedness and injustice , and remembering God is more important.”(8) Islam thinks of man as created to worship God, to seek proximity to Him and to know Him, all of which give him power.