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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Man and Universe Chapter 28: Islamic Philosophy of History Criteria: To ascertain the view-point of a school in respect of the nature of history, a number of criteria may be used. By taking these criteria into consideration, it can be found out what exactly the approach of a particular school is on historical movements and the nature of historical events. Here we recount the criteria which have come to our notice in this respect.

Of course it is possible that there may exist some other criteria which might have not come to our notice. Before mentioning these criteria and finding out the view of Islam on them, we deem it necessary to point out that from our point of view the Qur’an hints at certain principles which point to the prime importance of the spiritual basis of society as compared to its material basis.

The Qur’an expressly enunciating one of these principle says: "Allah changes not the condition of a people until they change what is related to their own conduct and behaviour." (Surah ar-Ra'd, 13 :11) In other words, Allah does not change the destiny of a people until and unless they themselves change their spirit. This verse expressly negates the theory of the economic compulsion of history.

Here we mention the criteria so far as they could be ascertained by us and in their light would determine the logic of Islam. I. Strategy of Mission Every school has a message for society and calls upon people to accept it. For this purpose it has to use some special method which may suit its main objectives and be appropriate to its general approach on the nature of its historical movement.

The preaching of a school consists of acquainting people with its basic view, and exerting pressure on special levers in order to stir and mobilize them. For example, the school of Auguste Comte, which claims to be a sort of scientific school, holds that mental development is the essence of human evolution. This school believes that as far as his mentality is concerned, man has already passed through two stages, mythical and philosophical, and has now reached the scientific stage.

As this school claims to be scientific, all the doctrines preached by it are couched in scientific terms and the levers which it wants to use as a means to mobilize people are also scientific levers. Marxism is a revolutionary theory of the working class. Its preaching aims at creating consciousness of class contradictions among the workers.