ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Western Civilization through Muslim Eyes Conclusion Let us sum up the topics treated in this volume and the conclusions to which they lead. We started with man's ascent from a primitive animal- like soul dwelling in holes and caves of the rocks up to the sophisticated denizen of the atomic space-age and its affluent technological society.

We evaluated that society as it manifests itself in the West, and studied its interaction with the more leisurely Orient, illustrating with an Iranian's reaction to his sojourn in Europe. We examined the reasons for the growth of Christianity; and then scrutinized the history of its rise, its split into sects, and the effects of these things on the world, not least in anti-Islamic propaganda honored with the ferocity only accorded to a rival who is truly feared.

We saw Islam and Christianity face to face in Africa. We considered the pursuit of happiness in a machine-made culture, its worship of sex, its wild seeking of sensations in materialistic ways, and the reaction of drop-outs who revolt against its drab monotony.

We saw the effects of permissiveness over alcohol; the desperate contrasts between the haves and the have-nots allowed in the world by the irresponsibility of those whose religion should make them care; the bloody wars conducted by partisans of the society for the prevention of cruelty to animals; race discrimination, and the breakdown of the -family; artificial shortages of vital goods engineered by vested interests in certain essential commodities.

Part 2 turned to look at what Islam has to offer this disturbed world; its doctrine of Man, of Eternity and Judgment, of social life on earth and the individual's duties therein; its emphasis on reason; its education program; its political implications, and its demand for total self-alignment of each human will with the Supreme Will of the Creator of all things visible and invisible.

Part 3 dwelt on Islam's way of dealing with social problems: alcoholism, family life, racism, the class war and world peace. Finally we asked: What is the position of Islam today, what is its task and what role should it and could it be playing in helping mankind out of the morass into which the divisive materialisms of East and West threaten to plunge us one and all?

The endeavor has been made to be scrupulously fair, to relate only known facts, to make deductions from such facts and to envisage the world as it might be.