Imam al-Baqir (a.

Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) further explicitly adds to the horinzon of that idea, and fills dimensions with light, by saying: "The Qur an is not dead, but alive, and the verse is not dead, but alive. Had it been that if a verse revealed to a people died with the death of those people, the Qur'an would have died too. But the verse flows on with the survivors as it had flowed with the departed.

"(6) Through these firm, expressive words, the leaders of thought and the Imams of the divine law, illustrate the continuity and eternality of the Islamic religion. They made a distinction between the contents and the goals of the religion on one hand, and the elements of time and place, on the other hand, since the laws and the regulations of the religion are regarded eternally applicable, free of any outside effects.

The Islamic religion deals with man abstractly and objectively, so that it may be applicable in respect to all of mankind in every stage and age, taking into consideration that man, owing to his particular disposition, innate needs, inclinations and instincts, does not change in his essential makeup, though time place and other outer circumstances may vary.

Actually changes and developments occur only in the means, methods and interests which man develops to meet his psychological and physical needs, and through which he may express his ideas and feelings. Through progress in the ways and means of living or what is termed social development, the goods and services which meet man's natural requirements, such as the means of transportation, medical treatment, housing, education, food. etc., all increase.

If we study deeply this phenomenon and discover the basic elements which impart to Islam the quality of being everlasting and continual, we would uncover the following: a. Scope and universality: One of the factors which maintains Islam amidst mankind, is its scope and universality. Islam is a universal and capacious religion. It handles affairs as diverse and far ranging as belief, worship, ethics and a complete set of laws organizing family affairs, the state.

wealth, economy, war and peace, land and relations in the workplace. It also covers man's various individual activities, including hygiene. nourishment. comfort. creativeness, preservation of bodily and psychological health, etc.