ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Islamic Concept and Its Characteristics Chapter Iv : the Permanent Realities And so, set your face [surrender your whole being and purpose] toward the [one, ever- true] faith, turning away from all that is false in accordance with the natural disposi­tion that Allah has instilled into man. No change (let there be) in what Allah has created: that is the ever-true faith. But most people do not know (AI-Rum 30:30).

From the basic characteristic of the Islamic concept that is, its divine origin, proceed all the other characteristics. As this concept has been revealed by the Creator, man's obligation in relation to it is to receive it with an open mind, respond to it with a willing heart, adapt to it, and apply its teachings to the affairs of his life.

One must realize that the Islamic concept is neither a product of human thought, nor a response to some particular environment, nor valid only for a par­ticular period of time, nor has it sprung from any earthly cause. It is a pure gift of guidance from the Creator as a mercy for mankind. This characteristic of divine origination implies another very im­portant characteristic.

The Islamic concept contains certain un­changeable realities, so that all development and changes in the Islamic society must be within the framework of these permanent realities. The "constituents" and "values" of the Islamic concept are permanent and unchangeable, whereas the "styles" and "forms" of societies and ways of doing things may change. All the changes in the outward forms of practical life, however, remain under the firm and fixed fundamentals and values of this concept.

This does not mean a "freezing" of thought and action. On the contrary the Islamic concept not only permits but encourages move­ment and change as long as they are within its own framework and around its fixed axis. A little observation and thought will convince anyone that this characteristic, i.e. movement within an orbit around a fixed axis, is a characteristic of all of Allah's creation, not merely of the Islamic concept. Some examples of this follow.

Matter, whether in the form of particles or in the form of energy is subject to the law of conservation, yet it is always in motion and changes its form and appearance. The atom consists of a nucleus and some electrons that revolve around it in fixed orbits. Every planet has an orbit, and every star has a course.