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We do, however, perceive
ourselves in possession of free will and are judged in
accordance with the decisions we take. We thereby create
our own world and our own destiny within given
parameters. The "many worlds theory" explains this
concept by saying that different worlds exist in
superposition, that is they are possible, but only one of
them will become reality for an observer at any one
time.
Allah has equipped us with potential, but we
will not fulfil all of it. As we discover who we are and
what we can do, we also limit our subsequent options by
the decisions we have already taken. Because our lifespan
is finite, we must focus on our aim if we want to reach
it. The only direct link between two points is straight
line. The Qur'an calls the journey of the believer back
to Allah the straight path. If lime were infinite, it
would not matter in which direction we set out to reach a
particular destination, we would eventually end up there.
Time, however, is limited, and if we stray too far, we
might not be able to make it back. The model of the
straight path therefore implies that we must make regular
small course corrections as soon as we deviate from it,
Islam calls this concept repentance.
It should by now be clear that Islam uses a
wholesome and synthetic, rather than an analytical
approach. It is a complete praxis oriented world view
which provides guidance for the individual, rules for
social interaction, and a satisfactory answer to the
question of the purpose of our existence. To Allah we
belong, and to Him we shall return. Man only obtains what
he strives for, and his effort will soon be apparent. His
deeds will be judged by his intention. For those who
limit their horizon to the material world surrounding us,
life is not much more than play and time pass. For those
who raise their sights to the next stage of existence, it
becomes a temporary and intermediary stage and testing
ground, whose importance lies only in the fact that Allah
does not waste the effort of the believers. "Nature" has
its rules for the benefit of our orientation, and
similarly there are set rules and rituals to help us
through our daily lives. Our senses take in informalion
which our mind processes, and in this way we ensure our
bodily survival. The survival of the soul, on the other
hand, depends on the measure of faith our hearts
contain.
Islam balances the demands of this world and the
next, the physical and the metaphysical. It has its own
philosophy, value system, social order, political
economy, and so on, but ultimately it is a system of
guidance tailored specifically for us, the human race,
each and everyone of us, individually and collectively,
time-travellers in our own universe.
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