Islam As It Is
Prophethood
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distinguishes man from the rule-bound objects of
the universe is that he has the power to do as he
wills, launching himself on this or that course of
action, or refraining from it altogether, as he
chooses. The Earth rotates on its axis and travels in
its orbit without infringing upon the domain of
other planets. With man, things are very different.
While all things in the world are geared in a certain
direction, man is the only being with the capacity to
proceed in more than one direction so that when
man leaves his own domain, he often encroaches
upon those of his fellow-men. This fact alone shows
that a man must chalk out his course of action in a
way very different from the remainder of the
Universe. The denizens of the animal and vegetable
kingdoms have an innate knowledge of their path,
just as celestial objects have their appointed course.
But man is not born with this knowledge, and must
find it elsewhere.
History, sad to say, has demonstrated man’s
inability to seek out the correct course in life. He
may be endowed with a keen intellect and a broad-
based understanding, but these have proved
woefully inadequate in dealing with the basic issue
