Our problems of today are however, not confined to the religious sphere. We face many complicated problems in the social, economic, international and other spheres. Guidance is needed with respect to all these and is supplied by Islam. We shall touch here briefly upon the values sought to be established by Islam in the three spheres that we have mentioned.

We have seen that, in the social sphere, Islam has abolished all distinctions and privileges. All mankind is one vast universal brotherhood. This is a characteristic of Islam society, which has been amply demonstrated through the centuries, and is well appreciated outside Islam. In addition to the general principles already mentioned, attention maybe drawn to one or two aspects, which tend in the same direction, namely, to emphasise human equality and dignity. There is no priesthood or ecclesiastical hierarchy of any description in Islam. Each individual, man or woman may, indeed must establish direct communion with God. Islam recognises no intermediary between man and his Maker. Even the Prophets were only guides and teachers who taught and illustrated in their own lives, the pattern and ideal of right living. They were not, in any sense, intermediaries between God and His creatures. The realisation that to each of us is granted the privilege of having direct access the Divine Majesty creates a sense of dignity which would be lacking in the absence of such realisation. This is experienced very vividly by the participants in the five daily services of Islam, when each worshipper enters the House God in the full consciousness that as a human being, he is equal to any other in the sight of God.

Again, there is a complete absence of caste or class. There are no reservations conferring privilege upon limiting it to, certain sections excluding others. Social intercourse is free and easy and is not inhibited by a artificial requirements pertaining to dress, precedence ceremonial. Simple living is regarded as meritorious. The more devout a Muslim is the simpler is his way life. Yet Islam insists upon the acceptance of life and does not permit rejection or negative of it. For instance, monasticism is not permitted in Islam, (Ch.57: V.28)

The Holy Prophet^(sa) has said:

‘There is no monasticism in Islam. Family life is our way. He who turns away from our way is not of us.’

The use of all good things is permitted; but with regulation and moderation:

O children of Adam! look to your adornment at every time a place of worship, and eat and drink, but exceed not the bounds; surely, He does not love those who exceed the bounds.

Say, ‘Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has produced for His servants, and the good things of His providing?’ …

… Say, ‘My Lord has only forbidden foul deeds, whether open or secret, and sin and wrongful transgression, and that you associate with Allah that for which He has sent down no authority, and that you say of Allah that of which you have no knowledge.’ (Ch.7: Vs.32-34)

The only prohibitions in Islam (for instance, against the use of liquor, the flesh of swine, gambling and lending money on interest) are those that are destined to safeguard society against damage or injury to physical, economic or moral health. In fact, the definition of virtue in Islam is the beneficent use of all faculties and capacities and the definition of vice is their abuse or misuse. Islam does not permit or approve of stultification.