What our Muslim people must try to understand is that we live in a cosmopolitan society, strongly influenced by the American and European way of life, we are not citizens of India or Pakistan nor are we domiciled in any of the Arab Countries. The evil forces of the Western society are taking hold of our boys and girls. This is where the true danger lies. What can we do to mitigate this? To destroy the fabric of the existing society is fraught with too many dangers, instead we ought to enhance that which our forefathers
gave us once this does not go against the teachings of the Quran and the recognised Hadis.

The question now is, how do these affect us as Muslims? All the major religions had their genesis at a time when there was fear, poverty and disease.  The enlightening processes which have gone on since then, have given us new insights which go against the traditional dogma of our major religions.  Should not our beliefs and thoughts change in harmony with existing trend?

Customs and tradition play a great part in our lives as Muslims, and many of us could still he regarded as being dogmatic and rather puritanical in our outlooks and habits. It is curious that most of us who have grown up in the Western society have remained unaffected, uninfluenced and continue to adhere to traditions of a former age. But if we are happy and united tlren let us live that way.

In the Muslim world, changes are taking place but not sufficiently rapidly to keep pace with times. Material improvements have been incorporated. Onr family life does not permit independence and free expression of our younger folk. We msut not become mere puppets of God as this is contrast to the teachings of the Holy Quran. We must know oursleves and the world in which we live.

I would like to warn that whatever changes we make, these must be done carefully and slowly, as most people are reluctant to accept rapid and drastic changes.

KHODA HAFIZ
N. M. GHANY
President General,
Tackveeyatul Islamic Association Incorporated