Chapter VI: Evils of the World
CAUSES OF ENGAGEMENT IN THE WORLD: The three causes are to gather food, dress and abode. Food is for preservation of the body, dress is for protection of the body from heat and cold, and abode is for protection of the body and to keep away the causes of destruction of lives and wealth, God created these things for the benefit of mankind. There are five necessary things for man which are the basis of industry and main causes of his engagement — (1) cultivation, (2) grazing, (3) hunting, (4)
weaving and (5) construction. Cvultivation is for growing crops and food stuffs. Grazing is for maintaining beasts and quardrupeds. Weaving is for making cloths and dresses and construction is for making houses for habitation. For smooth - living, administrative works, judicial works and military work, _ are necessary. 6o mankind is divided into three classes from the point of view of "these works — (1) cultivators and industrialists, .(2) sofdiers, and (3) offices of government."
-' The religious men are of di/ferent "classes. One -class of 'religious men think that jthis world 4s a .house of -dangers, " difficulties, and labpurancr think also that they will.be owners of fortune in" the. next world irrespective Of 'actions .good or bad.
Another class of religious rneri think that natural passions must be uprooted for salvation and- it is not sufficient only to bring them under control. Another class think that it is impossible to observe religious rules and that God has got no necessity for the divine service of men. Another class think that divine service is not necessary as it is sufficient to have knowledge of God.
Another class of men rightly think that there is salvation in following the prophets especially the last Prophet of Arabia.
They do hot give up the world, nor uproot their passions. They take from the world whatever absolutely necessary for them. The Prophet said that out of many parties, only one party will get salvation. The companions asked : O Prophet of God, who are
174 The Book of Destructive evils Vol-III
they ? He said : People of Sunnatand Jamaat. The Prophet was asked : Who are the people of Sunnat and Jamaat ? He said : Those who tread my path and the path of my companions ? They did not take the world for its sake but for religion. They did not give up the world but really they renunciated the world. They adopted the middle course in their actions and did not go to the extremes.