要使人类在生活中取得进步，就必须采纳一套全面的生活方式。所有伟大的文明都采纳了一种意识形态，生活中的一切事务都以此为准则加以衡量，问题也由此得到解决。今天的人类也不例外，处于同样的境地。我们必须深入思考自身的处境，不可盲目接受任何一种生活方式。事实是，当今世界上两种占主导地位的意识形态——资本主义和共产主义——在未经任何认真审视其根基的情况下就已被人们接受。二十世纪的人是否想过，自由和民主的真正含义是什么？人类在一切行为上都是“自由”的吗？

For mankind to progress in life means a comprehensive way of life must be adopted. All of the great civilisations adopted an ideology against which all of life’s affairs were referred and problems solved. Mankind today is in no different a position. We must think deeply of our situation and not accept any way of life blindly. The facts are that the two dominant ideologies existent in the world today, Capitalism and Communism, have been accepted without any searching examination of the basis upon which they are built. Does twentieth century man think of what the concepts of freedom and democracy really mean. Is mankind 'free' in all actions?

必须有某种主导力量,但民主所实施的控制将把我们引向何方?是由当选少数人加上一个无面孔的精英集团所施加的控制吗?环境迅速恶化、犯罪大幅增加、家庭结构瓦解,以及对利润和个人主义的自私追求,都是人造制度的表现。世俗制度容易被滥用,即使是真诚的领导者,也无法凭借人类有限的知识和对生命的理解来引导人类。

There must be a controlling influence, but where does the control exercised by a democracy lead us? The control by an elected minority backed by a faceless elite? A rapidly declining environment, massive increases in crime, the breakdown of the family unit and a selfish drive for profit and individualism are all manifestations of man-made systems. Secular systems are open for abuse, and even a sincere leadership cannot hope to guide mankind with mankind’s limited knowledge and understanding of life.

当今我们的问题之一在于，人们不去思考自身的处境；即便有一点思考，用来解决问题的也往往是一种共识性的观点。认为多数人的观点或最低公约数式的观点永远正确，这是一个根本性的错误。我们看到，平均观点或多数人的观点可能与真相毫无相似之处。在一个容易支配不思考的大众的社会里，借助媒体等力量，对共识观点的控制几乎可以是完全的。其后果是毁灭性的，我们从环境问题上就可以看到这一点。

Part of our problem today is that man does not think of his situation, and what little thought brought forward to solve any problem is based upon a consensus view. It is a fundamental error to believe that a majority view or view of the lowest common denominator is correct all the time. We see that the average view or majority view may bear no resemblance to the truth at all. In a society where domination of an unthinking public is very easy, through such forces as the media, then control of the consensus view can be almost complete. The results are devastating, as we see with our environment.

人必须重新运用自己的理智，不应满足于任何低于真理的东西。

Man must return to using his intellect, and not settle for anything less than the truth.

任何对人类所面临选择的考察，都不应忽略最后一个一神教信仰。在这一信仰中，适用于全体人类的行为准则被清楚地阐明，既无偏私，也无含糊。伊斯兰教完全建立在唯一造物主的存在之上，是祂创造了我们、创造了其他生命和整个宇宙。

Any examination of the options open to mankind should not leave out the last of the monotheistic faiths, a faith in which a code of conduct for all of mankind is clearly set out without bias and uncertainty. Islam is based totally upon the existence of one Creator, that has created us, the rest of life and the universe.

造物主的存在证据就在我们眼前，只要我们肯花时间思考我们所能感知的一切。

The proof of that Creator is before our eyes if only we spend time to contemplate upon all that we can perceive.

据阿布·阿纳斯和阿布·达尔达传述，先知穆罕默德ﷺ说："片刻的深思，胜过整夜的拜功。" 世间万物纷繁存在，但我们感知到的任何事物，都不是自行存在的；一切都是有限的，且依赖于他物。有限的有限之物必定是被造的。一切依赖之物都依靠外在的力量来维持其存在与延续。我们的本能告诉我们，需要仰望某种比自己更伟大的存在以获得指引，这一本能，自有历史记载以来，人类一直在满足它。信仰真主（安拉）既出于本能，也合乎理性。

It was narrated by Abu Anas and Abu Dardah that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: "An hour in contemplation is worth more than spending a whole night in prayer." Many things exist, but we perceive of nothing that exists of its own accord, all are limited and dependant. Limited, finite things must be created. All dependant things depend upon an external force for their sustenance and existence. Our instincts tell us that we need to look up to something greater than ourselves for guidance, an instinct man has been satisfying for as long as history records. Belief in God is instinctive and rational.

人类之所以信仰真主，是因为他需要解答最重要的问题：他从何而来，为何在此。真正的信仰建立在理智之上，情感也起一定作用，但人只有在经过理性与逻辑证明的事实面前，才会确信某种观点，并据此行动。理智上承认只有一位真主，并且穆罕默德是祂的使者，是进入伊斯兰教的条件。

Mankind comes to faith in God because he needs an answer to the most important question of where did he come from and why is he here. The true faith in God is intellectually based, emotions play a part, but it is only through intellectually and rationally proven facts that man will become convinced of a thought, and then act accordingly. The intellectual acceptance that there is only one God and that Muhammad is his Messenger is a condition for entering Islam.

《古兰经》和先知穆罕默德ﷺ的圣训中，有许多关于人类在今世所负责任的论述。

There are numerous references to mankind’s responsibility in life given in the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh).

"Allah has not created man and jinn except as a worship unto him"[51:56] 人类的职责——作为大地的托管者——在《古兰经》中也有明确的论述。

"Allah has not created man and jinn except as a worship unto him"[51:56] Man's role of trustee of the earth is also referred to clearly in the Qur'an.

"我即将在大地上设立一位代治者"[2:30] 一个人一生的所有行为都应当遵循造物主给予我们的指引。这就是广义上的崇拜所指的含义。我们并非可以随心所欲地在生活中做任何事情，而是受制于为规范我们事务而赐予的法则与约束。所有社会都需要制度来保障和谐与进步；伊斯兰为我们提供了基础或信条，所有制度皆由此而出。人类在社会法律、政府与统治、经济和正义方面的制度，都源于造物主所赐予的这一基础。忽视这些事实，就是忽视我们在人生中的责任。若过着与造物主所赐予的生活相背离的生活，无论作为个人还是作为信士的群体，都将招致苦难与压迫。

"I am about to place a trustee in the earth" [2:30] All of ones life should be in accordance with the direction given to us by our Creator. This is what worship in its widest sense means. We are not free to undertake anything we wish in life, we are subject to the laws and controls given to us to regulate our affairs. All societies need systems to ensure harmony and progress; Islam has given us the basis or creed from which all systems emanate. Man's systems for social law, government and ruling, economy, and justice are all given from this basis from our Creator. To ignore these facts is to ignore our responsibility in life. To lead a life apart from that given by our Creator is to invite misery and oppression as individuals and as a nation of believers.

人类只有遵循神所赐予的本能、在造物主所赐的制度之中生活，才能真正获得进步的自由。若持相反的态度，便是招致造物主的震怒，并使人陷入无休止的低效之中：人不断追逐又一套人造的制度，那些充满不安与怀疑的制度。

Mankind is only truly freed up for progress by living in accordance with his God given instincts, and within a system given by our Creator. To accept otherwise is to invoke the wrath of our Creator and to live in a constant round of inefficiency, as man chases yet another man made system, the systems of insecurity and doubt.