The Muslim community is going through intensely tumultuous times nowadays,perhaps the most intense since the early days of the Caliphate.But Islam,itself, if one returns to the basic teachings,is a wonderful program for improving our behaviour,our personality and even our way of thinking.The fact that it’s teachings are being misinterpreted and abuse is not the fault of Islam but rather of human beings.

Many years ago I went for a training program in the use of the chainsaw.The chainsaw was designed to cut down trees for use as firewood and lumber.For this, it is an exquisite instrument.However it can also be used for horrible massacres and for clear-cutting forests.We know from Islam that man is the khalifat (usually translated as vice-regent ,a very awkward term).In fact we are better served by using a workplace analogy.God is the Boss and man is the manager of this planet.Clearly man is not doing a good job!