"Islam va al-Moshkat al-Hezareh" is one of the most important works of Seyyed Qutb which was translated in Persian by the Supreme Leader of Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in 1970 under the title of "Proclamation against Western Civilization and a Prospect of Islam's Mission".

Ayatollah Khamenei also penned a preface for the book noting industry and technology are, by nature, good but the telling point is West has no spirituality; given that, everything is imitated and artificial there.

The book depicts how humanity and humane features have been destroyed in the wake of western civilization illustrating the incompatibility of Western civilization with human beings.


"Every step in the evolution of science and technique is admirable, but humanity and humane feature should be held as the ultimate objective, so technology should be used for human kind's perfection and prosperity," underscored the translator.

"The Industry which knocks man, and the science or technology which crushes humane features under its wheels are not honorable," pointed out Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei highlighting that as such knowledge is not a friend but an enemy.

"This knowledge is not humans' servants; all the same, it is a traitor," stressed Iranian Supreme Leader urging readers to be much more vigilant of the negative consequences such technology can have.

It is noteworthy that Ayatollah Khamenei in the preface of the book discussed the following topics:

"Ego-death or lack of identity, the scourge of the World of Islam"; "Western civilization, a reality against the school of monotheism and humanity"; "The incompatibility of Western civilization with human beings";  "The decline of Western civilization"; "Islam as a Solution".


"To Seyyed Qutb, the true solution stands in divine Islam and trying other paths would be fruitless going nowhere and cannot help human beings," pointed out Ayatollah Khamenei. 

Supreme Leader held Ego-death as the scourge of the World of Islam and in that preface stressed, "This is our story; the tragic story of people who forgot themselves plundering their own precious heritage and destroying what they had gained over centuries."

The seasoned cleric went on to stress, "Instead of their own rich, deep rooted and original civilization, they went after others' schools and lifestyle."

To the Supreme Leader of Islamic Republic of Iran, it is beyond a shadow of doubt that the main setback and problem in the World of Islam is lack of identity.

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in that preface of the book urges thinkers, elites and religious leaders to brave this serious problem so as to pave the way for Muslim' prosperity and happiness. 
 

/SR