Islamic Traditions

2003 Vol. 4: July/Aug

One significant difference between Muslims, in general, and Western Christians, in particular, is their time orientation. Westerners are basically future-oriented. Not only do we dream and plan for the future, but we delight to tread where none have gone before. We pride ourselves in being great explorers, inventors, and innovators that lead to new discoveries, new methods, new fashions, and new fads. We learn to live in a flux of constant change because change has become for us a mark of progress, and forward progress is viewed as good and necessary for human survival and improvement.