My reader seems to be in a little bit of a difficult position. He is not interested in the gambling that takes place on horse racing. He simply wants the enjoyment of breeding, training, and riding horses, and possibly the investment that goes with it. This gives him a clear conscience, but still he feels something within him telling him that Islam may not approve of all this. It is that feeling I am interested in. Why should my reader entertain such a feeling, when horse riding as a sport is perfectly permissible?

Similarly, the breeding, training and dealing with horses are all blameless pursuits. It is definitely the gambling that goes with all that which gives him that slight suspicion that he may be helping a process or a business of which Islam does not approve. He knows that gambling is forbidden in Islam and he does not get involved in it, but he realizes that he is going close to it.

It is one of the points of strength of the Islamic faith that it develops such a keen sense among its followers that they want all their actions to be permissible and blameless, so that they do not incur God's displeasure. Indeed, Islam goes further than that and encourages followers not to come near to doubtful matters.

Consider the following Hadith related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of An-Nu'man ibn Basheer who heard God's Messenger say: "That which is lawful is plain and that which is unlawful is [also] plain, and between the two of them are doubtful matters of which many people remain unaware. Thus he who avoids doubtful matters clears himself in regard to his religion and his honor, but he who falls into doubtful matters falls into that which is unlawful, like the shepherd who pastures around a sanctuary, all but grazing therein. Truly in the body there is a morsel of flesh which, if it be well, all body is well, and which if it be diseased, all the body is diseased. Truly it is the heart."

Perhaps, my reader does not get involved in gambling, but he is aware that he comes close to it. Hence, the example cited by the Prophet about the shepherd grazing very close to the sanctuary applies to him. The sanctuary, as defined by the Prophet, is the prohibitions God has laid down.

I will give my reader an example. After careful study, a farmer realizes that the best fruits he could get out of his land is grapes. He takes very good care of his land and manages to get seeds of top quality. After a few years, he has the great satisfaction of having some of the best grapes in the area. This farmer is a Muslim, but he lives in a country where Muslims are in minority. Most people in his society are in the habit of drinking. There is a very good business in drinks. A brewing company approaches him with an offer to buy all his produce because it makes top quality drinks. When the farmer considers the offer, he finds that it gives him a much higher price than what he is ever likely to get if he sells his produce in the vegetable and fruit market.

Moreover, arrangements will be made so that he does not have to worry about collection and transport. To him the offer makes very good business. Encouraging him, some people suggest that with his greater profit, he will be able to give a handsome portion to the poor. Should he go ahead and accept the offer by the brewery? The answer is a definite NO. By selling his grapes to a company, knowing that the grapes will be used to manufacture something which is forbidden to drink, he will be helping this type of business. Somebody may suggest that if he does not sell to the brewing company, other farmers will.

True, but let other farmers do what they want; he should not put himself in a position where his business is geared to the manufacture of intoxicating drinks. If he accepts the offer, his earnings will be from a forbidden source. As such, they are not legitimate.

My reader is in a very similar position. He does not gamble himself, but he is certainly helping and aiding a forbidden practice. Horse racing is a major enterprise, indeed a complete industry in non-Muslim countries. Getting involved with it so heavily is simply lending a helpful hand. That is not allowed to a Muslim.

Both Hadiths are authentic. The first is No. 7121 in the 'Saheeh' of Al-Bukhari. Abu-Hurairah quotes the Prophet as saying: "The Hour does not strike until two great groups making the same claim have fought each other ferociously, and until there has been liars and impostors, around 30 in number, each one of them claiming that he is Allah's messenger. (Prior to the strike of the Hour) learning will become scarce, earthquakes frequent, time short and strife will prevail. There would be much killing and such abundance of wealth that people would be at pains to find someone to accept their zakah. They would offer it to others, but the latter would tell them that they have no need for it. Moreover, people would construct high rising buildings; a man would pass by the grave of another and say: I wish I was in his place; the sun would rise at the west, and when it has risen and been seen by people, they would all declare themselves believers. At that time, no one can benefit by accepting the faith unless he has already been a believer or has earned good deeds as a result of his faith. When the Hour strikes, two people may be holding a garment between them, but they neither complete the deal nor put the garment away. The Hour will strike when a man has milked his she-camel, but does not drink it. The Hour will strike when a man has repaired his water basin and he does not drink anything out of it. The Hour will strike when a man has lifted some food to his mouth but does not eat it."

As you realize the Hadiths mention several signs of the impending arrival of the Hour of Doom, making it clear that the Hour strikes all of a sudden, when people would be engaged in their daily activities, unmindful of its arrival, but when it strikes, they cannot complete what they have started, not even finishing a bite one may have lifted to his mouth.

The international declaration of human rights is a relatively recent event. Over 1,400 years ago, the Prophet declared "Human beings are equal, just like the teeth of a comb." When he traveled to do his pilgrimage, 100,000 people joined him. That was the largest gathering during his life. He gave a memorable speech in which he repeatedly requested his audience to communicate what they learned from him to other people. In that speech, he declared: "You all descend from Adam and Adam was created out of clay. No Arab is superior to a non-Arab and no white person has any privilege over a black person except through good actions based on fearing Allah. The best among you are those who are most God-fearing."

The principle of equality of all human beings has always been central to the Islamic social concept. That equality is clearly reflected in the treatment of slaves as regulated in the Islamic system. Before referring to this, I wish to emphasize that Islam could not have abolished slavery at one go. That was a worldwide system operated by all countries. Therefore, Islam laid down a system which ensured the gradual and steady eradication of the system of slavery and its progressive abolition. While it continued, Islam was to ensure the rights of slaves.

The Prophet says: "He who kills his slave shall be killed and he who mutilates his slave shall be mutilated." This was the extreme opposite of the prevailing law. No one could question a master about what he did with his slave. If he killed him, he was immune from punishment.

Equality also was established between men and women. It was the normal practice throughout the world that women were considered far inferior to men. Islam addressed its message to both men and women and made it clear that both have the same rights and duties, with minor differences that are necessitated by their different nature and different roles in society.

I have begun with the basic right to equality because it is the one which generates the longest debate whenever the subject of human rights is discussed. Other rights have also been guaranteed by Islam. The first is the right to live, which every infant is guaranteed from the moment he or she is born. Indeed, this right applies to a fetus once pregnancy is established. Anyone who causes abortion exposes himself to punishment. Other rights like education, work, ownership, freedom of belief, etc. have also been guaranteed by Islam.

What is more is that Islam establishes rights to individuals who do not even know of these rights, cannot claim them and have no way to enforce them. For example, a newborn baby has the right to good care and education until he is old enough to look after himself. If a particular couple neglected a child of their own, the ruler is required to ensure that they fulfill their duty. Otherwise, he could take their son or daughter away from them and place that child with a family who is certain to look after it.

Islam also establishes other rights to which all people are entitled. The most important of these is the right to receive guidance. Allah has revealed His message to mankind and conveyed it to them through Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him]. Everyone is entitled to have this message conveyed to him or her in the language he or she understands. This is because Allah has revealed this message so that people can conduct their lives in accordance with divine guidance which ensures their happiness while they live on earth and guarantees happiness in the hereafter. The Muslim community is required to ensure that this message reaches all. However, Islam recognizes that faith can come only through conviction. Hence, it states clearly that no compulsion is admissible in matters of faith. Everyone has the right to choose the faith he or she wants to follow.

As you see, the Islamic concept of man gives this noble creature a very high position. It provides every facility needed for man to work up to his potentials. That ensures the best results of his efforts. Indeed, it is through such willing contribution to the community effort by all individuals in the Muslim community that Islamic civilization made its mark on history and continued to lead humanity for centuries on end. Every time Islam is implemented, the same sort of marvelous results have been manifest. This assures us that the same could happen today if the Muslims were to implement their faith properly.