Page:Five Pillars of Islam (IA fivepillarsofisl00kamauoft).djvu/7

 in a family represent the various parts of one body-politic (family). The parents look to all their needs, and the affection they have one to the other is the common bond which unites them into one single whole. But the solidarity of this whole begins to be a little shaken when this passion for "thine and mine" begins to find expression, however feebly in their little acts and words. This is the beginning of what causes disintegration in the midst not only of family, but a larger social unit as well, viz., a nation or a community, and its still larger prototype the whole human race. The wars of one nation against another only represent on a very large scale the petty jealousy between one member of a family against another. The self-same motive of "thine and mine" being responsible everywhere.

Similarly, we find this idea of "thine and mine" as the chief incentive to all civil crimes. We wish to possess the belongings of others by questionable means, and it leads to