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ment of old loved homes and going into exodus.
By the same token, forlorn hopes, shortcomings, tribulations and
risks lead a person or a family to abandon their own living quarters and once more seek assistance from their fellow men to re-establish themselves in another new habitation and community. Here again, one finds that not all members of the populace can be equal and compatible either in experience and ambitions, or in wants and actions. Through equality, however, despite certain perils, many benefits will be won, while others will be lost. There should be, therefore, diversity in purposes, aspirations, goals, talents and hopes, coupled with variations in skills, professions and trades. There must also be the desire and the ambitions for greater accomplishments in the fields of arts, sciences and technologies amid complexity of needs for better services in communications and reciprocation the use of gemstones, currencies and j l 19
coins towards monetary exchanges.
In view of their intrinsic and aesthetic values, the author gives
coverage to several chapters on gems considering their origin, shape, colour and properties including densities and specific gravities. He also discusses gold and silver coins which were current and popular in Islamic lands, both in trade transactions as well as in minting under state control. Precious stones, such as emeralds, diamonds, pearls, the corundums, sapphires, topazes, agates, amethysts and rubies were utilized for adornment, and to enhance beauty. Whether real or imitations, people the world over have a liking for
gems of all kinds, as well as gold, silver and other metals for currencies. This appreciation is based upon aesthetic and other considerations (Wad' la tab'). Such precious and semi-precious stones satisfy neither hunger nor thirst by themselves. Yet human beings always have the lust and the desire to acquire and keep them for the sake of popularity, good reputation and prestige both for trade as well as personal possessions. Notwithstanding, treasuring such items, remarks Beruni, seems contrary to God's ordinances and rules in legitimate gains. But by His Mercy, these gems were actually discovered. Therefore, they should be extracted not to be stored again, but rather to be brought to light and made available to be used and enjoyed by others as well. By way of analogy, Beruni points out that the extraction of gemstones out of the depths of the earth is for enjoyment and gain, and this
is equal to the pleasures that a family has at the birth of a dear child coming out from his mother's womb, to be brought afresh into new life and light.20 |
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