The $700 billion bailout of Wall Street that was annouced last week by the Bush adminstration will add to a staggering national debt of $10,000,000,000,000, ensuring that it will top $11 trillions by the end of next year ($700 b + $600 b for federal deficit + cost of war). To pay back the debt, every American household will have to contribute $100,000!

The national debt is now approaching the US Gross Domestic Products (GDP), that is the total output of a year-worth of work for the American people, which is currently around $13 trillions. The US government pays $430 billions in interests to service this loan. This is equal to the annual health bill and 4 times more than what is spent on education.

Human life evolved as a manifestation of, and in response to, the divine purpose. This purpose was first revealed, the Qur’an tells us, in the presence of representatives of two other intelligent species: angels and jinns. “I will create a vicegerent on earth,” Allah declared to the angels and to Iblis, the father of the jinns, at the eve of the creation of the first human being. The angels responded with amusement and reservation to the creation of human beings with the power and capacity to reign over God’s creation.