Introduction:
“If He wills, He can remove you, and substitute whomever He wills in your place,”[Quran; 6:133].
"ALLAH would never change a favour that HE has conferred upon a people until they change their own condition" [Qurqn;8:53]
"surely Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change their own condition [Quran;13:11]
This article is to be published in "The Defence Journal: June 2012
“If He wills, He can remove you, and substitute whomever He wills in your place,”[Quran; 6:133].
"ALLAH would never change a favour that HE has conferred upon a people until they change their own condition" [Qurqn;8:53]
"surely Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change their own condition [Quran;13:11]
Islam revolutionized the primitive oppressive societies not only in the Middle East but all over the world. Islamic civilization lead the world for over thousand years, but the cracks started to be noticed since 15th century C.E. Ultimately the Christian West dominated the world through colonization but failed to cause any considerable dent in the ideology of Islam, which is based upon justices, equity & high morality. After end of colonial period the Islam resurged to again dominate the lives of its adherents. In fact despite their propaganda, the Imperialist West could not root out Islam from the hearts and daily lives of Muslims. The colonial powers, replaced Islamic Shari’ah with Western law, but the personnel affairs of Muslims continue to be governed by Shari’ah. During 21st century there is world wide demand among Muslim societies to turn back to Shari’ah but the stooges of colonial masters resist on the pretext of taking society back to the past. In fact the system based upon justice and equity does not suit their oppressive designs to amass wealth and power among few in the ruling elite which controls the power and economic centres. The Arab Spring and other movements in most parts of the Muslim world reflect the desire for change, which has to come since days of oppressor regimes are numbered.
Once we look back in to the history, it is found that that the Muslims excelled not only in military power but in all other fields including science and technology. The influence of Islamic learning on the West has been phenomenal; extracts from Encyclopaedia Britannica is self explanatory:
“The decline of Muslim scholarship coincided with the early phases of the European intellectual awakening that these translations were partly instrumental in bringing about. The translation into Latin of most Islamic works during the 12th and 13th centuries had a great impact upon the European Renaissance. As Islam was declining in scholarship and Europe was absorbing the fruits of Islam's centuries of creative productivity, signs of Latin Christian awakening were evident throughout the European continent. The 12th century was one of intensified traffic of Muslim learning into the Western world through many hundreds of translations of Muslim works, which helped Europe seize the initiative from Islam when political conditions in Islam brought about a decline in Muslim scholarship. By 1300 C.E when all that was worthwhile in Muslim scientific, philosophical, and social learning had been transmitted to European schoolmen through Latin translations, European scholars stood once again on the solid ground of Hellenistic thought, enriched or modified through Muslim and Byzantine efforts.”
“Most of the important Greek scientific texts were preserved in Arabic translations. Although the Muslims did not alter the foundations of Greek science, they made several important contributions within its general framework. When interest in Greek learning revived in Western Europe during the 12th and 13th centuries, scholars turned to Islamic Spain for the scientific texts. A spate of translations resulted in the revival of Greek science in the West and coincided with the rise of the universities. Working within a predominantly Greek framework, scientists of the late Middle Ages reached high levels of sophistication and prepared the ground for the scientific revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries.” According to Will Durant, the Western scholar, “For five centuries , from 700 to 1200 (C.E), Islam led the world in power, order and extent of government, in refinement of manners, scholarship and philosophy”.
The famous Egyptian scholar Syed Qutab in his Arabic book “Hal Nahnu Muslimoon” [Are We Muslims] discussed the reasons of decline of Muslims societies. Main points of his analysis with some variations have been included in this article.
Origin:
On pondering
some mind boggling questions arise: How the Muslim civilization started to
degenerate and how this degeneration got spread all over the world? Was it possible that after the demise of Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) and the decline of the directly received spiritual guidance
from his person, the Muslim society could still maintain the high standards for
long time?
It will be
unrealistic to answer in positive, but it will be equally unreasonable to say
that after the demise of Prophet (pbuh) the magnetic effects of his inspiring teachings
got severed and the Muslim society started to degenerate. This is not only
unrealistic but also against the faith. It is unrealistic because it amounts to
state that the man does not have belief in the high moral values of human life
and to implement such values there has to exist some supernatural force, power
or personality and when such thing is non existent the faith diminishes. This
amounts to not only degrading the human capabilities but also showing ignorance
the practical character of hum being in history. Man has always been not only
believing in the high moral values, traditions and principles but has been
striving for their preaching and survival. Many people of intellect suffered
while making such noble endeavours. Moreover it also amounts to ignore the
historic reality that Islam has been a living driving force of humanity for
over thousand years. Such a thought is against the faith of a Muslim because
thinking that the elaborate arrangements made by God of sending the last
Prophet (pbuh), the last book (Quran) to establish a just balanced society by
the Prophet (pbuh) based upon the guidance and laws provided in Quran was just
for short period? Such a thought is so worthless that it is not even worthy of
attributing to the perishable wise people what to talk of All Mighty God, the
Creator and Sustainer of the universe.
Impossible,
it is totally unrealistic to even think that the foundations of Muslim society
got disintegrated and the society degenerate after the demise of the Prophet
(pbuh) and that his spiritual influence dwindled. Similarly this is also unrealistic that the same
standards of glorious heights be maintained which were present during his time,
it is imperative that some aspects show tendency to decline. Actually it
happened that till the time Prophet (pbuh) was present, the personalities of
the companions immensely benefited to gain moral and spiritual heights. When
society lost the benefit of presence of such personalities of companions the
people turned back to the bounds of their own personalities, they started
living within the bounds laid down by Islam.
There is a
difference between ‘Islam’ and the person of ‘Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)’, this
difference was stated by his closest companion Abu Bakr Siddique at the time of
demise of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh): “O’ people listen if any one of you
worshiped Muhammad, let it be known that he is dead, however whosever
worshipped Allah, He is that ever living Being who can never die” Islam is also
the word of ever living God, so it shall never die. The effects of Islam in the
human intellect is eternal, because it is the Islam which establishes the
direct link with the eternal God, which is the main reason of their adherence
to His commands, obey His guidance and make His obedience as their way of life.
The benefits of life of Prophet and blessings are not limited to his life only,
his personnel life [Sunnah] is available for ever to those who want to be
benefited. This is the reason that even after his demise, the people remained
Muslim, though their lives were not always exemplary. It is the way of Lord
that no era remains permanently however it was required that at least once an
exemplary era should have come in to existence so that a bright picture of
golden era of purity remains available as a source for guidance and practice at
all times for the future generations. The adherents of golden era of Islam
would achieve the heights in every age, even if long time lapses and people get
off the tack, they can still come back to the right path. It is due to this Golden
Era of Islam, which acts as a role model that during fourteen centuries Muslims
have been through various periods of turmoil followed by glory.
It was
important that even after the Prophet (pbuh) Islamic society would continue to
follow Islam, live according to tenants of Islam and spread all round as long
as Allah wishes. It is a reality that this plan has been successful to a great
extent, for a very long period in history Muslims continued to live according
to tenets of Islam. Though in all spheres of life the high standards set by the
Prophet (pbuh) and his companions could
not be maintained, but despite this the Muslim societies maintained its
superiority over all the other known civilizations, systems and values.
Orientalist Welfared Contovel Smith said: “Among all the efforts done in the
world for the establishment of justice, struggle by Islam was most the greatest
and effective”. Similarly many other Orientalists have mentioned that Islam
gradually enveloped all the aspects of life till most of the known world came
under its influence. Even Europe got the enlightenment during all the stages of its
renaissance. According to Brevelot: The
high standards of humanity achieved by all the modern civilizations till now
are the same which Muslims fused in to the human conscious, which Europe got
form the Muslims during Crusades, through learning in the universities of
Muslim Spain and North Africa.
The illusion
among some Muslims that Islam declined after the period of Prophet (pbuh) and
Guided Caliphs is totally baseless. It is more appropriate to say that, after
them the exemplary era ended and traditional era started, though this era
according to Islamic standards is traditional but according to the world
history it was the golden era of human civilization.
Beginning of
Deterioration:
Umayyad Era
The Umayyad Caliphate (661-750 CE/41–132 AH) was the second
of the four major Islamic caliphates established after Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
It was ruled by the Umayyad dynasty, whose name derives from Umayya ibn Abd
Shams, the great-grandfather of the first Umayyad caliph. Although the Umayyad
family originally came from the city of Mecca Damascus North Africa to Spain Spain
During Umayyad era the Islamic principles of power politics
and financial politics suffered setback with the beginning of family inherited
kingship of oppression. The ruling elite and court cronies adopted feudal way
of life as against simple Islamic way of life. There were exceptions like Umar
ibn Abd al-Aziz (682-720) an Umayyad caliph who ruled from 717 to 720 C.E.
Among Muslims he is considered one of the greatest men and leaders in history,
he is commonly regarded as the fifth Caliph Al-Rashidun due to his rule based
upon Islamic principles. However despite this change the society in general
remained Islamic. The evil penetrated the ruling elite limited to the capital
city. It was limited in nature restricted to the financial mismanagement and
politics. The ruling elite despite these
irregularities personally believed in the Islamic principles. They used to
decide the matters of common people according to Islamic law [Shari’ah].
However they made use of loopholes in the matters of politics and finances
related with their person and close relatives. This was wrong but this wrong
was limited in nature, which did not go beyond the capital city to reach the
masses. With the exception of few the life of common people was not affected by
this evil. Muslims live their lives according to the Islamic teachings and run
their affairs accordingly. They remained
practically committed to the preaching of Islam to the other parts of the
world. They were well aware of the honor and awards which Allah has kept for
the Prophet (pbuh) and believers. They were conscious of the heights and
superiority which is inculcated in the hearts of believes due to their faith.
They were well aware of their responsibilities towards society and fellow being
as believers. They realized the merits of brotherhood of believers. They well
understood the meanings of mutual love, cooperation and were conscious of their
being a unique community [Ummah]. If any one traveled to other Islamic country despite
different governments avoided differences, considered them as brothers and
socially interacted as brothers. They treated each other with sincerity like
relatives. They were conscious that the
real owner of wealth is God which is to be shared by people with equity and
justice, the rich is not entitled to Zakat [charity] and the poor are to be
helped. They were aware that their personal conduct should be according to the
wishes of Prophet and Allah, even if they had to suffer hardship. This was
considered as great struggle. They realized that the law of Allah [Shari’ah]
was eternal for the benefits of all sections of society. They knew that to
attain real power and to dominate it is important to get the people out of
darkness of the illiteracy and ignorance which required persistent efforts and
struggle. In fact these feelings and realization was the main cause of success
of Muslims in all spheres of life which left lasting impact in history.
The Abbasid
Era:
The Abbasid
Caliphate, was the third of the Islamic caliphates. It was ruled by the Abbasid
dynasty of caliphs, who built their capital in Baghdad Baghdad Persia Maghreb and Ifriqiya to an Umayyad prince, the Aghlabids and the Fatimid
Caliphate, respectively. The Abbasids' rule was briefly ended for three years
in 1258, when Hulagu Khan, the Mongol khan, sacked Baghdad Egypt Ottoman Empire and the capital relocated to Constantinople .
Although in
the books of history especially written by the Western writers effort has been
made to highlight this aspect but this is mere distortion of the facts. Any one
who get the information about Islamic society just one generation earlier to
this period would know the way of living among Islamic countries, how people
lived in the villages, the stark difference in their life style will be noticed
instantly. It would be found that the difference in the lifestyle of the ruling
elite and the common people was great, they followed the Islamic way which was
different to the life in places of capital city.
Aim is not
to explain the history of Muslim Caliphs and Kings, rather the whole Islamic
society is in sight to, the history of those people is kept in view who
formulated a realistic nation based upon this thought as part of their belief.
As mentioned earlier the evil practices in the royal courts and the capital
city did effect the masses but this effect was comparatively minimal. Hence if
on the one side in the royal palaces events of lewdness, drinking, dancing etc
wasting money and efforts on these useless activities; on the other side in the
same capital city there were religious scholars who away in seclusion were busy
in translation and constructive ideological and theological work. These
scholars were quietly busy in the scholarly pursuits in their observatories, laboratories
and libraries. The theologians and experts in jurisprudence were busy in
learning and research adding to the treasure of Islamic Fiqh;
the Islamic jurisprudence an expansion of the code of conduct (Shari’ah)
expounded in the Quran, often supplemented by tradition (Sunnah) and
implemented by the rulings and interpretations of Islamic jurists. Fiqh deals
with the observance of rituals, morals and social legislation in Islam. The
experts in geography were exploring the land of God Far East , China Indonesia Western Sudan , North
Africa , West Africa on the other side. The Mujahedeen were busy in confronting the enemies
of Islam, the non believing kings did not allow the peaceful message of Islam
to reach their subjects. They had to be subdued to provided freedom from the
oppressor rulers and provide freedom of choice to people to accept Islam or
continue with their previous faith, as Quran teaches: “there is no coercion in
the matters of Faith”[Quran;2:256].
It is well
known historic fact that after eight centuries of the Muslims in Spain Spain India Spain India London
James
Michener says: "No other religion in
history spread so rapidly as Islam. The West has widely believed that this
surge of religion was made possible by the sword. But no modern scholar accepts
this idea, and the Qur’an is explicit in the support of the freedom of
conscience." ….[‘Islam: The Misunderstood Religion,’ Reader’s Digest,
May 1955, pp. 68-70:]
While
Muslims were confronting the enemies of Islam all around, the common Muslim
living in the villages and all around was just simple Muslim living according
the basic tenets of Islam, he had fully applied Islam in practice. They got
guidance form Allah through Quran and His messenger through his Sunnah,
avoiding prohibitions [Haram] and striving
for permissible [Halal]. The common
Muslim endeavoured to protect all the social traditions in line with Islamic
teachings.
It does not
mean and naturally it should not be that his society was complete and exemplary
ideal Islamic society, because such an ideal & complete society has never
existed in any society of the world. Not even in the society guided and trained
by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in person. It means that in that society good and
evil were dominated by higher goodness and the lower traditions were dominated by the higher traditions.
The society
of Abbasids era was inferior to the Umayyad era, but it was Muslim society
which despite some deviations here and there lived generally according to the
tenets of Islam.
The Era of Ottoman Turks:
After the
Abbasids came the era of Ottoman Turks. The Abbasids' rule was briefly ended
for three years in 1258, when Hulagu Khan, the Mongol khan, sacked Baghdad Egypt Ottoman Empire and the capital relocated to Constantinople . Osmanlı
Devleti was a Turkish
empire which lasted from 27 July 1299 to 1 November 1922 , when the Sultanate was abolished.
Before adopting Islam, a process that was greatly
facilitated by the Abbasid victory at the 751 Battle of Talas, which ensured
Abbasid influence in Central Asia; the Turkic peoples practiced a variety of
shamanism. After this battle, many of the various Turkic tribes including the
Oghuz Turks, who were the ancestors of both the Seljuks and the Ottomans gradually
converted to Islam, and brought the religion with them to Anatolia beginning in
the 11th century.
The Ottoman legal system
accepted the religious law over its subjects. The Islamic Shari’ah
law system had been developed from a combination of the Qur'an; the Hadith, or words of the prophet
Muhammad; ijmā', or consensus of the
members of the Muslim community; qiyas,
a system of analogical reasoning from earlier precedents; and local customs.
Both systems were taught at the Empire's law schools, which were in Constantinople and Bursa
The Ottoman Empire was always
organized around a system of local jurisprudence. Legal administration in the Ottoman
Empire was part of a larger scheme of balancing central and local
authority. Ottoman power revolved crucially around the administration of the
rights to land, which gave a space for the local authorities develop the needs
of the local millet. The
jurisdictional complexity of the Ottoman Empire was aimed to
permit the integration of culturally and religiously different groups. The
Ottoman system had three court systems: one for Muslims, one for non-Muslims,
involving appointed Jews and Christians ruling over their respective religious
communities, and the "trade court". The entire system was regulated
from above by means of the administrative Kanun,
[laws]. The Kanun law system, on the
other hand, was the secular law of the Sultan, and dealt with issues not
clearly addressed by the Shari’ah system.
These court categories were not, however, wholly exclusive:
for instance, the Islamic courts which were the Empire's primary courts could
also be used to settle a trade conflict or disputes between litigants of
differing religions, and Jews and Christians often went to them to obtain a
more forceful ruling on an issue. The Ottoman state tended not to interfere
with non-Muslim religious law systems, despite legally having a voice to do so
through local governors. Tanzimat reforms
drastically affected the law system. In 1877, the civil law (except family law)
was codified in the Mecelle code. Later
codifications covered commercial law, penal law and civil procedure.
There is no doubt that the Turks brought Islam to the new
heights though their military conquests, but this reality can not be ignored
that many important meanings of Islam also suffered in their hands. In other words
during the Ottomans era Islamic thought became stagnant due to lack of
intellectual growth. Right from the early days, the specialty of Islam has been
its dynamism. Islam has be a dynamic driving force in every aspect of life, be
it the victories in warfare or attaining new heights in the field of knowledge
of Fiqh, theology, science and technology, economy, philosophy, politics or
social sciences. In fact no aspect of human life was outside its folds. When
the Ottoman Turks attained the power they concentrated more in the field of
military power to gain victories in the battlefields but othe aspects of life suffered
due to strangulation.
The Turks [and Moguls in India] were not well aware of the
importance of knowledge as it is well known and recorded in history that while
Europe was getting benefited for the fountains of knowledge from Islamic
sources to lay the foundations of Renaissance the Muslims lagged behind. This
has been summarized in Encyclopedia Britannica, as mentioned earlier, which is
again reproduced:
“The
decline of Muslim scholarship coincided with the early phases of the European
intellectual awakening that these translations were partly instrumental in
bringing about. The translation into
Latin of most Islamic works during the 12th and 13th centuries had a great
impact upon the European Renaissance. As Islam was declining in scholarship and
Europe was absorbing the fruits of
Islam's centuries of creative productivity, signs of Latin Christian awakening
were evident throughout the European continent. The 12th century was one of
intensified traffic of Muslim learning into the Western world through many
hundreds of translations of Muslim works, which helped Europe seize the initiative from
Islam when political conditions in Islam brought about a decline in Muslim
scholarship. By 1300 C.E when all that was worthwhile in Muslim scientific,
philosophical, and social learning had been transmitted to European schoolmen
through Latin translations, European scholars stood once again on the solid
ground of Hellenistic thought, enriched or modified through Muslim and
Byzantine efforts.”
“Most of the important Greek scientific texts were
preserved in Arabic translations. Although the Muslims did not alter the
foundations of Greek science, they made several important contributions within
its general framework. When interest in Greek learning revived in Western
Europe during the 12th and 13th centuries, scholars turned
to Islamic Spain
The Turks [also
applicable to India
Even during
this period the Islamic societies protected their legacy but these traditions
had lost their meanings, effort was done just in appearance without spirit,
though they were sacred but lacked the ability to achieve the real purpose. Take
the example of Pardah [privacy and covering of women] in Turkish style which in
appearance looked sacred in the social system. But behind this Pardah during
their last days, in the Ottoman palaces all sorts of evil activities were
taking place behind the veil.
This is that
unpleasant era when real threat to Islam began because the most dangerous
aspect to stop the growth of a thought or to make it stagnant. When a society
become stagnant then its fall becomes evident, just matter of time. During this
period [Umayyad to Ottomans] Islam had to confront many internal and external
threats like internal rivalry of rulers, onslaught of Mongols and Tartars,
persistent attacks by Crusaders. But when the period of stagnation came in the
era of Ottomans, this was the gravest and most serious threat. The Christians
waiting for such an opportunity took full advantage and launched multiple
attacks from all directions. Despite all
these tragedies and attacks which Islam had to face from the internal and
external enemies, did Islam cease to exist? No, not all.
Onslaught of Western
Imperialism:
To achieve
domination over Islam, the Western Christians had to use all their resources
for over a century. Then for another century they used every kind of force to
finish Islam. To establish their ascendancy over Muslim countries they used all
crooked techniques and thoughts but they failed to end Islam. After the last onslaught of Christians there
was a big dreadful revolution in Islamic world but this perverted revolution
proved to be the biggest mischief [Fasad]
and root of deterioration of Muslim sociology.
Although the
Islamic society became weak and stagnant after this mischief and great
deterioration but did not decline, because in the Islamic belief has
extraordinary ability to survive against all odds. It is due to this tendency
of survivability that despite numerous debacles it suffered due to infighting
of Muslim rulers for power and onslaught of Mongols and Christian Crusaders it
regained strength after some period to become a dominant force. This ability to
survive again resurfaced during the bad periods in Ottomans rule to strive for
independence. It was this force of Islam which appeared in the form of Wahabi
movement in Hijaz, Mehdi movement in Sudan India
Most
Dangerous Attacks on Islam:
Deceit for
Distortion of Islamic Thought:
The
imperialists did not only rely on the use the military power as being done in
the past, but along with military power they employed all sorts of overt,
covert and scientific means including use of deceit to distort the Islamic
teachings. Then they used the media to spread this distorted form of Islam
among Muslims to pollute their minds so that even if they fail through their
missionaries to convert the Muslims to Christianity, at least they would be disgusted
form Islam.
The Christens has digressed from the teachings Jesus
Christ (pbuh) who said: “Think not that I
have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them
but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to
you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from
the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of
these commandments and teaches men so shall be called least in the kingdom of
heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the
kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of
the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of
heaven.”(Mathew;5:17-20)
The Paul abrogated by saying: “But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were
held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the
letter.”(Romans;7:6).
Hence the Christianity is without Law or Shari’ah;
they tried to introduce same deviation in to Islam. The Shari’ah in Islamic
countries practiced form centuries was replaced with the Western law. Shari’ah
was restricted to the personnel matters like marriage, divorce etc. Moreover when
the Christian Imperialism made its ingress in to the Islamic world, it was
beginning of the disillusionment and mischief. Strange type of thoughts were
introduced to Islam which were unknown in the entire Islamic history even in
the periods of turmoil or zenith. It was discussed that that the religion [Din]
has nothing to do with social system, economics, Din has no role in the life in
individual, its relationship with society and government. Din has nothing to do
with the social customs, dress of women. Din has nothing to do with arts, generalism,
radio, television and cinema. In short Din has nothing to do with the life of
an individual; hence Din should be totally excluded form the life and individual
spends on this earth!
Now in the Islamic societies one can find people who
say that as long as an individual offers Salah
[prayer] and keep Fast [Soaum] he/she
is a Muslim, he is free to follow the economic system form any non Muslim sources
or make basis of his thoughts and traditions on any non Islamic system. Hence
in Islamic societies some women are found to state that as long as the
intentions are good one is Muslim but it does not imply that a Muslim woman or
girl can not keep relationship with other boys/men. Neither being a Muslims
means that woman should not wear dress according to latest fashion even if by
this dress her breast, back, arms and legs appear naked or even on the beach,
apart from covering small parts of body rest is kept naked. Moreover they think
that with all the latest Western fashions on nudity if they have to participate
in a dance party, it does not affect their faith as Muslim.
Apart from this there are such men and women found in
Muslim societies who openly announce their secular / atheist views. They say
that Din is symbol of orthodoxy, rigidity and primitiveness hence it should be
abolished so that the nation wake up to resume its march towards press. Such
thoughts are result of devilish struggle which Christian Imperialism has been
waging against Islam from last two centuries, which has been granted new
impetus after 911. The racial and religious profiling and discrimination of
Muslims in Europe and USA
Christian Missionaries Onslaught:
Well organized effort was made to convert the Muslims
to Christianity, they gained limited success in it, so the tactics was changed,
in the words of Father Zomer: “It is not important to convert the Muslims to
Christianity but in reality we should endeavor to change the Muslims thought in
spiritual and social aspects conforming to Christian thought”.
Freedom and Equality of Women:
Freedom of women and their rights, education and her social
and physiological development forms part of Islamic thought. However Islam does
not forms it as basis for religious and moral decline. Allah says: "Mankind, remain conscious of your
Lord, who has created you all out of a single soul, and out of it created its
mate."(Qur’an;4:1); “I will not let the good deed of any among you,
whether a male or a female, be wasted:” (Qur’an;3:195). . Although man and woman have been created equal, but they are not
identical. Both have been fashioned differently from each other, so their roles
and responsibilities are also different. The Prophet (peace be upon him)
appreciated good treatment of women, he said: "The best among you are
those who treat their wives best. I am indeed the best of you in the way I
treat my wives." When this is compared
with the notion that prevails among the overwhelming majority of men in the
Muslim world, it is found to be at variance with the Prophet's instructions. In
his last address, Prophet (peace be upon him) said; “O People, it is true that
you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have right
over you. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your
women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed
helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of
whom you do not approve, as well as never to commit adultery”. [The details
have discussed in my previous article: “Women In Islam;Emancipated Not
Subjugated” published in DJ, available at http://aftabkhan.blog.com]
Orientalist Fitnah [Ttribulation]:
Orientalism is now used to describe a pervasive
Western tradition, both academic and artistic, of prejudiced outsider
interpretations of the East, shaped by the attitudes of European imperialism in
the 18th and 19th centuries. The Western writers very cleverly first praise
some aspects of Islam to develop the confidence in reader of being unbiased.
Then they inject the poisonous propaganda against Islam to tarnish it image.
They have done great work in this regards to study the Arabic history, language
and culture. Some of their efforts are commendable but one has to be conscious
of hidden deceit, their aim remains anti Islam. They have been able to create a
class among Muslim intellectuals who have fallen pray to their nefarious designs,
which continues.
Edward Said, the Palestinian born Christian &
American intellectual is most famous for his work on ‘Orientalism’, which he
perceived as the inaccuracies that are the foundation of Western thought toward
the East. In his most famous book, Orientalism (1978), Said claimed a
"subtle and persistent Eurocentric prejudice against Arabo-Islamic peoples
and their culture." He argued that a long tradition of false and
romanticized images of Asia and the Middle East in Western culture
had served as an implicit justification for Europe and the U.S. U.S.
"So far as the United States
"I doubt if it is controversial, for example, to
say that an Englishman in India Egypt Europe has dominated Asia politically so
that even the most outwardly objective Western texts on the East were permeated
with a bias that Western scholars could not recognize. Western scholars
appropriated the task of exploration and interpretation of the Orient’s
languages, history and culture for themselves, with the implication that the
East was not capable of composing its own narrative. They have written Asia ’s past and
constructed its modern identities from a perspective that takes Europe as the norm, from
which the "exotic", "inscrutable" Orient deviates. Said
concluded that a Western writings about the Orient depict it as an irrational,
weak, feminized "Other", contrasted with the rational, strong,
masculine West, a contrast he suggests derives from the need to create
"difference" between West and East that can be attributed to
immutable "essences" in the Oriental make-up.
Corruption of Education System:
Another attack was against the education system. The
Western colonials powers replaced the existing Islamic education system with
Western education system, specially designed to produce clerks for the
government jobs. This education system was different to the education system in
vogue in their own countries. This retarded the intellectual growth among the
Muslims, though there were some exceptional cases where the brilliant Muslims
reached the Western universities to benefit from the fruits of modern
education. On return they introduced some reforms in their parent countries.
Global Wave of Materialism & Immorality:
But this is not the only cause of degeneration and
deterioration of Muslim societies apart for it there is an other effective
factor: The whole world is affected by the wave of immorality full of evil and
turmoil based upon materialism. It develops hatred for the religion and pulls
towards the animal instincts; there is no other example of such wildness in the
human history. More over this immorality is supported through science and
technology and the modern thoughts. In the name of progress and development a
great philosophy have been evolved so that this evil is popularized. The
positive side is that such un Islamic thoughts and practices are restricted to
a specific class, its not popular among masses. The primitive Mullah [Imam or
prayer leader] despite his limitations of modern knowledge acts as a barrier to
vulgarity & immorality and the common Muslim folk listen to him patiently
with respect.
Oppression
breeds Extremism:
The imperial West has planted an other seed of discord at the heart of Muslim world in the shape of Israel, resulting in endless wars in Middle East and Muslim world. Till the issue of oppressed Palestinians and Muslims at Kashmir, Chechenya, Philippines and elsewhere are resolved the world peace remain threatened. Western and US desire to control the energy and other resources of Muslim world has resulted in wars.
Today the Muslim society finds itself at the crossroads. There are divergent views on conduct of Jihad, an important doctrine of Islam against oppression & illiteracy. The term “Jihad” has much wider significance than a military campaign and open warfare as commonly perceived. Jihad could be with “the heart” (intentions or feelings), with “the hand” (weapons etc) a simple action, such as standing firm in defence of the cause of Islam or “with tongue” (expression through speech or writing etc). This may require speaking out in public, for extending invitation of Islam to non believers (Dawah, preaching), against ignoring Islamic principles, and writing articles or publishing books to promote Islam. Since Islam is the faith of “Peace”, the early Muslim community was urged to conduct the Bigger Jihad (Jihad Kabira), through Qur’an, i.e. preaching of Allah’s message. Allah says in Qur’an: “therefore, do not yield to the unbelievers, and make Jihad (strive) against them with this Qur'an, a mighty Jihad (strenuous striving).”(Qur’an;25:52).
Today the Muslim society finds itself at the crossroads. There are divergent views on conduct of Jihad, an important doctrine of Islam against oppression & illiteracy. The term “Jihad” has much wider significance than a military campaign and open warfare as commonly perceived. Jihad could be with “the heart” (intentions or feelings), with “the hand” (weapons etc) a simple action, such as standing firm in defence of the cause of Islam or “with tongue” (expression through speech or writing etc). This may require speaking out in public, for extending invitation of Islam to non believers (Dawah, preaching), against ignoring Islamic principles, and writing articles or publishing books to promote Islam. Since Islam is the faith of “Peace”, the early Muslim community was urged to conduct the Bigger Jihad (Jihad Kabira), through Qur’an, i.e. preaching of Allah’s message. Allah says in Qur’an: “therefore, do not yield to the unbelievers, and make Jihad (strive) against them with this Qur'an, a mighty Jihad (strenuous striving).”(Qur’an;25:52).
Some people feels
that due to suppression and exploitation of Muslims by neo-colonialist powers
(Western) on one hand and politico-military suppression of Muslims at
Palestine, Chechnya, Kashmir, Philippines and occupation of Iraq, Afghanistan,
on the other hand, there is no other option but to resort to Jihad with arms.
Due to ineptness of world and Muslim powers, the extremist non government armed
groups are resorting to violence and extremism. Being weak in the modern
weaponry, they follow the old dictum. “Every thing is fair in love and war”.
The terms Jihad is being used by such groups of desperate people who are at
times are involved in suicide bombing and violence against innocent civilians
including women and children. Such heinous crimes against humanity by few zealots are having disastrous consequences for the entire Muslim community (Ummah).
While
violence and terrorism [by oppressor states] is to be rejected unanimously, there
is dire need to lay down the basic parameters for conduct of Jihad. Firstly the
existence of a well recognized legitimate political authority or government in
the area where armed struggle is to be conducted against oppression be
prerequisite. Secondly laying down of objectives to be achieved and parameters.
Thirdly the availability of means and resources to achieve the objectives. The
peace as and when visible should be given a chance. However one has to find answers to the
questions like: Is killing of innocent civilians, women and children whether
Muslims or non Muslims justified on the name of Jihad? Can the declaration of Jihad with arms be left at the discretion of few
individuals, religious zealots and stateless groups? Or should it be the responsibility of the Islamic
states keeping in view the teachings of Islam, national interests and the
prevalent system of international relations (UN, OIC and other forums)? Muslim
scholars and leadership through dialogue with the international community, have
to analyze the reasons of this pathetic state and find out practicable, realistic
and just solutions on long term basis to make the world safer place for every
one.
At present
the Muslim scholars are mostly devout and sincere but (with some exceptions),
they generally lack in the knowledge of science and technology. They know
little about other Social Sciences i.e. sociology, psychology, anthropology,
economics, political science, and history. Only few have studied ‘comparative
religions’ in-depth. The research to deal with the issues and challenges of
present time in realistic and practicable way is very limited, rather
nonexistent. This state has been reached over a very long period, due to the
negligent attitude, fixing of wrong priories and lack of interest by the Muslim
societies, besides many other reasons. Consequently a very medieval face of
Islam is presented, which appears to be extremely rigid, primitive, intolerant
to difference of opinion and at times aggressive, which is far from reality.
Against all the odds and despite all these limitations, it goes to the credit
of traditional Ulema (clergy) which is keeping the candle of Islam
alight. It is high time that the Muslim societies besides developments in the
field of education, science, technology and industrialization, address this
problem by injecting the fresh intellect in the field of religious scholarship.
Thus the ‘Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam’ proposed by great
modern Islamic philosopher Dr.Muhammad Iqbal over seventy five year ago to meet
the challenges of this time through Ijtehad could be achieved by modern
Muslim intellectuals and scholars. This will enable the Muslims to regains the
lost glory and gain respectable position in the community of nations in this
modern world. While there could be divergent views on the conduct of ‘Jihad’ as
an ‘armed struggle’, in the present scenario, but there is unanimity ‘Jihad Kabira’; the peaceful struggle with the Qur’an.
The Future:
These internal and external factors resulted in the
great deterioration and discord in Muslim societies, however despite all these
efforts to crush Islam; doubtless to state that the future belongs to Islam!
This may appear to be strange and surprising, but its not an overstatement,
let’s see how?
The Western imperialism made all out efforts to
obliterate Islam by firstly dividing them in to small states, then sowed the
seeds of discord and hatred among these small Muslim states. The separated the
Din form Muslim society and excluded Shari’ah form the life of Muslims. Every
movement which started for revival of Islam to make it a driving force was
crushed. Education policies were formulated with the view to create confusion
and doubts in the minds of young Muslims and to keep them away from the real
sources of Islamic knowledge. In every Muslim country a team of such pseudo
scholars and thinkers was created who had hated it with no real knowledge about
Islam. They consider Islam as a symbol of stagnation, illiteracy, degeneration,
reactionary and anti modernism. Any movement among the thinkers for the revival
of Islam was instantly ruthlessly crushed since it was considered as a grave
threat to the two centuries of effort by the Christian Imperialism, they
succeeded in this effort.
The Muslims not only went away form Din rather were
practically excluded form the mainstream Islam, though yet they bear Muslim
labels like names. Such Muslims claim to follow such an Islam which does not
exist in the real world. The imperialists were able to suppress the movements in
Muslim countries which worked for revival of Islam.
So what happened next? In USA, which has spend
billions of dollars on Christian Missionaries, and Islamic movement started
with in black Americans, which by now has followers in millions. American tried
to suppress this movement through oppression, assassinations and imprisonment,
widely reported in American press. But the message of Islam was spreading fast
even in jails. According to US France Germany Switzerland Norway Europe and USA
Now leaving apart the world of Islam now let’s look at the Western world
which is riding the tide of progress and development. Today whole West is
suffering form the worst type of deprivation in the form of “Spiritual Deficit”.
It can only exist if God decides to finish the humanity. But if it is destined that
the humanity has to exist for some more time, then man must wake up form
ignorance and try to get out of the hell its falling in. The fact is that
humanity is gaining consciousness. Humanity has realised that there is a vacuum
in the life which can neither be filled with economic prosperity, political
system, social organizations and sex nor by physical comforts available in
abundance more than ever. In fact this is spiritual vacuum formed due to
hollowness of faith.
This void is indicated by the general discomfort faced by people which
results in psychological and nervous breakdown, depression, high blood
pressure, suicide and even mental breakdown. This is happening despite
availability of all the comforts and pleasures which industrial civilization
has provided to mankind. In reality as the people get absorbed in lustful
pleasures while their level of madness is increasing on one side and the feeling
of spiritual void is increasing in the consciousness on the other side. Soon
the humanity will gain consciousness from slumber to realize that the solution
to fill this void is faith, faith in One God [Allah], there is no alternative
to it. This Faith does not mean to dress up in multicolored gowns like a sage
playing with rosary or to ignore all aspects of human life to get immersed in
spiritual Manifestations or to attain the state of ecstasy. Rather this belief
would encompass the human intellect, body and spirit.
Such a complete belief existing on the earth is Islam
and none else. It is not necessary that in such a situation the people’s name
be Muhammad, Ali or Ahmad but humanity after its long hard earned experience
will conclude that Islam is that desired Din or belief which can keep all
aspects of live in harmony and avoid its destruction by splitting apart of different
human aspects.
The main hurdles in the way to Islam as seen now would
be eliminated once people would start coming towards it. It will not be the
first revolution in the history of mankind, in reality once humanity is alerted
on existence of the spiritual void, then the thoughts and beliefs which appears
to impossible to change get dissolved very easily. When man realizes that he is
unfortunately misguided, he voluntarily accepts every such organization which
pleads for Din or belief system. Waywardness and misguidance is the real cause
of present turmoil. In such as situation people abandon the evil practices of
pleasure and are contended with the balanced natural means of pleasure. The
feel real satisfaction in such legitimate means of pleasure.
All the means of attraction and pleasure which are now
part of personality of modern women, due to which she gets pleasure for her being
and which now appears indispensable to her, are now source of fear, insecurity
and discomfort. It is true that she feels existence of her ‘self’ due to it but
it is so wide in its application that the personality of other women also
becomes part of it. Consequently the other woman possess her fiancé, lover or
husband resulting in to disintegration of family, end of relationships leaving
deep unforgettable scars.
Soon women will realize that she does not need these
artificial thing. It is batter for her that
she should adopt the natural fair means and abandon the mischievous styles and practices.
Then people will revert to Din and religion and that
Din will be Islam. The power of Din is much more powerful than the power of
human determination because its basis are that Sunnah or way of Allah which He
has kept in the nature of human being which works with in. When the time comes…
in fact in the beliefs there is no count of one or two generations. This is not
important when it would happen. Most important is that it will happen and Islam
will establish itself because yet in the destiny written by God, destruction of
humanity is not planned. Hence soon the time will come.
The Muslim generations has rendered great sacrifices
to cover the great divide between disbelief and Islam, they suffered great
hardships in process. Can any thing be equal to it in value. No nothing can be
equal to it. These are the great sacrifices which can only be rewarded by Allah
in this and next world. Allah has guaranteed that their reward is with Him:
“God will certainly aid those who aid his (cause); -
for verily God is full of Strength, Exalted in Might.”[Quran;22:40 ]
Conclusion:
The society based upon Islamic principles is NOT the society of ascetics and hermits.
Adornments, recreation and fine arts within limits of morality and decency are
also for enjoyment of believers. Ethics and human rights are accorded high
priority. Many such aspects projected as ‘Dilemma’ are nothing but ‘Delusions’.
In the words of Eqbal Ahmad: “We are chasing an Islamic order ‘stripped of its
humanism, aesthetics, intellectual quests and spiritual devotions…. concerned
with power not with the soul, with the mobilization of people for political
purposes rather than with sharing and alleviating their sufferings and
aspirations.”
Allah says: “Say:
Who hath forbidden the adornment of God which He has brought forth for His
devotees, and the good things of His providing? Say: "All these things are
for the enjoyment of the believers in the life of this world though
shared by others; but these shall be exclusively theirs on the Day of
Resurrection. Thus do We make Our revelations clear for those who understand.
Say: The things that my Lord hath indeed forbidden are: shameful deeds
whether open or secret; sins and trespasses against truth or reason; assigning
of partners to God for which he hath given no authority; and saying things
about God of which you have no knowledge.”(Qur’an;7:32-33).
Thus despite all the odds, Islam has The Future, Muslims
have to adhere to the golden principles of Islam. It is unfair to totally blame the enemies if Islam for conspiracies and mischief, which had always been there. The Muslims have to share the blame as well, they have to put their house in order and remember :
"ALLAH would never change a favour that HE has conferred upon a people until they change their own condition" [Quran;8:53]
"surely Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change their own condition [Quran;13:11]
The renowned British scholar and statesman Sir George Bernard Shaw summed up the future of Islam in these worlds:
"ALLAH would never change a favour that HE has conferred upon a people until they change their own condition" [Quran;8:53]
"surely Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change their own condition [Quran;13:11]
The renowned British scholar and statesman Sir George Bernard Shaw summed up the future of Islam in these worlds:
"If any religion
had the chance of ruling over England Europe within the next hundred years, it could be
Islam." “I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation
because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me
to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which
can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him - the wonderful man and
in my opinion for from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Saviour of
Humanity."…"I believe that if a man like him were to assume the
dictatorship of the modern world he would succeed in solving its problems in a
way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness: I have prophesied
about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable to the Europe of
tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today.”['The Genuine Islam,' Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936]
`Truth has come and falsehood has vanished. Verily, falsehood is bound to vanish."[Quran;17:81]
`Truth has come and falsehood has vanished. Verily, falsehood is bound to vanish."[Quran;17:81]
References:
- Syed Qutab, “Hal Nahnu Muslimoon” [Are We Muslims?]
- Encyclopaedia Britannica 1999
- Wikipedia:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashidun_Caliphate
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umayyad_Caliphate
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbasid_Caliphate
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottomon_Empire
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_world
- Books/ articles by Aftab Khan available at: http://aftabkhan.blog.com
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The Writer
AftabAhmad Khan, is a freelance researcher and writer, working for peace and interfaith dialogue. His research work is regularly published in DJ (www.defencejournal.com), which has been compiled in the form of e-Books available at: http://aftabkhan.blog.com for study or download.
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Please visit: http://aftabkhan.blog.com
