Islam And Modernity: The Compatibility Question
By
Dr. Mohammad Ghitreef, New Age Islam
29 April
2022I
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Modernity is all about some higher human values
like democracy, human rights, social justice, gender equality, the rule of law,
freedom of religion and thought and expression, human dignity, science,
research, innovations, etc. It is not only about skyscrapers, borrowed high
tech industry, bought technology and grand buildings, big banks and neat and
clean cities, etc. The billion-dollar question is, why do Muslims globally only
long for utilizing modern facilities and amenities of everyday life and not
aspire to adopt these core values of modernity?
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Modernity
has many aspects; philosophical, ethical, cultural, and material. As far as
this latter dimension is concerned, Islam is in harmony with modernity. Let me straightaway
elaborate on this.
t is
generally believed and perceived that Muslim societies cannot go with
modernity. On a global scale, Muslims with their backwardness, by and large,
proved this hypothesis true simply because, they say, Islam doesn’t have
primary parameters of compatibility with modernity. Yet this hypothesis, I
think, is wrong because there are some exceptions too, which tell another
story. These promising models, though few, put forward by some Muslim countries
defy the general negative assumption about Islam and Muslims. For example, take
the model set by the United Arab Emirates. In the seventies, seven tiny
city-states came together and decided to form a federal union of these
relatively arid, less populated, less fertile, resourceless tribal communities,
called UAE. It developed Abu-Dhabi as its capital and Dubai as its economic
hub.
Now, after
50 years or so, UAE is the most developed country not only in the Middle East
but in the whole of Asia. Teeming with tourists, traders, world entrepreneurs,
a centre for open economy, international groups and conglomerates, a hub for festivals,
sports, films, and what not? Emirate set an exemplary model for peace,
security, and prosperity. It is now the most attractive place globally,
resembling Paris, London, New York, and other metropolitans. Welcoming workers
from all religious backgrounds and hosting all cultural denominations. So, from
a desert to be a most sought-after resort for global humanity for the purposes
related to economy, education, good income, employment, etc., must have been a
long journey.
Bangladesh
came into being in 1971 after the betrayal of West Pakistan of the democratic
victory of Sheikh Mujeebur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh in general
elections. And in its initial phases had been hit for decades by political
instability, army revolts, martial laws, and so on. Non the less, now
Bangladesh, under Shaikh Hasina’s secular regime is going ahead, and her
economy is marching on the path of development۔ The country now is making
headlines in world media that her GDP growth is more than that of Pakistan, and
even she left India behind. So, it is also an astonishing success story.
I can also
cite some more examples of Islam's compatibility with modernity. For instance,
Indonesia and Malaysia are two "Asian Giants." Indonesia houses the
largest Muslim population in the world. With a Muslim majority, Malaysia has a
robust presence of other ethnic and religious faith communities like Chinese,
Hindus et al. Yet both the countries are developed now in terms of good
infrastructure, flourishing economy, and high-tech advancement. And Islam
doesn't hinder their progress and embracing of modernity.
In many
respects, Turkey also is a good model of blending Turk nationalism-cum Islam
with secularism and modernity. Even Saudi Arabia, the cradle of Islam
historically, which has been indoctrinated with Salafi Wahhabism, the most
rigid and puritanical interpretation of Islam, is all set to be open and
embrace modernity now to a great extent, as the Vision of 2030 of prince
Mohammad Bin Salman, the de facto ruler of the kingdom is showing. A few more
names can be cited in this list on a relatively small scale, like Qatar,
Kuwait, and Bahrain, as they are also doing good to adopt modernity on a
limited practical level, yet not assuming the secular liberal democratic
values.
It is now
the duty of civil society in these countries to acquaint the people with
democratic values, fight against religious extremism, and prevent the youth
from moving towards it. Large-scale educational and training activities will
have to be carried out. Religious extremism will have to be stopped at all
costs. Violations of human rights will have to be monitored, and the provision
of justice and fairness for all citizens and the rule of law will have to be
ensured.
These
countries are all Muslim majority countries. One cannot blame their rulers or
masses to have abandoned Islam. No, Islam is present, alive, thriving as a
dynamic force in full in their lives as was before modernity.
Then what
does it mean? It means that Islam doesn't prevent its followers from going
ahead on the path of progress, intellectual growth, and civilizational
evolution. In fact, the wrong interpretations of Islam prevalent in most Muslim
societies mainly create hurdles in this regard. They are responsible for
Muslims lagging behind in the world and not Islam.
The point
is Islam doesn't fail its adherents. It is Muslims who fail Islam. For
instance, Pakistan was created in the name of Islam, but it hardly represents
Islam in its proper form. The bigotries, superstitions, prejudices, obscurity,
ruthless sectarian blood-shedding inherent in Pakistani society and its
clergy's misplaced "jihad" against science, technology and modernity
do not relate to Islam.
After the
demise of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of the country, Pakistan was not
ever blessed by a charismatic leader like him who could lead the nation
forward, could overcome the destructive influence of the clergy, maintain the
law-and-order, ensure the rule of law? A leader who could educate the people on
civilized manners, and not let politics become a toy in the hands of religious
leaders and feudal lords. No such ideological wisdom could be developed that
could save the nation from the dangers of political Islam and make everyone
aware of the importance of modern science and technology. No leadership today
has the guts and willpower to focus on real issues like health and education
instead of spending more and more on the army and weapons.
And it is
not only limited to Pakistan, but all the Islamic countries, save a few mentioned
above۔
They are suffering from these illnesses and flaws, so Islam cannot be blamed
for Muslim backwardness and Muslims lagging behind.
Islam's
motto is: "word of wisdom is a lost treasure of a Muslim. He must take it
from wherever he can find it".
Yet the
point is that modernity is all about some higher human values like democracy,
human rights, social justice, gender equality, the rule of law, freedom of
religion and thought and expression, human dignity, science, research,
innovations, etc. It is not only about skyscrapers, borrowed high tech
industry, bought technology and grand buildings, big banks and neat and clean
cities, etc. The billion-dollar question is, why do Muslims globally only long
for utilizing modern facilities and amenities of everyday life and not aspire
to adopt these core values of modernity? Why are they so reluctant to be
inspired by the western civilizational thought process?
Though a
very complex and long story, this is yet to be told. We can safely summarize
that the answer lies in that Muslims have been reluctant, wary, and suspicious
because of their ultra-religiosity rooted in the old Fiqhi framework built in
the Abbasid period. With that parochial mindset, Muslim Ulama of different hues
and colours, having a significant influence on the Muslim masses, have
miserably failed to understand modernity. They wrongly took it as Kufr and
shirk (infidelity). They have been doing vicious propaganda by all available
means among Muslim masses against modernity, amounting to nudity, permissiveness
and sin, etc for them.
Muslim
modernist reformers so far sadly did not get support and, by and large, were
unsuccessful and marginalized by narrow-minded Ulama the world over.
So, to
address this issue, we have to strongly counter the Ulama's narrative and
refute their false reasoning with counter-reasoning based on the scriptures and
on common sense as well. We should differentiate between Western thought and
Western culture and thus convince Muslim masses of the dire need of modern
ideas and their certainty in the contemporary age. Times are changing
exponentially, and history is going ahead. It will not stop and wait for us. We
have to change ourselves to catch up or be ready to go to the dustbin of
history.
----
Dr.
Mohammad Ghitreef is a Research Associate with the Centre for Promotion of
Educational and Cultural Advancement of Muslims of India, AMU Aligarh.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-society/islam-modernity-compatibility/d/126891
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