◈ Islam and Modernization
Islam is a religion that welcomes progress and development. It not only permits modernization but also encourages it where it aligns with moral and divine principles. However, Islam firmly rejects those aspects of modernity that are rooted in atheism, materialism, and the decay of moral values. Any model of modernity that is shaped by wastefulness, self-indulgent individualism, superficial glamour, and carnal desires as portrayed by Western commercial culture, has no place in an Islamic framework.
◈ Detrimental Elements of Modernity
The following features represent the darker face of modernity, which Islam strongly condemns:
◈ Alcohol consumption
◈ Use of intoxicants and narcotics
◈ Promiscuity and moral laxity
◈ The normalization of unmarried mothers and illegitimate children
◈ Proliferation of sexually transmitted diseases
◈ Widespread nudity and immodesty
◈ Escalating mental and psychological health issues
Such traits are neither admirable nor acceptable and clearly indicate moral collapse. Muslim society does not accept such modernity, regardless of whether critics brand this stance as narrow-mindedness or opposition to rational thinking.
◈ Acceptable Aspects of Modernity in Islam
Islam has no objection to aspects of modernity that aim to:
✔ Encourage innovation and creative thinking
✔ Improve societal functions and public welfare
✔ Enhance productivity and efficiency
✔ Establish systematic governance and management
✔ Support scientific progress and intellectual inquiry
…so long as all these elements function within the moral framework and divine boundaries that govern Islamic life. Islam supports the use of reason and technology, as long as they do not contradict divine revelation.
◈ Modernists’ Misunderstanding of Islam
A major issue lies in how modernists misinterpret modernity. They fuse Westernization with modernity, assuming that embracing the West’s cultural norms is the only way to be modern. Since Islam does not approve of unrestrained Western lifestyles, modernists view Islamic principles as obstacles to freedom. As a result, they develop a hostile attitude towards Islam, engaging in frequent ridicule and criticism of the faith and its followers.
◈ Propagation of Un-Islamic Ideologies
Certain individuals are actively working to disseminate secular ideologies within Muslim societies under the guise of modern thought. Their objective is to embed irreligious values and practices in such a way that their secular identity remains hidden, deceiving Muslims into accepting them as compatible with Islam. These tactics represent a deliberate intellectual invasion aimed at altering the identity and beliefs of Muslim communities.
