Impact and Challenges of Modern Civil Society on Islamic Social Structure
Civil Society and Individualism
The modern concept of civil society views the individual as a personality driven by a desire for personal freedom and the pursuit of self-interests. In this system, the promotion of individualism is a central aim, but this individualism revolves solely around personal gains, rather than love, kinship, or familial relationships. The famous quote by Jean-Paul Sartre,
“Hell is other people,”
clearly reflects the mindset of this society, where every other person is seen as a potential constraint on one’s freedom.
The Social Contract and the Nature of Relationships
In civil society, interpersonal relationships are based on a Social Contract, which involves:
◈ Respecting each other's personal freedom without interference.
◈ Basing relationships on the fulfillment of personal interests rather than love or sacrifice.
The Difference Between the Marriage Contract and Social Contract
One of the fundamental misunderstandings of modern Muslim thinkers has been equating the marriage contract with the social contract. Marriage is founded on love, kinship, and a lifelong commitment of loyalty, whereas the social contract is based merely on mutual tolerance for the sake of personal gain. As a result, societies built on the foundation of a social contract tend to disintegrate family systems, because such a contract inherently negates love and traditional bonds.
The Challenge of Islamic Identity in the Modern Social System
Within the modern social structure, the identity of the individual is defined merely as a "pursuer of personal interest" and not as someone associated with religious or traditional affiliations. In such a system:
✔ Religious and traditional identity is suppressed.
✔ Family bonds weaken.
✔ Islamic institutions, laws, and traditional individuality appear meaningless or irrelevant.
Modern Intellectual Attitude Against Traditional Islamic Understanding
Modern thinkers have attempted to reshape Islamic thought according to the modern social order, resulting in:
❖ Evaluating Fiqh and Islamic history through the lens of modern standards.
❖ Declaring the social and political system of the early Islamic period irrelevant.
❖ Reinterpreting Islamic principles under the label of "absolute ijtihad."
The Authentic Basis of Islamic Thought
The understanding of Islam by the Salaf (pious predecessors) holds value for two primary reasons:
① It is directly linked to the students of the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions رضي الله عنهم.
② Their social and political context was far more authentic and closer to Islamic principles than the current modern framework.
The Prophet’s Saying in the Friday Sermon
In every Friday sermon, the Prophet ﷺ's statement is reiterated:
"خیر القرون قرني، ثم الذین یلونہم، ثم الذین یلونہم"
"The best of generations is my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of the Virtues of the Companions)
This is not just an ethical principle—it asserts the fact that the social and political structure of the early generations was the most excellent and ideal.
