Severing from the Past: Destruction of Identity and Historical Consciousness

✍ Written by: Ḥasīb Aḥmad Ḥasīb

❖ When a Nation Loses Its Past​

When a nation becomes disconnected from its past, it resembles an abandoned child, cast into obscurity at birth, forever wandering in search of identity. This detachment produces deep psychological confusion, manifesting in the national character and behavior of individuals and societies.

❖ Psychological Consequences of Historical Disconnection​

① Seeking False Anchors
Detachment from history leads nations to cling to false supports—like embracing Western dominance, searching for pride in ancient ruins of Egypt, Rome, Greece, or Mayan civilization. These imperialist ideologies, driven by neo-colonial powers, aim to swallow entire civilizations and enforce their distorted historical interpretations globally.

② Distorting Others’ Histories
A disconnected nation often attempts to validate its own worth by undermining others’ histories, a strategy employed through Orientalism (Istishrāq). Orientalists craft subtle attacks on Islam, blending truth with falsehood, making it difficult for the average reader to recognize the poison hidden within praise.

❖ Orientalism’s Methods of Manipulation​

✔ Poison in the Veil of Praise
Orientalists begin by pretending neutrality through exaggerated admiration. But under the guise of scholarship, they distort Islamic narratives, inject doubt under the name of “scientific analysis,” and gradually convert readers into supporters of their worldview—without their awareness.

✔ Confusion and Self-Doubt
Orientalist ideologies have led to intellectual confusion among Muslims, weakening confidence in the Salaf al-Ṣāliḥīn and firm scholars. Their impact is most visible in the field of Islamic history, affecting thinkers like Ṭāhā Ḥusayn in the Arab world and Sir Syed Aḥmad Khān in the Indian subcontinent.

❖ The Islamic Science of Historical Authentication​

✔ The System of Jarḥ wa Taʿdīl
Our scholars developed the science of Jarḥ wa Taʿdīl to assess historical reports, grounded in the Qur’anic command:

“O you who believe! If a fāsiq brings you news, verify it, lest you harm people in ignorance and become regretful.”
(Sūrat al-Ḥujurāt: 6)

Books like Minhāj al-Sunnah by Ibn Taymiyyah, al-ʿAwāṣim min al-Qawāṣim by Ibn al-ʿArabī, and Izālat al-Khafāʾ by Shāh Walīullāh ad-Dihlawī are masterpieces in protecting Islamic history from misinterpretation.

❖ Misreading History: The Roots of Error​

Reading Islamic history outside the lens of the Salaf leads to critical misjudgment. When the framework of evaluation is flawed, the purpose of studying history is lost.

❖ Goals of Studying History​

✿ To know the heroic deeds of our predecessors
✿ To reconnect with our intellectual, political, and moral values
✿ To build a better future rooted in authentic heritage

❖ When False Standards Are Applied​

Studying Islamic history through secular or biased criteria distorts the image of Islamic figures. Mahmūd Ghaznawī is labeled a thief, Shihābuddīn Ghorī an invader, and Aurangzeb a hypocrite. This criticism extends even to the Ṣaḥābah, attacking their character with the same flawed logic.

❖ Dual-Edged Intellectual Deception​

Such confusion is a two-edged sword:
① It portrays Islamic history negatively
② It destroys trust in Islamic revivalists and heritage

The cry of "unbiased research" is merely a cloak to erase trust in Islamic reformers.

❖ Misjudging Political Islamic History​

Some claim that Islamic governance collapsed just 30 years after the Prophet ﷺ—a view that contradicts the Prophet’s own testimony:

“The best of people are my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)

To accept such a claim is to undermine three golden generations, praised by the Prophet ﷺ himself.

❖ The Need for Reform in Historical Understanding​

To understand Islamic history correctly, we must:
✔ Follow the methodology of the Salaf
✔ Avoid secular or oriental distortions
✔ Reconnect our history with our faith and future

❖ Quotation from Sayyid Abū’l-Ḥasan ʿAlī Nadwī رحمه الله​

“People are justified in questioning whether a mission, even in the hands of its most capable prophet, failed to leave a lasting imprint. If so, how can one believe it holds the power for spiritual reform?”

❖ Rational Perspective​

Does it make sense to believe that Islamic rule collapsed after only 30 years? When those who advocate for Islamic revival believe that the early Islamic community itself failed, their very mission loses all meaning.

❖ The Qur’an Testifies​

“Know that among you is the Messenger of Allah. If he were to obey you in many things, you would surely be in trouble. But Allah has endeared the faith to you and beautified it in your hearts…”
(Sūrat al-Ḥujurāt: 7)

❖ Final Message​

To gain an accurate understanding of Islamic history, we must walk in the footsteps of the righteous predecessors. This is the only path that can lead us toward true guidance and revival.