By: Muhammad Zafar Iqbal
① The material progress of the West has granted it global dominance.
② Muslims are simultaneously living in four different eras, resulting in internal conflict.
③ In the quest to harmonize material development with Islamic civilization, three major intellectual schools have emerged.
④ According to Western experts, material advancement is not possible without adopting Western civilization.
⑤ The real challenge for Muslims is how to preserve their Islamic identity while achieving material progress.
The material development of the West has secured its dominance on the global stage, resulting in the widespread influence of Western ideologies across the world. Maria Subrit writes that it was this very progress that enabled Europe to dominate other parts of the world. Conversely, Muslims have significantly lagged in material development, which has brought numerous challenges and crises upon the Muslim Ummah.
At present, Muslims are living simultaneously in four distinct periods:
❶ Their religious background dates back 1,500 years.
❷ Their social system reflects the 17th and 18th centuries.
❸ Practically, they are living in the 20th century.
❹ Their knowledge and information belong to the 21st century.
This contradiction keeps the Muslim world entangled in a strange state of confusion. Consequently, as a nation, Muslims appear unable to determine their direction and identity.
In efforts to understand and address the decline of the Ummah, Muslim intellectuals have proposed various ideologies. Broadly, these are divided into three major schools of thought:
❀ Those who prioritize material progress:
This group emphasizes material development as the fundamental principle and believes that religion must adapt to the demands of the modern age. For them, religion is limited to personal life, and its role in collective affairs is deemed unnecessary.
❀ Those who see material progress as inseparable from Islam:
This school insists that while material progress is essential, it must remain connected to Islam.
❀ Those who consider material progress and religion as separate domains:
This school of thought believes there is no possible harmony between Western material development and Islamic thought.
The central question for Muslims is whether Islamic values can be preserved while striving to achieve Western material progress. Western scholars also agree that material advancement cannot be separated from adopting Western civilization.
The Muslim world must make a critical decision: Can it integrate material progress with Islamic values, or not? Adopting the Western model of progress may pose a serious challenge to Islamic civilization and traditions.
✦ Summary
① The material progress of the West has granted it global dominance.
② Muslims are simultaneously living in four different eras, resulting in internal conflict.
③ In the quest to harmonize material development with Islamic civilization, three major intellectual schools have emerged.
④ According to Western experts, material advancement is not possible without adopting Western civilization.
⑤ The real challenge for Muslims is how to preserve their Islamic identity while achieving material progress.
✦ Influence of Western Thought and Civilization
The material development of the West has secured its dominance on the global stage, resulting in the widespread influence of Western ideologies across the world. Maria Subrit writes that it was this very progress that enabled Europe to dominate other parts of the world. Conversely, Muslims have significantly lagged in material development, which has brought numerous challenges and crises upon the Muslim Ummah.
✦ The Reality of Muslims Living Across Different Eras
At present, Muslims are living simultaneously in four distinct periods:
❶ Their religious background dates back 1,500 years.
❷ Their social system reflects the 17th and 18th centuries.
❸ Practically, they are living in the 20th century.
❹ Their knowledge and information belong to the 21st century.
This contradiction keeps the Muslim world entangled in a strange state of confusion. Consequently, as a nation, Muslims appear unable to determine their direction and identity.
✦ The Decline of the Muslim Ummah and Emerging Schools of Thought
In efforts to understand and address the decline of the Ummah, Muslim intellectuals have proposed various ideologies. Broadly, these are divided into three major schools of thought:
❀ Those who prioritize material progress:
This group emphasizes material development as the fundamental principle and believes that religion must adapt to the demands of the modern age. For them, religion is limited to personal life, and its role in collective affairs is deemed unnecessary.
❀ Those who see material progress as inseparable from Islam:
This school insists that while material progress is essential, it must remain connected to Islam.
❀ Those who consider material progress and religion as separate domains:
This school of thought believes there is no possible harmony between Western material development and Islamic thought.
✦ The Conflict Between Material Development and Islamic Thought
The central question for Muslims is whether Islamic values can be preserved while striving to achieve Western material progress. Western scholars also agree that material advancement cannot be separated from adopting Western civilization.
✦ Conclusion
The Muslim world must make a critical decision: Can it integrate material progress with Islamic values, or not? Adopting the Western model of progress may pose a serious challenge to Islamic civilization and traditions.
