INTRODUCTION
This thought-provoking paper by Abul A’la Mawdudi, although very brief, speaks volumes. The author takes us through the major phases of Islamic history, carefully tracing all the elements that have been responsible for the rise and subsequent decline of the Muslim
Ummah.
This is done in his usual style of providing thorough, accurate commentary set against an objective framework. He also details the factors responsible for the establishment of the first Islamic state almost 15 centuries ago, and explores future possibilities of its reestablishment once again as a dynamic spiritual force which can guide and influence the whole of humanity. Never before, has an intellectual thinker examined the past, present and future of Islam in such a disciplined manner; nor have all the ailments that have beset the Muslim world, been highlighted with pinpoint accuracy! This illuminating work promises to enlighten, instruct, and hopefully re-kindle an Islamic awakening everywhere.
The author delivered this paper in the form of a lecture in Karachi, December 1963, under the auspices of Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba, before an audience of students and intellectuals. The electrifying atmosphere of that memorable winter evening, with Mawdudi’s deep measured tones solving the riddles of history, thinning out the cobwebs on the subject in people’s minds and pointing a clear road to success, shall ever be cherished. Everyone was engrossed in the subject! It stirred the souls of the audience with such a rapt attention that is seldom witnessed! When the speech was over, it seemed it ended too soon! People were deep in thought , looking detached, in a philosophical mood - as if far from this world - floating above the clouds! It is difficult to forget that occasion. In order to re-live the spiritual ecstasy felt that evening, we have endeavoured to preserve the ideas, in print, of one of the greatest Muslim thinkers of our time. We hope, insha’Allah, that thephenomenal history of Islam will continue to provide warmth, instruction, solace and inspiration to the International Muslim Ummah, and help steer and keep her, on the right course using the wisdom provided in these pages as her guiding torch and vehicle. This work brightens the way and offers great encouragement for the future of Muslims and Islam.
THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM
I propose to share with you, God-Willing, some of my own reflections on the topic Islam Today.
I should like to touch upon its significance and scope, define the matters relatedto it and identify those outside its realm.The phrase Islam Today is probably understood in the West to mean the same thing asMuslims today. Most people in the West generally view Islamand Muslims, as one and the same thing, often saying ‘Islam’ when they ought to say ‘Muslims’ and vice versa! We must,therefore clarify at the very outset the meaning of the said phrase. A discussion of Islam todaywould not mean that we examine the plight of Muslims today. Nor indeed does it mean that we analyse how Islam is practised today. Islam is an eternal reality. It is a way of life laid down bythe Creator that does not alter with the passage of time. The fundamental truths upon whichIslam is based, are timeless and lasting. For example, the fact that the Universe has OneController and Sustainer, was as true a billion years ago as it is today, and will remain just astrue a billion years from now.Similarly, it is an eternal truth that the sole duty of every creature of God is to worshipHim and obey His commands. The passage of time cannot alter this fact. Life’s realitiestranscend time and space and remain unchanged. As such, time concepts such as the past,present, future, yesterday, today and tomorrow are irrelevant when practising Islam.We are therefore left with a few possible meanings of the phrase Islam Today:
1) How are Muslims conducting themselves today according to the
‘yardstick’ of Islamic morality?
2) What are the attitudes of the Muslims today towards Islam?
3) To what extent does Islam influence the lives of Muslims?
4) Is it possible for the world today, to adopt Islam as their way of life?
If so, how can it be done?
5) Can Islam be easily practised in this day and age?
I shall discuss the subject in light of these prevailing questions. In dealing with the firstthree questions, that is, the attitude of today’s Muslims towards Islam, their treatment of theirfaith, and the extent to which Islam influences their lives, to find clues to the answers, we mustglance at the history of Islam.
The present moral condition of the Muslims today, is a result of what has occurred inthe past. Similarly, their future state will emerge from their present situation. Therefore, in orderto examine the current attitudes of the Muslims towards Islam, we must analyse their pastattitudes towards it. This way, we can not only trace the historical reasons for our current thinking and behaviour, but also determine our possible attitude towards Islam in the future.A glance at history reveals that the Muslims have passed through three historical phases and are now passing through a fourth phase. These shall be discussed in turn.
THE FIRST PHASE: THE IDEAL PERIOD
In the first phase of our historical journey, a single individual was chosen by God andappointed to reconstruct the life of mankind. This reform was based on the belief in the Oneness of God the life Hereafter and in the Messages brought about by all of God’s Messengers(peace be upon them all). For thirteen long years, this individual preached the Divine Messagein Makkah. But he was no ordinary person - he was the embodiment of the type of sublimeindividual that the Islamic way of life sought to produce.
His thoughts and behaviour, his wordsand motives, his treatment of others and his selfless deeds for humanity, showed the kind ofcharacter and moral excellence that Islam could develop. He was a shining example of how abeliever in God should conduct himself throughout his life. This man was no ordinary man but a Prophet of God - Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him), and his pure andupright personality was a perfect model of the principles he preached.
```2b continued..Inshaa Allah``
This thought-provoking paper by Abul A’la Mawdudi, although very brief, speaks volumes. The author takes us through the major phases of Islamic history, carefully tracing all the elements that have been responsible for the rise and subsequent decline of the Muslim
Ummah.
This is done in his usual style of providing thorough, accurate commentary set against an objective framework. He also details the factors responsible for the establishment of the first Islamic state almost 15 centuries ago, and explores future possibilities of its reestablishment once again as a dynamic spiritual force which can guide and influence the whole of humanity. Never before, has an intellectual thinker examined the past, present and future of Islam in such a disciplined manner; nor have all the ailments that have beset the Muslim world, been highlighted with pinpoint accuracy! This illuminating work promises to enlighten, instruct, and hopefully re-kindle an Islamic awakening everywhere.
The author delivered this paper in the form of a lecture in Karachi, December 1963, under the auspices of Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba, before an audience of students and intellectuals. The electrifying atmosphere of that memorable winter evening, with Mawdudi’s deep measured tones solving the riddles of history, thinning out the cobwebs on the subject in people’s minds and pointing a clear road to success, shall ever be cherished. Everyone was engrossed in the subject! It stirred the souls of the audience with such a rapt attention that is seldom witnessed! When the speech was over, it seemed it ended too soon! People were deep in thought , looking detached, in a philosophical mood - as if far from this world - floating above the clouds! It is difficult to forget that occasion. In order to re-live the spiritual ecstasy felt that evening, we have endeavoured to preserve the ideas, in print, of one of the greatest Muslim thinkers of our time. We hope, insha’Allah, that thephenomenal history of Islam will continue to provide warmth, instruction, solace and inspiration to the International Muslim Ummah, and help steer and keep her, on the right course using the wisdom provided in these pages as her guiding torch and vehicle. This work brightens the way and offers great encouragement for the future of Muslims and Islam.
THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM
I propose to share with you, God-Willing, some of my own reflections on the topic Islam Today.
I should like to touch upon its significance and scope, define the matters relatedto it and identify those outside its realm.The phrase Islam Today is probably understood in the West to mean the same thing asMuslims today. Most people in the West generally view Islamand Muslims, as one and the same thing, often saying ‘Islam’ when they ought to say ‘Muslims’ and vice versa! We must,therefore clarify at the very outset the meaning of the said phrase. A discussion of Islam todaywould not mean that we examine the plight of Muslims today. Nor indeed does it mean that we analyse how Islam is practised today. Islam is an eternal reality. It is a way of life laid down bythe Creator that does not alter with the passage of time. The fundamental truths upon whichIslam is based, are timeless and lasting. For example, the fact that the Universe has OneController and Sustainer, was as true a billion years ago as it is today, and will remain just astrue a billion years from now.Similarly, it is an eternal truth that the sole duty of every creature of God is to worshipHim and obey His commands. The passage of time cannot alter this fact. Life’s realitiestranscend time and space and remain unchanged. As such, time concepts such as the past,present, future, yesterday, today and tomorrow are irrelevant when practising Islam.We are therefore left with a few possible meanings of the phrase Islam Today:
1) How are Muslims conducting themselves today according to the
‘yardstick’ of Islamic morality?
2) What are the attitudes of the Muslims today towards Islam?
3) To what extent does Islam influence the lives of Muslims?
4) Is it possible for the world today, to adopt Islam as their way of life?
If so, how can it be done?
5) Can Islam be easily practised in this day and age?
I shall discuss the subject in light of these prevailing questions. In dealing with the firstthree questions, that is, the attitude of today’s Muslims towards Islam, their treatment of theirfaith, and the extent to which Islam influences their lives, to find clues to the answers, we mustglance at the history of Islam.
The present moral condition of the Muslims today, is a result of what has occurred inthe past. Similarly, their future state will emerge from their present situation. Therefore, in orderto examine the current attitudes of the Muslims towards Islam, we must analyse their pastattitudes towards it. This way, we can not only trace the historical reasons for our current thinking and behaviour, but also determine our possible attitude towards Islam in the future.A glance at history reveals that the Muslims have passed through three historical phases and are now passing through a fourth phase. These shall be discussed in turn.
THE FIRST PHASE: THE IDEAL PERIOD
In the first phase of our historical journey, a single individual was chosen by God andappointed to reconstruct the life of mankind. This reform was based on the belief in the Oneness of God the life Hereafter and in the Messages brought about by all of God’s Messengers(peace be upon them all). For thirteen long years, this individual preached the Divine Messagein Makkah. But he was no ordinary person - he was the embodiment of the type of sublimeindividual that the Islamic way of life sought to produce.
His thoughts and behaviour, his wordsand motives, his treatment of others and his selfless deeds for humanity, showed the kind ofcharacter and moral excellence that Islam could develop. He was a shining example of how abeliever in God should conduct himself throughout his life. This man was no ordinary man but a Prophet of God - Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him), and his pure andupright personality was a perfect model of the principles he preached.
```2b continued..Inshaa Allah``