Often in life, when people find themselves somewhat disillusioned by their current reality, the only consolation is to reflect on the past and try and identify where things went astray.
With this approach in mind and though it may be difficult to comprehend now, in a day and age where Islam is purported to be following a distinct, yet undeniably misconstrued ‘with us or against’ us perception in the Western world, this state of affairs has not historically always been the case.
In its formative epoch, Islam’s popularity spread very quickly, predominantly due to its ability to remove barriers of race and identity and embrace people of all colors, creeds and cultures under its wholly egalitarian approach.
For example, from the 11th to 13th centuries, Medieval Europe absorbed knowledge from the Islamic civilization, which was then regarded as at its cultural peak. But this was a symbiotic exchange, most famously expressed through Averroes (Ibn Rushd), a leading Muslim philosopher of the time, who was a stout defender of Aristotelian philosophy and in turn brought Greek philosophical schools of thinking into Islam.
With the effects of this cross-pollination enrichment, the magnetism and success in captivating and absorbing new followers over the centuries since its genesis, was such that, as Marshall Hodgson, a renowned historian of Islam, once stated that ‘in the 16th Century, a visitor from Mars might well have supposed that the human world was on the verge of becoming Muslim.’
One can only wonder what the modern world would look like today if Islam had continued its expansion and influence, but somewhere along the way, Islam turned a corner and its entirely benevolent progression as a religion of advancement stalled.
The editor of the famous Pan- Islamic publication, ‘ La Nation Arabe ‘ Shakib Arslan (1869-1946), had his greatest fears about the decay of Islam realized during his visit to Andalucia in Spain. He noticed the remnants of a glorious civilization over nine centuries during the Omayyad conquest of Spain and Portugal and how Muslims were thriving then , having integrated other civilizations. But he feared for the stagnant state of Islam during his time in other places around the world lamenting ‘how little Muslims have inched back from their hole.’
While there are a number of conjectures as to why this happened, I wish to focus on the fact that while Muslims have a common worldview based on a shared foundation of values, the point of departure - and where indeed I see a core issue - is the contention between the impact and influence of the Quran (the ultimate and absolute truth) and those of the Hadith (the sayings , teachings , actions of the Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him), that are additional and complimentary to the Quran , and a source of guidance for many Muslims.
Having two different ‘authorities’ therefore has led to discord within the Muslim faith, especially given the openness to the vast plurality of interpretations of the Quran’s messages but underscored by the threat of heresy, were a Muslim ever to dare question them too pointedly. Most texts of the Quran have specifically historical contexts, and most modern Muslim scholars are well aware of this, and should eliminate fake or extremist texts in the Hadith that contradict the teachings of Islam , or justify committing any form of violence .
The tension between believed scriptures and the world we currently we live in on one hand and the perceived threat of even daring to confront traditions on the other has in effect left Islam long tied in a knot of perpetual stagnation.This rigid and hyper-conservative strain of Islam continues generation after generation through education of children at very young ages, predominantly at their first places of education, where they are taught the Quran by rote, long before they have developed the means to comprehend the words they recite by heart. Unconsciously, as they mature, these words will remain the bedrock of their Islamic mindset. These stunted and benumbed beliefs have affected other realms, such as exaggerated dress codes, the reactions to the burqa ( The ‘Niqab’) being one such recently global contentious after effect.
Thus, after generations of uniformity what can Islam do to rectify its once so promising position in the world and embrace modernity in order to prosper once again?
Put simply, it must put aside centuries of indignation of the West as well as moving away from solely rigid interpretation of scriptures and fractured customs and traditions that have been habitually woven into daily life over centuries.
Though it may take several generations, it is the only path to save Islam from an ideological struggle with extremists whose intentions are far from progressive.
Let’s not forget that one can’t reform Islam before reforming Muslims.
Related
Before You Go
