The present age can rightly
be described as the age of the predominance of Western philosophical thought
and learning. The Western ideas about the nature of man and the universe are
strongly upheld all around the world. Having taken shape roughly two hundred
years ago, these ideas were continuously affirmed and reinforced by theorists
and philosophers.
Though politically the present-day world may be divided into
number of blocs, one single philosophical point of view prevails throughout.
This attitude has colored all human civilization and culture at the global
level. No doubt there are also found here and there some alternative view
points, but they are of marginal importance. The people both in the Occident
and in the Orient who really have a say in public affairs, political as well as
social and cultural, are without exception adhering to this viewpoint.
The
dominance of Western culture and philosophical thought is so pervasive and
universal that even the point of view of such people as are struggling against
it in some countries turns out on closer examination to be itself greatly
influenced by the West. Indeed, they are themselves to a great extent Western
in their approach and method and even in their purported ideology. They too
think in terms of Western philosophy and ideology with the result that they
lose their impact and efficacy to oppose it.
Original Title in Urdu: Islam Ki nash'at-e-sania - karne ka asli kaam
British
Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Israr Ahmad,
Islamic
Renaissance: The Real Task Ahead.
1.
Islam
I.
Title II. Islam Ki nash'at-e-sania.
English
297 BP161.2
ISBN
0-90746-149-2
No rights reserved. The Anjuman does not reserve to itself any
copyright for the publication of this tract. It may be published by any person who happens
to be inspired by the same purpose as the author.
Price: Rs. 36/-
Cover Designed by
Baig's Design Studio
Cover Printed by
GDS Printers
Lahore, Ph: 6307269
Printed in Pakistan by Shirkat Printing Press, Lahore.
Preface
The
contents of this monograph were first published in the editorial columns of the
June, 1967 issue of Monthly “Meesaq”. Later on, in May 1968, it was published
in booklet form by Darul-Ishat-e-Islamia, Lahore.Since
then it has been brought out many times.
In this monograph, I have tried to present, to
the best of my ability and comprehension, an in-depth analysis of the current
religious and cultural attitude of Muslims all over the world.I have also discussed the nature of various movements
working for the renaissance of Islam, their achievements and their
shortcomings. On the positive side, my own prognosis for fruitful revivalist
work has been expressed schematically.
On the basis of my analysis, I have also
suggested a basic programme. As an immediate concrete step towards the
realization of an Islamic revival, the plan for the establishment of a Qur’an
Academy has been presented in detail.
After presenting this analysis and programme
of action, I myself launched a vigorous struggle and movement for religious
revival.With the grace of Almighty God,
my humble efforts have borne fruit. For the concerted and collective pursuance
of the goal of Islamic resurgence and especially for the establishment of the proposed
Qur’an Academy, Markazi Anjuman
Khuddam-ul-Quran was organized in Lahore.
The proposals and plans delineated in this booklet have been fully incorporated
in the constitution and objectives of the Anjuman. In fact some progress has already been made towards the
establishment of the Qur’an Academy.
This
monograph is being published for our readers by Markazi Anjuman Khuddam-ul-Qur’an who may take it as the Anjuman’s
manifesto. Even though many apparent changes have occurred
in the Islamic world over the past few years, no substantial transformation in the
complexion of the Islamic world has taken place. That is why it is being published
almost as it appeared for the first time. Only a brief account of progress made
so far in the establishment of the Qur’an Academy has been added in the last two
pages.
Dr. Israr Ahmad
Founder President
Markazi Anjuman Khuddam-ul-Qur’an
Lahore
(Pakistan).
Contents
Global Domination of Western Thought ........................ 6
The Fundamental Point of View
...................................... 7
Political and Ideological Onslaught of the West on
the Islamic World
............................................................... 8
The Development of the Social Sciences ....................... 12
The Idea of an “Islamic Way of Life” and the
Twentieth Century Islamic Movements........................ 13
The Error of their Interpretation of Islam..................... 16
Revitalization of Faith: The Necessary Precondition
of an Islamic
Renaissance................................................ 19
The Real Task Ahead
....................................................... 23
A Blueprint for Action
..................................................... 28
End Notes ..........................................................................
31
Endnotes
The way the British
Empire had to vacate one after another her vast dominion is an eye opener
for any thoughtful person.
Ghulam Ahmad Pervez is
the leading exponent of this school of thought in Pakistan. The purpose to
mention Mr. Pervez’s thoughts here is to bring home to the reader the fact
that this type of position is only the next logical step from the error
inherent in most revivalist movements.
The Prophet’s saying
means that I find inner comfort in Salat i.e., the prayer offered five
times a day.
Fasting is like a shield
protecting the soul against the sins.
Holy tradition (Hadith
Qudsi) is that tradition in which God speaks in the first person through
the Prophet. There are forty of these in all. The “holy tradition”
mentioned above means that fasting is for the pleasure of Allah and He
will Himself grant its reward.
A statement to this
effect has been attributed to a well known “Kalamist” and advocate of
Islam. The actual statement reportedly reads: “Islam is in fact a
socio-political system onto which a veil of theology has been placed.”
Even this state of
affair is to be found in rather traditional and conservative Islamic
movements. Otherwise the more liberal and progressive elements, under the
impact of socialism and communism — the logical consequences of Western
thought — have gone beyond calling Islam a socio-political system and
regard it strictly an economic program. That is to say, for them Islam is
co-extensive with a particular type of nizam-e-rabubiat. In the
explanation of religious metaphysical beliefs and tenets of Iman they take
their start from where Sayyid Ahmad Khan had got at through his
rationalistic strain. By interpreting Paradise and Hell in terms of the
well-being or otherwise of life here on this earth, and by interpreting
Qiyamah in terms of atomic explosions, they have completely deprived Islam
of its very spirit. In my view this is only the logical terminus of the
materialistic interpretation of Islam. A criticism of this view is not my
objective here because even though it is given the label of Quranic
thought it is undoubtedly gross, crass, and naked materialism and
anti-Quranic in spirit. This incidental allusion to the so-called “Quranic
thought” has been made in order merely to show as to what extent secular
version of religion can be pressed. A Persian verse depicts this situation
very graphically thus: If a mason lays the foundation in a wrong way, The
wall goes defective up to the summit.
The terms Qal and Hal
are often found in the literature of Tasawwuf or Islamic mysticism.
Generally speaking, when the avowed attestation of Iman, something spoken
and verbal, develops inwardly and permeates the entire being and activity
of the believer, the Qal deepens and enriches into Hal.
This refers to the
Quran, verse of Surah Al-Baqarah, according to which Allah ordered the
angels to prostrate before Adam.
This is an alternative
expression for Khilafate-e-Rashida, the “Rightly Guided” Khilafah of
Hadrat Abu Bakr, Hadrat Umar, Hadrat Uthman and Hadrat Ali (May Allah be
pleased with them all).
This refers to the
saying of the Prophet: “If Allah guides a man to the right path through
your effort and struggle, this is better for you than the costly brown
camels.”
This is how philosophers
have traditionally conceived of God as Necessary and Ultimate Being
existing independently and in its own right.
According to Quranic
Philosophy, a true knowledge of one’s own deeper self necessarily leads to
awareness of the ultimate Self or God. There are also Prophet’s sayings to
this effect.
This refers to Iman
Ghazali’s book Refutation of Philosophers in which he tried to refute the
rationalistic philosophies of the eleventh century.
Here the allusion is to
Imam Ibn Taimiyya’s book entitled Attack on the Logicians in which he
criticized and conclusively refuted the argument advanced by the logicians
of his time.
The Prophet’s saying
reads: “The best amongst you are those who learn the Quran and teach and
impart it to others.”
The
most urgent and dire need of today is that the right way and methodology of
bringing about a revolution should be made very vivid and clear. There is no
dearth of sentiment amongst the Muslims today. Thousands of people are
sacrificing their lives. They are tying bombs to their bodies and blowing
themselves up. The whole world saw the sentiment that arose in Kashmir. It was
said about the Kashmiris that they were not a nation of fighters. But now the
fighting spirit has been kindled in them as well. How many people have gone
there from Pakistan and embraced martyrdom. But this is not the methodology of
the Islamic Revolution. There will be no success through such means. You can
only give vent to your anger in this way. The bombardment of two American embassies
in Africa resulted in the death of only ten or fifteen Americans whereas two
hundred Africans died in retaliation. What was the gain? Just this that you
expressed your anger! Hence one cannot gain anything through such means. We
will not achieve anything from elections either. The dream of an Islamic
Revolution will never become a reality by these means.
Your sincerity not
withstanding this method of violence and killing of innocent people is wrong
and counterproductive. For bringing about an Islamic Revolution the method of
the Prophet (SAW) will have to be adopted. Could the Prophet (SAW) have been
successful in Arabia through elections? The Quran says, "And if you obeyed
most of those on earth, they will lead you astray from the way of Allah"
(Al- Ana'am 6: 116).
In the elections it is only a matter of minority and
majority. I will go one step further and say could Ayatollah Khomeni have come
to power through elections in Iran? Absolutely impossible! For God's sake stop
deluding yourself. Today the entire Ummah can escape God's wrath in only this
way that in one country God's chosen faith should be implemented in toto and
the entire world be invited to come and see that this is Islam, look at its
blessings, equality and brotherhood, its freedom, the peace and tranquility. If
we are unable to do this then God's wrath will go from worse to worst. The
intensity of the wrath will increase and not decrease and above all else the
lashes of God's wrath will fall on the Arab world because Allah (SWT) bequeathed
on them the biggest favour. The Prophet (SAW) was from amongst them. The last
book of Allah, the Holy Quran, was revealed to them in their own language. We
can only learn Arabic after strenuous and laborious teaching but for them it is
their mother tongue.
Moreover,
the survival and solidarity of Pakistan lies in an Islamic Revolution. This is
the only justification of its existence otherwise the condition of Pakistan is
like the situation described in the last Rukuh of Surah Waqi'ah that when
someone is in the throes of death and all his relatives are gathered around him
but are helpless to do anything for him. It is said in the Holy Quran:
But
why, if you are not in bondage, you do not bring it back, if you are truthful?
(Al-Waqi'ah
56:86-87)
That
is exactly what is happening to Pakistan in my opinion. Then your palaces will
not be your own but someone else's. Then your mills and your factories will
belong to someone else.
If
Islam is not implemented here in letter and spirit then Pakistan has no right
and basis for continued existence. I have delivered two speeches on the broad
theme of "The future of Islam and Pakistan in the perspective of current
global conditions". The topics of the two discourses are:
i)
The future of Islam in the current global conditions.
ii)
Has the countdown for Pakistan's doom started? Or is there still a way out?
Indeed
the only way out is that Islam is fully implemented here. But since the proper
and correct methodology has not been made clear for those in whose hearts this
sentiment is alive, they keep drifting hither and thither and waste time,
energy and resources in counter-productive policies and actions.
Having
been inspired and enlightened spiritually by the Seerah of the Prophet, I
have placed before you the methodology of revolution which, if adopted with
full consciousness and resolve, will lead to success. Otherwise for all your
sincerity and good intentions, success will not be possible. It will ever
remain an unrealized wish only.
