West Versus Islam

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West West Versus Yersus

Islam Islam ~argaret~arcus Margaret Marcus

(Maryam Jameelah) (Maryam Jameelah)

FIRST EDITION 2000

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Publisher's Publisher'sNote Note With the grace grace of With Allah Al Mighty, of Allah Mighty, we are are able to publish the the West versus publish versus Islam, which which discusses discusses in depth incompatibility between Western civilization the incompatibility civilization and and Islamic Values. Islamic We felt publishingthis felt the the need needof We of of publishing work because this work because of the the fact fact that that Muglims brothers some Muslims brothersand and sisters sistersliving living in some in Europe Europe and and North North think that practicedeven Americathink that Islam Islam can can be America be practiced even after after adopting adoptingthe the Westerncivilization. civilization.It is Western is aa big big misconception misconceptionas as both both the the Islamic Islamic tenetsand and Western Westerncivilization tenets civilization view view the the life life altogether altogetherdifferently. differently. (Maryam Jamila) Margaret Marcus Sister Margaret Marcus (Maryam Sister Jamila) has has very very diligently diligently elaboratedthe the differences differencesin in these elaborated thesecivilizations civilizations in in aa logical losical and and way. organizedway. organized Since she she closely closely observed pros and Since observed the the pros and cons cons of Western Western well as civilizationas as well asthe the Islamic Islamicvalues valuesand civilization andteachings, teachings,she shecame cameup up provokinganalyses. with thought thoughtprovoking with She analyses. Shehas hastaken takenaa serious seriousexception exceptionof writingsof those the writings the thoseMuslim Muslim scholars scholarswho who believed believedthat thatIslam Islam would would lose its its importance importanceif were not lose if it were not made madecompatible compatibleto to the the twentieth twentieth centuryWestern Westerncivilization. century civilization. book deserves deserves to be kept in all households of The book of families living living in Europe Muslim families and North America. Europe and America. Although, the the West West versus versus Islam Islam is recommended recommended to the the readers of all ages, ages, teenagers teenagers should be especially especially readers of should be encouraged so that encouraged to read read it so that the the young young generation generation should should know that that why they they should keep the the Islamic Islamic culture culture alive should keep in their homes homes and and families. families. May May Allah Allah Subhanahu Subhanahu Wa Taala accept accept our efforts and bestow bestow His mercy mercy on all of of us. us. Mohammad Mohammad R. R. Attique Attique The Publisher, Publisher, March 2000 A.D. A.D.

Table of of Contents Contents Table Became Interested Interested in How I Became Islam? Islam?

1I

Philosophical Sources Western Sourcesof Western Philosophical Materialism Materialism

7

A Critique Critique of Islam Islam in Modern Modem History

2l 21

The Enemy With In Enemy From With

26 26

Refutation the Philosophy Philosophyof Refutationof the Ziya Ziya Gokalp Gokalp

3t 33

Refutation Philosophyof the Philosophy Refutationof the Taha Hussein Taha Hussein

42 42

We A Discussion From Here We Discussion of From Start ^9tart

5i 53

v/s Islamic Islamic Western Civilizationvis Western Civilization Civilization Civilization

59 59

Muhammad Poetof Iqbal,the the Poet MuhammadIqbal, Islam Islam

72 72

Islam the Modernists Modernists andthe Islamand

83 83

with the the Can be Reconciled Reconciledwith CanIslam Islambe Spirit the 20th 20thCentury? CenturyP Spiritof the

9l 91

Introduction lntroduclion

How How I became interested becameinterested in Islam? Islam? I trace the beginning beginningof my interest interestin Islam when as tracethe Islam when as while attending aa child of ten, Sunday ten, while attending aa reform Jewish Sunday Jewish fascinatedin the historica.lrelationship School School I became became fascinated the historical relationship and Arabs. between Jews and Jewish textbooks, betweenthe theJews Arabs. From my myJewish textbooks,I leamed that was the father of Arabs well as learned that Abraham Abraham was the father Arabs as as well as Jews. same books, read how the later these same books, I read the centuries centurieslater Jews.In these when when in medieval medieval Europe, persecution made Europe, Christian Christian persecution made were welcomed their lives were welcomed in Muslim intolerable, the lives intolerable, the Jews Jews was this Spain, Sparn,and and that that it was this same sameArabic-Islamic Arabic-Islamic civilization civilization which stimulated peak which Hebrew culture to reach reach its stimulatedHebrew culture to its highest highestpeak of achievement. tiat time, time, completely completelyunaware the achievement.At that unawareof the true tlue nature Zionism, I naIvely narvelythought thought that were nature of Zionism, that Jews Jews were returning returning to to Palestine Pa.lestineto strengthen their to strengthen their close close ties ties of with Semitic kinship kinship in religion religion aIld and culture culture with Semitic cousins. couslns. Together, Together, I believed, believed, the and the the Arabs would cothe Jews Arabs would coJews aIld operate operateand and achieve achieveaIlother another Golden Golden Age Age of culture the culhrre in the Middle Middle East. East. Despite Despite my fascination lascina[ion with the the study snrdy of Jewish Jewish history, history,I was wasextremely extremelyunhappy at the the Sunday unhappyat SundaySchool. School.At tllis t-his time, identified myself s[rongly with wrth the time, I identified rnysell' strongly the Jewish Jewish people and was people their horrible horrible faith fa-rthunder under the Nazis and and their the Nazis and I was parned tllat shocked shocked and and pained none of my fellow fellow class mates that none classmates instance,during took took their religon seriously. seriously.For For instance, religious their religion during religious services would read servicesat at the the synagogue, syragogue,tlle the children children would read comic comic strips prayer books and make strips hidden hidden in their their prayer books and make fun fun of the the and disorderly rituals. rinrals.The children childrenwere were so so noisy noisyaIld that the the disorderlythat teachers teachersfound fouud it almost aimostimpossible rmpossibleto to conduct the classes. classes. conductthe MeaIlwhile, Mealwhile, I delved delvedinto into tlle the stories storiesof Jesus New the New Jesusin the great aa prophet was puzzled puzzleriwhy why so prophet who who Testament Teshment aIld so great and was West West Versus lslam Versus Islam

led such beautiful and and noble noble life had had been been rejected rejected by his his led such beautiful of own people. people. Perhaps Perhaps my classmates' classmates' complete complete lack lack of own respect for their teachers teachers was was justified. justified. I found them them respect narrow-minded and and bigot emphasizing emphasizing their hatred hatred and and narrow-minded Christians for more than than their love love forJudaism. for judaism. fear of Christrans fear At home home the the atmosphere atmosphere for religious religious observance observance At was scarcely congenial. On the the Jewrsh jewish High Holy Holy was scarcelymore congenial. attending synagogue, Days instead instead of attending Days synagogue, I felt it were taken blasphemous taken out of of sister and and I were blasphemous that my sister parties.When I told my school go out on. picnics and and parties. school to go on.picnics jewish Sunday parents parentshow miserable wasat Sunday miserableI was at the the reform Jewish School, humanistic organization organization School, they they joined an an agnostic agnostichumanistic known Culture Movement. Movement. known as asthe the Ethical Ethical Culture Ethical Cultural Felix Felix Adler founded founded the Cultural the Ethical While studying Movement l9th century. str,rdyrngfor Movement in the late 19th century. While the late that the convinced that rabbinate, Felix Felix Adler became became convinced the rabbinate, man-made devotion values as relative and and man-made devotion to ethical ethical values as relative irrelevant, regarding as irrelevant, regarding any any supernaturalism theology as sup€rnaturalismor theology world. I constituted the modern modern world. religion fit for the constihrtedthe the only religion years.Here I attended five years. attendedthe the Ethical Ethical Culture Culhrre School School for five ideas of the the grew grew into complete with the the ideas complete accord accord with movement orsanized upon all all traditional traditional organized movement and and looked looked upon religions with scorn. religionswith scorn. remained under under Through out my adolescence, adolescence,I remained philosophy until after aJter the the influence influence of humanistic humanistic philosophy shrdy graduation graduationfrom secondary when I chose choseto study school,when secondaryschool, 'Iudaism Islam." My at entitled 'Judaism in Islam." at the the university universityaa course course entitled his professor professor was who tried to convince convince his tried to was aa Rabbi Rabbi who was derived students derived from all jews that Islam Islam was students - all Jews - that judaism. the Qur'an, took each versefrom the textbook took eachverse Qur'an, Judaism.Our textbook His jewish sources. painstakingly painstakinglytracing to its its allegedly sources.His tracingit to allegedlyJewish films and lectures were liberally illustratedwith with films and coloured coloured lech.rreswere iiberally illustrated slides praise of Zionism the State Israel. in praise Zionism and arrd tile State of o1' Israel. slides in 2

lslam West West Versus Versus Islam

prove to was to Although his his real real aim aim was to prove to his his students students the the he convinced superiority superiority of Judaism over Islam, Islam, he convinced me of Judaism over plunged deeper just the opposite. As I plunged the opposite. deeper into the the study study of the Testament and and the the Our'an, the contrast the Old Testament contrastbetween between Quian, the the increasingly evident. evident. In aa the two two scriptures scriptures became became increasingly sense, Testament could almost be sense,the the Old Testament could almost be considered consideredaa people. as God's special chosen people. history history of the the Jewish as God's special chosen Jewish Although Although the was revealed revealed in Arabic to an the Our'an an Arab Qur'an was prophet, its prophet, its message is aa universal universal one one directed messageis directed to the the entire human race. entire human race. professorexplained When my professor When explainedthat that the divine right right the divine Palestine has always of the to Palestine has alwaysbeen been aa central central theme the Jews theme Jews was instantly of Judaism, instantly repelled repelled by such such aa narrownarrowJudaism, I was minded conception God. Does conception of God. Does not the the Our'an says Qur'an says that to God East and West; where where ever that "to C'od belongs belongsthe the East and West; ever Ye tum is His face?" face?"Did not the Prophet Muhammad turn there there is the Prophet preaches say the whole whole earth earth is is aa mosque? say that that the mosquePZionism preaches Palestine, the home and that feel at that only in Palestine, the Jews feel home at and Jews elsewhere he is is living living in exile. exile. The claim professor elsewherehe claim of my professor Palestine could that that only in Palestine could the the Jews make their Jews make contribution contribution to human civilization seemedbaseless to human civilizationseemed baselesswhen when pondered over I pondered the fact fact tllat that Moses Moses received receivedrevelation revelation over the the Talmud parts of the in Egypt, Talnud were were Eg1pt, the the most nrost important parts written written in what what is is now Iraq, Iraq, and and some some of the the most most poery was beautiful Hebrew poetry was composed composed in Muslim beautiful Hebrew Spain. Spain. rigrd exclusiveness The rigid exclusivenessof Judaism felt had had aa Judaism I felt persecutionsthe great deal great deal of connection with the corurectionwith the persecutions the Jews Jews have have suffered suflered through through out their history. history. Perhaps, Perhaps, this this would never would never have have happened happened if the the Jews had competed competed Jews had vigorously vigorouslywith the the other faiths for converts. converts.Zionism is other faiths is aa combination combination of the the racist racist tribalistic tribalistic aspects aspectsof Judaism Judaism with modem secular nationalism. Zionism was was further secular nationalism. further my eyes when I discovered discredited discreditedin my eyes when discoveredthat that Israeli Israeli West Versus Versus Islam lslam

3

leaders leaders such as as David Ben-Gurion are not not observantJews David Ben-Gurion and that perhaps nowhere world is orthodox nowhere in the world orthodox Judaism with such contempt as in Israel! The contempt as The Judaism regarded with Western Zionists have have made dle the worst aspects aspects of of Western philosophy their materialistic Only a complete materialistic philosophy complete their very own. Only rejection of values could rejection of all moral moral and spiritual could account account spiritual values people from for for such a systematic systematic uprooting uprooting of from of an entire people their their homeland homeland and utter disregard of of any sense sense of of justice. When When I found important Jewish found that nearly all important leaders Ieaders supported not the slightest supported Zionism Zionism and felt not wrong inflicted twinge of of conscience for for the terrible terrible wrong inflicted on the Arabs, I could consider myself myself a Jew at could no longer consider heart. professor convinced At At the same convinced me that same time, my professor ethical values values had a divine divine origin origin and were at the absolute people like my eternal truth. not understand how people futh. I could could not understand how parents could could cherish moral moral and spiritual spiritual values values and then consider dleir dreir theological theological foundations irrelevant. irrelevant. If If purely man-made, morals mora.ls were purely man-made, they drey could could be changed at will according convenience or circumstances. circumstances. accordirrg to whim, convenience Belief l'eel as Belief in the hereafter I came to feel as essential essential not merely, because was comforting. If edlical ethical and spiritual spiritual because it was comlortrng. If values values are of of divine origin, origin, we are directly directJy responsible to poterrtialities. Each one God for developing highest potentialities. developing our highest of our life us will be called ol'our lif'e of us called upon upon to render an an account of punished accordingly. on earth and be rewarded or punished is Therefore, Therefore, one who has has a firm firm faidl faidr in the hereafter is pleasures and endure wrlling to sacrifice transitory willing transitory pleasures hardships to attain lasting good. lait.hs, I As I studied maior faitlls, studied the beliefs belieli of of all the major grcat came tlrat origllIaily tltc great cam€ to the conclusion conclusion that origrrrally all the passed they religions were one, but as tirne passed be<'arnc religions were as time tJtey became corrupted. Idol reincarnation, and an
West West Versus Versus Islam lslam

became characteristic characteristic of of Buddhism, Buddhism, arcestor ancestor worship worship of of became Confucianism, the the doctrine doctrine of of original original sin, sin, the the Trinity' Trinity, Confucianism, of Jesus Jesus resulting resulting in in anthropomorphic anthropomorphic the divinity divinity of the by conceptions of God and the atonement by the the death death on on atonement conceptions of God and the people chosen the cross, of Christianity and the exclusive chosen people the exclusive and Christianity the cross, of of Judaism. Judaism. All All these these ideas, ideas, which which so so repelled repelled me me idea of idea were not not to to be be found found in in Islam. Islam. Increasingly, Increasingly, II began began to to were feel that that Islam Islam was was the the orrginal original religron religion that that alone alone had had feel Other religtons religions were were only only partially partially retained is its purity. purity. Other retained truth. Only Islam Islam contained contained the the whole whole truth. Above Above all, true. Only true. and Islam provided provided is its adherence adherence with with the the complete complete and Islam the of which the relaiion comprehensive of life in which relation of in way of life comprehensive individual to to society and the material material to to the spiritual spiritual were were individual balanced into into a perfect perfect harmonY. harmony. balanced become a Muslim, Muslim, my my Although I wanted wanted to become Although warned that I was family it. out of I was warned out of argue me to managed family Islam would would complicate complicate rny my life since t-he the laith faith is not not part part Islarn would Islam would was told told that Islam of sceue. I was Americau scene. of the American liom tJle tlre rne from alienate rny family larnily and isolate me f-rorn my rne from alienate me was not sufliciently sufficient-ly community. trty faitJl tait-h was titne, my At that tlat time, community. At that I so ill tJlat pressures.I became became so strong tJresepressures. withs|and tJlese strong to witJlstand at tirne' rernained For a long time, I remained at had to discontinue college. lbr a collegc. discorrtinuc had home care, steadily growing worst. rnedical care, under private medical home under paretrts had confitred to aa hospital In had me confined Lr desperation, desperation, my parents years. While While in in tile dre where I stayed tltal two nryo years. for more rlorc tJJaJl stay'ed for would become become aa hospital, recovered, II would vowed that that if if'II recovered, hospital, II vowed Muslim. Muslim. and to go go home horne aJld After allowed to was finally linally allowed After II was tJre all the inveshgated all discharged tire hospital, hospital, II investigated fiom tJle discharged from York City Ciry in tile the New New York opportunities Muslims in meeilng Muslims for meeting opportunit.iesfor the pleasurc to trtake tJle to make aJld was my Iny pleasure fiienriships. ItIt was rnake friendships. zurd make ottc pcople ;uty dtat acquaintaJlCe of somc of tJle linest people that ;my one l-rrrest acquaintalce ol'sotnc o[ the lbr articlcsfor writc articles to write could alsobegan bcgattto tneet. II also hol>eto to meet. ever hope t'oulciever ('arry on c\tcllsivc all extensive oli an Muslim t() carry antl to trlag:rzittesand Muslirn mag-azines West lslam West Versus Versus Islam

5

correspondence with with Muslim Muslirn leaders correspondence leaders allover all over the the world. world. As Ramadan Ramadan approached, approached, my As my desire desire to to embrace embrace Islam grew grew so so strong strong that that II began practice the began to Islam to practice the five five daily daily prayers, and and am am now now undertaking undertaking the prayers, the fast fast for for the the first first time. II am am doing doing this this with with aa firm firm belief time. belief that thar nothing nothing but but good can can result result in in living living according according to good to my my deepest deepest convictions. convictions.

6

West Versus Versus lslam Islam West

Chopler Chapter I1

Philosophical Sources Sources of of The Philosophical Western Materialism Materialism Western Despite the obvious obvious divergences divergences in details details of of Despite religious doctrine doctrine and political rivalry, rivalry, medieval, medieval, religious World shared shared a basic basic Christian Europe Europe and the Muslim World Christian concern concern of of heritage in common. The dominant colrunon. heritage in the was their salvation Christians and alike was salvation alike Muslims and Chnstians beyond the the grave grave penod. period. Both Christians Christians and and life beyond had Muslims were were convinced convinced that that the ethical ethical values values God had Muslims revealed in the the scriptures scriptures through the prophets prophets were were revealed absolute and and eternal. eternal. Few Few doubted doubted that that rebellion rebellion against against absolute God's commands commands would result result in consequences consequences terrible terrible God's God the of will of with beyond description. Submissions to the Submissions beyond description. were universally universally life were love earthly life this earthly during this and joy during love and the world believed etemal bliss bliss in the the individual individual eternal assurethe believedto assure to to come. come. medieval which medieval The common religious religious values, values, which were with the world, were Christian the Muslim world, shared with Europe shared Christian Europe which transcended transcended reinforced exchange,which free cultural cultural exchange, reinforced by free warfareover Spain did all Bitter warfare over Spain controversies.Bitter all doctrinal doctrinal controversies. from not prevent of Christian Christian scholars scholars from prevent thousands thousands of universities of of Cordoba Cordoba attending great Muslim Muslim universities the great attending the Africa. Pope Pope Sylvester SylvesterII II Seville, North Africa. and North Grenada and Seville, Grenada the introduction (930-1003)who for the introduction of of (930-1003) who was was responsible responsiblefor well as aswell as the decimal Arabic use of of zero zero as the decimal the use numerals,the Arabic numerals, system his education educationat at Qarawiyin. receivedhis Europe,received Qarawiyin. into Europe, systeminto philosophers strived to Both strived to Chnstian philosophers and Christian Muslims and Both Muslims with the the strengthen respectivecreeds creedswith of their their respective thedoctrine doctrineof strengthenthe that the the coincidence that logic no coincidence Aristotle. ItIt isis no of Aristotle. logrc of Acquinas Thomas Thomas Acquinas vehemence with which Saint which Saint with vehemence West lslam VersusIslam West Versus

7

denouncedIslam Islam in in his his writings rwitingsmade denounced made him him no no less lessan an avid average averagestudent shrdentof avid of Ibn Ibn Sina, Sina, AI Al Ghazali Ghazali and and Ibn Ibn Rushd. Rushd. From the the inception inception of of the the Renaissance From Renaissanceonwards, onwards. the intellectual intellechralatmosphere atmosphereof the of Europe Europe and and the the Muslim Muslim world drifted drifted further further apart. apart. With With the world growth of the growth of cities cities and and an ever-expanding ever€xpiulding commerce, commerce,aa growing growingmiddle an middle class classas as the dominant dominant force force in in urban the urban society society superseded supersededthe the Church. With With the the support support of Church. of strong strong centralized centralized monarchies, armies were raised armies were raised which monarchies, which rebelled rebelled against against the feudal feudal nobility nobility and and ceased ceased their the property. Kings, their property. Kings, bankers and and merchants merchants replaced replaced the bankers the church church as as the the patrons of of arts arS and and leaming. learning.When the patrons the entire entire emphasis emphasis had shifted shifted to to developing developing the potentialitres of had the potentialities of each each individual here here on earth earth to to the the fullest possible extent individual fullest possible extent without reference reference to the the hereafter, hereafter, modern without modern Western Westem civilizationas we know aswe know it today wasborn. civilization todaywas born. With aa passionate passionate zeal, With zea.l, the the scholars scholars of the the Renaissanceturned lbr inspiration hrrned for inspiration to the Renaissance the classics classics of ancient Greece Greeceand Rome. As faith and Rome. taith in the ancient the freedom freedom of the the unaided human human intellect intellect replaced replaced faith unaided taith in God, the the scholars of the the Renaissance Renaissance found their justification justification in scholars servingtheir spiritual spiritual ties serving ties with the the church church in these these pagan pagan philosophies, of this this world. The philosophies, which which glorified glorified the the joys of medieval medieval ideal ideal of of the the monasticism monasticism was was scomed scorned and and ridiculed. ridiculed. Worldliness and and wealth wealth increasingly increasingly corrupted corrupted the of some some the church itself untrl until the h,rxurious luxurious surroundings surroundings of of of the Popes, Popes, Bishops Bishops and Monks were were scarcely scarcely distinguishable of the secular secular monarchs. monarchs. distinguishable from the courts courts of The The Protestant Protestant Reformation Reformation dealt the church such such a crippling blow that Christianity Christianity has has never never recovered recovered lrom from itit to to this this day. day. Not Not content content to to rectify rectify the the abuses abuses of of the the church church power, power, Martin Martin Luther Luther broke broke with with itit 8


completely and and decided decided to to create create aa religion religion of of his his own' own. completely not so was This break break with with the the Roman Roman church church was not so much much This caused by by is its abuses abuses or or corruption corruption as as is is popularly popularly caused and complexity in believed. As economic life increased in complexity and increased life believed. As economic of Germans Germans Srew grew more more and and wealth, the the business business class class of wealth. more hostile hostile to to the the saintly saintly monastic monastic ideal ideal and and the the more spiritual domination domination by by Rome. Rome. Instead Instead they they glonfied glorified spiriual and success success as as tangible tangible signs signs of of God's God's favour, favour, prosperity and prosperity punishment, solihrde as punishment, solitude as as selfish selfish condemning poverty poverty as .orrJ.-ttittg as idleness. idleness. The The rebellion rebellion against against the the and contemplation contemplation as and priesthood, of of the Pope, the elimination of priesthood, authority elimination the Pope, authority of the Martin sacraments, saint saint worship and monasticism monasticism by Martrn sacrarnents, Luther have have tempted tempted many Muslim Muslim thinkers thinkers to regard regard Luther as proof proof that Christianity Christianity is evolving evolving ever ever Protestantism as Protestantism closer to Islam. Islam. A A more careful careful examination, examination, however, however, closer will show show how unjustified unjustified such such optimism is' is. The for the church of the substitution of the authority of the the authority the of substinrtion of the the scriptures gave every every individual individual the authority of scriptures gave authority wished, as he he wished, licence exactly as Bible exactly the Bible interpret tlle licerrce to interpret according to what he he liked according choosing and discarding discarding what choosing and Latin as as RejectingLatin whim, and circumstances. circumstances.Rejecting whim, convenience convenienceand the translated leaders the universal language, Protestant leaders translated the Protestant the universal langr-rage, to subjecting it to thus subjecting Bible local vernaculars, vernaculars,thus the local Bible into the the authority of the the authority further rejection of the corruption. The rejection further corruption. the gready strengthened strengthenedthe Pope languagegreatly Latin language *re Latin Pope and and the countnes,aa cause L-rall all Protestant Protestantcountries, nationalism.In secularnationalism. of secular causeof the under the was organized separate organized under church was national church separate national in everywhere complete control of government until everywhere in until government of control complete to forced to wasforced power of the religion religion was Europe of the the spiritual spirinralpower Europe the politrcs. promote of secular secularpolitics. interestof promotethe theinterest now werenow In Christendomwere unitedChristendom placeof strongunited of aastrong In place own with is each with its own aa multiplicity weak sects, sects,each sma.llweak. of small multrplicity of regarded theology narrow parochial outlook. Protestant tlleology regarded Protestant narrow parochial outlook. theindividual individual or.rthe salvation bestowedon lait.hbestowed pureact actof of faitll asaapure salvationas lls wrtheither eitherhis whatsoever by whatsoever with no connection conlrectrotr havingno God,having byGod, West lslam VersusIslam WestVersus

9

moral standards standardsor his good good works. moral or his works. Now Now that that ethical ethical values were were no no longer longer dependant dependant upon values upon supernatural supernahrral sanction,Martin Martin Luther's sanction, Luther'sfollowers followerswere werenow now free freeto to live live as they they saw sawfit fit without without reference as either God referenceto to either God or or the the hereafter.Protestant Protestanttheology, hereafter. theology,which which regarded regardedreligious religious faith as purely private asaa purely private personal personalmatter, faith matter,resulted resultedin in its its becomingaaspecial specialthing becoming thingapart apartfrom from everyday everydaycommunity community Iife. Consequently Consequentlyitit was wasnot not long life. long before before Protestantism Protestantrsm became for for many many what what itit isis today became today -- for for Sunday Sunday observanceonly, only, while while the observance the remainder remainder of week ISis of the the week devotedto to seeking seekingmaterial devoted materialsuccess successand prospenry. andprosperity. With the the rebirth rebirth of With of European European culture, culture, medieval medieval scholarseagerly eagerlyinvestigated investigatedthe scholars the scientific scientificknowledge knowledge in the libraries libraries and and the the universities universitiesof the of Muslim Spain. Spain. Not plato only had the the Muslims preservedthe Muslims preserved only had writingsof the writings the Plato of the and Aristotle Aristotle and and salvaged and medical salvagedthe the mathematical mathematicaland and medical knowledgeof the the Hellenistic Hellenistic world, knowledge world, but they they built upon it means of experimental experimental research by means research in the the laboratory. laboratory. (lll4-1187) devoted Gerard of Ceremona Ceremona0114-1187) Gerard devotedhis his entire entire life life translating 92 92 complete complete scientific translating scientific works works from Arabic including Ibn Sina's Sina's vast vast Canon including Canon which which for centuries cenrunes remained supreme authority remained the the supreme authority of is its field field in all all the the medical schoolsof Europe. Europe. medical schools Francis of Francis Bacon Bacon epitomized epitomized the the scientific scientific spirit of the the modern age age in the New Atlantic. Atlantic. An An English English ship lands lands upon a utopian island island in the remote remote Pacific Pacific whose whose chief pride is a great great institution institution devoted devoted to scientific scientific research. research. The The ruler conducts conducts the travellers travellers to this place place saying, saying, "The end of of our our foundation is the knowledge knowledge of of causes causes and and the the secret secret motions motions of of things things and and the the enlarging enlarging of of the the bounce bounce of of the the human human empire empire to to the tlle affecfing affecting of of all all things tllings possible." possible." Descartes on the the development development of of the the Descartes carried carried on 10

West Voisus Versus lslam Islam West

experimental method method where where Francis Francis Bacon Bacon had had begun, begun, experimental and of Aristotle of Aristotle and completely overthrowing the authority completely overthrowing the authority craved What they philosophy' What they craved the medieval scholastic philosophy. the medieval scholastic was aa method method for for discovering discovering new new truth truth instead instead of ofmerely merely was was alreadY already known. known. proving what what was proving There is is no no inherent inherent ncompatibility incompatibility between between There scientific research research and and religion. religion. Does Does not not both both the the Bible Bible scientific as the the noblest noblest creature creature of of and the the Qur'an Qur'an regard regard man man as and God subjecting subjecting all other creahlres creatures and elements elements of of nature nature The discovery discovery of of Muslim Muslim geographers geographers for his benefit? benefit? The for was round instead instead of of flat cennrries centuries before before that the earth earth was that of many Muslim Columbus and the suspicions suspicions of Columbus of years years before before Copernicus Copernicus that that astronomers hundreds hundreds of astronomers constitute never the earth revolved around the sun, never constitute the the the sun, the earth revolved a-round of life' way Islamic slightest threat the survival of Islamic way of life. of survival to the slightest threat Because the the Qur'an Qur'an teaches teaches that that the the nature nature is is a triend friend of of Because man, Muslim scientists live in harmony harmony with it sought to live scientistssought man, universe. the universe. and home in the at home completelyat felt completely thus felt and thus is lay not in its The tragedy Western science science lay tragedy of Western tremendous such specific discoveries, which were of such tremendous were which discoveries, specific dogmatic, rather the the dogmatic, benefit race, but rather human race, to the the human beneht to themselves. scientiststhemselves. narrow the scientists materialisticoutlook of the narrow materialistic man as as sawman After Copernicus, astronomerssaw Western astronomers the Western Copernicus,the around planet revolving only a puny speck on a tiny planet revolving around aa only a puny speck on a tiny cosmic endless an tenth rate star, drifting aimlessly in an endless cosmic in aimlessly tenth rate star, drifting not to to be be were not devilswere ocean. anglesand and devils God, the the angles Since God, ocean.Since man that man seen concluded that they concluded their telescopes, telescopes,they through their seenthrough machine, was cosmicmachine, cold,complex complex cosmic in aa cold, alonein wasabsolutely absolutelyalone mistake' or aa mistake. his perhaps only an accident accident or only an creation perhaps his creation tanglble without Feeling like a stranger in the universe without tangible Feeling like a stranger in the universe Westem his welfare, proof of any God who cherished his welfare, Western who cherished proof of any God ultimate for the the ultimate man futile the thesearch searchfor asfutile thusabandoned abandonedas man thus nature to regard regardnature meaning purposeof life and andbegan beganto of life and purpose meaningand to be be conquered, conquered, as an enemy enemy to as an today -- as he does does today as he West VersusIslam lslam WestVersus

11 11

possessedand and then then manipulated manipulated by possessed mecha:rical means by mechanical means to to advance his his material material well well being. advance being. To Western Western scientists scientists like To like Descartes Descartes nature nature was was nothing more more than than aa machine, nothing machine, which which had had no no spiritual spirirual significance. All AJI living living beings, significance. beings, including including man, were aa man, were mere matter matter of of atomic atomic chemical mere chemical reactions. "Give me react.ions."Give me the the 'and elements," boasted boasted Descartes, Descartes, "and II will elements," will construct construct the the universe!" universe!" Intoxicated by by the Intoxicated the theory theory advanced advanced by by Newton Newton that the the entire entire universe universe was was regulated that regulated by by immutable immutable mathematical laws, laws, the the protagonists of mathematical of the tlre so-called so-called age age of enlightenment enlightenment taught taught that all of all beliefs contrary contrary to human experience and observation must be discarded. discarded. Miracles, Miracles. prophecy, revelation as prophecy, as well as as religious rites and ceremonies were were ridiculed as ceremonies as superstition. superstition. Voltaire's Voltaire's was neither of God was the Bible nor the conception of neidrer that of of'the the He taught that God created the universe Qur'an. urriverse exactly Qur'al. He as a watchmaker watchrnaker assembles assemb.lesa watch, afterwards having as havrng no widr it. it. Hume further concern witll Hume rejected rejected all religious religious beliefs on tile dre ground tllat beliefs that tlley drey could not be proved scientiflc experiments or human either by scientific ltumarl reasons. reasons. He He attacked even the l)eist Deist God God of'Voltaire of Voltaire declaring declaring that we have seen watches have seen watches made but not worlds. If If the ulrrverse universe did incompetent did have an author, autllor, he may have been an incomperent workman or he may may have long long since died died after workman or completing or he may may have been a male male or or completing his work, work, or female female god god or or a great number number of of gods. He He may may have been entirely good or or entire evil or or both both or or neither neither -probably probably the tile last. last. Hume's Hume's argLlment argument against against the existence existence of of the the hereafter hereafter rall ran as as fbllow: follow: "We 'We have have rro no reason reason for for concluding concluding frorn from a lile life where where rewards rewards and punishrnents punishments do do not not coincide coincide with witll humarr human cleserls deserts that that there tlJere will will be be any any other other in in which which they tlley do." do."

12


Morality was regarded regarded as as a science iike iike Morality as independent independent from from theology theology as as any mathematics just just as mathematics of human human knowledge. knowledge. Philosophers Philosophers such as as other branch branch of other Dideroit and Rousseau all agreed that that utility utility and and Dideroit criteria for for morality. morality. They They waged happiness were the sole criteria ethical ideals, which which determined fight fight against all those ethical a determined no immediate immediate social values. Man Man should should instead see see have no as much much pleasure and happiness as as he can in in this life life as of their their righdul rightful share. without depriving depriving his fellows of without Whatever relations gave gave pleasure to all concern concern could could Whatever good in the not but beneficial. Therefore, saw good Therefore, they no but be beneficial. not traditional demands demands for for chastity between the sexes. Only sexes. Only traditional which inflicted inflicted direct direct and immediate immediate those pleasures, which harm upor.r upon society, could could be rejected. The The philosophers philosophers harm of age of of enlightenment enlightenment were the of the so-called age rnuch more more because because of of protagonists of liberty much of religious liberty principle their religion than their their faith in principle indifference to religion their indifference of itsell. of toleration tolerat.ion itself. (lest-royedwhat they Having destroyed tJreyconsidered consrdered the foolish "erilightenmeut' errors of past, the apostles of the "enlightenment" apostles of ol' the thc past, believed tilat reason and science spread by universal science spread universal believed t}at reason zurd heavetr on ott mass would usher in the virtual heaven educat-ion would rnass education possessedthe magic of science, earth. magic key of science, Now that that man possessed eardr. Now power to shape Liberg, it was wit-h in his his power shape his own destiny. Liberty, was witll peace would social equality and universal universal peace a:rd economic social and econornic equality reign were confident conlident tllat that the entire entire world. They were reign over the ever increasing SCientific would forever lbrever banish scientific knowledge would all disease arl indefinite indelinite disease and ar.rd suffering leading to an The technological and prolongation prolongatron of of human life. The scientific revolution followtrg century cetrtury served served to of the following revolution of perfectibility of of human life confirm tht.h in tllc this new faitll tlc perfectibility confirm this on any supernatural t]re aid of'any supenratural power. u'rtlout tlle ard of t-hiseartll earth witllOut or-rtllis from Darwin's man from evolutiott of ol'tnzur ol' tlle the evolution Darwin's concept collccl)t of wlrolly new new scale scale of of lower loons lbnns of ol lili: lilc introduced aa wholly West VersusIslam lslam West Versus

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values.Philosophers values. Philosophersnow uow conceived conceivedof of human human society in societyin constant state stateof flux and and change aa constant of flux change inevitably inevitably leading leading to to higher and more complex higher and more complex stages stagesof of development. development.The The principles of of biological principles biological evolution evolution applied applied to human to human "modern," "up societyidentified society identified the "advanced" the "modern," "up to to date," date,""advanced" "progressive" with and "progressive" with what what was and was most most desirable. desirable. Historians came came to to look upon upon man product as Historians man as as aa product as well well part of present state as as aa part of nature, nahrre, evolving evolving to to his from his present state from lowly origins with all origins with of his his achievements lowly all of achievementshaving having been been painfully acquired painfully acquired in the the struggle struggle against against hostile hostile environment. Darwin Darwin convinced convinced Western philosophers Western philosophers environment. that man wasan man was an animal specieslike any that animal species any other other - aa higher higher mammal to to be be sure sure- but only an mammal an animal. animal. William James questioned the even questioned William the value value. of James even retaining the the intangible intangble concept of consciousness retaining consciousnessor mind at all all regarding regardinghuman human thought thought as at as merely merely the result the end, end, result chemicalreactions reactionsupon the of chemical the nervous nervoussystem produced systemproduced external stimuli. stimuli. Psychologists by external Psychologiss like Pavlov Pavlov sought sought to delve delve into the the motives motives of human human behaviour behaviour by studying studyeng dogs,monkeys monkeysand and apes. dogs, apes. Freud's discovery discovery of the Freud's the compulsive compulsive drives drives of the the unconsciousmind originating originating in early unconscious early childhood as as the the all irrational provided modem source of all irrational behaviour behaviour provided source philosophers philosophers with yet an an additional additional weapon weapon against against religion. small child projected religion. Freud Freud maintained maintained that that the the small projected his parents parents who gave gave him life, protected protected him the the image image of his from harm harm and and subjected discipline, punishment punishment subjectedhim to discipline, and and reward reward onto his religion faith in adult life. Students Students of of anthropology anthropology enthusiastically enthusiastically welcome welcome the the concept concept that is purely manmade manmade and and the the ethics ethics are are that the the religon religion is relative relative and and not absolute. absolute. Most anthropologists anthropologists would agree agree with Ralph Ralph Unton Linton that that the the uncompromising uncompromising of Islam originated originated in the the rigidly patriarchal patriarchal monotheism monotheism of family of the the Semitic Semitic tribes. tribes. He writes writes in The Tree ol' ol family life of 1 4 14

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Culture:

The concept concept of of all powerful deity who can can only The placated by complete complete submission submission and be placated matter how unjust unjust his his acts acts may devotion no matter devotion was the the direct output of of Semitic Semitic family appear, was appear, of the exaggerated exaggerated supersuperlife. Another product of was the elaborate elaborate system system ego to which it gave gave rise rise was ego of taboos taboos relating relating to every every aspect aspect of of behaviour behaviour of Such of Moses. Moses. Such are epitomized epitomized in the the law Law of which are codes of of taboos taboos provided provided those those who kept them codes of security comparable to that that of of the the with a sense securitycomparable senseof is able able to remember remember everything everything good child who is and carefully carefully that his his father father told him to do and that it. Allah is is the the portrait of of the the abstains from doing it. abstains pau'iarchal his patriarchal typical father with his tlpical Semitic Semitic father qualities abstracted abstracted and and authoritarian authoritarian qualities exaggerated... exaggerated... divine ongin origin of Freud, deny the the divine Freud, not content content to deny justified on any religion, idea that faith was wasjustified any religion, rejected rejected the that faith the idea grounds groundswhatsoever: whatsoever: power in is aa power It seems be true true that that there there is seemsnot to be well being watchesover the well the being of which watches over the the universe universewhich parental care with parental care bringing bringing all all every every individual individual with with happy ending. ending. On the the with in his fold to to aa happy his fold are incompatible incompatible contrary, destiniesof men men are contrary, the the destinies justice. principle of justice. with with any universal principle any universal distinguish Earthquake, floods and and fires fires do do not distinguish Earthquake,floods good and man and and the the between and devout devout man between the the good we leave if we leave sinner unbeliever. Even Even if sinner and and unbeliever. inanimate and consider consider out of of account account and inalimate nature nature out in so so far far as asthey they that of individual individual men men in that destinies destiniesof depend wrth others others of of their their their relations relationswith depend on on their thatvirtue virnreis is own no means meansthe rule that by no the rule own kind, kind, itit isis by West West Versus VersusIslam lslam

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rewarded and punished. It often wickedness punished. rewarded and wickedness often happensthat that the violent, crafty happens the violent, crafty and and unprincipled unprincipled goods of this seizethe the desirable desirablegoods seize this world while while the the pious go go empty pious empty away. away. Dark, unfeeling unfeeling and and powers determine unloving powers unloving determine human human destiny, destiny, the the justice which concept of divine concept divine justice which according according to to governs the religion governs world, seem religion the world, seem to to have have no no existence... No attempt existence... attempt to minimise minimise the the supremacyof science supremacy sciencecan can altar altar the the fact fact that that it lal
West Versus Versus Islam lslam

habitation habitationbe be safely saf'elybuilt. built. positive value value to religious After denying religious faith, faith, denying any any positive Freud is an an unsatisfactory Freud had had to admit that that science science is unsatisfactory substitute. substihrte.

Science, from its emphasis on the real Science, apart from world, negative characteristics world, has has essentially negative iself so tangible material material such as as that it limits limits itself fellow truth our fellow truth and reject illusions. Some of of our men, of affairs allairs men, who are dissatisfied with this state state of and desire something more for for their their momentary momentary something more peace of of mind, mind, may look look for it where they can find it, but we cannot help them. purely materialistic Schopenhauer Schopenhauer carried this purely materia.listic philosophy philosophy to its its logical conclusions. For For him him the essence essence of is aimless, restless activity, and utterly irrational irrational of life is aimless, restless force.

Since need, deficiency of all all desire desire is is need, deliciency Since the basis basis of thus pain, the nature nahrre of of brute and man alike is originally of its very essence essence subject to pain. origrnally and of is deprived of If If on the the other hand, it is objecs of of of objects desire easy satisfaction, suc]r void desire through too easy satisfac[ion, such and ennui fills fills the heart that existence existence becomes becomes Thus life swings an unbearable burden. burden. Thus swings like a pendulum from pendulum from ennui ennui to from pain to ennui, from parn. Life is a sea pain. sea full of of rocks and a:rd whirlpools whirlpools greatest care which which man avoids with greatest care and ard solitude although he knows that even if if he succeeded in getting through, through, \\-1th wrth all his efforts effors and skills, skiils, he comes thus but nea-rer at every task to the but the nearer greatest, the total inevitable ship°\\-Teck greatest, ship-wreck death. Every is but ard his his course course of of life is Every human being and another short dream drearn of tlle the endless endless spirit of of West W e s t Versus V e r s u sIslam lslam

17 17

persistentwill to live nature, nature, the is only another the persistent live is another which nature fleeting fleeting from lrom which nature carelessly carelesslysketches sketchesin pages,allow its its infinite infinite pages, allow to remain remain for aa time so so short vanishes into nothing nothing and then short it vanishes and then obliterates obliteratesto make make room for others. others.

Thus we we have materialistic have traced traced Western materialistic philosophy from its when philosophy when its origins the Renaissance, Renaissance, ongrnsduring the pleasure of exercising men thought thought only to enjoy enjoy the exercising the pleasure their intellectual intellectualcuriosity investigatethe around curiosity to investigate the world around them utter despair them to the the utter despair of Schopenhauer Schopenhauerwho can can find in this We have have this life nothing nothing but meaningless meaninglessfutility. futility. We watched watched man, man, the the vicegerent vicegerentof God on earth earth with an an immortal soul, and aa spiritual spirinral being being directly directJy soul, aa moral and his deeds, responsible responsibleto his his Creator Creator for his deeds, debased debasedto an an physicaland animal nothing but his his physical social animal accountable accountableto nothing and social requirements. requirements. It is why such is not rrot all all surprising surprising why such ideologies ideologiesas as Fascism, and Fascism, Nazism, Nazism, Communism, Communism, Pragmatism Pragmatism and Zionism flourish so luxuriantlyin this this soil. Zionism should should flourish so luxuriantly soil. The directors which organized Nazi concentration concentration camps camps which organized directors of Nazi giga-ntic murder on the assemblyline line basis basis of gigantic the scientific scientific assembly police, the factories, factories, the Soviet secret creators of the the the Soviet secret police, the creators completely regimented life life of the communes in ln completely regimented the communes communist and those thoseZionist Zionist leaders leadersresponsible responsible communist China China and people from their for the the ruthless ruthlessexpulsion expulsion of an entire people their an entire homeland would all agree with Nietzsche Nietzsche that Cod is is homeland would all agree that God dead. dead. Because its Because of the dre extraordinary extraordinary virility of its politrcal power, power, Western Western civilization was economic civilizatron was economic and and political able its domination world. When When tl1e the able to extend extend its domination over over the the world. were finally nations nations of Asia Asia and and Africa AJrica were finally able able to win their political freedom struggle fl-eedornfrom imperialist imperialist bondage, strugglefor political bondage, their indigenousculture hacl long their indigenous culture had lor.rgsince sir-rcebeen been crushed. crushed. 18 18

lslam West West Versus Versus Islam

Their leaders, almost without exception, exception, educated Their leaders, educated in European American schools, were simultaneously European and American simultaneously taught to despise their native heritage and imbued widr despise their imbued with 'Western philosophies of the philosophies of Western materialism. materialism. wit-h Thus Thus the leaders of Africa are at one with of Asia and Africa progress those of regarding progress of Europe Europe and America America in regarding through through the development development of of large scale scale heavy healy industry, industry, the raising of of the material standard of of living, and politrcal power expansion of economic and political power as of economic as the supreme goals goals of human society. We must must not of human society. We not confuse Islamic Islamic methods methods of of combating combating social and economic economic with those of West. Islam regards regards a certain injustice with of the West. minimum minimum of of physical well being essential essential if if the soul is to be freed from from exclusive concern bodily needs to the concern with bodily fulfilment spiritr-ral life. In In Islam, man's material fulfilment of of its spiritual welfare is only only a means, in contrast to the West, West, which which regards regards it as as an end in itself. ieelf. wonder Western No No wonder Western forms of of the totalitarian dictatorships are so attractive leaders of dictatorships are attractive to the leaders of Asia and Africa! Impatient to adopt socia.l, economic Africal Impatient adopt the social, economic and politrcal system political system of of the West, West, they cannot cannot help but but be deeply impressed by the rapidly rapidly growing prestige of of pay communist The price, which China had to pay communist China. The politica.l and economic expansion for political expansion in millions of of ruined individual lives, does not concern concern them ruined individual them in the justrfies least t-hat the end fully justifies least because because they considered considered that the the means. means.

One might think think that the erosion erosion of One might of the world's cultural harmony and unity would lead to greater harmony culnrral variety would among However, we have have seen seen that from from its ;unong people. However, Western civilization inception of Western has inception the basic theme of civilization has been its revolt against agarnst all spiritual and ald religious values. values. In view of prevailing in the the world today, today, one of this this outlook, prevailing West lslam West Versus Versus Islam

19 19

why there morc hatred, hatred, strife stril'e can drcrc is is more call easily easily understand uuderstaixl why and history. Gone Gone violent upheavals than ever ever before before in history. upheavalsthan and violent international is rnoral responsibility responsibility in international is any any sense sense of moral relations. Nations, delegates delegates sessionsof the the United [Inited Nations, relations.In the the sessions factswithout the the do not hesitate lie, to distort distort and hesitateto to lie, and twist twist facts purposes, for whenever it suits slightest suits their their purposes, scruple whenever slightest scruple promotes the interest, even at the the anything the national national interest, even at that promotes anything that never be wrong. expense countries, can be wrong. other countries, can never expense of other vote according Delegates Nations do not vote accordingto Delegatesat at the the United Nations purely for the the involved,but purely the sake sakeof the issues issuesinvolved, the merit of the expediency. expediency.

The leaders less the Muslim Muslim countries countriesare are no less leadersof the guilty guilty than they too have have been been deluded deluded by thar any ar.ryothers others for they philosophies of the the the Western materialism. materialism. Some Some of the philosophies them glibly about reconcilingIslam Islam about the the necessity necessityof reconciling them speak speakglibly with the this they they the modem age. age. In order to do this the spirit spirit of the say rnust be made between betweenthe the social social that aa distinction distinctionmust be made say that content :urd its its spiritual teaching. The content of the the Our'an spirihral teaching. Qur'a:r and former, seventh century former, reflecting reflecting the the conditions conditions of seventh century problemsof Arabia rejectedas irrelevantto to the the problems Arabia must rnustbe as irrelevant be rejected today latter regarded regarded as the eternal eternal truth. truth. the latter as the today and and only the They are fact that is the the complete complete are indifferent indifferent to to the the fact that Islam Islam is harmonious way of life life infinitely infinitely superior to anything anlthing the the harmonious way superior to part produce. Rejection West any part West has has ever to produce. Rejectionof any ever been been to destroys whole. the whole. destroysthe The J aImary 6"' 6" 1960 1960issue issueof the New Yark York Times Times the New January reported had reported that that the the Ministry of Education Education of Turkey had to ordered all unauthorized unauthorizedschools schoolsset setto orderedthe the destruction destructionof all be article classesin the the Our'aIl. be conducting conductingsecret secretclasses Qur'an. The article went went on to that secret secret instruction instruclion in the the Our'an to explain explain that Qur'an years, as had several years, as had been been forbidden forbidden in Turkey for several subversive. leadersof Turkey, like the the leaders leadersof Turkey, like subversive.The leaders what they want -other must choose they want other Muslim Muslirn countries, countries,must choosewhat philosophy or the the Our'aIl. They Western Western materialistic materialisticphilosophy Qur'an. They CaImot haveboth. car)nothave both. 20


Chapter 22 Chopler

A Critique Critique of Islam Islam in Modern Historvl History! Modern The theme theme of of this book is the authors author's analysis analysis of of The reaction of of Muslim intellectuals intellectuals in the Arab world, the reaction Pakistan and India to the challenges challenges of of 20n 20" Turkey, Pal<.rstan century civilization. civilization. century Wilfred Cantwell Cantwell Smith clearly clearly regards regards the the Wilfred creation of of Pakistan Pakistan as as a mistake. mistake. He chides chides the the creation says, "It is Pakistanis for idealizing idealizing the the past. past. He says, is Pakistanis impossible, indeed indeed meaningless, meaningless, to try to reproduce reproduce in impossible, cannot one Pakistan cannot another. Pakistan govemment of another. the government age, the one age, relive Arabia." the history history of Arabia." relive aa segment segment of the the Muslims Muslims future for the The author paints aa bright bright future author paints who remained in India: India: who remained Ahmed In the Madani, 1930s, Hussain Ahmed the 1930s, its pronouncing India to be the nation of its pronouncing India Iqbal aa Muslims, provoked from Muhammad Iqbal from Muhammad have Muslim can cal have scornful in poetry that aa Muslim scornful retort in have no other events have other nation than Islam. Recent events The at conviction. The this conviction. to dislodge dislodge this least begun begun to at least prevail. order prevail. Indian seen law law and and order have seen Muslims have Indian Muslims police have have stopped stopped They seetr how how police have seen They have the and how how the fanatical them and against them Hindu riots riots against fanatical Hindu of conversion government has prevented the conversion of aa prevented the government has -fhey find mosque into a Hindu temple. They find Hrndu temple. a into mosque preach their their practrce and themselves and preach free to to practice themselves free realize Ireecledto to realize religion. rnuch reflection reflection isis needed Not much relinon. Not West lslam VersusIslam West Versus

21

that the the welfare welfareof that of the the Muslims Muslims in in India India depends depends on aa secular secularstate. on state.Whatever Whatever traditional traditional theology theology may say, say,secularism seeularismworks. works. As may As aa result, result,relatively relatively few Indian Indian Muslims few Muslims still clins to still ding to the Islamic state the Islamic state idea. idea. CantrvellSmith Wilfred Cantwell Smith cannot cannotaccept acceptthe the fact fact that that Islam is is more Islam more than than aa system system of of belief belief and and ritual, ritud, aa complete way way of of life which in both theory complete practice is theory and and practice is judge absolutely irreconcilable irreconcilable with absolutely with Hindu culture. culnrre. To judge Pakistanas as aa mistake mistakejust because Pakistan becausethere there has has been been some some comrption in the governmentand corruption the government controversyas and controversy as to what what modem Islamic form aa modern Islamic state state should should take, take, completely completely point. In order for Islamic missesthe the point. misses Islamic civilization civilization to find find expressionin that that part of the world, there full expression the world, there had had to be be aa Pakistan. Even Even if if the Pakistani Muslims Pakistan. the Pakistani Muslims have have failed failed to make the the most potentialities,the most of their potentialities, make the opportunity for them to do so so still still exists which is lackingin India. them India. exiss which is lacking author however, The author however, reserves reserves his his harshest harshest crit.icism for the the Arabs. Arabs. He brands criticism brands them them as as unrealistic unrealistic reactionaries and and isolationists isolationists who are reactionaries unjustified in are unjustified feeling that that the the West is is out to crush feeling crush Islam. Islam. He chides chides the the Ulama of Al-Azhar for hesitating hesitating to compromise compromise the the doctrines of Islam Islam in order to make doctrines make them more compatible compatible with Western Western ideas. ideas. That the the Arabs Arabs have have failed Paine or a Voltaire, Voltaire, he he failed to produce produce a Thomas Paine regards as one one of their m4jor mqjor shortcomings. regards as shortcomings. The only Muslim people people for whom the the Author seemsto have s1'rnpathyare seems have any any real real sympathy are the the Turks. As is well known, the Khalifate, Khalifate, the the Shariah, Shariah, known, under Kemal Ataturk, the the the Arabic :rlphabet alphabet ald and the the Muslirn Muslim calendar calendar were were abolished. all this this radical radical surgery surgery were were not enough, enough, abolished. As if if all religious religious organizations organizations were were banrred, banned, Muslim universities universities forcibly forcibly closed closed ald and rnajor major mosques mosques like like Saint Saint Sophia Sophia 22


were converted converted into into museums. museums. were "Already," he says, says, "during "during the 1920s, 1920s, sweeprng sweeping "AJ.ready," of Islam including its prayer changes in the ceremonies ceremonies of changes mosque services services were were being officially ritual and mosque discussed." This included, included, among among other things, things, the discussed." of Arabic, and the prayer prayer prostration prostration as as well elimination of pews and a choir mosques of as the introduction mosques of pews into the as style hyrnns hymns to the accompaniment accompaniment of of an singing Western style singing organ. organ. religious authority, authority, it may may well be asked, asked, "By what religious this? The modernist modernist Turks they proceed proceed to do this? did they proceed on the the authority authority of the the revolution." revolution." Yet, Yet, Kemal Kemal proceed was an an apostate apostate who could not boast boast enough enough of of Ataturk was AtatLlrk fact continues his atheism. atheism. But the the author, author, ignoring ignoring this this fact continues his "Certainlythe renounced Islam, Islam, to argue, havenot renounced the Turks have argue,"Certainly is to be acceptable but reviewed that if if Islam Islam is be acceptable it. They feel feel that reviewedit. expressed will have haveto be to the man, it will be expressed educatedmodern modern man, the educated in an entirely different way." way." an entirely different by The result has not only been been the the repudiation repudiationby result has not only also aa feeling feeling of Turkish intellectuals Shariahbut also intellechralsof the the Shariah Islamic with the the rest restof Islamic isolation identificationwith and lack lack of identification isolationand world. world. so Turks so On are modernist modernist Turks subjects are On few subjects pan-Islamism is is dead. dead. emphatic as asserting asserting that pan-Islamism emphatic as question are emotions so so quick And are their emotions And on on no question involvement with as any religious involvement as in disclaiming disclaiming any who are, to many many of of them, modern Arabs who are, to modern Arabs is repellent least. It It is to say say the the least. and contemptible, contemptible, to repellent and say that that some Turks hardly to say some Turks hardly an exaggeration to an exaggeration American as an consider Arab Muslims much as an American Muslims much consider Arab Ethiopian look down upon an an Ethiopian Protestant might look down upon Protestant might politically irrelevant religiously Copt; irrelevant and and religiously Copt; politically West lslam West Versus VersusIslam

23 23

benighted. benighted.Any A.ny suggestions laculty suggestionsthat t-hatthe dre new new faculty of theology at Ankara would be theology at Ankara would be another alotJrer Azhar Azlrar are either laughable or shocking. are either laughable shocking. Rather Rather they they with the intend intend it to comparewith to compare the Union Llnion Theological Theological Seminary Seminaryat at Harvard. Harvard. The author author declares declaresthat that if aa Martin Luther were were to appear, appear, he would get get aa ready ready hearing he would hearing among among the the educated classes educated classesin Turkey. assumption here, Turkey. The assumption here, he he says,is question of becoming is not aa question says, becoming Christian, Christian, but rather rather of being being modern modern instead instead of medieval. rnedieval. The spirit of Western civilization is so modern Western civilization is hostile to religion so hostile religion that that even Christianity has fared miserably.Today in most even Christianity has fared miserably. most of Europe and and America, Europe America, Christianity, Christiarity, especially especially the the Protestant faith Protestant faith is is remote remote from liorn the the daily daily life of its its adherentswho go to pay it lip adherents who only occasionally occasior)allygo to church church to pay service.Yet this service. t.hisseems seenlsto be the the only future fuhrre that Wilfred to be that Wilfred CannvellSmith Cantwell Smith can czursuggest sugl{estas asdesirable desirablefor lbr Islam. Islam. A case A case can can be made rnade that drat divisions divisions between between difl'erent civilizations different civilizations are are no longer valid and that modenr civilization, modern civilizat.ion, though it first made its its West, is appearance appearancc in the West, is spreading through through out the world world and superseding all other out other cultural cultural patterns. Modern patterns. Modern secularism rs therefore no secularism is Westem but has longer distinctively distinctively Western has become a which all the civilizations universal trend, which civilizations are in process of process of assimilating. assimilating. As a result the mundane welfare of welfare of the Muslim Muslim people will increasingly increasingly progress independent of depend on social social progress of religious religious consideration. consideration. Secularism Secularism must be religiously tolerated. tolerated. If If the Muslims Muslims resist resist this religrously Caesar-Cod Caesar-God dichotorny, dichotomy, they are are doomed. doomed. In In other words, Muslims nrust must destroy destroy their laith faith ifif drey they are are to presen'c preserve it! According According to this tlus same sarne sinister sinister 2 4 24

Versus Islam West Versus lslam

reasoning, the the sophisticated sophisticated Turkish Turkish intellectuals intellectuals who who reasoning, of the the Qur'an, Qur'an, the the frankly repudiate repudiate the the teachings teachings of fra.nkly of the the Sunnah, Sunnah, and and abandoned abandoned the the Shariah, Shariah, not not authority of authority only in in practice practice but but also also as as an an ideal ideal towards towards which which to to only strive, can can righdully rightfully claim claim to to possess possess the the kuest truest Islam! Islam! strive, Wilfred Cantwell Cantwell Smith likes likes to to have have himself himself regarded regarded by by Wilfred as a sympathetic sympathetic shrdent student of of Islam. Islam. He He claims claims his Muslims as but a careful careful reading reading of of this observations to be objective, objective, but observations book by any any sincere, sincere, thinking Muslim, will clearly clearly reveal reveal book of his hostility' hostility. Unfortunately, Unfortunately, his abysmal depths depths of the abysmal views of of the majority of of represents the views thinking represents orientalists both in my counry country and abroad. abroad. Their Their basic basic orientalists of the the old enmity towards towards Islam Islam differs differs from that that of it is expressed is expressed fashioned Christian missionary that in that only missionary fashionedChristian more subtle way. subtleway. in a much more

Notes: Notes: Smith' Cannvell Smith, I. History, Wilfred Cantwell and Modem Modern HistoIy, Islatn alJd |. Islam 1957' New Jersey, Princeton Pnnceton,New Press,Princeton, UniversityPress, Jersey,1957, PrincetonUniversity Mentor 1959. 1959. September NewYork, York,September Book,New MentorBook,

West lslam West Versus VersusIslam

25

Chapter Chopter 33

Enemyfrom Within The Enemy The Islam is is far more seriously Islam far more seriouslymenaced menaced from from within within than from from without. without. Deadliest Deadliest of than of its its enemies enemies are are the the growingnumber number of of renegades renegadesfrom growing from the faith. Those the faith. Those who who positions of leadership hold positions leadership in the government of the government Muslim countries power to inflict countries have have the the power inJlict the worst the worst damage.Were they damage. they only to to declare declaretheir apostasyopenly, their apostasy openly, would receive they would receive the the condemnation they condemnation they they deserve. deserve. Instead,they tley take advantageof the take advantage people Instead, the loyalty loyaltyof their their people who hesitate hesitateto criticize any who to criticize any of their their activities activitiesso so long long as as they remain remain nominal they nominal Muslims. Muslims. Perhapsno idea idea has has done Perhaps done Islam Islam more more harm harm than than the modern modern concept the concept of nationalism, nationalism,which which states statesthat that the the men should should be men be artificially artificially divided divided according accordingto race race and and language and owe their supreme language and owe supreme allegiance allegiance to aa geographicalentity. geographical entity. This is is absolutely absolutelyirreconcilable irreconcilablewith Islam which which teaches drat the Islam teachesthat the only genuine genuinebonds bonds of unity unity people are betweenpeople are common spiritual between spiritual values. values. first articulate The first articulate Crusader Crusader for the the Western concept concept of of nationalism nationalism in the the Muslim world was was the the Turkish sociologist 0876-1924). In his his sociologist Ziya Gokalp (1876-1924). writings, is no incompatibility incompatibility writings, he he argues argues that that there there is between between Islam Islam arrd and Western civilization. civilization. He reiects rejects the idea is a civilization, civilization, and and that that modern Western idea that that Islam Islam is civilization civilization is is connected connected with Christianity. Christianity. In other words, words, civilizatjon civilization and and religion religion are are two separate separate things. things. Therefore, he he claims claims that that the the adoption adoption of of Westem Western civilization civilization by Muslims will not interface interface with their taith. faith.

26

West Versus Versus lslam Islam Wost

Now the the missiou mission o[ of t-he the Turks Turks is is notJring nothing to past which has Turkish past has uncover pre-Islamic pre-Islamic Turkish the uncover remained with the people people and to graft graft Western remained civilization in its entirety entirety on to it. it In order to civilization equal the the European European powers, powers, militarily and and in the equal salvation sciences and and industry, industry, our only road to salvation sciences civilization completely! completely! is to adopt Western civilization rejects the the idea idea of of the supremacy supremacy of of Ziya Gokalp rejects the because it conflics conflicts with the the Westem Western concept concept the Ummat Llmmatbecause of nationality. nationality. of the pre-Islamic pre-Islamic Turks, patriotism patriotIsm Among the the fuhrre, future, as as in the the reached its its highest highest levels. levels. In the reached patriotism should most important past, be the the most past, patriotism should be the nation nation becausethe area the Turks because areaof morality for the and only self existingunit. unit. the only sell existing soil is is ultimately ultimatelythe and its is soil precedenceover Loyalty over take precedence nation must must take Loyrlty to the the nation loyalty family or to religion. religion. Turkism loyalty to the the family Nation and and should give highest highest priority to Nation should give Fatherland. Fatherland. versein this to the dre verse How can reconcilethis any Muslim reconcile can any -Hold fast you to the the cable cable the fast all.of a{of you which says, says,"Hold the Qur'an Quran which Prophet's of Allah "Of to separate,"'dr to the the Prophet's do not separate,''' Allah and and do 'Know dratevery is tlle the brother brother farewell everyMuslim is message,"Know tllat farewellmessage, you are all one one of every and that that you are all every other other Muslim and attitude of brotherhood." the attitude Prophet expressed expressed the brotherhood." The Prophet clear, unambiguous Islam whole subject subjectin clear, unambiguous towards the the whole Islam towards "He is to us who who calls callsmen men to language he said, is not of us when he said,"He languagewhen patriotism; patriotism; who fights fights for patriotism; patriotism; he is not one us who he is one of us patriotism." and who dies diesfor for patriotism." he is is not not one oneof of us uswho andhe for his his antialtiKemal tlre inspiration inspiration for Kemal Ataturk derived the Ataturk derived philosophy of ol Ziya Ziya Islamic from the tlre philosophy reforms directly directly from Islarnic reforms Gokalp. Cokalp. West Versus Islam West Versus lslam

27 27

In the the September issueof the September1957 1957 issue the Islamic Islamic Review Reuiew 'A Paul Roux, Jean Roux, author author of the the article, article,"A study shrdyof Islam Islam in Jean Paul Turkey," Turkey,' says says that Ataturk Ataturk did not want want to break away away Islarn but merely merely relieve from Islam relieve Turkey of the tle control control of political and the the Muslim religion religion over over the the political and social social life of the the country. country. In transforming transforming Turkey into aa modem modern were not directed Western nation, nation, his his reforms reforms were directed against agarnst Islam Islam as as such. far as such. Only in so so far as it hindered hindered the the achievement goal. achievementof desired desiredgoal. pursue this Apologistsfor Ataturk pursue Apologists this sort sort of devious devious presentlysee reasoning. reasoning.But we we shall shall presently wheneverIslam that whenever Islam seethat political sphere, personal piety is is attacked attacked in political piety is sphere, personal is also also profoundly affected. affected.Kemal Ataturk's Ataturk's measures me:rsureswere were not designed designedto separate separatereligion religion from the the state stateso as to so much as the the destruction destruction of Islam Islam by the the state. Kemal Ataturk state. Kemal Atahrrk decrees: decrees: 1. l. 2. 2.

3. 4. 4.

{ 5.

6. 6. 28

Closed many Closed many major mosques mosques like Saint Saint Sophia Sophiaconverting convertingthem them into rnto museums. museums. Closed Closed down down religious religious schools and schools and purely universities universities replacing replacing them with purely them with secular secularinstitutions. institutions. religious organizations Bannned Bannned all all religious organizationsand and imprisoned imprisoned the the leaders. leaders. pilgrimage to Prohibited Prohibited pilgrimage to Makkah. Makkah. Only years has pilgrimage been in recent recent years has the the pilgrimage been once once more allowed. more allowed. wearing of the Made Made the the wearing the Western hat hat with brim obligatory. with obligatory.This was purposely waspurposely designed designedto make make it difficult for Muslims Muslims pray in the prescribed manner, to pray the prescribed manner, as as in prostration the foreheadcould prostration the forehead could not touch touch ground. the the ground. Substituted Substitr-rted the the Latin Latrn alphabet alphabet for West Versus lslam Versus Islam

Arabic Arabic script. was designed script. This 1'his was designed to to produce aa cultural gap between cultural gap produce betweenTurkey Turkey and and the the neighbouring neighbouringMuslim Muslun countries. countries. The The Latin wasalso l,atrn alphabet alphabetwas a-lsodesigned designedto to produce aa new generation ignorant new generation produce ignorant of of the the Islamic Islamic classics classicsin Arabic Arabic script, script, thus thus past. severingtheir link with the severing the past. It is is often It often argued argued that that nationalism nationalism is is of value in of value preservingthe people, thus the unique unique identity identity of different preserving different people, thus adding richness richnessto to the the cultural cultural variety varietyof the adding the world, world, but in studying str.rdyingthe the development development of nationalism nationalism in Muslim quite the countries,I have havefound found quite countries, the opposite oppositeto to be be the the case. case. Although the the struggle struggle against political Although against Western Western political domination is is universal, universal, there there seem domination seem to be be no corresponding corresponding resistance resistanceto an an indiscriminate indiscriminate imitation imitation Western modes of Western modes of life life based based on materialistic materialistic philosophies. philosophies. would imagine One would imagine that drat the the Tunisian Tunisian and and Moroccan Muslim nationalists nationalistswho who strived Moroccan strived so so violently violently to freedom from French achieve achievefreedom French rule, would take rule, would take advantage advantage this opportunity opportunity to assert of this assert the the cultural cultural and and religious religious ident.ity of their people. Instead, identity their people. Instead, what what do we we find? find? Scorning the the Sharia, Sharia, they they zealously zealously copy Scorning copy French French laws, laws, French French customs, customs, and and French French system education. systemof education. In the the July 5, 1957 issue of of the 1957 issue the New York Times Times appeared appeared an an article article explaining explaining that that the the main idea idea behind the the University University of of Morocco was was to absorb absorb the creation creation of the all existing higher leaming learning and and existing Islamic Islamic instinrdons institutions of higher Westernize involved was was the the Westernize them. them. The major reform involved establishment establishment of a program program of of Western secular secular studies studies at the Qarawiln Qarawiyin University University Mosque Mosque in Fez, Fez, which which for centuries centuries has has been been a centre centre of of Muslim education. education. The recognition recognition of of the the curriculum at Qarawiyrn Qarawiyin will West Versus Versus lslam Islam

29

subordinate Muslim law, law, and instead instead stress stress the training training of of subordinate lawyers for actual actual practice practice under the modern Moroccan Moroccan lawyers French law. law. In In future, future, the Ulema will be code base base on French code take standard standard Western secular secular legal legal training training required to take before they they could qualify for office. office. before influence of of Islam in the modern world has has The influence weakened to such such an alarming alarming extent extent that that the the President President weakened of Tunisia, Habib Bourguiba, Bourguiba, in a nation-wide nation-wide speech, speech, of 1960 dared February 18, dared to delivered over the the radio on February 18, 1960 delivered Ramadan, blaming blaming it for attack the the fast fast of Ramadan, publicly attack "Fastingmay hindering Tunisia's Tunisia's economic economic development. development. "Fasting may hindering be intended intended to clarify clarify the spirit by enfeebling enfeebling the the body, body, be what I need need are are strong bodies to revolutionize revolutionize this this strong bodies but what country living!" standard of of living!" the Western standard country and and raise raise us us to the struggle for President that the the struggle President Bourguiba Bourguiba argued argued that workers from the the economic excuses workers development excuses economic development Rector of the Rector Ramadan denounced the Ramadanfast. fast. He then then bitterly bitterly denounced consider the the Zaitouna refusing to consider Zaitouna University University for refusing than economIC growth of Tunisia more important than economic growth Ramadan. Ramadan. the backwardness backwardness The Ramadan is responsible responsiblefor the Ramadanis is sheer sheer of Tunisia or any country is other Muslim country any other Ramadan is is nonsense. charge that that Ramadan far the ridiculous charge nonsense,As As far the ridiculous "And verseis is sufficient: sufficient "And injurious following verse healtl, the the following injurious to to health, (in sound whosoever health),let let him you is present(in is present sound health), whosoeverof you you is is sick sick or on aa fast whosoeverof you fast the month, and and whosoever the month, journey, let other days. days. journey, number of other fast the the same same number let him fast hardship for Allah desires you ease. desireth not hardship ease.He desireth desiresfor you period and and magnify magrufy you, ye complete the period you, but only that complete the that ye you.'' Allah guidedyou.'~ for having havingguided Allah for Islamic Literature Literature The the Islamic issue of of the The May May 1959 1959 issue "Islam and nationalism"by by published and nationalism" published an entitled "Islam an article article entitled Scienceat at City City John Political Science Professorof of Political G. Hazam, Hazam, Professor John G. 30

Versus Islam lslam West West Versus

ir.rNew New York York City which the College College in City in in which the author author argues argues that: that: If Muslims Muslims are If are to build build on on stout stout foundations foundations progressive states strong strong and and progressIve states capable capable of of successfully successfully defending defending themselves themselves against against external aggression aggression and proper external and securing securing the proper respect of of Europe Europe and and America, America, then they must relinquish relinquish their antiquated antiquated notion notion of of religious universality, which hardly fits fis the needs needs of of aa dynamic modern modern society. dynamic society. Orthodox Orthodox Muslims Muslims should should confine themselves themselves to private piety, and mundale affairs in their mundane affairs should conscientiously conscientiously process of resolve to expedite the process of emancipating emancipating themselves from from the restraining restraining hand of of the Middle Ages so that they might Middle might be on a more more position to grapple intelligently advantageous advantageous position intelligently with the urgent demands of of modern modern living. However, there is However, is ample arnple reason to believe that a 'reformed' 'reformed' Islam is is still capable of of making making contributions, if valuable contributions, if carefully carefully selected selected and proper channels, in reinforcing diverted into into proper diverted reinforcing of of the cause cause of of freedom freedom and democracy. But But the interests of of the state state must never be subordinated interests or sacrificed to those or sacrificed those of of mosoues. mosques. "reformed," for is perfect in Islam carl can never be "reformed," for it is iself. Among the last verses verses revealed in Qur'an Qur'an during during itself. Among the Prophet's dear enough. Prophet's Farewell Message Message make this clear 'This 'This day are are those those who who disbelieve disbelieve in despair of of ever harming This harming your your religion so lear fear them not! Fear me! This day have II perl'ected perfected your your religion religion and chosen for for you aJalIslarn!"' Islam!'" Zwa Ziya

Gohlp, Cokalp,

West Versus Versus lslam Islam

Kemal Kernal

Ataturk Atahrrk

and

Habib Habib 3311

share in common the conviction convlcllon that that Bourguiba all share essentially differ from any any civilization does does not essentially Islamic civilization culture which flourishes, flourishes, then stagnates stagnates and other human culhrre Without exception exception they they fInally collapses collapses into ruin. Without finally Sunnah were merely meant for for believe that Qur'an and Sunnah seventh century century Arabia and therefore therefore applicable applicable for only seventh When they they discovered discovered that the and place. place. When a limited time and of Islam Islam could never never be reconciled reconciled with that of of the spirit of modem West, they they concluded concluded that that it must be modern "out of relinquished as as "out of date." date." relinquished But, is is not nationalism, nationalism, which artificially artifIcially limits men's horizons to narrow geographical geographical frontiers, more men's date" in this this age age when when modem means means of of truly "out of date" have annihilated time communication communication and and transportation have has made made this this one one and technology has and distance? distancePIf If modem modern technology imperative that that the the world economically, equally imperative is it not equally economically,is world becomes united spiritually? spiritudlyP becomesunited and maintain maintain Those who who call Muslims and call themselves themselvesMuslims that mere many others others - aa mere culture among arnongmany that Islam Islam is is aa mere mere culture and not an an outcome and endeavours, endeavours,and human thoughts thoughtsand outcome of human absolute followed Al-Mighty to be be followed absolute Law [,aw decreed decreedby God AI-Mighty places,have have truly lost lost by the and places, human race rac€ at at all all times times and the human nthe within." their faith enemy from within." faith and and have havebecome become "the enemy

Notes: Notes: 1. l. 2. 2.

Al-Qur'an 3:103 Al-Qur'an3:103 Al-Qur'an AI-Qur'an2:185 2:185 3.

32

Al-Quran5:3 5:3 Al-Quran

West Versus Vo.sus Islam l3lam West

Chapter I Chopter 4

Philosophy Our Refutation the Philosophy Refutation of the of Ziya Ziya Gokalpl Gokalp' How How can can the the Turks Turks harmonize their cultural heritage that of modem Western Western civilization? civilzationP The heritagewith that question is writings of discussion discussionof this question is the the theme theme of the ttre writings of this years after his death, Ziya Gokalp. Thirty Thirty six death, Ziya six years Gokalp remains remains the Turkey has has the most influential thinker Turkey produced since produced century. Born Bom in since the the beginning beginning of this this century. 1876 1876 and educated at Istanbul, he he eventually eventually became became and educated at Istanbul, Professor writing most most of Professorof Sociology Sociologyat at the the university, university, writing of his his essays and 1918 l9l8 and and from 1922 1922 until essaysbetween between 1911 1911 and his Ataturk, lacking lacking aa brilliant his death death in 1924. 1924. Kemal Kemal Ataturk, intellect, ideas for his his drastic reforms intellect. borrowed the ideas drastic reforms borrowed the philosophy of Ziya directly directly from the the philosophy Ziya Gokalp. Gokalp. In contrast made no secret secret Kemal Ataturk who made contrastto Kemal of his his atheism, atheism,Ziya Ziya Gokalp alwaysregarded regardedhimself as as aa Gokalp always good Muslim. good was compelled resort to an Muslim. He was compelled to resort an gymnasticsin the astonishing astonishing range range of the attempt to of mental gymnastics philosophy. harmonize faith with his his philosophy. harmonize his his faith genuine civilization We We shall shall create civilization - aa create aa genuine Turkish Turkish civilization, which will follow the the growth of aa new new life. To classify the Turks, who are life. To classifythe are fairer and handsome than and more handsome the Aryans, Aryans, with than the the Mongolian race has no scientific foundation. the Mongolian race has scientfic foundation. The Turkish Turkrsh race has not degenerated race has degeneratedlike other races racesby alcohol alcohol and and debauchery. debauchery.Turkish Turkrsh blood remained rejuvenated rejuvenated and has has remained and hardened hardened like steel with the glories of the battlefield. Turkish steel with the glories the battlefield. intelligence worn out; its sentiments intelligence is is not worn sentimentsare are out; its West Versus Versus Islem lslam

33

not effeminate; is not weakened. weakened. The eft'eminate;its its will is promised to Turkish conquest is promised conquest of the the future future is resolution. resolution. Indoctrination Indoctrination with this this sort sort of nonsense, nonsense, reminiscent reminiscent of Nazi Nazi Germany, wounded Turkish Germany, made made wounded soldiers, during the the Korean Korean war, wil, refused refused blood soldiers, during transfusions transfusionsfrom other nationalities. nationalities.I wish wish I could ask could ask he would reconcile Ziya Ziya Gokalp Gokalp how how he reconcile such myths of racial racial such myths superiority superioritywith the the teachings teachingsof Qur'an. Qur'an. Western Western civilization civilization is is aa continuation continuation of ancient ancient Mediterranean Mediterranean civilization. civilizatron.The founders founders of the the people Mediterranean Mediterranean civilization civilization were were Turkish people such as the the Sumerians, Sumerians, Scythians, Scythians, the the such as Phoenicians the Hyksos. Phoenicians and and the Hyksos. There was was aa Turanian age age in history history before before the the ancient ancient ages, ages, for the the earliest earliestinhabitants inhabitantsof Western Western Asia were Asia were our forefathers. fbrefathers. Much later, later, the the Muslim Turks improved improved this dris civilization civilization and and transmitted transmitted it to to the Europeans.By destroying the Europeans. destroyingboth, both, the the Western Western and Eastenr Roman Roman Empires, and Eastern Empires, the the Turks revolutionalized history of Europe. we revolutionalizedthe the history Europe. Thus we part of Western are Western civilization civilization and have aa share are part and have share in it. it. This remarkable remarkabledistortion distortion of history history supports supportsthe the wild claims claims advanced some Turkish historians historiansthat adva:rcedby some that the the greatpeople people of antiquity great were either either Turks themselves antiquirywere themselvesor were were civilized civilized by the the Turks. The Phoenicians Phoenicians and and the the people; the Hyksos were both Semitic were Hyksos were Semitic people; the Scythians Sclthians were akin Persianswhile while the the Sumerians defy ethnic akin to the the Persians Sumerians defy ethnic classification. forgot to even classification.Ziya Ziya Gokalp Cokalp forgot even mention mention the the Egyptians. Would he he consider them Turks too? Eglptians. Would consider them tooP Western Roman wasdestroyed The Western Roman Empire was destrovedwhen when 34


the were overrun dre territories territories were overrun by by tribes tribes of Germanic Germanic origin. origrn. played by the The role role played the Huns, despite despite their destructiveness, was insignificant. insignficant. The kinship kinship between between destructiveness,was people of present present day the dre Huns and the people day Turkey is is and the dubious, the least, least, and and were were I aa Turk, I would dubious, to say say the pride in claiming scarcely take pride claiming to be be one their scarcely take one of their descendants! descendants! The Eastern was destroyed Eastern Roman Roman Empire was destroyed not by the completely tIe Turks but by the the Crusaders Crusaders who completely devastated 1204, The capture devastatedit in 1204. caphrreof Constantinople Constantinoplein 1453 was the result rather 1453was the result rather than than the the cause causeof the the downfall downfall of Byzantium. Byzantium. power and When Islam Islam first first began began to to expand its power and expand its were an influence the world, world, the the Turks were influence over over the an unorganized unorganized conglomeration illiterate nomads. nomads. For centuries cenhrries conglomeration of illiterate fighting fighting as as mercenary mercenarysoldiers soldierswas was their sole sole contribution contribution to I l"
When When a nation nat-ion advances adva.ncesto higher higher stages stages of of its evolution, evolution, it finds it necessary necessary to change its its When the Turks civilization Turks were nomadic civilization too. When nomadic tribesmen tribesmen in Central Asia, they belonged to the When they civilization civilizatron of of the Far East. East. When tiey past to the stage stage of of the Sultanistic State, State, they entered into the area of And today of Byzantine civilization. civilization. And in their transition transition to the nation nation state state they are ale determined determined to accept Western Weslern civilization. civilization.


35

People belonging variousreligions People belongingto to various religions may may belong belong to the the same same civilization. civilization. The japanese and the the Japaneseand jews the identical identical civilization share the civilization with Europe Europe Jews share despite despite their diflerence dill'erence in religion. religion. In other words, civilization words, civilization and and religion religion are are two separate two separate things. Thus it is just as things. is.just as erroneous erroneous to speak. speak of Islamic civilization Islamic civilization as as it is is called called Western Westem civilization Christian. civilization Christian. Religion Religion is is confined confined to wrth which beliefs beliefs and and rituals rituals with which the and the arts arts and haveno connection. sciences scienceshave connection. presents the Here, Ziya Gokalp presents reader with the the the reader bundle coub-adictions.He tries prove that bundle of contradictions. tries so hard to prove that so hard 'l'urks part of Western civilization the the Turks are are already already part civilization and and he compares comparesthem then japanese, admitting then he them with withJapanese, admitting that that it is is alier.rto the just as a-salien the former as as it is latter. Because is to the the latter. Because were able the adopt Western Western civilization the japanese able to adopt civilization .fapanesewere losing their national without losing national or religious religiousidentity, identity, he he asks, asks, "Why \Mhy cant cant we we accept accept it to and and still still be be Turks and and Muslims?" MuslimsP"

Although japan has managed managed to maintain maintain her Japan has question that national natjonal sovereignty, sovereignty, there there is is no question that her indigenous indigenous culture culhrre has has been been seriously seriously undermined. undermined. were never Although AJthough the the missionaries missionaries were never successful successful in converting Clrristianity,the converting the the japanese to Christianity, the influence influence of Japaneseto waned considerably Shinto and Buddhism Buddhism has has waned Shinto and considerably leaving leaving youtl-r without any the the majority majority of Japanese any strong strong Japanese youth religious religiousbeliefs. beliefs. Not only it is is true true that that wherever wherever Western Western penetrates,it destroys civilization destroysall forms of civilization penetrates, all forms of indigenous indigenous culture at variance va-riarcewith it. even more important, culture at it. But even important, the the West, West, due due to to its its history, history, is is basically basicallymore hostile hostile to Islam Islam religion. When When the than than any any other religion. the Chinese Chinese communists communists destroyed monasteries of Tibet, there great destroyed the the monasteries there was was aa great 36

west Versus West Versus Islam lslam

outcry ol' of horror horror in in the the Western Western press, press, but but when when the the outcry ofTunisia, Tunisia, Habib Habib Bourguiba Bourguiba attacked attacked the the fast fast President of President of Ramadal, Ramadan, the the same same periodicals periodicals eulogized eulogized him him as as the the of of progress and enlightenment. epitome progress enlightenment. and epitorne o[ Western civilization civilization has has been been avowedly avowedly secular secular Western only since since the the French French revolution. revolution. Until Until that that time, time, its its only was dominated dominated by by the the church. church. The The works works of of the the culture was culture greatest Western Western artists artists were were thoroughly thoroughly religious religious in in both both greatest with I agree Although subject matter and conception. Although I agree with and conception. subject matter inherent is no there is no inherent Ziya Gokalp in his assertion that there that in his assertion Gokalp Ziya scientific discoveries discoveries and Islam, between modern scientific conflict between purposes to which this this knowledge knowledge has has been applied applied the purposes have been been directed directed mainly by materialistic materialistic philosophies' philosophies. have When we we shrdy study the history history of of Christianity, Christianity, we we When see that following following the the Crusades, Crusades, a new new see that movement arose arose in Europe, Europe, which which aimed aimed at movement the culminated in the finally culminated imitating and finally Islam and imitating Islam the rejected the Reformation. Protestants rejected Reformation. The Protestants the and hierarchy, papacy, the church hierarchy, and the papacy, the church principles the principles priesthood, were contrary contra-ryto the which were priesthood,which of Islam. Islam. in arose in first arose Europe first The modern state in Europe modern state religion of Protestant countries. Sociologists of religion Sociologists Protestant countries. countries the Latin latin countries of the believe decline of that the the decline believethat backwardness the backwardness was Catholicism;the to their their Catholicism; wasdue due to of their their was aa consequence consequenceof of Russianswas the Russians of the progress of Anglothe Angloof the Orthodox, while the the progress Orthodox, while they fact that that they of the result of the fact Saxon wasaa result nationswas Saxonnations Catholic the Catholic from the had freed themselves themselves from had freed principles of ot the principles traditions approached the and approached traditions and justifiedin in considering considering Islam. we not, not, then, then,justified Are we Islam.Are of form Islamicized form Protestantism of an Islamicized Protestautism an Christianity? ChristranityP West lslam versusIslam WestVersus

37

The Crusades, Crusades,far far from The from promoting promoting feelings feelings of of mutual friendship friendship between between Christians mutual Christians and and Muslims Muslims as as Ziya Gokalp Gokalpwould would have haveus usto Ziya to believe, believe,created createdsuch suchbitter bitter enmity that thatitit still still lingers lingerson on today. enmity today.Martin Martin Luther Luther had had as as fanatical hatred haaed of of Islam Islam as fanatical as any any of of his his Catholic Catholic adversaries.In In comparing comparing the adversaries. the superficial superficial resemblances resemblances betweenIslam Islam and and Protestantism, Protestantism,Ziya between Ziya Gokalp GokaJpindulged indulged in mere merewishful wishfulthinking. thinking. He He harps in harpson on the subjectonly thesubject only to to prove that thatnationalism nationalismis is compatible prove compatiblewith with Islam. Islam. But But how how can he he forget forgetthe the horrible horrible bloody can bloody wars warsthat resultedwhen thatresulted when the unity unity of of Christendom Christendomwas the wasshattered shatteredinto into innumerable innumerable rival hostile hostile sects? sects? Does Does he rival he want want the same thing the same thing to to happen to to Islam? Islam? Evidently Evidently he happen he does, does, for for this this is is clearly clearly revealedin his his attitude attitudetowards revealed towardsArabic. Arabic. The land where the call to prayer resounds in The Turkish; where those who pray understand Turkish; understand the meaning of of their their religion; meaning religion; the land where the is recited in Turkish; Our'an Turkish; where every man Qur'ar-r is knows full well the command command of of God God - 0' O' son of of Turkey, Turkey, that land is thy fatherland! fatherland! No No sensible person person would would ever think think that a translation of tie the Qur'an Our'an in in Arabic. Arabic. translation can take the tlle place of Not Not only only has the preservation preservation of of the Qur'an Our'an exactly as as itit was was originally originally revealed saved saved itit from from the corruption corruption the the Bible but the prestige of of the Arabic Arabic language Bible suffered, suffered, but has served as as a strong strong bond bond of of unity unity among among Muslims Muslims all over over the world. world. Ziya Ziya Gokalp Gokalp would would smash this this unity unity and and transform transform the of Islam Islam into into a Turkish Turkish sect: sect: the universal universal brotherhood brotherhood of While Western Europeans Europeans read read themselves themselves While Western from of Orthodox Orthodox from medievalism, medievalism. the the Christians Christians of 38

West Versus Versus lslam Islam Wost

church inin Russia Russia were were still still enslaved enslaved by by it'it. Peter Peter church the Great Great encountered encountered many many difficulties difficulties inin his his the struggle to to free free the the Russians Russians from from Byzantine Byzantine sruggle 'Western civilization and and introduced introduced them them to to Western civilization civilization. In In order order to to learn learn what what sort sort of of civilization. aa Westernizing in methods should be followed in Westernizing followed be should methods country, itit su{fices suffices to to study study the the history history of of Peter's Peter's country, reforms. Until Until then then the the Russians Russians were were believed believed reforms. incapable of of any progress' progress, but but after after the the incapable revolution, they they began began to to progress progress vary vary rapidly. rapidly. revolution, This historical historical fact fact is is enough enough to to prove prove that that This 'Western Western civilization civilization is the the only only avenue to to advancement. advancement. We have to to accept the civilization civilization of of the West West or or We be enslaved by the powers powers of of the \Mest. West. Between Between be must choose' choose. We We must must these two alternatives, we must master the civilization civilization of of the West West in order order to defend our freedom independence! lreedom and independence! follow the lead Turkey to follow Does Ziya Gokalp Gokalp want Turkey of denounces Marxism yet he UnionP He denounces of the the Soviet Union? Union The Soviet Soviet Union accepts flourishes. The soil on which it flourishes. acceptsthe soil including is rapidly surpassing all other countries including my own is rapidly surpassing world influence. in technology, in military might, and and world influence. military in in technology, the Suppose States, thought the the United States, couufy, the my country, Suppose my national its national to its adoption essential to methods essential Soviet methods of Soviet adoption of governrnent, in in order order to to survival. American government, tlre American Suppose the survival. Suppose power decided decided to to avoid by Soviet Soviet power enslaved by being enslaved avoid being Rights and and of Rights Bill of abandon and the the Bill its Constitution Constitution and abandon its if asaa police Even stateP replaced them with a totalitarian police state? Even if as wrth a totalitarian tJrem replaced preserve its lts lo preserve result managed to my country country managed this, my of this, result of after meaningless after not be be meaningless political this not would this political sovereignty sovereignty would analogy isis same analogy having The same d'€treP The raisolr d'etre? vary raison its vary lost its having lost and nationalism versus even Islam versus nationalism and to Islam when applied applied to tmer when even truer secularism. secularism. West lslam VersusIslam Wcst Versus

39

There isisnothing nothingoriginal There originalabout aboutZia Zia Gokalp's Gokalp'sideas. ideas. just what He haS hx tried tried to to do do to to Islam Islamjust He what Sir Sir Sayid SayidAhmad Ahmad Khan in in India India and andAli Ali Abd Abd al-Raziq Khan al-Raziqin in Egypt, Egypt,tried tried to to do, do, namelyaccept acceptthe Western outlook the Western namely outlook on on life life as asnormative, normative. and attempt attempt to to show showhow how Islam Islam fits and fits in in with with it. it. In In order order to to do this, this, Zia Za Gokalp, Gokalp, like like Taha do Taha Hussein, Hussein, has hasresorted resortedto to an unscrupulous unscrupulous distortion distortion of an of historical historical facts; facts: like like his his predecessorand and successors, successors,defending predecessor defending aa set set of of values values utterly alien alien and and contradictory contradictoryto utterly it. Allover to it. All over the the Muslim Muslim world, such protagonistsof such protagonists world, of Westernization Westernization have have sprung sprung up like like weeds, yet nowhere weeds, yet up nowhere have have they they been been able able to to dominate the the scene sceneso dominate so completely completelyas asin in Turkey. Turkey. What is is the reason reasonbehind behind this? thisP the answerwas wasaa aptly The answer aptly expressed expressedby by Muhammad Muhammad Enan, Professor Professorat Abdullah Enan, at Cairo Cairo University flniversity when when he he said: said: gravity and Inspite of its its gravity Inspite and decisive decisive effects effects upon upon history, the great conquests the great history, conquests of ol' the the Ottoman Turks did not bear bear tlIe the same sarne spiritual spiritual significancedisplayed significance displayedby tlIe tJreArab Khalifates. Khalifates.To To the the Turks, the the conquest conquest of of Constantinople Constantinople was was only a a political political and and territorial territorial gain, gain, which which crowned crowned their continuous continuous efforts efforts to wipe out the the last last vestiges vestiges of of the the Byzantine Byzantine Empire, and and opened opened the tlIe way way for their victorious victorious march int

the Khalifate Khalifate never never Save gave to to the the world world the the same same the as spiritual ideals ideals and and brilliant brilliant civilization civilization such such as spiritual displayed in in Damascus, Damascus, Baghdad, Baghdad, Cordoba Cordoba and and displayed Cairo. Cairo. After destroying destroying the the legacy legacy of of Byzantine Byzantine After unable were Turks civilization, the Ottoman Turks were unable to to Ottoman the civilization, on their their own own as as did did create aa new new civilization civilization on create of view, view, Moors in in Spain. Spain. From From the the moral moral point point of Moors their coming coming under under the the banner banner of of Islam Islam was was their neither powerful powerful nor nor deep-rooted. deep-rooted. Rather Rather itit was was neither superficial event, event, which displayed displayed only formal superficial penetrating appearances without ever penetrating into the ever appeanrnces real depths. real dePths. above, Zia Gokalp's the reason reason outlined above, Gokalp's Due to the ideas found such ready acceptance acceptance and and the the Turkish Turkish such ready ideas people were were easily easily severed Islamic heritage' heritage. severedfrom their Islamic people

Notes: Notes: Civ:Jtzatron, Ziya 1. Turkish and Western Civilization, Turkish Nationalism and l. language by Niyazi Gokalp, the Turkish Turkish language from the translated from Gokalp, translated 1959. New York, 1959. Berkes, Press,New UruversityPress, Columbia University Berkes,Columbia

West lslam VersusIslam WestVersus

41

Chapter Chopfer 55

A Refutation Refutationof A of the thePhilosophy Philosophy of Taha ThhaHussein! of Husseinl For nearly nearly 40 years,Taha 40 years, For Taha Hussein Hussein has hasbeen been the the idol of of the the Egyptian Eglptranintelligentsia. intelligentsia.Born idol Born about about 1890 1890in in aa small village village on on the the upper upper Nile, small Nile, as as an an infant, infant. he he contractedophthalmia, ophthalmia, the the dread contracted dread eye eye disease, disease,which which isis the scourge scourge of of the the Egyptian the Egyptian fellaheen. fellaheen. Despite Despite his his blindness,Taha Taha Hussein Hussein memorized memorized the blindness, the entire entire Qur'an, eur'an, which at at the the age ageof of 13 l3 won won him which him scholarship scholarshipto to AI-Azhar Al-Azhar University.While While studying studyrngin Cairo, University. Cairo, he he began beganto to seek seekthe the company of of Europeanized Europeanized students company students and and his his desire desire to to emulate them them made made him abandon emulate abandon AI-Azhar Al-Azhar in disgust. disgust. One of the the first first awarded awardedaa Ph.D. One Ph.D. at at the the newly newly established established Cairo University, University, he he went went to Cairo to Paris Paris to to study sn_rdyat at the the Sorbonnewhere where he he earned earnedanother anotherPh.D. Sorbonne Ph.D. and and also also met met his wife wife Suzanne SuzanneBresseau Bresseauwhom his whom he he married married in 1918. 1918. his return return to Egypt, Upon his Egypt, he he became became aa Professor Professor of Arabic literature literature at at Cairo Cairo University University and and later later the the Dean. Dean. During this this time he he began began to write write his his controversial controversial books severecriticism of orthodox beliefs. beliefs. books in severe criticism of One of of these, these, entitled entitled The Future of of Culture Culture in Egpthas Egypt has exercised exercised such such tremendous tremendous influence influence over over the the minds of of younger younger generation generation that it has has become become a classic classic in its field. field. Taha Hussein Hussein begins begins his book by asking: asking: Is Egypt Egypt of of the East East or or the Westp West? We We may paraphrase as follows: follows: Would Would itit be be paraphrase the the question question as easier easier for for the the Egyptran Egyptian mind mind to to understand understand aa Chinese Hindu or or to to understa-nd understand an an Chinese and and aa Hindu English or French French man? man? This This is is the the English man man or question we besin begin to to question you you must must answer answer before before we 42


think of of the the foundations foundations on on which which we we shall shall have have think to base our culture. culture. to base our He then then goes goes on on to to say say that that since since the the beginning beginning of of He history, there there has has existed existed two two distinct distinct and and bitterly bitterly history, antagonistic civilizations civilizations -- the the one one in in Europe Europe and and the the antagonistic other in in the the Far Far East. other This statement statement is a great over over simplification simplification of of This 'Western history. Modern Modem Western civilization civilization began is its present present history, day trends trends less less than than five hundred hundred years ago. The The day industrial dynamism dynamism of of the West West is no no direct direct industrial continuation of of the development development of of ancient ancient Greek Greek or O£ continuation product of Roman society but rather a unique product of the unique but rather Roman Renaissance. If one cannot cannot speak of of a single civiliz-ation civilization If one Renaissance. ·which has existed existed for for time time immemorial" immemorial" in Europe, Europe, still "which has less does does this this apply apply to the Far East. East. The The Far East has less never Hindu India and homogeneous. Hindu never been culturally homogeneous. as other as Confucian from each other as much much from differed as Chrna differed Confucian China they did from medieval Europe. Europe. did from ties between between Taha Hussein then cites the close close ties cites the 'The during ancient Egypt FIe says: says: 'The Greeks during Eglpt and Greece. He their themselves the pupils their Golden Golden Age used to consider themselves arts particularly in the fine arts of civilization, particularly of the Egyptians in civilization, and government." government." and st.imulated However, have been stimulated Greeks may have However, the Greeks the fields, the in these by Egypt in these fields, of ancient ancient Egypt contributions of by the the contributions the and the Rameses and contrast of Rameses heretic statues statues of the heretic between the contra-stbetween and monarchy and sculpture Pharaonic monarchy the Pharaonic of Pheidias; Pheidias; the sculpture of that to assert assert that great to to be be able able to Athenian is too too great democracy, is Athenian democracy, the fJreformer. former. from the was derived latter was derived from the latter with relations with Because suslained relations Eglpt's sustained of ancient ancient Egypt's Because of East' with the the Far Far East, Greece lack of of communication communicatron with and her her lack Greece and West lslam VersusIslam West Versus

43

-l'hat Egypt Taha Hussein Hussein argues argues"That Egypt has Taha has always alwaysbeen been an an part integral of Europe Europe as as far liu as integral part of as its ie intellectual intellechtal and and culturallife wasconcerned life was concenredin in all cultural all its is forms forms and and branches. branches. period in The only only period which Egypt in which The part Egypt was wasculturally culh_rrally part of of Europe was was during during the the Hellenistic Europe Hellenistic age age inaugurated inauguratedby by Alexander the the Great. Great. But Alexander But there there isis even even less less historic historic continuity between betweenPharaonic Pharaonic Egypt continuity Egypt and and Islamic Islamic Egypt Egypt then between betweenthe theAthens Athensof then Periclesand of Pericles and Byzantium. Bfzantium. Taha Hussein Hussein cites cites the Talla the fierce fierce rebellion rebellion of of the the Egyptrans against against the the seventh Egyptians seventh century century Arab Arab invasion invasion clainring that t.lut Egypt Egypt was was the claiming the first first country country under under Islamic Islamic rule to to assert personality. asscrtits its national nationalpersonality. rule The battles battles against against the The the Arabian Arabian invaders invaders were were wagcd not not by by native native Egyptians waged Egyptians but exclusively exclusively by by Byzantine mercenary mercenary troops Byzantine troops who who despite despite their their superior superior nurnbers and and equipment, equipment, were were quickly quickly routed numbers routed by General Amar. Arnar. The native native Egyptian General Eglptian cops, persecutedfor cops, persecuted their faith fhith by by the Blzantine monarchs, the Byzantine monarchs, welcomed welcomed dle the tolerant rule rule of the Muslims. Although tolerant the Muslims. A.lthoughEgypt Egypt emerged emergedas as an independent independent entity entity under the an the dynasty dynasty of Ibn Tulun Tulun (868-884), ilie the rulers rulers as as well well as (868-884), as ilieir their subject subject regarded regarded themselves as Muslims Muslims rather rather than than as as Egyptians. Egyptians. themselves as Nationalism Nationalism as as we we knew knew it today, today, simply exist. simply did not exist. Taha Hussein Hussein insists insists that that the adoption adoption of of Islam Islam and and Arabic language language did not make make Egypt Egypt any any more 'Eastern" "Eastern" than than Europe when when its people embraced embraced Christianity. Christianity. How How is itit possible possible for f,air fair minded persons persons to see see no harm coming to the European European mind mind from reading reading the Gospel Gospel and and at at the same same time to to regard as purely purely Eastern Eastern even even tlough though regard the the Qur'an Our'an as itit is is proclaimed proclaimed tiat that the the Qur'an Our'an was was sent sent only only to to 44


confinn and and complete complete what what is is in in the the Gospel? Gospel? confirm They must must explain explain what what distinguishes distinguishes They Christianity from Islam, Islam, for both stem stem from from the Christianity same source. sarnesource. Hussein speaks speaks as as ifif Christianity Christianity were were Taha Hussein identical with Islam. Islam. He He seems seems to forget forget that the Gospel, Gospel, identical Christians regard regard as as their scriptures, scriptures, is not the same same the Christians Gospel to which the Qur'an refers. refers. The The original message message Gospel God revealed revealed to Jesus Jesus has has been been lost. lost. All All that the of the the apocryphal apocryphal biographies biographies Christians possess possess are are four of Christians of Jesus, Jesus, which were were not canonized canonized until cenh-rries centuries after after of his so-called death. Although Jesus, Jesus, like Muhammad, Muhammad, his so-called death. scriphrreswere spoke language, the the Christian Christian scriptures were Semitic language, spoke a Semitic written down in Greek instead. instead. Jesus Jesus did not know a written word of of Greek. Greek. The doctrines doctrines of of the the trinity, trinity, the divinitv divinity his vicariousatonement atonementby his of Christ, the vicarious sin, and and the origrnalsin, Christ, original Paul death Paul -- notJesus. notJesus' Paul cross,originated originatedwith Paul the cross, death on the Roman speaking Roman was Hellenized Greek Greek speaking was aa thoroughly thoroughly Hellenized his citizen influenced by his be influenced help but be could not help citizen who could who than Jesus environment. was Paul, Paul, rather rather than Jesus who environment. And it was history of Christianity. Christianity. Yet determined subsequenthistory the subsequent determined the Talla that: still insist insistthat: Hussein can can still Taha Hussein essence of is the the same same essence The essence essence of Islam is of Islam with Christianity. connection of The connection Christianity. The of Greek philosophy is is identical to that of Greek philosophy Christianity. Whence then comes comes the difference Christia-nity. Whence faiths on the creation of in the effect these two faiths effect of these from Greece? GreeceP inhented from the mind mankrnd inherited mind that mankind culture Greek culture Why connection with Greek Why is is Europe's connection props of of the the the props during one of of the Renaissance one the Renaissance during the wrth the the her connection connection with European whereas her mind whereas Europeal mind not so philosophy Islam is is not so same Greek philosophy to Islam to Greek same the maintain the regarded? we seriously seriously maintain Can we regarded? Can the between the existence difference between of important important difference existence of West lslam VersusIslam West Versus

45

people living people living on on the the northern northern and and southern southern shoresof shores of the the Mediterranean? MediterraneanP -We have seen We have seenhow how the the influence influence of of Greeks Greeks and and permeatedthe Rome permeated Rome the Christian Christian faith laith from from its is inception. inception. was not true This was true of of Islam; Islam; the the Qur'an is in in Arabic Arabic not not Qur'an is Greek, and and unlike unlike the Greek, the Christian Christran scriptures, scriphrres, has has been been preserved in its purity. No Muslim is purity. preserved Mushm equivalent equivalent of of Paul Paul ever appeared to to corrupt cormpt the ever appeared the doctrine doctrine of of Islam. Islam. philosophers like Aristotelian philosophers Aristotelian like Ibn Rushd Rushd had had aa far far greater impact impact on medieval greater medieval Europe Europe than than the the Islamic Islamic world. Hellenism Hellenism was was rejected rejectedin favour purely world. favour of more more purely Islamic theology. theology. Islamic

Taha Hussein Hussein maintains main[ains that that the the common cornmon roots roots Muslims share share with with Christian Christian make make Islam Muslims Islam for more more spiritually compatible compatible with with the spiritually the West than than with with oriental oriental countries like India or China. countries China. Thus for Taha Hussein Hussein Westernization is is not aa problem for the Westernization the Islamic Islamic world or Egypt, but an for Egypt, an inevitable inevitable consequence consequenceof its its innate innate characteristics. characteristics. Despite the the incessant incessant rivalry rivalry between Despite benveen European European Christianity and Christianity and Islam, Islam, which which reached reached its its climax climax during the Crusades, Crusades,it is is true true that that Muslims Muslims did have the have more in corrunon common with Christians Christians than than with the the Hindus or Buddhiss Buddhists of of the the Far Far East. East. Here Taha Hussein Hussein is is right. right. However, However, he he tails fails to take take into account account that that since the since the French of secularism has French revolution, revolution, the the supremacy supremacy of secularism has made Western cinlzatjon civilization deadly deadly poison poison to every every made Western religion. religion. Europe Europe today today resembles resembles the the Abbasid Near East East in the of its its civilization civilization which which like like any any the richness richness of human human creation, creation, has has its it~ good good and and bad aspects. aspects. Our religious religious life will not suffer suffer from our Our 46


adoptions ol'Westem of Western civilization civilization any more more than adoptions it suffered when when we took took over over the Persian and Byzantine civilization. civilization. Byzantine Here Taha Taha Hussein Hussein contradicts contradicts himself. himself. He He has Here until now, now, exerted all his eflorts efforts to prove prove that Egypt Egypt is until part of of Europe, Europe, resisting all oriental oriental influences, influences, and then part of Persian and Byzantine Byzantine he admits admits that the acceptance acceptance of culture did Islam no harm. culhrre The whether from from the The adoption adoption of of any way of of life, whether East or West cannot cannot fail to undermine or from from the West undermine the moral contrary to the teachings of of Islam if if it is contrary teachings of rnoral strength of the Qur'an. was no Byzantine culture culh-ue was Quran. Persian and Byzantine exception. Women enjoyed a high and honourable honourable status stahrs exception. Women until considered it fashionable to Muslim rulers considered until the Muslim imitate Byzantine kings. Only Only of Persian and Byzantine imitate the courts of tllen its limitless limitless concubines, concubines, system with its t.hen did the harem system eunuchs of Muslim slavesbecome tlle the curse curse of Muslim society. sociery. eunuchs and slaves Homosexuality the Greeks sodorny, in which fue Homosexualiry and sodomy, shamelessly Such spread, like a cancer. cancer. Such shamelessly indulged spread, perversions were rare among the Arabs during during the lifetime during the first four four of tlle the Prophet. Government Governmeut during lifetime of Khalil's until Muawiya, was remarkably remarkably democratic democratic until Muawrya. in Khalifs was the imitation Persia and Byzantium, Byzantium, transformed of Persia transformed fue imrta[ior-r of was Khalifate mto hereditary monarchy. This was into a despotic despotic hereditary fue sociew from decadence fuat that rotted Islamic society the moral decadence with in. is much much Although Taha Hussein admits that there is AJthough Taha materialism in Western civilization, strll civilizatron, he insists insists fuat that it still contains his content. He supports suppors his considerable spiritual spirin-ralcontent. contains considerable "whc) argument test pilots "who cit-rng tllOse those airplane test argument by citing voluntarily horrrble injury everr ir4ury and and even volunlarily expose expose themselves themselvesto horrible deatl] Inasteryover nature." ltature." man's mastery in order to extend extend man's deat-hm

West lslam V e r s u sIslam W e s t Versus

47

While While there there is is nothing nothing in the the Qur'an opposing Qur'an opposmg (quite the scientific scientific research, research, (quite is teachings the contrary), contrary), its teachings regard regard the the mastery mastery of of man man over over themselves themselves more physical forces important than mastery over than mastery over the the physical forces of pride, words, to conquer nature. nature, In other words, conquer one's own lust, lust, pride, one'sown greed and greater achievement greed and selfishness is aa far far greater selfishnessis achievementthan than sending sendingaa rocket rocket on the the moon. moon. Yet the the assumption assumptionof of the the West is is just the opposite. the opposite. preserved us If If God had had preserved us from Ottoman and rule, we should conquest conquest and rule, we should have remained in have remained unbroken unbroken touch touch with Europe Europe and and shared shared in her Renaissance. Renaissance.As aa matter matter of fact, fact, the the Europeans Europeans borrowed the methods methods that prevailed in the borrowed the that prevailed the Islamic Islamic world during during middle ages. ages.They did just what we we are what are doing now. now. It is is only aa matter matter of time. time. has become These These days daysit has become fashionable fashionablefor Muslims Muslims to argue argue as as does does Taha Hussein, Hussein, that that because Europe because Europe derived derived her spirit of of scientific scientific inquiries inquiries from the the Arabs, Arabs, process of Westernization, Westemization, Muslims in the the process Muslims are are only reclaiming reclaimingtheir rightful righdul heritage. heritage.By this this sort sophistry, sort of sophistry, Muslims Muslims justify the the abandonment abandonment of their faith. laith. They forget forget that that it is is not science sciencein itself itself which which determines determines the the quality of aa civilization quality rather the civilization but rather the uses usesto which it is is put and and the the consequences consequencesthat that result. result.

The transmission transmissionof Muslim learning Medieval learning to Medieval people part part of Islamic Europe Europe did not make make her people Islamic civilization. medieval Europeans civilization. The medieval Europeans never never sought sought to adopt adopt Arabian Arabian dress, dress, Arabian Arabian customs, customs, and and mode of place of their own. living in place own. Although medieval medieval Europe welcomed the eagerly eagerlywelcomed the achievements achievementsof Muslim science scrence philosophy, it was was never and and philosophy, never willing to sacrifice its own sacrifice its cultural cultural independence independenceas as the the Muslim countries are doing doing countriesare 48

West lslam W6st Versus Islam

now. progress of our the progress We We Egyptians Egptians measure measure the nation the amounts nation solely solely in tenns terms of the amounts of our borrowing est. We West. We have borrowing from the the W have learned learned from Europe Europe how to to be be civilized. Europeans civilized. Europeans have us to sit at the table, have taught taught us at the table, eat eat with the the knife and and fork, sleep sleep in beds beds instead instead of on the the wear Western clothes. We seek floor and seek no and to wear clothes.We guidance in our government from the guidance the Kalifate. Kalifate. Instead Instead we we have have set national secular set up national secular courts courts and conformity to Western Western and enacted enacted laws laws in confonnity rather rather than than Islamic Islamic codes. codes. The dominant dominant and and undeniable fact of our times times is is that that day day by day undeniable fact day we Europe and we are are drawing drawing closer closer to Europe and becoming becoming an figuratively. an integral integral part of of her literally and figuratively. Westemization would be Taha Hussein Hussein asserts assertsthe the Westernization be much more difficult were basically dilficult if the the Egyptian Egyptian mind were basically different European. In the the same different from the the European. same breadth, breadth, he he chides his countrymen laggrngso so far chides his countrymen for lagging far behind behind Japan Japan in this respect. If If Egypt Egypt were were truly aa cultural extension of this respect. culnrral extension Europe, Hussein would would have have no need Europe, Taha Hussein need for any any argument. arSument. we wish In all seriousness,do we wish to embrace embrace the all seriousness, the philosophy of the religion the Chinese when religion and and philosophy Chinesejust when they they are rapidly westernizing westernizingthemselves? are rapidly themselvesPThose Those rVho derived Egyptians derived Western Westem civilization civilization Egyptrans who want to live would be be the the last last to want live like like Chinese Chineseor Hindus. Hindus. Why should Why Taha Hussein Hussein assume that his his fellow fellow should Taha assumethat countrymen must choose choosebetween thesetwo two alternatives? alternativesP countrlmen must betweenthese Why Why should want to be Chineseor should Egyptians Eglptians want be like either either Chinese English Why should English men? men? Why should they they not be be proud to live live as as West Vcr3us Islem lslam Welt Versus

49

Muslims? MuslimsP God has has bestowed on us God boon to compensate us a boon for our for our calamities. The The Western Western world world has has struggled sfuggled for for centuries to attain its ils present level of now we have the opportunity of progress and now oppornrnity to power on reach it with with in a generation. No No power on earth preventing us Egyptians from is capable of of preventing from enjoying life exactly the way they do. In enjoying In order order to become become equal partners in civilization with the civilization with Europeans, Europeans, we must must literally literally and forthrightly forthright.ly do everything everything they do. Whoever Whoever advises advises any other other course of of action, is either either a deceiver or or is himself himself deceived. deceived. question as You must now reise the question You must now raise whether as to whether Westem civilization Western civilization is superior superior to Islam as as Taha Taha Hussein Hussein so obviously obviously believes. believes. Certainly, Certainly, the Western Western world, world, by of its technological promoted the means of technological efficiency, has has promoted physieal well being and material prosperity of general physical material prosperity of its its level of people beyond the the level of any preceding civilization. civilization. Yet, no civilization can be judged on the the basis basis of of its is technology What of Which architecture technology alone. What of the arts? artsP Which grace and symmetry is superior superior in grace sl,rnmetry the mosque of of Ibn Ibn Tulun Tulun or the United Llnited Nations Building? BuildingP Western Western art reached its peak during during the Middle Middle Ages and early Renaissance. Renaissance.It has has been steadily steadily declining ever since. since.

The decadence of of modem modern art is The decadence is the direct religious convictions. consequence consequence of of the the loss loss of religious convictions. Both Both the the "non-objective" painting painting and the "socialist realism" of of the perfect expression of communist countries are a perfect communist countries of the values. The rejection rejection of of all spiritual spiritual values. The source of of emotional emotional depth and warmth, of beauty and design design is is God. Modem Modem of beauty painting, sculpture and architecture is conspicuously conspicuously lacking in all these these attributes. attributes. The The absence absence of is of God is 50

West West Versus Islam Versus Islam

equally reflected in such sordid sordid place of of Tennessee 'A Williams Williams as as "A Street Car Named Named Desire" and "Cat on a Hot Hot Tin Tin Roof." There There is no God modern jazz, which which God in modem primitive instincts in man. And caters caters to the crudest most most primitive And once a human human being is reduced to the level of of the beast, beast, he begins to act like like one. In In the collective farm settlements in Israel, Israel. for for example, exarnple, free love is tlle the accepted thing. Children Children are taken from from their mothers mothers when a week old old and brought brought up in nurseries. Consequently Consequently the formalities formalities of of marriage are dispensed with the family family life eliminated. eliminated. In Sweden, instruction is begun in the first year of sex sex instruction of elementary elementary with the aim of preventing of school with of preventing of any taint of of sin from from being associated associated with with the subject in the children's mind. mind. Adolescents Adolescents are are taught that there is nothing nothing wrong vwong with with sexual sexua.l relations out out side of of marriage so long as as the boy grl love each other prepared to take and girl other and are prepared responsibility responsibility for children. children. Contraceptives are easily prevent at available available to teenagers. However, this does not prevent teenagers. However, quarter of least a quarter lrom being conceived of the babies born born from out out of of wedlock. Swedes Swedes defend defend tlleir their moral moral standards by bv just as insisting that they are just as high as as elsewhere: elsewhere: Is Western secularism secularism superior to Islam? Islarn? Which Which is is the higher motive to do good without without tllOught thought of of tangible tangrble gain for the love of of God God or to do right simply simply for the sake Which is sake of of socio socio convention? convenhonP Which is the thc more advance advance idea -- tlle the triumph triumph of of nationalism nationalism or the the Which is universal universai brotherhood brotherhood of of Islam? Islam? Which is the the broader purely this -- worldly worldly emphasis view -- a purely ernphasis or the dre affirmation affinnat.ion of of the hereafter? he reafterl Nationalism, Natronalism, secularism, secularism, the the decay decay of ol' arL~, arls, the decline decline in moral standards, standards, the t.he race race of materialisttc of materialistic ideologies ideologies such fascisn-r,Nazism N:rzisrn and Communism such as as fascism, Conrrnunrsm West W e s t Versus V e r s u s Islam lslam

61 51

with the combined combined with the mad mad rush rush to invent invent ever deadly ever more deadly weapons weapons of mass mass murder, murder, are are all all signs approaching signs of approaching downfall downfall of the the West. West. In adopting adopting its its civilization, civilization, progressbut only in its Muslims Muslims will not share shareits is progress is doom. doom. Is what Taha Taha Hussein wants? Is this this what Husseinwants?

Notes: Notes: 1. The l. The Future Future of of Culture Cultwe in Egypt, EgW4 Taha Taha Hussein, Hussein, translated translated from from the the Arabic Anbic language language by by Sidney Sidney Fisher, Fisher, American American Council Council of Learned karned Societies, Societies,Washington, Washington,D.C. D.C. 1954. 1954.

52 52

West W6st Versus Vorsus Islam l3lam

Chopter Chapter 66

A Discussion Discussion of A From Here Here we we Startl Start l From day of of its publication, publication, Khalid From the day Startcreated Muhammad l(halid's Khalid's book, book, From From Here Here We Start created Muhammad Mter being seized seized by the Council of of Ulema sensation. After a sensation. as heretical, heretical, a group of of at Al-Azhar and and banned banned as government spokesmen spokesmen stepped stepped into defend defend the book. government Consequently, when the ban was was lifted, From Here We Consequently, Start immediately immediately became became a bestseller. bestseller. It It was was not long Srarr view of the the before over over a half million copies copies were were sold. sold. In view before the Egtrptian Egyptian population population is is fact that that three three quarters quarters of the fact illiterate, this this was was indeed indeed a phenomenal phenomenal commercial commercial illiterate, be should be one should success. that every every one believe that Because I believe success.Because all oppose all granted his thoughts, thoughs, I oppose expresshis granted the freedom to express the freedom books. particularly the banning of books. kinds the banning censorship, particularly kinds of censorship, that Al'Azhar that with the Yet I completely the Ulema of Al-Azhar agreewith completely agree as must be be considered consideredas Khalid Muhammad Iftalid's book must Muhammad Khalid's heretical. heretical. "Religion-Not PriestPriestThe first entit.led "Religion-Not chapter entitled first chapter says Religron.says hood" with the the latter. latter. Religion, former with the former hood" contrasts contraststhe altruistic and altruistic is humane humane and Khalid Muhammad Khalid, is Muhammad Khalid, democratrc religion ISis democratic whereas is egotistic; priesthood is egotistrc;religion whereas priesthood progressive is is totalitarian; religion is progressive while priesthood religion is totalitarian; priesthood while while reactionary. priesthoodisis reactionary. whilepriesthood the Khalid' the According Khalid Muhammad Muhammad Khalid, to Khalid According to which priesthoodwhich to the the priesthood poverty Eglpt isis due due to poverty of modern Egypt of modern the monopolizes regardingthe wealth of the country country regarding of the all the the wealth monopolizesall grab grateful to who be common people as slaves who should be grateful to grab people should as slaves coffunon most What isis most at them. them' What what throwtr out out at are thrown what few crumbs are few crumbs prrests goeson that these thesepriests alarming on to to say, say,isis that he goes all, he of all, alarmingof West lslam West Versus VersusIslam

53

speak in in the t-he name name of speak of Islam Islarn claiming claiming that that alms giving alms giving const-rtutesan an adequate adequate economic constitutes economic system. system. 'This

priesthood isis not Islamic priesthood 'This Islamic not contend contend to to starve starve the body. body. It It also also starves the starvesthe the mind. persecuted every mind. It It has has persecuted every creative soul, soul, rejected rejected every creative every useful useful new new idea idea and and denied denied every scientific scientific truth. every truth. Let Let us us not not forget forget what what happened happened to to Christianity. The The defeat Christianity. del'eat of priesthood as of the the Western Westem priesthood as aa power, due worldly power, worldly due to to the the martyrs martlrs who who fell fell in in battle battle for for the sake sake of of freedom freedom and the progress, should and progress, should be be an an instructive lesson lesson for instructive for its its living living sister, sister, the Egyptian Eglptian priesthood-" Just what is priesthood." is this priesthood which this Islamic Islamic priesthood Khalid Muhammad Muhammad Khalid Khalid Khalid so so loudly loudly condemn? condemnp The The puzzling question he never bothers to answer to this t-his puzzling inform his readers. readers. He is inform is content content to leave leave them guessing. guessrng. However, I assume assume that he is However, is referring ref-erring to the Ulema Ulema and .Shaikhs of of Al-Azhar Al-Azhar and perhaps to aa lesser Shaikhs lesser extent to the Muftrs, Qadiz and and Imams attached Muftis, attached to other mosques. mosques. By objective definition delinition could any no objective any of of these these religious religious functionarics be called priests. Their functionaries called priests. Their position confers confers on them no special special sanctity; sanctity; they are are not bound bound by any holly vows of of ordination, ordinalion, neither are vows are they entitled to act act as as interrnediaries between intermediaries befweerr men rnel and :urd God. They They are are notlling nothiug more tha:r scholars more tllan whose prestige prestige is based based on their tlleir scholars whose learning and there tllere piety. piety. Few lllema Ulema have have amassed amassed any any great wealth, wealtll, much less less could drey tlley be held responsible responsible for for Eglpt's Egypt's poverq/. poverty. None None has has dre tlle power power to deny Egypt the blessings blessings of of scientilic scientific progress progress rnuch much less less to persccute persecute scientists. scientists. Now Now that it is clear that the tlle Islamic priesthood exists exists only only in Khalid Khalid Muharnrnad Muhammad Khalid's imagrnation, imagination, the rea

who in in his OUdliJe of History History lost no no opporhrnity opportunity to who Outline of What connections connections have these slander the Holly Holly Prophet. Prophet. \Mhat Western writers with with IslamP Islam? Absolutely Absolutely none. But But this Western not seem to trouble trouble Khalid Khalid Muhammad Muhammad l(halid Khalid at does not He apparendy apparently is under under the delusion delusion that Islam Islam is all. He like Christianity. Christianity. He He even goes goes so far as as to say say that exactly like of Egypt Egypt should pattern themselves after the should pattern the mosques of of Europe Europe and America! America! Protestant churches of Protestant In should be In advising his readers what measures should priesthood, the author taken to rid rid Egypt of of the Islamic Islamic priesthood, author reveals wisdom. First of Alof his wisdom. of all AIreveals a few more more pearls of from Azhar Westernized until different from Azhar should until it is no different should be Westernized Protestant schools. Mosque the modern Mosque Protestant divinity divinity modern preachers should should be trained trained like Protestant ministers. Only then would they support the forces of of would support Only th.y "progress". In phase, the "advancement" and "progress". In the second phase, government government should restrict Friday !'riday prayer services services to the preachers larger selected preachers larger mosque where only carefully selected would be chosen. chosen. In other words, Egypt's Egypt's mosque propaganda preachers mouthpieces of preachers should be mere mouthpieces of propaganda for the policies of Khalid Muhammad Muhammad state. Khalid of the secular state. Khalid these reforms to the Khalid is is not content coutent to restrict these "Have I forgotten mosques. forgotten the the Coptic Church?" he mosques. "Have asked. urge everyone these suggestions suggestionsto be everyone of of these asked. "Oh no! I urge applied to the well!" One begins as well!" begrns to the Coptic Coptrc Church as wonder just who u'ho Khalid Muhammad Khatid tlunks thinks he is. is. Muhammad Khalid The Here TVc We Start is rs a From Here The remainder remanrler of ol From state. passionate passionate plea for tile religrorr and ald state. the separation separatiorr of religion The autllor of that because because Muhammad Muhammad led aa life of argues that author argues austerity he never never intended intended government and self~denial, sel[denial, he austeriqr and to be Muhammad the day dal Muhammad Islam. Yet from the be part of Islam. was aa state migrated Isla-rn was slate as as lrorn Makkah MakJiah to Madina, Islam rnigrated from was ruler as well as well as as w,ell as religion. Muhammad Muhammad was as aa religion. Prophet. tile sovercilill was the bv the capita.! capital of ol'the sovercign state state by l'rophe t. Madina was West lslam W e s t Versus V e r s u sIslam

55

everydefinition every that term. definition of that term. The Prophet Prophet raised raisedarmies, armies, declared war, war, concluded peace,signed declared concluded peace, signed treaties, treaties,received received justice, and sent sent ambassadors, ambassadors, and levied levied taxes taxesand and dispensed dispensedjustice, as did all all the the Khalifs as Khalifs who who succeeded succeededhim. him. But Khalid l(halid Muhammad Khalid Khalid argues a.rguesthat that the Muhammad the Prophet Prophet did not really want want to to rule really rule at at all. all. Only expediency expediencyforced forced him to to prophet-hood is so. According According to do so. to him, prophet-hood is restricted restricted exclusively to preaching. Yet the to guidance guidance and exclusively and preaching. the Holy Prophet himself "Islam and himself said: government are Prophet said: "Islam and government are twin twin brothers. None None of the perfect without the two can be brothers. two can be perfect without the the other. Islam is like aa great greatstructure governmentis Islam is other. structureand and government is its its guardian.A building building without aa foundation guardian. foundation crashes crashesdown down and without aa guardian guardianis and is pilfered and and robbed robbed out!" out!" Kha]id Muhammad Khalid Muhammad Khalid thinks thinks that that Islamic Islamic government under the Khalifs IGalifs was was aa despotic government under the despotic and and oppressiveas as that the medieval oppressive that of the medieval Christian Christian church. church. The Khalifates of Abu Bakar Khalifates Bakar and and Umar fJmar were were so so unique, unique, he he says,amidst says, amidst the the hundreds hundreds of bloody despotisms despotismsthat that they they can safely safelybe be regarded regardedas can asunnatural unnahrralexceptions. exceptions.

Although the the majority majority of Muslims Muslims have have always always considered Abu Bah considered Bakr and and Umar Llmar as as the the best best Khalifs, Khalifs. good rulers. Islam has Islam has not lacked lacked other good rulers. Has Has Khalid forgotten the valiance of Ali, the Muhammad Khalid forgotten the valiance the piety of Umar-II or the the chivalry chivalry of the the Saladin, Saladin, all all devoted servants devoted servantsof Islam? IslamP government, he he says Religious Religrousgovernment, stifles all freedom freedom says stifles and creativity power. This might have and creativiy as as threats threats to its its power. have been true been ignorant popes, popes, priests priests and and monks monks of true of ignorant medieval medieval Europe, Europe, but it certainly certainly does does not apply apply to Islam. Islam. The Khalifs Khalifs were were patrons patrons of leaming, learning, chief among among them them was was Khalif Ai-Mamun Al-Mamun who established established his his famous famous House House Wisdom where where thousands thousands of Greek manuscripts manuscripts on of Wisdom scienceand science and philosophy philosophy were were translated translated into Arabic. Arabic. That 56

Versus Islam West Versus lslam

the Muslims Muslims led led the the world world for for cenhrries centuries in in every every field field of of the culture is is well well known known to to students students of of history. history. Far Far from from culhrre opposing these these achievements achievements the Khalifs Khalifs generously generously opposing pahonized and endowed schools and hospitals patronized the arts arts hospitals endowed schools sciences. and sciences. In other instinct instinct of of religious religious govemment government, insists insists In Khalid Muhammad Khalid, is its its beasdy beastly cruelty. cruelty. "It cuts cuts Khatid of throats and sheds sheds blood without scmple scruple on charges charges of throats ungodliness and and heresy.heresy." Thus religious religious government, government, ungodliness whether Christjan Christian or Muslim represents represents the worst worst whether possible tyranny. tyranny. possible seemsto have Again, Khalid Muhammad Muhammad Khalid seems have Again, Islam with that that of medieval medieval confused the the history history of Islam truly confused Christianity. In vain vain he he can can search the history history books books of of search the Christranity. inquisition or the the Islam as tlle the Spanish Spanishinquisition horrors as Islam for such such horrors heretjcs that that hunts for heretics numerous witch hunts organized witch numerous organized terrorized Europe. medievalEurope. terrorized medieval dominating the bigotry bigory dominating The contrast between the contrast between prevailingin the the freedom prevailing medieval religiousfreedom and religious medieval Europe Europe and caseof Abul Ala the case Muslim world is illustratedin the amply illustrated is amply poets of Syria. famous poets Syria. AI most famous the most one of the Al Ma'arri, Ma'arri, one publicity writing, publicity Altllough his writing, Al-Ma'arri in his AJthough Abul Ala AI-Ma'arri proclaimed ridiculed openly proclaimed Islam and and openly doctrine of Islam ridiculed every everydoctrine widely poetry was acclaimed himself of an unbeliever, his poetry was widely acclaimed his himself an unbeliever, Never molested molested merits. Never during its artistic artistjcmerits. for its life time time for during his his life great peacefullyat at aa great died peacefully in Al Ma'arri Ma'arn died way,Abul Ala AI in any anyway, old age. age. Islam both of Islam both It why the the enemies enemiesof not surprising surprisingwhy It isis not We Here We From Here in applauded From abroad applauded my country and abroad irr my country and Ali Abdal Raziq's did Swt as enthusiastically as they did Ali Abdal Raziq's as they Start as enthusiastically yearsearlier. 25 years earlier' Islam of C,oventmenr25 Princtples ofGovernment Islam and and the the Principles as aa highly highly Khalid as They Muhammad Khalid l$alid Muhammad They eulogized eulogizedKhalid West Wost Versus l3lam V6r3usIslam

57

gifted writer writer and and as gifted as aa embodiment progress and embodiment of of progress and enlightenment. His His book book was was reviewed enlightenment. reviewed in in American American magazinesas if itit were wereaa triumph asif magazines triumph of of scholarship. scholarship.Actually, Actually, rehashof mere rehash itit isis aa mere of the the argument argumentset setforth forth by by Ali Ali Abdal Abdal Raziq in in aa much much less Raziq less convincing convincing manner. maruler. No No Muslim Muslim with even evenan elementaryknowledge an elementary with knowledgeof of his his religion religion could could takesuch suchnon-sense non-senseseriously. seriously. take Khalid Muhammad Muhammad Khalid Khalid Khalid isis himself graduate himself aa graduate of Al-Azhar. Al-Azhar. If If he he undertook of undertook to write this to write this book with with good intentions sincerityand and good intentions simply sincerity simply because becausehe he was was too too ignorant to to know know any any better, ignorant better, this this certainly certainly is rs an an unfavourablereflection reflection on presenteducational standards on present unfavourable educat.iona-l standards world. in aa Muslim world. Notes: Notes: l. 1.

58

From Here Here We We Start, From Start, Khalid Khalid Muhammad Muhammad Khalid, Kha1id, from Arabic Arabic language by Ismail translated from Ismail Al-Faruqi, Al-Faruqi, Near Near Eastem Translation Translation Eastem Program 3, American Prograrn Number Number Amencan Council of Leamed Societies, Council of Leamed Societies, Washington, Washington, D.C. 1953. D.C. 1953.


Chapter Chopter 7

Western Civilization Civilization versus versus Western Islamic Civilization' Civilizationl Islamic say that that your editorial editorial was was far Frankly I must say of the other articles articles published. published. In superior to any any of superior addition, I would like to add add that that I felt too much addit.ion, emphasis was was placed placed upon the the oblivious oblivious and and well known emphasis Islamic learning learning to medieval medieval Europe. Europe. contributions of Islamic contributions we cannot cannot afford afford to igrrore ignore these these achievements, achievements, Although we since that many many of the the nevertheless could not help but since I nevertheless contributing authors authors used used the the past past to escape escape from the the contributing reality present. realityof the the present. years The achievements Muslims aa thousand thousand years achievementsof Muslims provide any gr-rarantee great, failed that ago, that failed to provide any guarantee however great, ago, however Islam future. To survive, survive,Muslims Muslims the future. will flourish flourish in the Islam will possible aa make possible must energy to make all their energy must strive strive with all vital principles to every everyvital meaningful
Although Muhammad completely agree agree with Muhammad Nthough I completely tJrc Gross Asad wrote in his book, /slam Islan at tlle Cross when he he wrote his book, Asad when Roads waysof basedon on Western ways ol' lile lilc based imitation of Western the imitation Roadsthat tltat the philosophies their and pragmat.ic, and secular secularphilosophies their materialistic, materialistic,pragmatic, yet I must Islam, yet can rnust to the abandonmelrtof ol'Islam, lead to the abandonment only lead can only which is is of when he he assert~ all which take asserlsthat that all witl him when take issue issuewith the any the West is is conlined conlined to to the Muslims from the use to to Muslims any use physical physicalscience. science. prime concern countries One all Muslim ol'all Muslun countries the prime concenrof of the One of poverty. Nothing be the Nothirtg could could be extreme poverty. fight against agarnstextreme the fight Prophet more spirit of of Islam. Islarn.The The Prophet with tlle the spirit in accord accordwitll more in "He ISis not who eat~ flll and lets his fill and lets himself us who ol'us eaLshis said,"He not one one of himselfsaid,

IS is

West lslam VersusIslam Wost Versus

59

his neighbour go hungary." neighbour go his hungary."For For this this reason, reason, Zakat Zakat isis progressivetax simplyaa progressive simply taxcollected governmentand collectedby by the the government and used to to save savethose those in used in the the community community unable unable to to support support themselvesfrom from destitution. destitution. Besides themselves Besides Zakat, Zakat, Islam Islam has has other methods mefhods of poverty. Such other of fighting fighting poverty. Such as as waqf waqf foundations, inheritance foundations, inheritance laws prohibition of laws and and the the prohibition of interest.Yet interest. Yet these theseare ignored by are ignored by the the majority mqiority of Muslim of Muslim governmentswhile while the governments the remainder remainder failed failed to to make make effective eflective use of of them. them. In In the the M.uslim M.uslimworld, world, most use most charity charity isis given given and to individuals individuals who who are by and are entirely entirely unorganized. unorganized. In the West, Wes! because philanthropy is becausephilanthropy the is organized, organized,it does does far far good. In the more good. the Muslim world, world, the person who the person who gives gives charity directly to to an an individual may may have have had had even even better better intentions than person in the intentions than the the person the West who who gives givesto to the the organization, but the the organization organization, organization is is more effective. effective. is nothing prevent well-to-do nothing to prevent There is well-todo Muslims Muslims from expressingtheir piety piety by creating expressing creatingtheir own own organizations organizations the model of the on the the Federation FederationofJewish of JewrshPhilanthropies. Philanthropies. Why cannot cannot the Why the tremendous tremendous advances advancesmade made in Europe Europe and America in the and the field field of social social work be used to be used strengthenthe strengthen the Zakat and and waqf foundations foundations in to aa really really effectivemeans effective meansalleviating poverty. alleviatingextreme extreme poverty.

A democratic government such practiced in my democratic government such as as practiced country is is far more compatible compatible with the the spirit of of Islarn Islam than dictatorship. than a hereditary hereditary monarchy monarchy or a military dictatorship. The spirit of of orthodox Khalifate Khalifate was was remarkably remarkably democratic. democratic. Abu Bakr, Uthman, tlmar Umar and and Ali Ali kept in close close contact contact with the people, people, being being accessible accessible to them them at all times. were freely freely elected elected deriving deriving therr their power times. They were from the support of of the the people people they they govemed governed and and from their observance observance and enforcement enforcement of of Muslim law. law. The grave grave weakness weakness of of the orthodox Khalifate Khalifate and the reason reason for its brief brief duration was was the lack of of any any systematrc systematic method of of choosing choosing a successor, successor. AJthough Although the spirit of of democracy democracy was was there, there, the organization organization was was missing. missing. 60


Muslim rulers greadybenefit rulers today today can cangreatly Muslim benefit by by the the study srudyand and adoption of adoption of all all those those aspects aspectsof of Western Westem democracy democracy compatiblewith with Islam. Islam. compatible However, in so so doing, However, doing, there there is is one one important important difference to in mind. to keep keep in mind. In aa truly difference truly Muslim Muslim state, state,the the supreme authority authority is is the the Shariah, Shariah, and supreme and no law law can can be be consideredvalid valid if it conflicts considered conflictswith with the the Our'an. Westem Qur'an. Western democracyis principle that democracy is based basedon on tlle the secular secularprinciple that law law is is an an public will and expressionof public and consequently consequentlythe expression the legislative legislative power of the parliament is the elected elected parliament power is legally legally absolute. absolute. In words, according other words, other accordingto to Islam, Islam, the t}re source sourceof the the law law is is divine divine revelation revelationwhile while western westemdemocracy democracyregards regardslaw law as as purely manmade product. Both Muslim parties aa purely manmade product. parties in Indonesia, the the Masjumi Masjumi and Indonesia, and the the Nahdatul-Ulema Nahdanrl-Ulema have have grappled with problem as with this this problem as most grappled most Muslim leaders leaders in the other countries the countriesbefore before the the solution solution is is found. found. No truly government can truly Islamic Islamic government be established can be established complete revision place.The revision of the the Shariah until aa complete Shariahtakes takesplace. great orthodox four great orthodox schools schools of Muslim law, law, founded founded between eighth eighth and arrd ninth centuries were well between centuries AD, AD, were well adapted to the prevailing tllen. adapted the society society prevailing then. Unfortunately, Unlbrtunately, successorswho who closed closed tlle their successors the door to !itihad ijtilnd and utd practicedtaqiid, taqlid, made made the the Shariah Shariahaa fossil. practiced fossil.

law Although the the founders founders of orthodox school school of law merit great great respect, respect, they they can can not be be regarded regarded as as irfallible. infallible. Like all all human human beings beings they they were were subject error. subjectto error. For example example under Hanafi law, law, a divorce divorce is is valid valid ifif pronounced pronounced under the the influence influence of of intoxicating intoxicating beverages beverages or drugs. drugs. The Qur'an Our'an and and Sunnah Sunnah prohibits prohibits all intoxicar.rts. intoxicants. Also according according to Ha.nafi Hanafi law, law, the the testimony testimony in court of of any any non-Muslirn non-Muslim against against a Muslim cannot cannot be be accepted of the the hatred hatred the the former would feel feel accepted because because of Wegt West Vcrsus Versus lslam Islam

61

towards the latter latter due to the differences differences in religion. religion. towards this factor factor cannot be lightly dismissed, dismissed, in Although this relevant, the the non-Muslim would then then cases were were it is relevant. cases expect to receive receive justice justice in a Muslim Muslim court. court. certainly not expect certainly The Quran Qur'an commands commands justice justice and and kindness kindness (16:90) (16:90) The said, "God is not merciful merciful to him him who while the Prophet said, men." It It is is clear clear that the Prophet meant is not merciful to men." all men, both Muslims and and non-Muslims. non-Muslims. aIImen, There is is nothing in either the Qulan Qur'an or or the There Sunnah the schools of orthodox law law to four. Sunnah which limits the schools of If groups of of Muslims scholars made a fresh fresh scholars made If groups of the the Quran Qur'an and and Sunnah relation to interpretation of Sunnah in relation interpretation present day present new school school of Muslim law law day needs, needs,creating creatingaa new pace with keeping pace and revision in keeping subjectingit to constant constantrevision and subjecting changing regain its its health health Shariah would regain changingconditions, conditions, the the Shariah were and that the the new new laws lawswere vitality. In order to make make sure sure that and vitality. in true the Sunnah Sunnahand and not aa and the true accord accord with the the Qur'an Qur'an and ideas,the mere prevailingsecular secularideas, the ulema ulema of mere concession concessionto prevailing and Qarawiyian such Zaitouna and Al-Azhar, Zaitouna such universities universitiesas as Al-Azhar, Qarawiyran should task. should undertake undertakethis this task. progress pace of technological The phenomenal phenomenal pace technological progress values makes an of spiritual values makes an combined with the absence spintual combined with the absence race. Soviet Sovietscientists are ominous human race. scientistsare fuhrre for the the human ominous future to make how to make sleep sleep now frrd out how now seeking seeking means means to to fmd production for the the state state unnecessary industrial production unnecessaryso that industrial so that fyrng to unlock can are trying increased.They are can be be enonnously enormously increased. possible for human human the geneticsto make it possible to make the mysteries mysteriesof genetics will. heredity to be controlled and changed at will. Such changed at Such and heredity to be controlled feel absolutely no scientists tlrese feel absolutely no and technicians as these scientists and technicians as moral disastrous consequences consequences responsibility for for the the disastrous moral responsibility inevitably activities. inentably resulting resultingfrom from their their activities. Western civilization The of Western civilization The lopsided lopsided development developmentof 62

West Versus Versus Islam lslam West

has put human human society societyat has at the dre complete complete mercy mercy of human ol human words, instead inventions. inventions. In other ot.her words, instead of man man being being the the master of science, science, he master he has has become its slave. become its is no no slave. It is wonder that that so so completely completely surrounded wonder surrounded by by the dre artificial artificial technology has has created, world technology created, and and having having denied denied all all contact with with the the natural nahrral environment, people have contact environmen! people lost have lost their sense senseof dependence prophets their dependenceupon upon God. God. All the the prophets great religious and great grew to their high and religious leaders leaders grew high stature stahtre in the the solitude solitude of the dre desert. desert.It is is difficult for me me to to believe believe Muses, Jesus how how Muses, Muhammad could could have have been been Jesus or Muhammad receptive receptive to God's God's revelation revelation in the the rushed rushed atmosphere atrnosphere busy business businessoffice of aa busy office or as as factory factory workers workers on an an assemblyline! assembly line! result is The result is that that modem man man feels feels much much more submissive submissive to science science than than he he does does towards towards God. God. Sir great Indian Syed Ahmad Khan, Syed Kha.n,the Indian reformer, reformer, devoted the great devoted energiesin the attempt to all all his his energies the attempt to explain explain the the doctrines doctrinesof century scientific the the Qur'an terms of 19'" 19" century scientificthought. thought. All Qur'an in terms with the in the the former that that did not agree agreewith the latter latter had had to be be explained explained away. SyedAhmad Khan denied away.Thus Sir Syed denied not gius and only the the existence existenceof angels the miracles, miracles, the angelsand and gins and the the virgin virgiu birth of Jesus, also the the bodily resurrection, resurrection, Jesus,but also and Heaven Heaven and the the Day of Judgement and Hell. His God Judgement and was was that the deists, deists,so so cold, cold, so distant,so that of the so distant, so rigidly rigrdly bound tround the mechanical mechanicallaws that he to the lawsof nature nature that he claimed claintcd it would would be be impossible impossiblefor God to intervene intervenein human hurnan atl'airs allairs and zurd prayers.Although answer SyedAllinad Alrrnad Khan answerprayers. AJthoughSir Syed Khzurwanted wanted be considered considered as as observant observantMuslim. to be Muslim, his his God was was 19"' 19" scienceand century centuryscience and not that that of Qur'an. Qur'a-u, Muslim scientists while studying the technolory technology of of scientistswlrile studyingthe the West, West, must must be be detennined detennined to use use it lbr lor different different t}le purposes purposes to ennoble ennoble rnen's men's souls and errrich enrich human human lives lives soulsand instead of of debasing debasing drern them to the the level level of of brutes brutes or worse worse instead still, to robos. robots. still, to lsltm Versus Islem West Vcrsus

63 63

cannot help but feel feel that that your special June specialMay -- June I cannot issue would have have been been a far greater greater value value if if it had had only issue discussed in more detail, detail, such measures to such specific specific measures discussed ensure Islam's Islam's future future vitally, vitally, instead instead of of escaping escaping from the the ensure problems of the the present present by over over glorifying glorifying the the past. past. problems of

Notes: Notes: 1. 1bis the author's autho/s comments commentson the the article constitutes constihrtesthe l. This article publishedin the subject versusWestern the WesternCivilization, Civilization,published subjectof Islamic Islamicversus (May-June)1956. Islamic I 956. IslatnicLiterature, Litetature,(May-June)

64

Ver3us Islam lslam West Wast Versus

Chapter Chopter 8

An Analysis Analysisand and discussion discussionof Social Islam'1 Justicein Islam SocialJustice poverty, the wea]th and the The extremes and poverty, exfemes of wealth percentageof illiteracy, widespread high percentage illiteracy, the the widespreaddisease, disease,the the high governmentsand corrupt and many other irresponsiblegovernments and many and irresponsible social countriesare are frequently frequently that afflict afllict the the Muslim countries socialevils evilsthat blamed Voss. Islam. What Dr. Carl Carl Herman Voss, blamed on Islam. chairman American Christian Christian Palestine Palestine chairman of the the American Committee wrote me me in aa recent recent letter, letter, is is typical. typical. He Committee wrote said, must be made between betweenmedieval medieval real distinction distinction must be made said, "A real Islam's to Arabic Arabic culture culhrre in making making such such aa inspiration to Islam's inspiration significant Westem civilisation the civilisationduring during the signihcantcontribution contribution to Western Middle Ages and the reactionary Islam Islam of today, today, Ages and the reactionary fanatical Muslim especially represented by the the fanatical especially as as represented progressbut only brotherhood, which cannot cannot make make for progress brotherhood, which for retrogression." retrogression." young Egyptian Syed formerly Egypttan Muslim formerly Syed Qutb, Qutb, aa young one most prominent leaders Ieaders of the the Muslim one of the the most prison for brotherhood and condemned to to prison and now condemned struggling Islam devotes devoteshis his entire entire book to strugglingin the the cause causeof Islam exposing is convinced that fallacyof this this thinking. thinking. He is convincedthat exposingthe the fallacy the Islam but are are instead instead the social socialevils evils exists existsnot because becauseof Islam principles.He writes: writes: the its principles. result of abandonment abandonmentof its the result

When we we see conditions have have no see that that our social socialconditions justice, we possiblerelationship we immediately possible relationshipwith with justice, immediately turn the United States Statesor the the hrrn our eyes eyes towards towards the Soviet to import ready ready made made Soviet Union expecting expecting to problems. We pay pay no heed solutions heed to solutions to to our problems. our rich resources.Our rich storage storageof native nativespiritual sprntualresources. faith exist in isolation isolation from faith cannot cannot continue continue to exist West Versus Versus Islam lsl6m

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society societynor can can our society societyclaim claim to be be Muslim if political, socio it expels and expels the the economic, economic, political, socio and and religious religious laws laws of Islam Islam from its its codes codes and customs customs until nothing nothing remains remains but empty empty ceremonials. ceremonials. points out that Syed while the Syed Qutb points that while the teachings teachingsof Christianity Christianity are are confined confined to individual individual spiritual spiritual salvation salvation and while communism looks at human needs needs from aa purely economic purely economic angle, angle, Islam Islam maintains maintains that that the soul the soul cannot cannot be be separated separatedfrom the the body and and that that spiritual spiritual needs needs cannot cannot be be separated separatedfrom material material needs. needs. This unity is is the the most most striking Islam; aa unity striking characteristic characteristicof Islam; unity possessingaa common origin which regards which regardsall all creation creation as as possessing origin purpose; aa unity which and and aa common purpose; which considers an considersman an part of integral this universe integralpart ofthis universedependent dependent upon and and related related proclaims the to all all other forms forms of life, life, and unity which which proclaims and aa unity the interdependence, the solidarity and the interdependence,the solidarity and the oneness onenessof entire entire human human race. race. It is is this this all all embracing embracing comprehensive comprehensive philosophy which philosophy which marks marks the the superiority superiority of Islam all Islam over over all religions. Since other religions. Since Islam Islam recognizes recognizes no division division practices,faith between between theology theology and social practices, taith and worldly and social and worldly affairs, cannot, insists alIairs, it cannot, insists Syed Syed Qutb, be be compared compared with with European European Christianity. Christianity. placeshis greatestemphasis his greatest The author author places emphasisupon the the justice, perhaps perhapsbecause Muslim conception conceptionof economic economicjustice, because he is so so keenly the lack he is keenly aware awareof the lack of it in his his own own country. country. Islam, says,is Islam, he he says, is unalterably unalterablyopposed opposed to the the extremes extremesof poverty. It condemns wealth wealth and and poverty. condemns the the demoralizing demoralizing influence influence of luxury and excessiveindulgence. indulgence.But Islam Islam and excessive asceticismbecause also also disapproves disapprovesof asceticism because life life should be should be pleasant. According made cheerful and and pleasant. According to Islam, made cheerful Islam, says says Syed the standard standard of living living should Syed Qutb, should be be Qutb, the generalwealth with the wealth of the commensurate corrunensuratewith the general nation. For the nation. example: examole: 66


When the the average average American worker can can aflord afford When an automobile automobile and and a television television set, is not set. it is an that the the White White House House be the the home of of the the luxury that President. But when when there there are are millions of of President. Egyptians who can can scarcely rags to cover cover scarcely find rags Eglptians bodies, it is is an an impossible impossible luxury that that the the their bodies, Ka'abah be be covered covered wrth with a ceremonial ceremonial robe Ifu'abah embroidered with gold. gold. And And it makes makes no embroidered difference is the the sacred Ka'abah,for it is is difference as as if if it is sacredKa'abah, provide the the money spent must provide the money spent in the public who must this way. way. greatdetail Sayyid detail the the social social and and SayyrdQutb discusses discussesin great religious Zakat. religious significance significance of Zakat

Zakat purifies puifies the love of the soul soul from the the selfish selfish love possessionsas material as well well as as saving savingall all those those in materia.lpossessions decent the earn aa decent the community community unable unable to earn livelihood destitution. livelihood from destitution. Allah has given men their has given men aa nobility through through their minds and longing for what is is and aa longing and emotions emotiorrs and physical means. higher when aa mere physical means. But when higher than than mere wakrnghours man hours obtaining all his his waking obtaining man has has to spend spend all is reduced the life, he he is reduced below below mere necessities necessitiesof life, the mere generallyfrod the animalsgenerally hnd level of animals. animals.Even Even animals the level pride, their food have pride, food and drink. Some Some animals animals have and drink. energy some birds birds can can sing, sing, energy and and cheerfulness, cheerfulness,some is robbed but man, creationof Allah is robbed man, the the noblest noblest creation of the hfe, he is also robbed for his his the necessities he is alsorobbed necessitiesof life, his dignity. then he he can neither satisfY satrsfu his can neither digniry. For then yearningsnor his spiritual intellechralcapacities. capaciries. his intellectual spirinralyearnings is no Sayyid however, thdl th:.. Zakat hkat is no insists, however, Sayfrd Qutb insists, poverty.At best cure-all only suit suit its its symptoms. symptoms. bestit can can only cure-allfor poverty. West West Versus lslam Versus Islam

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Zakat hkat isis most most effective, effective,he he says, says,if if used used for for emergency emergency relief relief to to aid aid the the sick, sick, the the old, old, the the widows, widows, orphans orphans and and refugees. refugees.The The thought thought immediately immediately comes comes to to my my mind that that the the Muslim Muslim countries countriesshould should use all their use all their resources resources of of Zakat hkat to to aid plight of the aid the the desperate desperateplight the Palestine Palestineand and Algerian Algerianrefugees. refugees. way extreme The The only only way poverty can extreme poverty can be be eliminated, eliminated, he says, for the government to he says,isis for the government provide steady to provide steadywork with adequate with adequatewages wagesfor every everyable-bodied able-bodiedindividual individual and and that that medical medical care careand educationbe and education be made made available availableto all. all. In this In this way, way, the the nation's nation's natural natural and human resources and human resources could be be harnessed harnessed most could most effectively. effectively. A system system of progressivetaxation taxationwhere where each pay according progressive each would pay according to his ability would result ability would his result in aa more even even distribution distribution of wealth. The seizure wealth. seizure of aa family's family's necessities pay for necessitiesto pay taxes would would be prohibrted. Inheritance taxes be prohibited. Inheritance legislation legislation grveall requiring aa man requiring man to to give all his his children children and and near near relatives relatives property, would share of his his property, would also aa share also discourage discourage the the concentration of wealth wealth into the concentration Such the hands hands of the the few. few. Such an inheritance inheritancelaw law that that abides an abides by the the Qur'an Qur'an would go far towardsthe the breaking breakingup of huge huge feudal feudal landed towards estate, for landed estate, longer could could vast vast areas areas of land no longer pass in their entrrety entirety land pass generation to the one generation the next. from one the next. In addition addition to the progressivetaxation taxation and arrd inheritance inheritance legislation progressive legislationwould be established by the the law law of mutual-responsibility established mutual-responsibility which would make make every everycommunity responsible would responsible for the the welfare welfare its members. members. One of the of its the purposes purposes of of this this law law would be the strengthening strengtlrening of of the the the family ties ties weakened weakened by urbanization and and industrialization. urdustrialization.Interest capital in urbanization Interest on capital the form of the of loan, loan, savings savings in banks banks or or stocks stocks would be forbidden because forbidden because it is is to the advantage advantage of of rich who can can increase their wealth increase wealth without working at the expense expense of of the poor. the poor. Monopolies Monopolies on the the necessities necessities of of life would would be banned. banned. Last Last but not least, least, all varieties varieties of of gambling gambling including lottery including lottery and and the the sale sale of of alcoholic alcoholic beverages beverages a:rd and 68

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other intoxicating intoxicating drugs drugs would would be be outlawed outlawed at at once. once. other Islamic social social justice justice in in accordance accordance with with the the Islamic On legrslation legislation Qur'an and and the the Sunnah Sunnah cannot cannot be be founded founded on Qur'an alone. Its Its growth growth and and development, development, insists insists Sap'rd Sayyid Qutb, Qutb, alone. of upon a true understanding of Islam Islam by by the the depends true understanding depends upon a of Islam, Islam, he he says, says, will will younger generation. generation. Renaissance Renaissance of younger fail without without popular popular support. support. For For this this reason' reason, the the author author fail Mter aa vigorously advocates advocates free free compulsory compulsory education. education. After vigorously of the pragmatrc pragmatic philosophy of of John careful examination examination of careful Dewey, Sayyid Sayyid Qutb Qutb gives gives logical logical reasons reasons why his ideas ideas Dewey, place in any any Muslim school' school. have no place have focal point around which Muslim education education The focal always revolved revolved is the Qur'an. Qur'an. This must be as as true true in has always has the fuhrre future as as it was was in the the past. past. However, However, instead instead of of being being the satisfied have children children merely merely commit the the Qur'an to satisfied to have memory, mechanically mechanically repeating repeating it parrot-fashion, parrot-fashion, the the memory, understands teacher must not be content until each pupil understands each content be must teacher Moreover' its capacity.Moreover, his or her capacity. the limit of his its meaning mealing to the the other other isolation from the tlle be taught taughtin isolation must not be t.heQur'an Qur'an must entire that the the entire so that subjects them so eachof them relatjon to each subjectsbut in relation curriculum whole. integratedwhole. forms an an integrated curriculum forms of teaching teaching methods of We must our methods change our must change must colleges.We must history and colleges. in our our schools schoolsand history in own of their their own history of first the history children the our children teach our first teach out through out of Islam Islam through country, history of the history then the country, then of snrdy after thorough thorough study of the Only after world. Only Muslim world. the Muslim be our children the history of Islam, should our children be Islam, should of the history history American history introduced and American European and to European introduced to not will then then not They will written Westem authors. authors.They written by by Western history all history that all be delusion that the delusion by the influenced by be influenced revolves westerncivilization. civilization. aroundwestern revolvesaround in their their selectin Our alsocarefully carefullyselect must also schoolsmust Our schools West lslam VersusIslam West Versus

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foreignlanguage languagecourses foreign coursesonly onlythat thatEuropean Europeanand and American literature literahrrecompatible American compatiblewith with Islam. Islam. By By this II do do not notmean meanwritings, writings,which this which merely merelyextol extol goodnessor or condemn condemnwickedness, wickedness,for goodness for literature literahrre preacherto no preacher isisno to exhort exhortor or direct. direct.Rather RatherII mean mean such books books that that have such have aa view view of of life, life, which which isis spiritual and and moral moral rather spiritual rather than than materialistic. materialistic. The reason reasonfor for this The thiscareful carefulselection selectionof of books books in rn schoolsisis to to safeguard safeguardthe schools theimpressionable impressionableperiod period of adolescence. adolescence. Meanwhile of Meanwhile the the adolescent adolescent should be be encouraged encouragedby should by his his teachers teachersto to have havehis his private reading reading include include all private all types types of of literature literature without restraint restraint or without or exception. exception. This wide wide range range of outside outside reading greatly benefits of reading greatly benefis the the students shrdents gives them because it gives them aa basis because basis for for critical critical appreciation.They will then appreciation. then have have the the requisite requisite lurowledgeto to reject reject all knowledge all that that does does not agree agreewith with Islam. Islam. Finally, the the author author says Finally, says that that the the study shrdy of all all the the great schools schools of Muslim law law must great must occupy paramount occupy aa paramount place tlle higher higher instinrtions institutions of place in the the curriculum of the learning learning and and that that Western legal legal systems be systems must not be studied studied until the the very very end. end. To To Sayyrd Sayyid Qutub. Qutub',. ideas ideas on education education I must add add one more point which i tbel tee) cannot be exaggerated exaggerated that is, is, the importance importance of of i;:spiring 1; :spiring teaching teaching in all fields fields of of knowledge. knowledge. It It is not enough enough that the students students be taught taught to memorize already lurown. known. Regimented Regimented education education memorize what is already can can only only result result in in the the stagrration stagnation and and the tlle decadent decadent society society which which has has been been disastrous disastrous to to the the Muslim Muslim world world for for so so many all many cenhrries. centuries. Higher Higher education education must must above above all encourage encourage students students to to think think -- to to think think independently, independently, critically and creatively critically and creatively with with in in the the framework framework of of Islam. Islam. IfIf 70


such creative creative thinking thinking -- and and II mean mean truly truly original original such -philosophy thinking Westem and not an imitation of Western philosophy of not an imitation thinkrng and another ever arises in Islamic universities, it it will lead to will lead to another universities, Islamic in arises ever Renaissance. Renaissance. The Muslim Muslim world world advertises advertises its its defeat defeat as as soon soon The its by borrowtng as it seeks to strengthen its society by borrowing society as it seeks to strengthen Western laws laws and and Westem Western ways ways of of life. life. Such Such Western experiments can can only only suffocate suffocate the the very very experiments civilization we ale are attempting attempting to promote. promote. civilization Instead, vigorous vigorous application application of of ljtihad .(jtihad should Instead, pace make the Shariah flexible enough to keep pace changing conditions. conditions. This does does not mean mean with changing that we should isolate isolate ourselves ourselves from from modern modem or the discoveries trends of science, these discoveries the for these science, of trends common possession possession of of all the people people of of the corrunon scientific progress Islam does does not oppose oppose scientific progress world. Islam we must not permit the the consequences consequences of but we the fundamentals of the technology the fundamentals alter the technology to alter Islamic way of life. life' Islamic way strengthens or Whether Western technology strengthens Western technology which these these the use use to which weakens upon the depend upon Islam, depend weakens Islam, presentedon radio radio mechanical pul Programs Programspresented are put. devicesare mechanicaldevices artistrc and artistic and moral and the moral elevate the must elevate television must and television by standards monopolized of the people instead of being monopolized by people of being instead standardsof the is asis trash as entertainment commercial trash valueand and commercial trivial value of trivial entertainmentof the country. own country. in my my own the case casein his revealshis Through SayyrdQutb his book, book, Sayyid out his Through out Qutb reveals the in face keen Muslims face in the difficulties Muslims of the the difficulties keen awareness awarenessof terrific the terrific maintaining societyunder under the their society of their identrty of the identity maintaining the TVestem writes: impact He of Western materialism. He writes: 'Western Westem materialism. of impact continued to the the continued civilization danger to become aa danger has become civilization has ceaseless natureaa ceaseless existence in human human nature man. ItIt breeds breedsin of man. existenceof strife, and and aa anxiety, continuous strife, perpetua-lrivalry, rivalry, aa continuous anxiety,aa perpetual West lslam VersusIslam WestVersus

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weakeningof weakening of human humanties tiesto tothe thebreaking point." breakingpoint." Social Justice Social in Islam Islam raised raised aa storm storm of Justice in of controversy among controversy among orientalists orientalists in in America. America. In In the the F'stem Affairs, December1954 December Wilfred 1954issue issueof of Middle Middle Eastem AJfain,Wilfred Cantrpell Smith, Cantwell Smith, director director of of the the Islamic Islamic Institute Instihrte of of McGill University University wrote, McGill wrote, "Sayyid "sayyid Qutb simply has has no no Qutb simply conception of of what what modem conception modem social problems are social problems are all all about.. 10hn Badeau, professor professor at about." S. Badeau, at the John S. the American American University in in Cairo University Cairo wrote wrote in in the the October October 1959 1959 issue issueof of Foreign Affairs, Alfais, "Sayyid Foreign defence of "Sayyid Qutub's defence of the the Quhrb's traditional system systemof traditional of Islam Islam merely merely reiterates reiteratestheoretical theoretical validity of of the the very very ideas validity ideas which which must must be be eliminated eliminated if national development developmentisis to place."In other words, national to take take place." words, both agree agreethat "outof date." that Islam Islam isis "out both date." Today Islam Islam is is rarely Today rarely attacked attacked on religious religious grounds. It is is instead insteadregarded grounds. regardedas as aa relic relic of medievalism. medievalism. merely drift with with the To merely the tide tide and and submit submit to Western secularismis, is, of course, course, the secularism the easy easy way way out, out, and and this this is is preciselywhat what the governmentsof the governments precisely countries of the the Muslim counbdes are doing. doing. Never Never was was the prospect for t_he are the fulfilment of of the prospect social justice Islam as as outline social justice in Islam Sayyid Qutb's Qutb's book, outline in Sayyrd remote than than it is is n<-rw. more remote now. SayyrdQutb has Sayyid has been been condemned condemned because because he has has had the had the courage courage to swim against against the trde tide and remained remained true to Islam. received the credit he Islam. For this this he has has not received deserves. deserves. Notes: Notes: l1. Social Social Justice Justice in Islam, Islam, Syyid Syyid Qutb, Qutb, translated translated from from the the Arabrc John B. B. Hardie, Hardie, American American Council Council of of Arabic language language by by John learned Learned Societies, Societies, Near Near Eastem Eastem Translation Translation program Program No, No.1, l, Washington, Washington, D.C. D.C. 1953. 1953.

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Chopter Chapter 99

Muhammad Iqbal Iqbal Muhammad The Poet Poet of of Islam Islam The In the the midst midst of of the the disintegration disintegration of of Islamic Islamic society society In midst the in hastened by by Westem Western domination; domination; in the midst of of chaos chaos hastened and cultural cultural sterility, sterility, the the poet-philosopher poet-philosopher Muhammad Muhammad and Iqbal remains remains unique unique in in the the history history of of Muslim Muslim literahrre' literature. Iqbal In Urdu Urdu poetry, poetry, only only Ghalib Ghalib can can begin begin to to compare compare with with In him. Although Persia Persia nurhrred nurtured its giants, giants, Jalaluddin Jalaluddin him. mystics), she she has has Rumi, Saadi, Saadi, Jami Jami and Hafrz Hafiz (all Sufi mystics), Rumi, years' Iast 500 poet in the last not produced produced one major years. not Turkish poetry poetry has has been been remarkable remarkable far its lack of of Turkish of the pale imitation was originality. past, was pale of the past, a it In the originality. Persian. Now it takes takes its its models models from the the West, Persian. lasting value' value. consequently resulting resulting in nothing nothing of lasting consequently poetry above above Although cherishedpoetry alwayscherished have always Arabs have the Arabs Nthough tlle surprrse to and surprise shock and all as aa shock comes as ars, it comes the other arts, all the wasso so Al-Ma'arri discover how much is pagan; Abul Ala Al-Ma'arri was pagan; is much discover how considered be considered almostbe brazen he could could almost that he his unbelief unbelief that brazenin his were an poets like like Imarul Qais Qars were Classical poets apostate. Classical an apostate. arroganceof is the the arrogance thoroughly known is non-religious.Well known thoroughlynon-religious. to the the devotedto poetry is Al-Mutannabi, is exclusively exclusivelydevoted whosepoetry Al-Mutannabi, whose Arabic Modern glorification on his worldly ambitions. Modem Arabic ambitions. worldly glorification on his Khalil Ibrahim, Khalil Hafiz Ibrahim, poets Shawqi, Hafiz Ahmed Shawqi, as Mmed poets such such as themselves have confined confined themselves Matran Al-Rasafihave Maruf Al-Rasafi and Maruf Matran and largely themes. to secular secularthemes. Iargelyto Hindu Brahmin Hindu The aristocraticBrahmin of an an aristocratic The descendent descendentof back, cenhlries family who have embraced Islam three centuries back, three Islam family who have embraced and 1873 in Muhammad Iqbal in Punjab was born in Punjab in 1873 and was born lqbal Muhammad Western and Western Muslim and thoroughly in both both Muslim educated in thoroughly educated Covernment the Government from the culture. graduated from he graduated After he culture. After there lecturerthere College heremained remainedaalecturer in 1899, 1899,he l,ahorein ColleseatatLahore West lslam versusIslam WestVersus

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for six years.From sixyears. From 1905 1905to for to 1908 1908he he studied philosophy shrdiedphilosophy Cambridgeand and Munich M.unichalso qualifyingfor alsoqualifying atat Cambridge for law. law.After After he returned rehrrnedto to Lahore, Lahore,he he he earned earnedhis his modest modestliving livingas asaa lawyerdevoting devotinghis hisspare sparetime timeto poetry. lawyer to poetry. 'The secret of 'The secret of the the self' self' and and "the "the mysteries mysteries of of selflessnessn are his his notable notableworks. works. Although selflessness" are Although both both these these philosophicalpoems poemswere werecomposed philosophical composedmore more than years than 40 40 years ago, their their message messageisis as as appropriate appropriatefor ago, for today today as as itit was was "Secretof then. In In his his "Secret then. of the the Self Self he he argues arguesthat that only only by by the the self affirmation, afhrmation, self self development developmentand self and self self expression expressionof of superior individuals individuals can superior can Muslims Muslims once once more more become become strongand and free. free.All All life life is is individual, individual, but strong but God God is is the the most most unique individual. individual. The greater aa man's The greater unique man's distance distance from from God, the the less lessis is individuality. individuality. He who God, who comes comes nearest nearestto to possesses God possesses the most most complete personality.He is God the complete personality. is not not absorbed into God, C,od, but rather, rather, absorbs absorbed absorbsthe the attributes arributes of his life. life. God into his source of individuality individuality is The source is the the formation formation of ideals and and translating translating them ideals them into vigorous vigorous action. actjon. Here passive religions condemns passive Iqbal condemns religions like Buddhism and and Hinduism as as decadent. decadent. "Negationof "Negation of desire desire is is death death to the living Even Even as as absence absence of of hate hate extinguishes extinguishes the flame" flame" According to Iqbal, all human achievement achievement is the result of of the struggle struggle for self-preservation.' self-preservation.' What What is death, death, he asks, asks, but but to become become oblivious oblivious to SelP Self'? nO "0 man of of understanding! understanding! Open Open thine thine eyes, eyes, ea.rs ears and and lips... lips . War War is is good good ifif its its object object is is God... God . Strength is the the twin twin of of truth..." truth..." Strength is Iqbal Iqbal considers considers devorion devotion to to the the Holly Holly Prophet Prophet 74

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Muhammad and and the the urge urge to to follow follow his his example example essential essential Muhammad of the the individual individual personality personality towards towards to the the progress progress of to perfection: perfection: 'In is the the home home of ofMuhammad' Muhammad. "In the the Muslims Muslims heart heart is Muhammad." our glory is from the name of Muhammad... All of the name glory is from All our is aa sanchrary sanctuary to to the the Kaabah Kaabah itself.,' itself... His dwelling dwelling place place is His The song song of of love love for for him him fills fills my my silent silent reed reed The hundred notes notes throb throb in in mY my bosom bosom A hundred A How shall shall II tell tell what what devotion devotion he he inspires? inspires? How of dry dry wood wood wept wept at at parting parting from from him him A block block of A his glory manifests The Muslim's being is where manifests he where The Many Sinar Sinai springs springs from the dust on his path was created created in his his mirror mirror My image image was My dawn rises rises from the sun sun of of his breast' breast" My dawn

The self can can be be educated educated only by obedience obedience to the law of Qur'an and Sunnah: law Quran and Sunnah: "Liberty comPulsion "Liberty is is the the fruit of compulsion worth"' worth is is made made worth... By obedience no worth the man man of no to the obedienceto stars, Who sun and and stars, the sun masterthe would master Who so so would Let l,aw..' prisonerof Law... himselfaa prisoner ma-kehimself trt him make goal The star moves towards its goal its towards moves star law... With head to aa law... in surrender surrenderto headbowed bowedin union, thelaw lawof of union, Drops seaby by the becomeaa sea waterbecome of water Dropsof And Sahara. grarnsof becomeaa Sahara. of sand sandbecome And grains within... Since strongwithin... everythingstrong lawmakes makesevefYiliing Sincelaw custom, old custom, oO thou that art emancipated from the old from the thou that art emancipated strengthP Why dost thou neglect this source of strength? of source neglect this thou Why dost l,aw, of the the Law, Do hardnessof of the thehardness Do not complainof not complain Muhammad!" Do the of Muhammad!" statuesof thestatues Do not not transgress transgress Prophet, the Holy Holy Prophet, to the By devotion to means of of devotion By means purity prisune in its submission to the law of tlle Qur'an in its pristine purity submissionto tlle law of t-heQur'an the pillarsof Islam,the of Islam, fivepillars and practiceof of tlle thefive wholeheartedpractice andwholehearted West lslam VersusIslam WestVersus

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individual personality personalityreaches reachesits individual is culmination culmination when when itit assumesthe tlrerole roleof of the thevicegerent vicegerentof assumes of God Godon on earth: earth: 'Tis sweetto to be beGod's God'svicegerent vicegerentin 'Tis sweet in the world theworld And exercise exercisesway swayover overthe theelements... elements... And He executes executesthe thecommand commandof He of Allah Allah in in the theworld... world... geniusabounds Ftrisgenius aboundswith with life His life and anddesires desiresto manifestitself to manifest itself will bring He will bringanother anotherworld world into He into existence... existence... putsthe He puts theidols idolsout He out of of the thesanctuary. sanctuary. Heart sprinp give giveforth forth music Heart springs musicat his touch, at his touch, wakesand He wakes andsleeps sleepsfor He for God God alone... alone... He bestows bestowslife life by by his his miraculous miraculousaction, He action, He renovates renovatesold old ways waysof He of life. life. Splendidvision visionrise risefrom Splendid .. from the the print of his his foot. foot... rich substance substancemakes preciousall makesprecious His rich thatexists." all that exists.' However, the the individual However, individual has has no no meaning meaning III in isolation from society. society. It is isolation is only as as aa member member of community based basedfirmly on the community principles of Islam the principles Islam that that individual can the individual can achieve achievefulfilment of his potentialities. the his potentialities. is only through through an an association And it is association of superior supenor individuals that that society preserved.The characteristics individuals society is is preserved. characteristics of society are of true true Islamic Islamic society are described described in Iqbal's Iqbal's second second notable notable work, "The 'The Mysteries Mysteries of of Selflessness." Selflessness." 'The 'The basis basis of of Islamic Islamic society society is is prophet-hood; prophet-hood; Shrunk is is the scope scope of of is its crude crude life, Its narrow thoughts thoughts confine, confine, Beneath Beneath the rim of of its constructing constructing roof roof Fear for its life the meagre meagre stock in trade trade Of Of its constituent constituent elements elements its heart trembling before the whistle of the the win, win, whistle of Its Its spirit spirit shies shies away away from from arduous arduous toil; toil; Till Till God God discovers discovers aa man man pure pure of of heart... heart... The The naked naked understanding understanding he he adorns adorns With With wealth wealth abundance abundance fills fills its its indisence indigence 76

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Fans with with his his skirs skirts itit embers, embers, Fans its gold gold of of every every particle particle of of dross dross Purifies its Purifies he circumscribes circumscribes the the feet feet of of all all with with in in Drawing each each on, on, he Drawing of one one law, law, the circle circle of the Re-schools them them in in God's God's wondrous wondrous unity unity Re-schools And teaches teaches them them the the habit habit and and the the use use And Of self-surrender self-surrender to the the Will Will Divine" Divine" Of of the Muslim community is dependent dependent Solidarity of Solidarity vigorous propagation propagation of of the upon a common belief and vigorous of God: unity of 'There is one God! Godl No other god, god, but God! Godl "There is the the point on which the the world concentrically concentrically h-rrns' turns. This is is the conclusion of of the world world affairs" affairs" This is This symbol on requires a visible visible symbol The community requires which its unity: unity: focus its which to focus 'The sacred Kaabah 'The secretis is at once once our secret sacredKaabahat And fire heart'sfire secret,our heart's guardianof our secret, A.ndguardian plays. passionplays. And instrument where upon upon our passion instrumentwhere Weare with in its its breast; breast; nurtured with We are breath breathnurtured The body precioussoul... soul... the precious we, and and it the body we, In circumambulation shrine its shrine circumambulationof its Our common breath, breath, pure community drawscommon community draws Our pure Thou bond bond sanctuary's livestby by aa sanctuary's Thou livest go about about And shalt shaltgo long as asthou thou shalt so long endure,so shaltendure, The thereof...' The shrine shrinethereof..." the to the by Islamic by its itssubmission submissionto is sustained sustained Islamicsociety societyis the example of law the urge to follow the example of the to follow the the urge the Qur'an, law of of the Qur'an, Prophet traditron: presewationof of his his tradition: the preservation Prophetand andthe 'lt behoves us "It Persia'sfantasies fantasies webeware of Persia's bewareof allthat thatwe behovesusall Though Persia's thought have the heavens surpassed. heavens surpassed. the have Though Persia'sthought West lslam West Versus VersusIslam

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They equally equally transgress They t&nsgress the the boundaries boundaries set by the set by the Prophet'sfaith. faith. Prophet's To fortify fortrfy the the art, ., To art, Conform thyself Conform thyselfwith with Arab waysto Arab ways be aa Muslim to be Muslim true." true.' past Iqbal Tried in the the past Iqbal considers considers essential essentialif the the fuhrre is is to to be with confidence: be faced facedwith future confidence: "The record past illumines record of of the the past "The illumines the the conscience conscienceof of aa people people pastachievements Memory of past achievementsmake make it self aware selfaware But if that that memory memory fades fadesand and is is forgot forgot againis is last The folk again lastin nothingness nothingness yesterday wrth yesterday Fix in firm bond to-day today with If thou desireth If desireth everlasting everlastinglife" life" honouring of motherhood The honouring motherhood is is the the cornerstone cornerstone of Islamic Islamic society: society: 'Motherhood "Motherhood is is aa mercy mercy being beinglinked linked by by dose closeaffinity alfinity to Prophet-hood Prophet-hood 'kt whosesake He for whose sakeGod said, there be life!" said."Let there be life!" paradise Declared the Declared the paradise lies lies at at the the feet feet of mothers mothers the honouring honouring of the In the the womb alone alone the the life communal communal is secured... secured... is take the the slender Now take close-eorseted, slenderfigured figured bosomless, bosomless,close-corseted, a fitnah in her glance glance Her Her thoughts thoughts resplendent resplendent with the the Western hght... light... In worldly no woman woman she! she! Her sacredcharms Her sacred charms are are all unloosed unloosed and and spilled spilled Bold
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Better itit were were this this rose rose had had never never grovrrr grown with Witll in in our our Better garden garden Better were were her brand washed washed from from the ilie skirt of of the ilie community... cornmunity... The perfect pattern pattern Fatima Fatima the ilie chaste chaste The chanted the ilie Holy Holy Book Book she she ground the ilie While her lips chanted While homely mill... mill... homely ever conscious conscious of of thy iliy model Fatima Fatima Be ever iliat thy iliy branch branch may bear a new Hussain, Hussain, So that Our garden garden blossom with wiili the ilie Golden Golden Age" Age" Our The Islamic Islamic community is based based on corunon common The beliefs, transcending transcending geographical geographical boundaries, boundaries, language language beliefs, of and race. race. All All his his life, Iqbal remained remained a passionate passionate foe foe of and modern nationalism nationalism and and here here denounces denounces it in the ilie strongest possible terms: terms: shongestpossible 'In man's "In and constructive constructivework allegianceand man'sallegiance The country ... their hearts hearts... the darling darlilrgof ilieir is ilie countryis Humanity is but alleged but alleged Humanity is man Man became I'ellowman his fellow strartgerto his becameaa stranger Vanished is humankind humankind Vanishedis There but abide nations abide ilie the disunited disunitednations Politics religion dethroned religion Politicsdeilironed garden with in aa western westemgarden When first struck struck root wiili this tree tree first Wherr this wasall all rolled up. The tale rolled up. Christianitywas taleof Christianity Jesus the church church followersspuming spuming ilie Jesusfollowers gospelslaw law Debased the gospels of ilie the coinage coinageof Debasedilie garment, When rent religions religionsgarment, first rent atheismfirst Wherr ailieism Florentine There the Florentine Satan'smessenger, messenger,ilie arrivedSatan's There arrived (Machiavelli) (Machiavelli) He princess wroteaa scroll scrollfor for princess He wrote His geniusdecamped to darkness darkness decarnpedto His evil evil genius pen And his sword like pen struck truili like sruck truth asunder asunder his sword And Carving washis his trade trade like Azar Azar was imageslike Carvingimages worshipful proclairnedthe His stateonly onlyworshipful faithproclaimed thestate novelfaitll His novel West lslam Veisus Islam West Versus

79

The The touchstone touchstonehe heintroduced introducedto gain to test testthe the truth truth was wasgain Dark Dark night nighthe wrappedabout peopleseyes hewrapped aboutpeoples eyes Deception Deceptioncalled calledin in his his vocabulary vocabularyexpediency!" expediency!" The The freedom freedom of the Muslim Muslim community of the community from from the the bonds geographyIqbal bonds of of geography Iqbal interprets interpretsas asaa true true meaning meaningof the Hijra: Hijra: the "Emigrationisisthe "Emigration life the law lawthat that rules rulesthe the Muslims' Muslims'life is the tle cause And And is causeof of his his stability stability Its meaning Its meaningisis to to leap leapfrom from shallowness shallowness quite the To quite To the dew dew the the occasion occasion to to subdue subdue Be boundless; questno boundless;quest Be no limit limit in the the world, world, who has He who hasburst He burstfrom all all dimensions dimensionsbounds bounds Rangesthrough through all Ranges all directions like the the sky. sky. The Islamic Islamic community The community is is eternal promised eternalas asGod promised would last lastuntil the It would the end end of time. time. Becauseour nature nat\rreis is of Ibrahim Because And our relation to God the great the same same as as the great patriarch's, patriarch's, Out of the the fires fires depth depth anew anewwe we blossom blossom Every Nimrod blaze blazeconvert convert to roses roses Every When the the burning buming brands brands of times great revolution When revolution ring times great mead our mead spring returns!" rehrrns!" Then spring Perhapsno other poet in modem times times has has been been Perhaps subject to so subject so much misunderstanding misunderstanding as as Muhammad Iqbal. Critic after Iqbal. after critic has has charged charged that Iqbal derived derived his ideas directly ideas directly from the the European European philosophers, philosophers, particularly particularly Friedrich Friedrich Niezsche. Nietzsche. In In fact fact one prominent orientalist Mward History of of Penian Persian Edward G. Browne in his History Literaturc Literature in in Modcm Modem Times (Page (Page 431), went so far as as to to assert assert that "Iqbal's "Iqbal's doctrines doctrines are are in the main an oriented adoption of of Nietzsche's Nietzsche's philosophy." philosophy."

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It is fact that that Iqbal Iqbal was deeply deeply steeped in in modern modern It European philosophies philosophies and and his emotions emotions tremendously tremendously European pen of of Nietzsche. Nietzsche. ItIt is no no less less true true moved by by the brilliant brilliant pen moved of these European European philosophers philosophers greatly that the shrdy study of that of his own own ideas. stimulated the growth growth and development development of stimulated But itit is a gross distortion distortion to depict depict Iqbal Iqbal as as a mere mere But That he used his knowledge knowledge of of Westem Western imitator. That imitator. philosophy creatively creatively taking taking the best from from itit while while at the philosophy same time time rejecting rejecting all all that that conflicted conflicted with with Islam Islam cannot cannot same be over-emphasised. For instance, some critics cnocs have identified identified Iqbal's For of superior individuals (God's vicegerents on superior indinduals ideal society of as Nietzsche's aristocracy of of supermen. In this supermen. In earth) as chapter entitled "Muslim Democracy" which he wrote wrote in Democracy" which entitled "Muslim the New Iqbal sweeps sweeps away away this New Era In in 1916, Iqbal misconception. "Nietzsche abhors the democratic democratic rule by the higher herd a:rd bases bases all higher herd of of hopeless plebeians and culture cultivatron of of an aristocracy of of culture on the cultivation plebeian so absolutely supermen. But But is is the t}le plebeian so absolutely hopeless? hopelessPThe The democracy of of Islam did not grow out of opporn-rnity; it of the extension extension of economic opportunity; the assumption assumption is based on the is a spiritual principle based potential that in every human human being is is aa centre of of potential power power for good, the possibilities of of which can be developed by cultivating aa certain type tlpe of of poorest, simplest, character. t-llepoorest, simplest, common corilnon characler. From the people Islam has shaped individuals leading leading the the Islarn has shaped individuals noblest kind of life. life. Is Is not then the democracy of then the ideasP" Islam aa tangible refutation of of Nietzsche ideas?" about Muhammad Muhammad The misinformation about The degree degree of of misinformation (Professorof Iqbal can ].5. Badeau's of frornJ.S. Badeau's (Professor can be be ascertained ascertainedfrom his recent recent the Cairo) claim clarm in his A.rnerican University Llniversih- of of Cairo) the American West VersusIslam lslam West Versus

81

book, book, The The Lands l^ands Between, Between, that that Muhammad Muhammad Iqbal Iqbal preachedthat preached thatthe givenas the Our'an wasgiven asaa guide guide only only of the the Qur'an was period when period when modern modern science was unknown. sciencewas unknown. With With the the creation creation of of modern modern Western Western science, science. the the task task of intellectual intellectualdiscovery discoverymust must be be done done by by scientific scientificmethods methods without without reference reference to to the the authority authority of the the Our'an. Quran. According According to Professor Badeau, to Professor Badeau, Iqbal Iqbal taught taught that that the the Our'an hasalready alreadyfulfilled fulfilled its its functions functions by leading leading men men Qur'an has to to the the threshold thresholdof Western world so of the the modern modern Western so science sclence could could take take up up its its task there. Iqbal expresses taskfrom there. expresseshis his true true attitude attitude towards towards modern modern Western science science in clear clear unambiguous language: unambigr-rous langr-rage: "Do not seek seekthe glow of love "Do the glow love from the the knowledge knowledgeof today today Do not seek seekthe the nature nature of truth from this this infidels infidels cup l,ong have haveI been been running Long to and and fro running to l,earning the the secrets Learning secretsof the New Knowledge the New Knowledge gardenershave Its gardeners haveput me Its me to trial to aa trial havemade made me And have me intimate intimate with their roses... roses... gardenceased Sincethis this garden Since ceasedto enthral enthral me I have havenested nestedon the paradisaltree the paradisal tree greatestblind knowledgeis is the the greatest Modern knowledge worshipping,idol selling, making, Idol worshipping, selling,idol making, prisonof phenomena phenomena Shackledin the the prison Shackled is ever everengaged engagedin injoyless search It is joyless search overleapedthe has overleaped the limits of of the the sensible sensible It has It has has fallen fallen down down in crossing crossingthe the bridge bridge of of life has laid the the knife to its its own throat..." throat..." It has could be farther from the be farther the truth than than to Nothing could characterize Muhammad lqba.l Iqbal as as a Westemzer Westernizer as as characterize Professor John Professor John S. S. Badeau Badeau has has done. done. Iqbal's Iqbal's deep deep knowledge of of Western materialistic materialistic philosophy only knowledge served to alert of its evils. evils. His served alert him to the the rnagnitude magnitude of poetry poetry leaves leaves one one widrout without the the slightest slightest doubt as as to his his 82


Westem civilization. attitude the adoption adoption of Western civilization. attitude towards towardsthe 'Music of strange "Music Islam'sfire fire blends strangelands landswith Islam's blends On which which the nation'shannony the nation's harmony depends depends Empty is aa soul of E*pty of of concord is of Europe Whose civilization civilizationto no Makkah Makkah bends... bends... graceaa nation goes Denied celestial celestialgrace nation goes No further than than electricity or stream stream Death to the heart machines machines stand sovereigrr the heart stand sovereign Engines crush all all sense senseof human human kindness... Enginesthat that crush kindness... growsblurred Reality whosevision vision Realitygrows blurred to eyes eyeswhose waysabridge Servility and parrot ways abridge Can new life from Europe's Persiaor Arabia Arabia suck suck new Europe'sculture culhrre Can Persia grave'sedge" Itself at at the the grave's edge"

Of Of the the entire entire contemporary contemporary world of Islam, Islam, is the Muhammad Iqbal Iqbal is the one and only man man who who has hasbeen one and been poetry of enduring able enduring artistic valuewhat what is is artisticvalue able to express expressin poetry truly to be Muslim. truly means meansto be aa Muslim. Notes: Notes: 1. l

(Ed.) That That is, rn the theHereafter Hereafter(Ed.) is,in

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Chapter Chopfer 10 l0

Islam Modernists Islam and and the the Modernists The highly hrghly controversial controversial article, article, "What \Mhat Modem Modern Muslims Muslims Think Think - A Reinterpretation Reinterpretation of Islam" Islam" by Professor Vice-Chancellor of Kashmir Professor Asif A. Fyzee, Fyzee, Vice-Chancellor Kashmir University, which recently recently appeared appeared in The Islamic University, which Review, Reuiew.deserves careful attention attention of all all Muslims Muslims who who deservesthe the careful principles of Islam. value value the the principles Islam. Although his the integrity integrityof the his ideas ideas are are expressed expressed with beauty beauty and and eloquence, eloquence, and and although although he cannot be be branded an unbeliever unbeliever so long as he cannot branded an so long as professes belief in the he he professes oneness of God and t}re oneness and the the Prophethood Prophethood of Muhammad/ nevertheless,because Muhammad,' nevertheless, becausehe he and and those who share share his his thinking those who thinking are a-re not only mistaken, mistaken, but also such aa serious seriousthreat threat to the survival also constitute constitutesuch to the survivalof of the the entire Islamic way way of life, life, this entire Islamic this article ardcle cannot cannot be be permitted to remain permitted remain unchallenged. unchallenged. The author's what he he calls author's opinion what calls the the central central true while while the message Islam is is eternally eternally true the ordinances ordinancesof messageof Islam the Therefore he he claims the Shariah Shariah are are out of date. date. Therefore claims that that religion religion and law conflict which each other. Because Becausethey and law conflict which each other. they are religion and and law law must must be be separated separated are incompatible, incompatible, religion once saysthat that Muslims Muslims must must distinguish once and and for all. all. He says distinguish ideals as between as kindness, kindness, between such such universal universal moral ideals honesty, which are honesty,loyalty marital purity which are valid valid for all all loyalty and and marital prohibitions peculiar peculiar to time and placesand such prohibitions and places and discard discard such to Islam, that of the the eating eating of pork, the the drinking of Islam, such such as as that giving and intoxicating the giving receiving of intoxicating beverages, beverages, the and receiving interest, longer applicable applicableto today. today. interest,etc., etc.,as as no longer But are the existing existing evils evils of our modem modern are not the society any thinking thinking Muslim that that the the societyenough enough to convince convince any 84

West Versus lslam Versus Islam

abandonment of of the the latter latter will will lead lead to to the the abandonment abandonment abandonment the of the former? The prohibition of the Qur'an are no no prohibition of Qur'an are of the former? The they Rather, mere whim of some arbitrary deity. Rather, they deity. arbitrary some of whim mere its source. source. eradicate evil evil at at its eradicate To Asif Asif A. A. Fyzee, Fyzee, one's one's beliefs beliefs are are strictly strictly aa private private To affair. However, it is an indisputable fact that that an an affair. However, it is an indisputable fact the Can his beliefs. is based on his beliefs. Can the individual's behaviour based on individuals behaviour is on society? society? author deny deny that that such such actions actions have have an an impact impact on author purely of a matter He goes say since ethics are of are ethics that since goes to say on He conscience, attempts attempts to enforce enforce them by the individual conscience, Shariah are are unnecessary. unnecessary. Muslims, Muslims, he says says should listen listen Shariah But conscience rather than consult consult law books. books. But to their conscience individual conscience conscience is is no infallible infallible guide' guide. Human the individual beings are are not angels. angels. Ethical Ethical behaviour behaviour without the beings sanction soon degenerates of and and force force of of law law behind behind it soon degenerates sanction of meaningless platitudes. platitudes. into meaningless was suitable suitable law was Asif A. Fyzee that Muslim law thinks that Fyzee thinks says Arabia. of seventh century Arabia. He says only for the Bedouins century the Bedouins seventh Eskimos, the is impossible to apply the Shariah to the Eskimos, that it the Shariah to apply impossible that is India. the Bengalis Bengalisof India. the even the Bushmen or even Australian Bushmen the Australian Eskimos of the Eskimos Yet American imposed on the has been been imposed law has American law Bushmen' Australian Bushmen. Alaska the Australian law on the English law and English Alaska and Africa' English English French Arabs of of North Africa. the Arabs now rules rules the law now French law Muslims the Muslims law, the law India, Dutch Dutch law, Muslims of of India, the Muslims rules the law rules Asia. CentralAsia. of Central of Muslims of the Muslims Sovietlaw law the and Soviet Indonesiaand of Indonesia progresssince since greatsign signof of progress Asif asaa great this as heraldsthis A. Fyzee Fyzeeheralds Asif A. successfully able so so successfully Western been able have been legal system system have Western legal does why does and Africa, Africa, why penetrate of Asia Asia and penetratealien alien civilization civilrzatronof he Evidently, he he lessuniversal? universal?Evidently, any less that Shariah Shariahany think that he think communist by considers Turkestan by communist of Turkestan the domination domination of considersthe he honestly honestly wonderifif he II wonder Russia "progress'" as"progress." Chrnaas Russiaand and China justrceisis inferior inferior thinks of justice conceptionof the Shariah's Shariah'sconception that the *unks that to law. to Soviet Sovietlaw.

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To To Asaf Asaf A. A. Fyzee, Fyzee, Islamic Islamic conception conception of of God God being being the the true true sovereign sovereignof of the the world, world, the the law law of of God God being being supreme supreme over over the the whims whims of of human human governments govemments and and the the fact fact that law of god transcends that the the law of god transcendsgeographical geographical frontiers frontiers isis unacceptable unacceptableto him because to him becauseitit conflicts conflics with with the modern the modern concept concept of nationalism. Nationalism of nationalism. Nationalism is is aa curseof curse of the the modern modern world. world. It It was was responsible responsiblefor both both world wars wars and world and now now threatens threatensto to bring bring on on aa third. third. The supremacy of supremacy of God God has has been been exchanged exchanged for the the supremacyof supremacy of the the state. state.This This idea idea has pushed to has been been pushed to its is logicalconclusion logical conclusion in in Fascist FascistItaly, ltaly, in Nazi Nazi Germany Germany and and now more more ruthlessly now ruthlesslythan than ever everin Communist Communist China. China. Asaf A. Fyzee Fyzee agrees Asaf agreeswith the the enemies enemies of Islam Islam that the the Qur'an that is directly directly responsible responsiblefor the Qur'an is the degraded degraded position of of Muslim women; position women; for the the fact fact that that in the the "women are world "women Muslim world are regarded regarded as as the the mere mere playthingsof men playthings men and and seldom seldom as as aa life life companion, comparrron,cocoworker or helpmate." helpmate."To clinch worker clinch his quotes his arguments argumens he he quotes tie Qur'anic "Men are verse which which says: the incharge of of says: "Men are incharge Qur'anic verse women because becauseGod God has made one women them to excel excel the the has made one of them other."' But as as usual, usual, with such he distorts distorts the the other.'" such attacks attacks he meaning of the tle sentence sentence by omitting the meaning the vital vital phrase, phrase, "a:rd because because they they spend spend of of their property (for the "and support women)." Even support of women)." today in the the most advanced advanced Even today progressiveWestern Western countries, countries, the progressive the husband husband remains remains the the head of the the house house because head because on his his shoulders shoulders falls falls the the responsibility of of the the family. family. Although rhe the working responsibility women's wages women's wages may supplement supplement the the family income, income, her responsibilityin this responsibility this respect respect is is still far less less than than tiat that of of her husband. husband. That men excel excel women in intellectual intellectual and creative creative attainments attainments is is an an indisputable indisputable fact. fact. AJthough Although there there have have been been rnany many fine women artists artists writers writers and and musicians, musicians, there of the the world world being being tllere has has never never in the tlle entire entire history history of 86


any women writers writers to equal equal Shakespeare, Shakespeare, no women arry Rembrandt and no woman Mozart or artist on a par with Rembrandt artist Beethoven. Madam Curie has has often being being cited as as an Beethoven. is doubful doubtful ifif she she exception in the the scientific scientific field, field, yet it is exception husband. could have have achieved achieved what she she did without her husband. Then too, it must be remembered remembered that Cod God never never sent sent a Then Abraham, Muses Muses orJesus. or Jesus. woman prophet like Abraham, Holly Prophet Prophet never never regarded regarded his wives wives as as The Holly playthings to gratify gratify sensual lusts as as his his hostile hostile sensual luss mere playthings submissivechattels were no meek, meek, submissive chattels critics suppose. critics suppose.They were but strong personalities in their own right and and there there is is strong personalities every evidence evidence that that Muhammad respected respected each each one of every Aisha: as an an individual. individual. The Prophet Prophet once once told Aisha: them as 'God never gave I(hadfiah. "God any man aa better wife than Khadijah. never gave any were unbelievers. when all the unbelievers. She the world were me when believeciin me She believed when all message.She She She me when a.ll denied denied my message. comforted me She comforted wealth when when everyone else supported with her wealth everyone else me with supported me her." gave me children avoided children through through her." me, and and God gave avoided me, loyalty pay his higher tribute tribute of loyalty Could any his wife wife aa higher man pay any man was, Aisha's Aisha's alert alert and as she she was, than this? this? Young Young as and devotion devotion than as one one of brilliant mind made here universally universallyaccepted acceptedas made here the Hadith. sourcesof Hadith. most trustworthy trustworthysources the most After the death, the the status stah.rsof Muslim Prophet's death, the Prophet's when the veil, seclusion and women the veil, seclusionand rapidly declined declined when women rapidly were all customs were all harem root. These These customs system took root. harem system and in the the extreme imported Byzantium and extreme Persiaand and Byzantium imported from Persia practiced,they had nothing to dt.> forms they had nothing to dc with were practiced, forms they they were "rth the Qur'an. the Qur'an. and Islam's the immodest imrnodest dress dress and condemnation of of the Islam's condemnation is so sexes that is so the unrestricted mingling of the sexes mingling of characteristic intended for for Western society, society, is is intended of modern modern Western characteristic of as the women not the the man, as the the special of the the women special benefit of enemies have us us to to believe. believe. of the the Islam would have enemies of West lslam Versus Islam West Versus

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Despite Despite the the invasion invasion of corrupt influences from cornrpt influences produced such Persia Persiaand and Byzantium, Byzantium, the the spirit of Islam Islam produced such women as outstanding outstanding women as Rabia Rabia AI Al Adawiya Basra, Adawiya of of Basra, professorof Hadith at Shuhdra, aa famous famous professor Shuhdra, at the the University University of Baghdad Baghdad and and those those two two learned learned sisters sistersMaryam Maryam and and Fatima, who who founded founded Qarawiyian Fatima, University. Their Their Qarawilan University. perfect accord achievementswere were in perfect achievements accord with the the Prophet's Prophet's teachingswhich which considered teachings considered the knowledge as the search searchfor knowledge as compulsory compulsory for women women as asfor men. men. is no need need to substitute There is substihrte the the attitude attitude of women in the women for that of the modern West. If the Qur'an that the If Qur'an present the AsaJA. Fyzee Fyzeewould present Asaf the Qur'an an accurate accurate Qur'an in an why did he Iight, why quote the light, he not quote the following following verse: verse: "And "And you from yourselves his signs is that yourselves from his signsis that He created createdfor you you might find rest mates that peacewith mates that you rest and and peace with them them and and you love We made made between betweenyou love and and compassion.'~ compassion.'o Fyzeeclaims Asaf A. Fyzee claims that that he he believes believesthe the Qur'an to Qur'an to be the word of God; be the word he is God; he is deeply deeplymoved moved by by its is beautiful beautiful yet to larguage,yet language, to him the the descriptions descriptionsof heaven heavenand and hell hell are not reality reality but mere poelic imagery. are mere poetic imagery.Yet the the Qur'an Qur'an saysthat poet. It is says that these these are are no words words of aa poet. is aa revelation revelation from the the Lord lord of the the Worlds.

Generally Generally speaking, speaking, Asaf A. Fyzee Fyzee accepts accepts the the early Makkan early Makkan Suras, Suras,but does does not like the the Medina Suras. Suras. The Makkan Makkan Suras Suras reveal reveal the the spiritual spiritr-raltruths truths while while the the practice.One is Surasillustrate illustratetheir practice. Medina Suras is meaningless meaningless the other. other. If If the without the the author author claims claims to accept accept the the t-henhe he must Qur'an must believe believe all of of it. it. He cannot cannot pick Qur'an then versesout of context certain verses please his certain context that happen to please that happen his fancy falcy and and discard discardthe the rest. rest. According to According to Asaf Asaf A. Fyzee, Fyzee,rituals, rituals, because becauseof 88

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their emphasis emphasis otr on outward outward observance observance rather rather than than their inward reverence, reverence, retard retard spiritual spiritual development. development. The The inward beauty of of fasting fasting during Ramadan, Ramadan, he says says can be beauty emphasised without insisting insisting on on its hidebound emphasised says that he believes believes in prayer but but not not prescriptions. He says prescriptions. obligation to pray five five times times daily which he claims claims in the obligation has become become "a "a soul-less soul-less ritual having having no meaning meaning left in has modem life." life." modern The danger danger that that ritud ritual can can become become an an empty The is not, as as Asaf A. Fyzee Fyzee implies, implies, a lifeless formality is lifeless of modem modem times. times. It It has has always always existed. existed. It It is in peculiarity of of this this danger danger that that the the Qur'an says: says: "It is is not recognition of recognition righteousness that that ye ye hrrn tum faces faces to the the East East and and the the West, righteousness righteous is is that that one one believeth believeth in Allah and and t}le the Last Last but righteous Day and and the the Angels Angels and and the the Scriptures and the the Prophets Prophets Scriphrresand and to Him to kinsfolk and and wealth for love love of Him giveth his his wealth and giveth those orphans wayfarer and and to those needy and and the the wayfarer the needy and the orphans and who ask free and and observeth obserueth proper proper set slaves slaves free ask and and to set keep those who keep worship payth the the poor due. due. And those worship and and payth patient in the patient their and the when they they make make one one and treaty when their treaty as stress.Such Such as time of stress. tribulation and in time and adversity adversityand tribulation and the God-fearing.''' they are the God-fearing."' In who are are sincere. sincere. Such Such are they who "God does does not said, "God more Prophet said, language,the the Prophet conciselanguage, more concise prayer where accompany listen where the the heart does does not accompany listen to aa prayer the body." the body." verse and and Hadith In no way can can the the Qur'anic no way Quianic verse justifu the pretext to the to justify quoted as aa pretext quoted above used as be used above be during prayers and fasting during and fasting abandonment rinral prayers of ritual abandonment of of Ramadan. expressionof without an an expression faith withers witherswithout Becausefaith Ramadan.Because practice. without practice. that without meaningless are meaningless taith, beliefs beliefsare thatfaith, prayer isis for for each each The purpose of ritual prayer of Islamic Islamic ritual The purpose for his daily daily activities act-ivit.ies individual for in the midst of of his the midst to stop stop in individual to abar.rdoned the Muslim Muslim abandoned the of of God. Once the God. Once remembra:rce the remembrance West lslam VersusIslam West Versus

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prayer, he ritual prayer, his ritual his he naturally nan-rrallybecomes becomes so so engrossed engrossedin in struggleto the struggle to earn his livelihood the earn his livelihood that that he he will will tell you he tell you he pray. In hasno no time time to to pray: In other other words, words, making has making money money has has become more more important important for for him him than become than the remembrance the remembrance God. How can of God. can it be be denied denied that that the the abandonment abandonmentof prayerhas rihral prayer hasresulted ritual resultedin in the the deterioration deteriorationof his his faith? farthP Finally, Asaf Finally, Asaf A. Fyzee Fyzee wishes wishes to impress his !o impress his readers with with broadmindedness. broadmindedness.Islam, readers Islam, he he says, says,is is only only religion, one one religion, way of life one one way life among among many many others. others. He does not assert assertits does Christianity, its superiority superiority over over Judaism, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism or Buddhism. Buddhism. But I am am tempted tempted to ask askhim "If he do not regard regard Islam he Islam as as better better than than any any other other faith, faith, than why why are you aa Muslim? are you MuslirnP You might than might just as as well well become aa member member of another become another religion!" religion!" Yes, he he might Yes, well become as well become aa member of aa might just as Reform Jewish Reform all his his arguments arguments for the the Jewish Temple for all 'liberalizing" "modernizing" of Islam "liberalizing" and and the the "modernizing" Islam or taken taken directly from the the statements statementsof Reform Reform Jewish directly leaders,In Jewishleaders. fact, he quotes from the he even even quotes fact, the books books by Reform Reform Jewish Jewish rabbis to support support his his views. views.True to Reform rabbis RefiormJudaism, he Judaism, he the discarding discarding of regards all laws, laws, rituals, regards the of all rituds, customs customs and and ceremonies foreign foreign to Western civilization ceremonies civrhzation as as essential essentjal the survival survival of religion. harmonizing Islam for the religion. Only by harmonizing Islam with Westem as Reform Judaism Judaism has has Western civilizatjon civilization as attempted to do, can can genuine genuine spiritual maintained. spiritual life be marntained, attempted he forgets, forgets, as as did those those rabbis, rabbis, that that modern Westem But he civilization is is secular the core core iud and hostile hostile to all civilization secular to the spiritual values. spiritual values.

Does fuaf Asaf A. Fyzee Fyzee rea.lly really wish wish his his "liberal "liberal Islam' Islam" Does to share share the same same fate fate as as ReformJudaism? Reform Judaism? I happened happened to have have been been bom born a Reform Jew. Jew. Both my parents parents were were raised raised as as Reform Jews. Jews. Both received received only the scantiest scantiest of of Jeunsh Jewish training. training. Consequently Consequently neither neither know of of 90

West Versus lslam Islam West

Hebrew. Neither Neither are are lamiliar familiar with with the the Torah Torah or or Talmud. Talmud. Hebrew. They observe observe no no Jewish Jewish customs customs or or ceremonies. ceremonies. They They They history or or culhrre. culture. ItIt is not surprising surprising know little ofJewish history of Reform that the insipid, uninspiring philosophy of generation' younger My powerless Judaism is powerless younger generation. My to hold the Judarsm sister has has just joined joined the Unitarian Church. Church. My My parents parents sister unique arnong among Reform Jews. Jews. All All of of our Reform are not unique are None has vacuum. Jewish friends share same spiritual vacuum. has spirintal the same friends share Jewish of the name. name. any religion religion worthy of any Fyzee when when he take issue issue with Asaf A. Flzee II must take Islam is spiritually asserts that modem is spiritually modern orthodox asserts that bankrupt. Such Such brilliant personalities personalities as as Muhammad bankrupt. Abd-al-Wahab, founder of of the the Wahabi movement' movement, Abd-al-Wahab, whose creativeness creativeness as as the the theologian theologian ravelled ravelled Waliullah, whose Sanussi, al-Ghazzali himself, Muhammad Muhammad Ibn AIi Ali Sanussl, al-Ghazzal; himself, grand son son Sayyid Sayyid founder of the his grand Sanussimovement, movement, his the Sanussi Al-Afghani, Ahmad, AI-Afghani, Sanussi,Jamal-ud-Din Grand Sanussi, Alrrnad, the the Grand Jamal-ud-Din Rrda' Rashid Rida, Muhammad his devoted devoted pupil Rashid and his Muhammad Abduh and editor of Al' Aileader and talented talentededitor movement and feaclerof the the Salfiya Salfiyamovement founder of the the Muslim Mallar, al-Banna founder Manar, Hassan Hassan al-Banna Brotherhood, last Grand Grand Pasha, last Said Halim Pasha, Prince Said Brotherhood, Prince Vizier of Turkey and that splendid splendid book author of that and author and Muhammad defending Muhammad Islamlashmaq,and the Shariah, Shariah, IsJamJashmaq, defending the philosopher as spirinra.lfather father of Iqbal, as well well as as spiritual poet and and philosopher Iqbal, poet great leaders convincing proof Pakistan leaders are are convincing all these these great Pakistan - all These men men that to this this day. day.These vitalityof Islam Islam continues continuesto the vitality that the and the to had the conviction conviction to of character character and the strength strengh of had the practiceIslam Prophetintended. intended. preach the Holly Prophet preachand Islam as asthe and practice the modem modern They knew spint of of the well that that because becausethe the spirit knew well wrth to compromise compromise with West and Islam are are irreconcilable, irreconcilable,to and Islam For this reason,itit the the latter. latter.For this reason, defeatfor for the meansdefeat the former former means Asaf and not not those thoseof of Asaf isis upon progenyof men and of these thesemen the progeny upon the A. depends. thatthe future of of Islam Islam depends. thefuture A. Fyzee, Fyzee,that Notes: Notes: West lslam West Versus VersusIslam

91 91

(as Actually, Actually, denial denia-lof givenin of any anyruling ruIing given in the the Qur'an Qur'an (as mentioned mentioned by by the' the author paragraph) author in in the the following following paragraph) (Ed) amounrs to amounts to outright outright disbelief. disbelief. (Ed.) 2. 4:34 4:31 2. 3. 30:21 30:21 3. 1 . 2:177 2:177 4.

1.l.

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5. 5. Chopter Chapter I11I

Can Islam Islam be be Reconciled Reconciled with the the Can th Century? the 20h 20 Century? Spirit of the "Islam shall perish perish unless itit comes to terms terms with with "Islam Modem World." World." Such are the words words constantly constantly the Modern by the Western Western educated ruling ruling class class in in Muslim Muslim repeated by countries. They They never tire of of reminding reminding us that we c:urnot cannot countries. in a bygone age. age. We We are taught that itit is unrealistic unrealistic to live in try to turn turn the clock clock back back because because no*ring nothing can reverse try 'fherefore, trend of of history. Therefore, we have no no choice choice except except the trend conform our our faith to the demands demands of of an ever
93

because the the Holy Holy Prophet's because Prophet's mIssion mission was was limited limited to to preaching. He He never never wished wished to preaching. to rule. rule. Only expediency Only expediency forced him him to to do do so. so. forced Intellechral dishonesty Intellectual dishonesty could could scarcely scarcely sink lower sink to lower depths than this. this. Islam cannot depths cannot live live without without an an Islamic community. And And the Islamic Islamic community community. community cannot survive cannot survive without organized organized institutions institutions and without and leadership. leadership. The next step The step after the abolition abolition of of Khalifate Khalifate is is the elimination of of Shariah. Since the Shariah is elimination is considered considered Western educated leaders as by many Western as outmoded is outrnoded and its conception of ofjustice justice inferior inferior to Western conception Westem legal legal systems, systems, it is believed that only secular laws is laws can promote promote the social well-being of of society. society. In other words, it is well-being is deemed essential to regard the enforcement essential enforcement of of such chronic laws chronic laws prohibition of as the prohibition as of lending lending money money at interest, drinking drinking alcoholic beverages, beverages, gambling gambling and sex alcoholic sex outside of of as no longer applicable to the present-day. The marriage as The punishments laid down in the Qur'an punishments violation of of Qur'an for the violation laws are attacked atlacked as these laws as cruel and inhumane. inhumane. But But does not an evil remain remain an evil regardless not regardless of of time or or place? And is the merit merit of And judged according of a law to be judged according to its leniency? Does the criminal leniency? criminal deserve more more sympathy syrnpathy than Without a Shariah, the Islamic society? Without Islamic way of of life disintegrate mere collection collection of of empg' empty platitudes. platitudes. disintegratess into into a mere After After the elimination elimination of of Isiamic Islamic leadership leadership and Islamic Islamic law, it is no no problem problem to desfoy destroy the solidarity of solidarity of the Ummat. Ummat. The The concept of of a universal universal Islamic brotherhood brotherhood transcending transcending race, language, language, and geography geography is incompatible incompatible with with the supremacy supremacy of of national national Therefore, in in order order to adopt adopt the spirit spirit of of 20" 20"' sovereigrrty. sovereignty. Therefore, century, century, Muslims Muslims are told told that the tlmmat Ummat rnust must be replaced by nationalism.

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This has has resulted resulted in in the the isolation isolation and and alienation alienation of of This the dil'ferent different Muslim Muslim people people lrom from each each other. other. Instead Instead of of the stressing aa common common Muslim Muslim heritage, heritage, their their leaders leaders glorifu glorifY stressing golden age that a mythical past as if it were a golden age that Islam Islam were a past it as if a mythical the Turkish snatched away from them. For instance, the Turkish instance, them. For away from snatched nationalists regard regard the the Ottoman Ottoman period period as as aa time time of of nationaliss subjection to to lbreigr foreign culture culture and and foreign foreign languages. languages. subjection Simultaneously, Reza Shah cha:rged changed the the name name of of his his Simultaneously, country from from Persia to to lrart Iran because because itit was was the the alleged country homeland of of the Aryan Aryan race. The The government government of of the homeland in giant of Remises United Arab Republic statutes of in erects statrrtes Arab Republic United the public public squares of of Cairo Cairo glorifying glorifying him him as as a great Arab Arab the king whilc while Umar Umar is depicted depicted by by the nationalists not not as as a king pious Kha.lif Khalif but but instead the champion champion of of Arab Arab pious domination over over foreigrr foreign people people.. domination On J'cw few subjects modernists so emphatic emphatic as as On subjecls are the modernists insisting dead. As one Turk Turk puts it: is dead. insisting that pan-Islamism is 'We want to construct as 'We Turkish Islam Islarn which will be as conslruct aa'l'url
95

of industrialisation. One of living living through through industrialisation. One may rnay ask ask if this is is not not in in accord with Islam's accord with Islam's demand demand for for economic economic justice lustice and and the poverty. In the elimination elimination of of the the extreme extreme poverty. In the t}le sense sense denounces asceticism and gives us that that the the Qur'an denounces asceticism gives and us the Qur'an right right to to enjoy enjoy our our legitimately legrtrmately earned wealth, and also also in the t}re sense Ailah intended sense that that Allah intended the riches of of the universe for the be be used used for the benefit benefit of of man, Islam cannot be hostile to progress as technological technological progress as such. such. But But it is is implacably implacably present-day ideologies, opposed opposed to to the the present-day ideologres, which regard no sacrifice sacrifice too great for material gain or physical power.

It It is is not the scientific discoveries in themselves which do which do the harm, but rather the materialistic materialistic philosophy which forces industrialisation philosophy indusfria.lisation to serve serve destructive ends, bringing destructive bringing havoc to the community, community, wrecking family family ties ties and religious life. Modem wrecking Modern industry urdusul* workers to take time off will not allow workers lbr prayers, and off f<)r fast of of Ranladan Ramadan is the fast is discouraged rliscouragcd as as hampering hamperirg 'fhis productivity. This same poison has productivity. szune poison has also invaded invacled the purely, utilitarian schools as as purely schools utjlitarian subjects subjecls increasingly increasingly 'l-hus, curriculurn. Thus, technical technical and dominate the curriculum. commercial courses courses are are most highly higirly esteemed esteerr-redwhile shrdiesare are scorned. scorned. Islamic studies Modern industrialisation industrialisation promotes tirc Modem the philosophy philosophy t-hat man can banish poverty, that disease and poverty, disease Ignorance alrd igrrorarrce wrthout divine aid. a-rd. In other odrer words, science without science has has made mar independent independcnt of of Nlah. man Allah. This This is why why in in the batt_le battle po\.erty and social against poverty social injustice, against injustice, no govenrmcnt government is wrlling to enforce cnforce Zakat, tlrc prohibition 'willing Zakal, the prohibition of of interest, the irrirerilalcc laws, laws, or Qur'anic or put put the waql'Ibunclations waqf foundations to Qur'zuric inheritance eI'fectiveuse effective usc.. Thcsc lcadcrs These leaders rcga.rcl regard "Ernalcil;ation" "Emancipation" of' of Muslirn Muslim women a*s women as indispcnsable indispensable lbr for soci:rl social progress. progress. tfIf "ernancipafion" is "emancipation" is rncarrt meant as as the right ol of wonten women to develop 96

W est V e r s u s lIslam slam West Versus

their their minds minds through through education education and their abilities to ard use use their earn their their livelihood livelihood when necessary, necessary, then they are right. But But unfortunately, unforhrnately, the champions champions of of feminism feminism also insist that Muslim MusLm women women be free to mix with men mix socially with men and wear immodest immodest dress. dress. Because Because Muslim Muslim women women are public, there is required required to conceal their their bodies in public, is no question that they could question which are could wear those dresses dresses which purpose and violate both designed for for the opposite opposite purpose both the Qur'an Qur'an and the Sunnah. government in the Muslim Nearly Nearly every government Muslim world world officially Western dress. offrcially encourages the adoption adoption of of Western dress. Turkey Turkey has has gone to the ridiculous ridiculous extreme of of decreeing Western Western dress iaw. Western Western clothing dress compulsory compulsory by law. clothing has has become become symbolic symbolic of of advancement and progress while the indigenous indrgenous costumes, coshrmes, now confined confined largely to the very poor in the rural districts is poor is regarded as as synonymous synonyrnous with backwardness.

To To strive strivc for the elimination elimination for for all visible signs signs of of Muslim Muslim identity identiry by adopting adopting the dress dress and living habits of of a civilization implacably hostile civilization as as implacably host-ile to Islam as as that of of the West, is West, is tantamount tantamount to apostasy. aposlasy. The The Prophet Prophet made this very clear clear when he said: said: "He who imitates imitates a people is is one of of them." them." we have Thus Thus we have demonstrated dernonstrated why it is is impossible wrth the spirit of to reconcile reconcile Islam with of the 20" century. century. The the 20 The more Muslim Muslim people tried to reform Islam and ald make it wrth modern compatible witll modem life, life, tlle tire weaker they they will *'ill gain garn strength become. Muslims Musluns will strength and vigour not by w"ith tlle going along Witll the trend of of our our age, age, but but only by fighting mezurs,including the mass against against it. it. All All means, mass media, media, should the Muslim be employed ernployed to arouse zuouse among arnong the the people of Muslim o1'the world sufficient resistan<'e to anti-Islamic law,s and sulljcient resistance arrti-Islzr.miclaws policics so policies they refuse refuse to co-operate. co-opcrate. At At tllC so tllat that tlley tlic same samc ili

West V e r s u sIslam lslam W e s t Versus

97 97

time, increasing increasing support must be be given given to all all qualified qualified support must [ime, leaders willing and and able able to influence influence a goverrunent government under leaders the Islamic Islamic way way of of life will be be offrcially officially encouraged encouraged which the being discouraged. discouraged. instead of being instead

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