Islam has lost the unrivaled and unparalleled glory it had in the past despite being the second-largest religion in the world. There are over 2 billion Muslims, and there are 50 countries in the world where most of the population is Muslim. But despite having such a huge number, we have fallen behind in every field and aspect of life, whether it be science, culture, research, inventions and discoveries, philosophy, or unity, compared to non-Muslim countries.

Islam and Modernity

Abdul Haseeb

Islam has lost the unrivaled and unparalleled glory it had in the past despite being the second-largest religion in the world. There are over 2 billion Muslims, and there are 50 countries in the world where most of the population is Muslim. But despite having such a huge number, we have fallen behind in every field and aspect of life, whether it be science, culture, research, inventions and discoveries, philosophy, or unity, compared to non-Muslim countries. It’s because we have fallen prey to sick and delusional ideals and are stuck in the old traditions of our ancestors. There is no doubt that our ancestors were the heroes of their time, but times have changed now. Our ancestors' way of life and thinking are no longer applicable in the modern era. It is because they lived at a time when war and territorial invasions were common. In this advanced world, there is no place left for war. And the competition is fierce for knowledge and research. 

Similarly, enhancements (not changes) are also essential in Islamic traditions, instructions, and interpretations. Since everything in the world has changed and is continuing to change, old Islamic standards cannot be used. When necessary enhancements are not included in Islamic instructions, it proves fatal. This situation is not very serious in many Muslim countries. In Pakistan, however, it has become a crucial and deadly catastrophe. The majority of our people believe that Islam doesn’t require any enhancement. However, Islam allows modernism and advancements, and they have a deep and significant relationship. Muslims have failed to follow the guidelines of Islam, and they have lost the honor they once had. Pakistan and the whole Muslim world have suffered massive damage because of it. 

The fundamental issue is that our so-called scholars have described Islam as a religion that only consists of prayers and a few customs. It is incorrect. Islam has never been limited to these things. Islam has an overwhelming influence on a person’s moral, spiritual, social, domestic, and religious lives. The main problem is that our people don’t try to understand Islam beyond its rituals and practices; they believe that these are the only things it has instructed. Islamic scholars held great responsibility in this regard. They must tell the people that Islam is also about research, inventions, discoveries, and new advancements in life, thinking, and philosophies. 

A Sri Lankan man named Priyantha Diawadanage was tortured and burned in Sialkot by supporters of the TLP. He was blamed for damaging some posters that had Islamic verses on them. His colleague, who tried to save him, and Priyantha's wife rejected the idea that he had done anything like this. He worked there for eleven years. He was killed shamelessly by the ones who call themselves "Lovers of Muhammad (PBUH)." The sufferings of his wife and two kids are unimaginable. Because of the foolishness and ignorance of some individuals, they lost everything. These types of incidents portray a hurtful and fearsome image of Islam and Muslims. Allah says so in the Quran.

"If you kill one human being, it is as if you have killed the whole of humanity."

 Obviously! Non-Muslims will think negatively about Islam because of this. These types of unfortunate incidents spread fear among people, especially non-Muslims. They are the biggest cause of "Islamophobia." It shows how insensitive and hostile we have become regarding such matters. These kinds of incidents bring nothing but shame to Muslims and Islam.

The blasphemy of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has become a troublesome problem for Muslims. There has been an increase in blasphemy cases worldwide and countrywide. Mila, a French teen, called Islam "a religion of hatred" on her Instagram account. After this, she received death threats from all over the world. French President Emmanuel Macron defended her by saying "blasphemy is not a crime." Muslims got enraged by his comment, and as a result, Muslim countries started boycotting French products. The people of Pakistan also demanded it. Logically speaking, our country is not powerful enough to carry out such actions. It imported Vaccines, antisera, toxins, and cultures ($49M), Packaged Medicaments ($39.4M), and Large Construction Vehicles ($18.8M) from France in 2020. It shows how much we depend on French items. Some people also demanded the expulsion of the French ambassador. Pakistan doesn’t have the economic power to stand against a powerful country like France. The French President must be penalized for making such a shameful statement, knowing it may spread rage and hatred. Still, we should also consider our standing, which is not "economically strong" enough yet to stand against powerful countries. 

Another trivial but common problem is dressing. Our people have a firm belief that the shalwar kameez is an Islamic dress. Many people wear it their whole lives. And some of them criticize others if they wear other dresses. The truth is that the shalwar kameez is a "Muslim" dress, not an Islamic one. It is believed that the shalwar kameez originated in the Mughal era. There isn’t a piece of evidence that it is an Islamic dress. It is not a dress that you have been specially instructed to wear. Moreover, fashion, when done within Islamic limits, is allowed by Islam. 

It is clear from this hadith that fashion is also a part of Islam and our lives.

In the past, Muslims were leading the whole world in every field of science. The world knows that the discoveries and inventions of Muslim scientists provided the basis for the development of the modern world. Now, non-Muslims are doing what we are supposed to do. Even in developed Muslim countries, only a few people are interested in scientific research. The west has many research institutes, like NASA and many more. But Muslim countries don’t have institutes for scientific research. The main reason is that we think that Islam has no place for scientific research. It is wrong. Allah has given us many hints in the Holy Quran about scientific research. 

“It is He who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon, each floating in an orbit.”

God has hinted at the motion of planets in outer space in this verse. And there are many more verses in the Holy Quran with scientific meanings. Muslims in the past were successful because they understood the instructions of Islam. We, too, need to do the same, and we must also do scientific research.

The last but not least serious issue is that some scholars try to force their beliefs on others. They ought that everyone must believe in everything that they say. Every human is different and has a way of thinking. Islam has clear instructions regarding this problem. It says that anyone can believe what they want, and vice versa. 

There is no need to force ideals on others. Let them believe what they want and reject anything they don't want to accept.

: Scholars must educate people about Islam. People must try to control their emotions to some extent. It will prove good for them and Islam as well. We must take steps to avoid any sad incidents that would spread negativity about Muslims and Islam.

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