Download in defence of islam

IN DEFENCE OF ISLAM – AND THE WESTERN MISINTERPRETATION OF
WHAT IS PERCEIVED TO BE ‘ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM’
Declan O’Sullivan
Abstract
Cet article expose les formes d'incompréhension de l'Islam en
Occident, et de ce que l'on y qualifie de "Fondamentalisme
Islamique", puis les raisons de ces interprétations erronnées, et
les présupposés sur lesquelles elles reposent. Ensuite, l'auteur
definit et analyse les termes de "Fondamentalisme Islamique",
Djihad, Shari'a et "militantisme" d'un point de vue islamique. La
seconde partie de l' article concerne le débat académique entre
intellectuels musulmans sur les aspects philosophiques des
"Mouvements Fondamentalistes" de l'Islam , ainsi que les
questions terminologiques qui s'y rattachent.
Interpretation.
Initially, to gain an understanding of how the different interpretations by the ahl
al-kitab (The People of the Book) effect and affect the manners by which they live
and how they perceive each other religion to be - together with the stereotypical
assumptions that are held on how the different cultural contexts the religions are
considered to exist within - a basic start would be on assessing the calendar dates
they hold.
There is presently an immense ‘celebration’ and an en masse enjoyment and
fascination of the year 1999, rapidly approaching the ‘second millennium’ in the
year 2000. However, this is solely a time-celebration within the Christianity
calendar, considering that within Judaism it is presently the year 5759 and within
Islam it is now 1419.
This extremely basic fact seems to be overlooked in a Western interpretation of
the ‘year’ it is now - let alone the concepts of extremely important aspects of the
other religions of the Kitab. Vitally important aspects within Islam seem to be
repeatedly misinterpreted by the West. They have to be rediscovered, as the
West has lost any meaning and value of the concepts of Jihad and Shari’a. This can
be seen particularly apparent in how they are referred to and described as –
instead of being defined – through the Western media. Thus, before studying the
areas of Islam, Islamic History, Islamic Philosophy, Middle Eastern Politics, or
any such Islamic based area of work, it is vital to gain an adequate
understanding of the terms used in these topics, to be fully aware of the term’s
meanings, in order to recognise their genuine origin, where they derive from,
together with their correct use in differing contexts. Before having a thorough
debate on the concept of ‘Islamic Fundamentalism,’ it is essential to gain the solid
background of the reasons why such terminology is used.
The words that people in the West are aware of, when reading through articles in
any average newspaper, often seem to confuse the readers. They are still
unaware of any clear meaning of these words, due to the lack of any adequate
definition proffered by the newspapers and the television news reports. There
are a few main words that are necessary to have a fuller knowledge of, which are
‘Islamic Fundamentalism,’ Jihad, Shari’a, ‘Militancy’ and the ‘Islamic
Fundamentalist Movements.’
The misunderstanding is due to the misinterpretations of their relevant
meanings, intertwined with incorrect usage within issues that cover Islam,
Middle Eastern international relations, the Islamic religious belief systems and
the Islamic legal system. Thus, when portraying Islam and the standards it offers
for, let us say, human rights protection, it is essential for critics - especially in the
West - to be constantly aware that the examples often used to attack Islam and
‘Islamic human rights abuses’ are often drawn from very limited sources. Such
examples include reference to Imam Ayatollah Khomeini’s ‘cultural revolution’
within Iran in 1979 and more importantly, the use in Western press with
misinterpretations of Arabic terminology. One example here is the use of jihad,
which is often stated to translate as meaning "Holy War," instead of the literal
translation of its meaning, which is ‘to struggle.’ The Islamic understanding of
jihad will be discussed in detail below. To obtain sufficient background
knowledge that will place the words in their specific context is a vital skill to
grasp hold of, for a Western non-Muslim, before undertaking the studies of Islam
and its various branches of topics. These initial terms which require a rather
deeper understanding, together with an adequate acceptance of the culturally
relative meaning of their use, will aim to help the user to gather enough
thorough understanding and comprehension of the topic involved. These terms
will now be covered through an Islamic perspective.
Islamic Fundamentalism.
The very phrase ‘Islamic Fundamentalism’ has had an immense and popular
journalistic usage, and is considered to be a purely Islamic based phenomenon.
However, "fundamentalism," in itself, originates as an Anglo-Saxon term,
applied to those who believe that the Bible must be accepted and interpreted
literally in the words and deeds described within it. There is a close French term
which is similar, intégrisme, but this term compares only on a vaguely similar
theme – and is in no means an exactly identifiable behaviour with Roman
Catholicism.
Thus, these definitions cover the understanding of ‘fundamental’ belief within
Christianity, a religion where obviously, several different branches exist. Equally
within the belief of Islam, such different branches exist, including Sunni, Shi'a,
Ahmadiyya [which is considered a heretical belief, by other devout Muslims
within Islam] and Sufi which, an internecine debate, is also considered as a more
philosophical thought process, rather than devout faith. Thus, within these
branches of
Islam, Sunni fundamentalists accept the Qur’an in a literal interpretation, with
minor
qualifications. However, Shi'a fundamentalist believers are not committed to a
literal interpretation of the Qur’an. The concept of ‘Fundamentalism’ has always
been present in the ahl-al-kitab [‘the people of the Book’ which represents the
revealed scripture, i.e. the Qur’an in Islam, the Bible in Christianity and the
Torah in Judaism]. Fundamentalism has always been present with the necessity
to create a ‘state’ over-view of a community, by implementing the practical use
of the revealed teachings of Allah/God/Yahweh. The names of the same Creator
differ, due to the different context of the religion’s origin and the language the
message was revealed in - hence ‘God’ within Christianity, ‘Allah’ within Islam
and Yahweh within Judaism.
The generalised phrase of ‘Islamic Fundamentalism,’ in itself, is a term which
derives from the historical rise of fundamental Christianity, and is also so broad,
embracing such a vast category of differing radical, modernist and extremist
branches, that it has no definitive weight to be used on its own. Abdel Salam
Sidahmed and Anoushiravan Ehteshami highlight the fact that
the term was taken from a particular Christian context and deployed into
the Islamic field without due appreciation for the appropriate differences
and peculiarities of the respective religious contexts.
They elaborate this with the explanation that the term originated in the United
States
of America, at the beginning of the twentieth century when, as Frederick Denny
remarks,
it was applied to ultraconservative Protestant Christian biblical literalists
and inerrantists who propounded a list of ‘fundamentals’ that all true
Christians should follow.
This definition suggests a tendency of believers to take the Holy Scripture in a
literal
sense, in literal translation, thus implementation of how it is written, believing in
absolute inerrancy in the text and the message and also adhering to several
‘fundamental’ factors in the line of separating true believers and the ‘others.’
How applicable these tendencies are within the Islamic Fundamentalist’s view
on life is a vital assessment to gain an understanding of ‘Islamic
Fundamentalism’ as a concept.
The Holy Scripture within Islam is, obviously, the Qur’an which holds the central
focus for belief. Denny presents the comparison between the focus of attention in
Christianity and the focus in Islam :
Just as Christianity is the religion of and about Jesus, Islam is
the religion of the Qur’an.
Thus, one interpretation of the ‘fundamentalists’ dealing with fundamental, basic
levels of what is right and what is wrong defines clearly, that it is therefore
imperative that all Muslims, regardless of rite, sect or piety, essentially believe in
the inerrancy of the Qur’an as the revealed word of Allah. Hence, if one is to be
judged by their attitude towards scripture, all Muslims may be classified as
"fundamentalists."
However, although Muslims agree on the authenticity of the Qur’an’s revelation,
there are different interpretations of the Qur’anic verses and their meanings. As
Sidahmed and Ehteshami state :
By its very nature, the text of the Qur’an is formulated in a way that is
far from self-explanatory. Accordingly, there is no way of taking the
entire text of the Qur’an literally. It has to be interpreted, a task
reserved for the learned jurists and ulama. The most common form
of interpretation is called tafsir, or exegesis.
On a simple explanation of its definition, fundamentalism implies the "activist
affirmation of a particular faith that defines that faith in an absolutist and
literalist manner"
What is placed in Western media is generally not the message of True Islam, or
what moderate Islamic intellectuals would promote as the Qur’anic principles of
Islam. Simultaneously, having made that claim and admonishment, Muslim
radical fundamentalists must also be assessed in their socio-historical
environments. Simply to label them as ‘fanatics’ as if this would be an adequate
characterisation of their behaviour, is an emotional condemnation, without any
attempt to really understand the casual relations that produced the phenomenon.
Ahmad Moussalli states that Fundamentalist Islamic political thought has been
described and believed to be purely a ‘fad,’ a passing phenomenon which is
dependant on specific social and political circumstances. He believes the
‘fundamentalist’ movements have been studied and academically covered by
political scientists as an agenda lacking any genuine deeprooted principles. The movements and what is defined as the "fundamentalist
belief"
has often been described as "fanaticism." Farhang concludes on this point, with
his caveat, to remember that :
The fanatic is always the other. This is why in the
mass media, Muslim fundamentalists are presumed
to be frenzied, irrational, thoughtless and brutal.
Paraphrasing John Stuart Mill, this picture is at best a
falsehood that contains an element of truth.
Fanaticism is an enduring ingredient
of history and thus those who wish to comprehend
their motives and
actions ought to refrain from substituting labels for
analysis.
This, then, is an extremely strong and salient message to the West when
considering the concept of ‘fundamentalism’ and in trying to grasp an
understanding of Islam.
Jihad.
Muhammad Sa’id 'Ashmawy, the former chief judge in the High Court in Cairo,
defines the broad scale of meanings of jihad in various elements, "which can be
either internal, as in the struggle within oneself to live an upright life or external
to defend Islam." jihad in the Qur’an and in the prophetic traditions means selfcontrol and self-refinement. This meaning of the word is reported to have been
described by the Prophet Mohammed himself as ‘the great jihad.’ In terms of war,
jihad is only to be
implemented as an act of self-defense alone. Thus, if it is interpreted as more
than this
‘Ashmawy declares that it is then not jihad but aggression - which has been
forbidden
by the verses and the very spirit of the Qur’an. As jihad is not one of the five
pillars of Islam, "the one-sided stress placed on ‘holy wars’ and fighting is a
historical distortion of the real concept of jihad and is due to political interests."
Further than this, the most significant and important jihad is continual in life. It is
based on the ethical, moral and spiritual jihad. ‘Ashmawy defines the elements of
this aspect as :
This jihad is a strenuous effort, or series of efforts, to discipline oneself
against greed, avarice, cowardice, fear, tyranny,
ignorance, submission to negative elements, yielding
to evil desires and giving way to passion.
This jihad avoids a meaningless existence and an empty, if not easy and
comfortable, life.
However, a devout Muslim is mandated to live according to the guidance given
by God and the Prophet and to promote the message of Islam through their
words and actions. It essentially means that each individual must exert
themselves in the utmost, in order to personally follow the teachings of Islam
and to work for their establishment in society. Hence :
Commitment to God involves commitment to
sacrifice one's time, energy and wealth to promote the
right cause. It may be necessary at times to give one's
life in order to preserve Truth. Jihad implies readiness
to give whatever one has, including his life, for the
sake of Allah.
However, this concept has lent itself rather easily to the cause of
fundamentalism. The theory of international proselytization of Islam is often
defended by Jihad - the just or holy war. Historically, Donna Artz argues that :
Muslim jurists divided the world into "dar al-Islam "; the "abode" of,
or "territory" of, Islam, that is the land under Islamic
rule - and "dar al-harb" ; the "abode of war", territory
not under Islamic rule.
Residents of dar al-Islam were Muslims and certain non-Muslims, or dhimmis ,
who paid a jizya tax. Anyone else was a non-believer with whom all Muslims
were duty bound as a community to battle with perpetually. Artz claims that
whether jihad was aggressive or defensive is a debatable issue - as is whether or
not it meant actual military conflict, or only political, religious and a
psychological propaganda tool, with just a constant readiness for war. However,
she concludes quoting Shihati, that "three options were available to non-believers
faced with jihad :- convert to Islam, agree to dhimma , or fight to the death".
Despite this historical position,
Jihad is still very much adhered to today, by many fundamentalist Muslims, on
their internal struggle.
Shari’a.
Islamic law is similar to Hindu and Jewish law, being a branch of a religious
system and not a separate body of knowledge. Artz postulates that it differs from
the laws of Western countries, such as the United States of America, France and
Britain, and also those of socialist or communist countries. Islam not only
specifies what people must believe, but also how they must behave. Shari'a translated variously as "the way to water", "the way to follow", "the road to
follow", "the way to God" and "the divinely ordained Islamic way of life" is
derived from four sources. These are the Qur'an , the sacred book of Islam; the
Sunnah, or traditions, which are normative practices associated with
Mohammad, and describe model behaviour; the ijma, which is the consensus of
the scholars within the Muslim community; and the giyas, which is juristic
reasoning by analogy. Reasoned interpretation of these sources, or the council of
judges on a particular case, are termed the ijtihad.
Fundamentalists revere lawyers and theologians of medieval Islam, emphasising
the broad structure of ritual, moral norms and implementation of shari'a law. The
whole concept of shari'a offers what Humphreys suggests as contradictory
approaches in its understanding, even within the fundamentalist ideology. Some
believe that shari’a has a fixed corpus of commands and prohibitions and is a
basis for a complete lifestyle. It is seen as a legal setting which cannot be altered,
except in rare circumstances where there are no precedent cases or directives
involved in the particular issue raised. However, other fundamentalists emphasise
more on the sources of shari’a - and these sources are the Qur’an, prophetic
teachings in ahadith and fiqh, (jurisprudence).
Humphreys makes a fair assessment of the value that shari’a undeniable holds,
but raises an acceptance of the plateau shari’a has in its depth and weight as a
legal format :
The shari’a cannot be understood as a fixed repository of commands
and prohibitions. Modernists intend to produce
modern legislation which
will both embody the highest ideals of Islam and be
eminently suited to modern life. The shari’a’s positive
precepts are not to be abandoned
lightly – many are still valid, many others are suitable
for contemporary society with some modification –
but they are not sacrosanct.
Militancy.
Mehdi Mozaffari defines Islamic Fundamentalism - or Islamism - which he offers
as an alternative term - as a militant anti-modernist movement, based on the
belief that Islam is simultaneously a religion, a way of life and a form of
government. Mozaffari states that fundamentalists believe in a holistic concept of
Islam - which is the main characteristic that focuses as a markpoint in differences
between fundamentalist perceptions of Islam with those of liberal Muslims - who
promote some form of separation between Islam and politics, thus work towards
conciliating Islam and modernity.
However, Mozaffari highlights the vital issues to be aware of when looking at this
area of study, which include the fact that simply having a holistic perception of
Islam is not a specific entity of fundamentalists alone. Therefore, the necessary
questions to answer are ‘what places Islamic fundamentalists apart from any
other Muslims?’ and ‘how should the separate and distinctive characteristics of
Islamic fundamentalism be defined?’ Is it sufficient to base the definition of
fundamentalism as being the three simultaneous issues listed above as ‘a
religion, a way of life and a form of government.’
Mozaffari also raises another important issue while studying the very details of
defining ‘fundamentalism’ as a concept. One definition of its special and specific
difference to other movements within Islam is the fundamentalist ‘militancy.’
However, this very term is the point which needs definition. He suggests that not
every ‘militant’ Muslim is a fundamentalist, but every Islamic Fundamentalist is,
necessarily, a militant. However, he presents the essential definition of the term,
which is in need to be aware of, to establish within which context the term is
used.
Militancy is not necessarily equivalent to violence, however. In
France, for example, ordinary members of political parties are
called "militants."
The correct terms to be used when referring to Islamic fundamentalists is also
promoted by John Voll, who states that his preference for a label or a description
title for fundamentalists would be "activists" - as it is far more appropriate for the
acts and behaviour of fundamentalists. He defines the term ‘militants’ as
covering :
those groups who utilise violence in achieving their
goals and this is not the case for all Islamic
fundamentalists.
Muhammad Sa’id ‘Ashmawy states the view of a radical, extremist, fundamental
interpretation of the Qur’an and the consequential message :
Islam is seen by the militants as the sole, valid and
complete faith, abrogating all other faiths. It follows
from this that all non-Muslims are infidels and should
be converted to Islam, even by force (jihad).
Assessing this issue, it is vital to engage in a more complex position, based on the
real understanding of revelation and the true comprehension of Islam as a path -
or shari’a. shari’a can mean ‘path’, ‘method’ or ‘way.’ It is also used as a title for
Islamic law, as it has been interpreted by the religious scholars belonging to one
of the four main schools of fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence).
Islamic Fundamentalist Movements.
It is argued that politics and religion in Islam are inseparable. This can be
interpreted as a method which will lead to attain the ideal society, via the
interpretation of the Qur’an. However, as these interpretations differ there are
two main groups or movements which can be associated with these two
approaches. One group is considered ‘Modernism’ and the other is
‘Fundamentalism.’ Ahmad Moussalli suggests that ‘Islamic modernism’ was
founded and advocated by Jamal al-Din al-Afghani (1839-1897), Muhammed
‘Abduh (1849-1905), Muhammad Iqbal (1875-1938) and ‘Ali Shari’ati (1933-1977).
He states that the movement Islamic Fundamentalism was founded by Mawlana
Abdul A’la Mawdudi (1903-1980), Hasan al-Banna (1906-1949), Sayyid Qutb
(1906-1966) and Ayatollah al-Khomeini (1903-1989).
The very phrase ‘Islam’ means submission but can be used with relatively vague
and equivocal content if placed in no specifically asserted context. It can be
argued, in a very broad debate concerning ecumenical mutual respect, that every
believer of revealed scripture is in submission to the same creator.
The term ‘Islam’ is used by non-Muslim observers outside the role of Muslims
and also by devout Muslims, in reference to issues including personal faith,
theological doctrine, cultural attitudes, everyday behaviour and an endless
nature of organisational structure. However, Stephen Humphreys claims that the
term is never used with a clear, explicit meaning in these differing contexts. He
contemplates the idea that to make the understanding of the term more concise
and precise, the word Islam can be used in three formal senses : 1; to mean
referring to a strictly defined religion - thus it would represent a system of
theological beliefs and fixed ethical duties. 2; as an ideology and 3; as a
recognisable element of a cultural identity. These three forms of Islam all interact
as a socio-religio-political body.
However, he moves on to explain that Islam as a religion - just as Christianity
and Judaism - has never been monolithic. Islam has always had a diversity of
understanding, thus has always been a fruitful source of social and political
conflict. Historically, there was a generally shared acceptance of specifically
religious perceptions and interpretations of the way to lead life. Daily events,
within both the individual and communal contexts where given a definite
meaning and value within the framework of "tawhid", the Oneness / Unity of
Allah, and the Prophethood of Mohammed. However, as Humphreys explains,
since the mid-nineteenth century there has been an on-going attraction towards
secularist ideologies. These include the movements of liberalism, positivism,
racial nationalism, Marxism et cetera. This development of such movements
within the Middle East has been due to the dominance of European, Western
approaches towards life, thought-processes, philosophy and collective society’s
structure. The amount of such ideas - which were either imposed upon,
introduced into, implemented with or accepted by the ‘Arab world’ are on a
disparate scale - but all can be categorised with the broad overall term of
Secularism.
Humphreys defines Secularism in this context - thus, with a broad over-view - as
an interpretation of life with meanings and values containing the priority of
materialism, a physical nature of this-world’s criteria, while simultaneously
reducing, relegating and dissolving revealed religion for it to become a
peripheral role of guidance for the individual’s conscience.
Amongst the devout Muslims who are secular in their thought system and
appreciate the utilisation of secular beliefs - but who also preserve the traditional
ambience and presence of their belief in Islam - then Humphreys claims that two
formats of movements within this nature can be established :- Fundamentalists
and Modernists. Taken with Secularism, these three groups are the main general
orientations where the thought and behaviour of Muslims (certainly individuals
of Muslim heritage) can be identified or can be placed in contemporary times.
However, it is vital to be fully aware that, within themselves, these three
orientations are ideal types of description. They could be argued to be
considered as a stereotypical identity for ease of use in an academic debate when actually compared with the complexity of the reality, where the values and
attitudes of any given individual are more than likely to contain a mixture of all
three orientations on different levels. There will always be a tendency to lean
towards one of the three in the reactions either towards or against topics on
specific issues, when relevant points are raised. Humphreys also raises another
necessity to be aware of, which is the point that the very words
‘Fundamentalism,’ Modernism’ and ‘Secularism’ are not the words used by
Muslims themselves to describe the people involved within these categories - or
the manners, behaviours and agendas of movements within these ‘Westernised’
labels.
To offer a simple example of how the term ‘Islamic Fundamentalism’ is
understood and perceived from different perspectives which are views that may
also change through time, as can be seen in a comparison of a Western
approach/perception in 1979, followed by a Muslim scholars critique of such a
definition, in 1993, some fourteen years later. In 1979, Humphreys description
and definition of ‘fundamentalism’ stated :
We may define Fundamentalism as the reaffirmation,
in a radically changed environment, of traditional
modes of understanding and behaviour. In contrast to
conservatism or traditionalism, which assumes that
things can and should go on much as they have for
generations past, Fundamentalism recognises and
tries to speak to a changed milieu, an altered
atmosphere of expectations. Fundamentalism is by no
means a blind opponent of all social change, but it
insists that change must be governed by traditional
values and modes of understanding.
Ahmad Moussalli responds to this perception and definition from another
perspective with a fair analytical view with insight into the points that were
raised by Humphreys. Hence, Moussalli asks relevant questions to seek the
specific nature of Humphreys understanding and thus the need for a further
explanation of such a definition. Moussalli proclaims that :
Humphreys captures only half but not all the truth. First, what are the traditional
modes of understanding and behaviour? Are they the modes
of the public, the theologians, the philosophers, the Sufis, the jurists or
a combination of those? Or is it meant by modes of
the Holy Qur’an and
the Sunnah? Humphreys is not clear in defining
"traditional modes of
understanding," but refers to the Holy Qur’an, "the lawyers and theologians
of medieval Islam." But, if by traditional modes of understanding is meant
the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah, it is wrong because the Holy Qur’an and
the Sunnah are sources of and material of understanding, not modes.
Moussalli offers his own side, even further in the argument, stating that the
difference between modernists and fundamentalists can be briefly summarised in
a concise way. He assesses the difference of opinions and perspectives of the two
movements and their leaders. Qutb and A’la Mawdudi, (founders of
fundamentalism), consider the secrets of human nature to be known only by
Allah, but al-Afghani, ‘Abduh, Iqbal and ‘Ali Shari’ati , (founders of modernism),
consider humans as very capable of attaining some of these - if not all - of the
secrets.
The Fundamentalists perceive religion as a complete system of life, including the
metaphysical concept and the physical social order. Essentially, they believe that
religion is not only an abstraction, a metaphysical doctrine, an emotion or a belief
system - but it is simultaneously the culture and the discipline system that controls
behaviour. Within this very concept, Qutb, for example, considers communism
not only as :
a social system but also as a metaphysical concept
based on material contradiction and ultimately as not
only a social order but also as a religion.
Islam, for Fundamentalists, means an individual must live in total submission to
Allah in every aspect of life, without expecting or demanding proof of any
element of the Islamic belief system. For example, belief in Judgement Day
should be completely accepted, whether any physical proof is provided or not.
Hasan al-Banna states that whether God/Allah exists or not does not require
proof per se. The fact is intuitive, which leads to his point that the very rhetorical
question "Does God exist?" is a misguided question - as humans are incapable of
understanding themselves, let alone God or the concept of God.
As a contrast, Moussalli suggests that modernists certainly agree that religion is
intuitive, as opposed to a wishful will and desire, but they accept that human
reason and religion are interactive and are harmonious. The Islamic modernist
Muhammed ‘Abduh argues that Muslims agree that most issues within Islam
cannot be believed or
accepted except through reason - which relates to knowing of Allah’s existence
or that Allah sent forth his ‘messengers.’ However, religion offers such high
principles that humans cannot fully understand, but religion does not advance
such principles that are opposite to reason. For example, people can prove that
God exists, but reason cannot understand the essence of God. This point is
related to the consideration raised earlier than humans cannot even understand
themselves. Islam is the religion of tawhid (‘oneness’) and ‘Abduh states that
‘reason’ is one of the strongest helpers.
The perspective of the ‘oneness’ - tawhid - can be seen in the difference of
opinions between modernists and fundamentalists in their understanding of this
concept. The understanding of life for a Muslim is that it is a path en route to
spiritual fulfilment. Mawdudi traces the stages of this search, the first stage being
iman (faith). The second stage is ita’at (obedience), meaning each individual must
give up independence and be totally subservient to Allah. The subservience
itself, is referred to as islam (submission). The penultimate stage is that of taqwa,
(Allah consciousness) which is the practical manifestation of iman in daily life.
The final stage, the highest level to attain is ihsan (Allahness/Godliness). This
stage is the quintessential zenith of devotion in words, deeds and thoughts. This
approach to life is considered the only real protection of human rights for all, in
any context. As Mawdudi argues, this path of spiritual development is not meant
for individuals alone, but for communities and nations as well.
Like individuals, a community, after passing through
various stages of spiritual elevation may reach the
ultimate stage of ihsan; a state also,
through all its administrative machinery may become mu’min (faithful),
muslim (obedient), muttaqi (God-conscious) and muhsin (Godly).
In fact, the ideals aimed at by Islam are fully achieved
when the whole community accepts them and a
muttaqi and muhsin state comes into
existence. The highest form of civilisation, based on
goodness, is then realised.
Contemporary Muslims frequently cite the historical records of both Christians
and themselves, concerning the treatment of ‘non-believers’ by the respective
religions, arguing for the clear superiority of the Islamic approach. Mawdudi
actually advocates that "the establishment of an ideological Islamic state is the
greatest guarantee for non-Muslims."
Thus, although Muslims argue strongly that their faith provides a firm basis for
the protection of human rights, including the rights of religious minorities and
dhimmis, it is undeniable that they interpret these rights in a way that is
significantly different from the contemporary Western view. Hollenbach cites the
differences that are also prominent in Islamic states’ treatment of women and
those convicted of crime, but argues that these areas have the same source of
disagreement as those on religious freedom. Essentially then,
the Qur’an’s teachings on the universality of human dignity and the
cultural political history of the Muslim people have been synthesised in
a way that could not possibly be the same as the European / Cultural Synthesis.
Nazih Ayubi describes the situation and the desires of Fundamentalists in a
fascinating way, which ultimately expresses the reality compared to the wishes
and hopes of the fundamentalist ideology.
It is one of the ironies of Utopia that nostalgia can indeed be aroused for things
that have never really existed.
Another relevant comment is made by Fazlur Rahman, a very liberal modernist
and devout Muslim, whose approach aims to endeavour in the development of
the Traditionalist role of Islam, by actually embracing the West and re-viewing
the modern lifestyle on a contemporary nature, with the very spirit of Islam as
promoted
in the Qur’an. He states that :
It is also something of an irony to pit the so-called
Muslim fundamentalists against the Muslim
modernists, since, so far as their acclaimed procedure
goes, the Muslim modernists say exactly the same
thing as the so-called Muslim fundamentalists say :
that Muslims must go back to the original and
definitive sources of Islam and perform ijtihad on that
basis.
Finally, equally on this point, a distinguished Muslim lawyer raises the vital
issue of how the Qur’an argues the morals and ethics of how a community
should develop and evolve as time passes by. Clearly then, the Traditionalist or
fundamentalist view of living in exactly the style and manner that existed during
the lifetime of the Prophet Mohammad, some fourteen hundred years ago,
together with their aim to restore and
implement the shari’a legal system of such a dated time-scale, he states quite
unequivocally that :
Nearly all the penal provisions contained in the
Qur’an reflect the social
conditions which were characteristic of the Arabian
tribes 14 centuries ago, and to treat them as binding
today would in many cases be a lamentable
anachronism. An outstanding example is the law of
talion. To maintain, in legislating today, that
commandments laid down 14 centuries ago are
invariable and binding for all time is to defy the
primordial law of evolution and to ignore the spirit of
the Qur’an which attributes the quality of
permanence only to spiritual values. All other aspects
of life are necessarily subject to change and no
enlightened community would legislate on a contrary
principle.
Conclusion.
Clearly then, it is necessary to understand the definitions of the commonly used
terminology that appear in topics concerning Muslims and Islam, by an Islamic
perspective. This enhances the cultural understanding thus, a mutual respect
between two very different belief systems. There is a need for a compromise,
accommodation and comparison of the separate priority systems that exist, both
in academic study and pragmatic implementation of tafsir (exegesis). As can be
seen in the assessment of the Islamic Fundamentalist Movements, differing
beliefs exist by ‘Modernists,’ ‘Fundamentalists,’ ‘Traditionalists’ and ‘Secularists’
with Islam itself. Thus, if the debate is as vast and lively within Islam, through
the differing interpretations of the Qur’an, then observation without this
understanding leads to misconceptions, misinterpretation and passing on the
‘wrong message’ of what is perceived as ‘True Islam’ by believers themselves, as
opposed to the interpretation of this concept by non-Muslims, who are raised
and educated in an entirely different environment.
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