The last two generations of Muslims (especially since 1960s/70s) have been increasingly religious and increasingly intellectual. Whereas previously, becoming more educated was associated with being less religious, the opposite is now the case. Along with that, we've seen influential thinkers arise in the recent past. Names like Muhammad Iqbal, Hasan al-Banna (and before him Jamal ad-Din Afghani, Rashid Rida, Muhammad Abduh), Al-Albani, to name a few. In addition, we have seen the growth of revivalist movements such as Muslim Brotherhood, Jamaat e-Islami, Taglibi Jamaat, Salafist groups etc
Globalization and the shrinking of distances between Muslims has been a death blow for cultural practices that have long been passed off as religion. From the banning of women in mosques to worshiping at graves to bowing to "sheikhs", all of those are increasingly being seen for the fraud they are. This is true in even the most distant of places. I was in India three years ago and a guy at a hotel we were staying in was telling us about how a lot of dargahs (Sufi shrines around graves) are really hurting for money because people don't take them seriously anymore. The children of many of these shrine owners are shutting them down because they know it's all a fraud. He was telling us about how one of these shrines in a small village supposedly had a hair of the Prophet . People started asking the owner for a sample of the hair that they could DNA test and compare with other hairs supposedly belonging to the Prophet . For someone to challenge such a deeply held cultural belief even 75 years ago would have been unthinkable.
We're seeing an end to "Indian Islam" and "Arabian Islam" and "NigerianIslam" and seeing a rise in a global Islamic identity. The most important languages of which are Arabic and English. English speaking imams are far and away the most listened to and respected speakers in the world. Trust me, Hamza Yusuf, Yasir Qadhi, Nouman Ali Khan and their likes are more listened to around the world than one may think.
The increased integration of world societies as a result of enhanced communications, media, travel, and migration makes meaningful the concept of a single Islam practiced everywhere in similar ways, and an Islam which transcends national and ethnic customs.
We're also seeing a rediscovery of our intellectual heritage. For a long time, the Muslim world, with a few exceptions, had seen a stagnation in Islamic intellectual thought. Now though, we're seeing an era of intense revival. From Muhammad ash-Shawkani in fiqh (law) to Nasir al-Din Al-Albani in hadith (traditions) to Hamiduddin Farahi in tafsir (exegesis), the Muslim intellectual world is doing extremely well recently and Inshallah will continue to do so.
Politically, Muslims are not doing so well. but really, in the big scheme of things, it makes little difference for the Muslim community as a whole. Spiritual and intellectual revival do not require politics.
Global Muslim identity does not necessarily or even usually imply organised group action. Even though Muslims recognise a global affiliation, the real heart of Muslim religious life remains outside politics - in local associations for worship, discussion, mutual aid, education, charity, and other communal activities.
Another aspect of this is the increase in muslim women globally wearing the hijab. 50 years ago people would've said hijab was on the decrease and would be put into the dustbins of history. Everyone knows of that Nasser speech on Youtube where he tells the conference of how the Muslim Brotherhood's leader asked him to implement a hijab law and everyone in the room laughed. Well how wrong was Nasser. Ever since the 1970s hijab has increased by so much it is now a universal symbol of Islam and muslim sisterhood. Everywhere you go where there are muslims you will see hijab. that wasn't always the case in the past. In some places hijab was in a minority or virtually non-existent for a variety of reasons like Maldives, Central Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maritius, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Albania, Bangladesh, Kosovo etc. In muslim communities in say Vietnam and Cambodia hijab was non existent because they were quite isolated from the rest of the Islamic world but now with globalisation they can have better contact with the Islamic world and have access to Islamic knowledge and education. As a result the women in the villages and isolated communities are obnserving hijab alot better than they used to.
I'm quietly optimistic of the future of the Islamic world, at least from an intellectual and spiritual viewpoint. Politics and violence, that knows no religion. Disenfranchised and disenchanted people who believe they have no other way to express themselves will turn to violence no matter what religion they are. Obviously things are not perfect and improvements need to be made. But the fact this amount of progress (not small thing) happened in such a short amount of time is worth noting
This is in its early stages but Inshallah this can eventually lead to an Islamic Renaissance and Islamic Enligtenement where Islamic civilisation is at the forefront of science, art, literature, technology etc and muslims can make this world a better place with less oppression, hatred and violence and with more peace, compassion and justice.
All I can say is Insha'Allah. We are on a right path, but we must beware of increased radicalism not only within our own community but also by non-Muslims.
There is an increase of hate against Muslims and Islam especially in the USA and Europe. This because the image of Islam is tarnished by groups like ISIS, Al Qeada and other radicals. The media only increases this effect. We Muslims must counter that by words and idea's (theology).
Syaitan's army tried to distract us from the true path. The 'rock and roll' 50s, 'swinging' 60s, the age of disco of the 70s powered by alcohol, drugs and liberalism shook religious foundations to the core.
Fortunately, truth prevails, with guidance and intellect, people could see through the propaganda of Syaitan..(dajjal too)
By and large, the Muslim world is at an advanced stage of rot. We have a few intellectuals here and there, but generally Muslims are nothing more than stumbling sheep tumbling over each other.
More over, politics is integral to Islam as advancement and civilisation comes with political dominance. Today, never mind Muslims not knowing their aqeedah and making themselves cosy under western kufr political systems , many Muslim leaders are nothing but western puppets. They have given up jihad, for example, and have developed an inferiority complex. They lack vision and leadership.
I think that Muslim ummah is in a similar state when the crusades and Mongols were around - bad leaders, a few good Muslims and a lot of bloodshed.
Although Muslims in the west are rising, the anti Muslim lobbies are very eager to get rid of Islam altogether.
There is always hope though. Globalization is benefiting Muslims.
They merely:
Veiled themselves and didn't flaunt it
Sought forgiveness and didn't persist
Took ownership of it and don't justify it
And acted with excellence after they had erred - Ibn al-Qayyim
format_quote Originally Posted by Khalid Saifullah
Wasal
By and large, the Muslim world is at an advanced stage of rot. We have a few intellectuals here and there, but generally Muslims are nothing more than stumbling sheep tumbling over each other.
More over, politics is integral to Islam as advancement and civilisation comes with political dominance. Today, never mind Muslims not knowing their aqeedah and making themselves cosy under western kufr political systems , many Muslim leaders are nothing but western puppets. They have given up jihad, for example, and have developed an inferiority complex. They lack vision and leadership.
What is your opinion about Iran? I have to admit that they are unlike the rest of the Islamic world.
Although Indonesia Muslims are known as moderate, actually they are far more religious now than in 70's decade. In 70's Indonesian Muslims were very secular and regard Islamic values as backward. Believe it or not, in 70's sometime I found liquor in Eid parcel. It's because many Muslims in that time regard drinking alcohol was not haram.
The change started happen in 80's. Inspired by two events that happened in far place. First was Iran revolution. The second that gave bigger influence was the war in Afghanistan. These two events motivated Indonesian Muslims to rediscover Islam.
Nowadays many many Indonesian Muslim women are not ashamed to wear hijab like in the past. Sharia banks can be found in everywhere. Many business companies invite Islamic teachers to give tauziah to the employees. Muslim schools developed with purpose to produce Muslim scientist and engineers.
But indeed, this is also increase extremism among few Muslims.
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