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Offline Reader Questions

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The Reasons for Muslim Downfall - Why?
« on: April 07, 2012, 08:13:32 AM »
Salam Dear Brother Joseph,

Pick up any newspaper (or internet news) we find so many negative news about Muslims. Blowing people up in the name of Allah and His Rasool, corruption, bribery, favoritism, illiteracy, disease, poverty, bad governance, honour killings, minority bashing, ignorance, sectarianism, "Me and my group is the best" syndrome, etc etc. Muslim  countries contribute nothing to science, technology, medicine, fine arts, etc. etc. If we were to ask any non Muslim about what their impression of Islam and Muslims is, it is negative.

Muslims are big on rituals. According to a litmus test, simple way to see if rituals are helping the Muslims is to observe their societies. Apparently even rituals are not helping! They have been made to appear as if they are good for individual salvation. Allah always asks the Muslims to do something for a reason (unlike a Dictator). When a medicine is designed to stop the spread of (say) malaria, how smart is it for people to keep taking it? Rituals are designed to create those who do good works the results of which should be not only seen in societies but be an inspiration to others in the world looking for a better system.

I was wondering if you have given thought to this disappointing state of affairs. Once the Muslims were the opposite of what they are today. What led to their downfall and (2) What, in your view, will revive them?

Regards

Offline Joseph Islam

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Re: The Reasons for Muslim Downfall - Why?
« Reply #1 on: April 07, 2012, 08:19:39 AM »
Salamun Alaikum,

Some thoughts.

What led to Muslim downfall:

  • Forsaking and deserting the Quran, its true message and its guidance. This has lead to sectarianism, lack of unity and collective purpose.
  • Overt dependency on the classical secondary source corpus, rulings and interpretations as a primary tool to understanding true Islamic concepts. This has shackled the true message of the Quran and suffocated its invincible ideology.
  • Lack of critical thought and intellectual suicide. It is hard to imagine that Muslims scholars were once part of the greatest minds, the translation movement, great mathematicians, astronomers, physicians, innovators and thinkers.
  • A regressive tradition of not encouraging those of the greatest intellectual capacity to seek Islamic knowledge. In certain Muslim societies, it is not uncommon that the intellectual runt of the family is encouraged to seek Islamic knowledge as an alternative profession.
  • Rise of intellectually bankrupt ideologies pumped by petrodollars on a global platform and a rejection of true scholastic pursuits.
  • The reticence of the dormant Muslim masses that do not present a united voice for change even when their inept, regressive ideologies are clearly manifest to them.

We must not blame the rituals. This is a red-herring. Such a sentiment is analogous of a bad carpenter that blames his tools. There are great periods in Muslim history when Muslim kingdoms thrived and rituals were part and parcel of their deen. Did the Andalucian scholars not pray, fast or undertake pilgrimage? Did the great Mughals not pray? Did ancient powerful rulers such as Prophets David and Solomon (pbut) not pray?

It is not the rituals which are the problem; it is the true purpose of the rituals which has been guillotined along with some of the factors considered above.  A tool is useless without a skilled carpenter that knows how to make best use of it.

Under the Quran we can recapture the glimpses of splendour of an ancient past. But the Quran must lead us. Today, alas, it is the oft-blindfolded clergy which have the power to influence.

Resolutions:

  • Shackle the influence of bad Muslim leadership, repressive ideologies and the intellectually bankrupt clergy.
  • Wake up the silent majority.
  • Seek a strong reform under the guidance of the Quran.
  • Change our current attitudes to learning for the better.
  • Encourage scholastic pursuits and bring the core peaceful message of the Quran to a global platform (regardless of academic differences) where these voices can be heard.
  • Make these voices influential, using today's modern communication methods and tools.
  • Learn lessons and implement change. Our Jewish brothers and sisters were a relatively small, scattered community in Diaspora, yet they managed to become one of the most powerful, influential people on the planet today. Learn lessons from our brothers and sisters of the Book. They are not an alien people. They worship the same Creator we do with all their rituals and in many aspects, no different from our own!
  • Let us love all our fellow human beings irrespective of our differences. We must lead by example.

The Islam interpreted and presented from the Quran is a peaceful religion which speaks directly to one's soul. It is only when it is shackled with secondary sources, that the most dire, extreme interpretation results.

I hope that helps, God willing.

Regards,
Joseph.
'During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act' 
George Orwell