Contemporary Challenges to Islam (Muslim world and

the contemporary challenges)

Prepared By:
Prof. Arshad Iqbal Chuder
CSS/PMS Mentor,
Author Siraj Islamiat for CSS/PMS
by World Time’s
 )١٠٣:‫ﺗَﻔَ ﱠرﻗ ُ ْوا۔ )آل ﻋﻣران‬ ‫َﺻ ُﻣ ْوا ِﺑ َﺣ ْﺑ ِل ا ﱣ ِ َﺟ ِﻣ ْﯾﻌًﺎ ﱠو َﻻ‬
ِ ‫َوا ْﻋﺗ‬
"And hold fast, all together, by the rope which
Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided
among yourselves;"
ِ ‫ﺎس ﺗَﺎ ْ ُﻣ ُر ْو َن ِﺑ ْﺎﻟ َﻣ ْﻌ ُر ْو‬
‫ف َوﺗ َ ْﻧ َﮭ ْو َن َﻋ ِن ْاﻟ ُﻣ ْﻧﮑ َِر‬ ِ ‫ِﻟﻠﻧﱠ‬ ْ ‫ا ُ ْﺧ ِر َﺟ‬
‫ت‬ ‫َﺧﯾ َْر ا ُ ﱠﻣ ٍۃ‬ ‫ﮐُ ْﻧﺗ ُ ْم‬
)١٠:‫َوﺗُؤْ ِﻣﻧ ُ ْو َن ِﺑﺎ ﱣ ِ۔)اﻟﻌﻣران‬
"You are the best of peoples, evolved for
mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what
is wrong"
‫ﺗﺎن رﻧﮓ و ُﺧوں ﮐو ﺗوڑ ﮐر ﻣﻠت ﻣﯾں ﮔُم ﮨو ﺟﺎ‬
ِ ُ‫؎ ﺑ‬
‫ﻧہ ﺗوراﻧﯽ رﮨﮯ ﺑﺎﻗﯽ ﻧہ اﯾراﻧﯽ ﻧہ اﻓﻐﺎﻧﯽ‬
Outlines
Introduction
Internal problems
External problems
Suggestion to solve problems
Conclusion
1. Introduction
Allah Almighty bestowed Muslim ummah with countless
resources for the fulfillment of their spiritual and material
necessities. In the form of Quran, Holy Kaa’ba and role
model of Holy Prophet (‫)ﷺ‬.
Muslims make more than 21 percent of world population;
they cover 90 million area from world land and possess
69% oil resources of the world.
Challenges like law and order situation, poverty,
sectarianism, lack of education, ethnicity, regional
conflicts and moral dilemma.
2. Internal problems
2.1 Law and order issues:
"At present, the whole Muslim Ummah is facing law and order
issues. There is no letup in heinous acts like killing the innocent
people, terrorism, bomb blasts and violence against women.
The state of affairs is aggravating day by day. It's like a
grievous punishment from Allah. Allah Almighty says:
‫ﺳﻛُ ْم ِﺷﯾَﻌًﺎ‬ ‫ﺑ‬ ْ
‫ﻠ‬ ‫ﯾ‬ ‫و‬َ ‫ا‬ ‫م‬ُ ‫ﻛ‬‫ﻠ‬ ‫ﺟ‬ ‫ر‬ َ ‫ا‬ ‫ت‬
ِ ‫َﺣ‬
ْ ‫ﺗ‬ ْ
‫ن‬ ‫ﻣ‬ ‫و‬َ ‫ا‬ ‫م‬ُ ‫ﻛ‬‫ﻗ‬ ‫و‬َ ‫ﻓ‬ ْ
‫ن‬ ‫ﻣ‬ ‫ﺎ‬ً ‫ﺑ‬‫ا‬َ ‫ذ‬‫ﻋ‬ ‫م‬ُ ‫ﻛ‬‫ﯾ‬ْ َ ‫ﻠ‬ ‫ﻋ‬ َ
‫ث‬ ‫ﻌ‬‫ﺑ‬ ْ ‫ﱠ‬ ‫ﯾ‬ ْ
‫ن‬ َ ‫ا‬ ‫ﻲ‬ ٓ‫ﻗ ُ ْل ھُو ْاﻟﻘَﺎ ِدر ﻋ ٰﻠ‬
َ ِ َ ْ ْ ِ ُ ْ ِ ْ ْ ْ ّ ِ ِ َ ْ َ َ َ ُ َ
)65:‫ض ۔ )اﻻﻧﻌﺎم‬ ٍ ‫س ﺑَ ْﻌ‬ َ ْ ‫ﺿﻛُ ْم ﺑَﺎ‬
َ ‫ﱠوﯾ ُ ِذﯾ َْق ﺑَ ْﻌ‬
"Says: "He has power to send calamities on you, from
above and below, or to cover you with confusion in party,
strife giving you a taste of mutual vengeance -- each from
the other.“
2. Internal problems
2.2 Sectarianism:
Muslim world is being consumed by unprecedented
sectarianism nowadays.
The evil, satanic forces have been creating the Shia blocs
against the Sunnis and the Sunni blocs against the Shias since
long.
The decade-old Iran-Iraq War was the outcome of these
forces' conspiracies.
In Pakistan, the financial aid by some Arab countries to the
outfits belonging to thier own sect, and the Shia state's
2. Internal problems
2.3 Illiteracy/Lack of education:
Muslims states lag far behind (‫ )ﺑﮩت ﭘﯾﭼﮭﮯ ﮨﯾں‬in technical
education in general, and in science and technology in
particular.
Even a developing country like Pakistan has not surpassed
(‫ )آﮔﮯ ﻧﮩﯾں ﺑڑھ ﺳﮑﺎ‬a rate of more than 60%.
Though the number of literates in some Muslim states
exceeds 90%, they are still way behind others in the field of
science and technology.
 2. Internal problems
2.4 Religious, regional and linguistic prejudices:
"Even in the present epoch (‫ )ﻋﮩد‬in history, there are many
sorts of prides in Muslim countries.
For instance, the slogan of Arab nationalism is also heard
quite often.“
While on the contrary, Holy Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said in Last Sermon:
‫وﻻ ِﻻَ ْﺣﻣر َﻋ ٰﻠﯽ‬ َ ‫ا َ َﻻ ﻻ ﻓﺿل ِﻟﻌَ َرﺑﯽ َﻋ ٰﻠﯽ ﻋﺟﻣﯽ و َﻻ ِﻟﻌَ َﺟ ِﻣﯽ ﻋﻠﯽ َﻋ َرﺑﯽ‬
َ ‫وﻻ ِﻻ ْﺳ َود ﻋﻠﯽ اﺣﻣر‬
‫ﺑﺎﻟﺗﻘوی۔‬
ٰ ‫ا َ ْﺳ َود ا ﱠِﻻ‬
“There is no favour of an Arab over a foreigner, nor a
foreigner over an Arab, and neither white skin over black skin,
2. Internal problems
2.5 Inertia in thoughts/Ijtehad in the doldrums:
With the passage of time, a large number of changes have
taken place and there was a strong need to review those
opinions and again resort to the original sources i.e. Qur'an
and Sunnah, for seeking guidance.
Unfortunately this could not happen.
Ulema-e-Ummah are rendering meritorious services (‫ﻗﺎﺑل ﺗﺣﺳﯾن‬
‫ )ﺧدﻣﺎت اﻧﺟﺎم دے رﮨﮯ ﮨﯾں‬in their individual capacity but the efforts
and contribution required to be put collectively
3. External problems
3.1 West's cultural invasion
The West has a covert (‫ )ﺧﻔﯾہ‬agenda to impose its culture and
civilization.
Huge amounts are being spent for this very purpose.
Hence, the cultural invasion has become a burning issue for
the Muslim Ummah, and it needs to be addressed on a war
footing.
3. External problems
3.2 The quest of the west to seize resources
Historically, the West has been perpetually (‫ )ﮨﻣﯾﺷہ ﺳﮯ‬following
the policies to get hold of the resources owned by the
Muslims to save those for their future use.
It is elaborately manifest that the Americans and the
Europeans have been indulged the Muslims into wars only to
control the resources of the Muslim world.
3. External problems
3.3 West’s role in internally destabilizing Muslim states
The West has been following a multi-pronged (‫)ﮐﺛﯾراﻟﺟﮩﺗﯽ‬
strategy to destabilize Muslim countries internally.
So that any Muslim country may not be strong enough to
pose (‫ )ﻻﺣق‬a threat to them.
They believe that if it happens, then their ascendency (‫)ﻋروج‬
may be in jeopardy (‫)ﺧطره‬.
3. External problems
3.4 Creation of Israel: a Jewish state
The Great Britain contributed hugely to establish a Jewish
state i.e. Israel.
Today the US is patronizing this illegitimate state.
The West does not pay heed to the cries of innocent
Palestinians when they are brutally bombed and annihilated
by the savage Israelis (‫)وﺣﺷﯽ اﺳراﺋﯾﻠﯾوں ﮐﮯ ذرﯾﻌﮯ ﻓﻧﺎ ﮐﯾﮯ ﺟﺎرﮨﮯ ﮨﯾں‬
who are at liberty to exterminate (‫ )ﺧﺗم ﮐرﯾں‬as many of
Palestinian Muslims as they wish.
This has also contributed to further aggravating (‫ﻣزﯾد ﺑڑھﺎ رﮨﮯ‬
3. External problems
3.5 Mockery of Islamic values
The Muslims deem (‫ )ﺧﯾﺎل ﮐرﺗﮯ ﮨﯾں‬it the greatest prestige (‫)وﻗﺎر‬
and honour, and the very foundation of their faith, to
sacrifice their lives in the name of our beloved Prophet (‫)ﷺ‬.
Islam is attacked by these infidels (‫ )ﮐﺎﻓروں ﮐﮯ ذرﯾﻌﮯ‬every other
day misusing rather abusing the name of “Freedom of
Expression”.
These dual standards had sown the seeds of hatred (‫ﻧﻔرت ﮐﮯ‬
‫ )ﺑﯾﺞ ﺑوﺗﮯ ﮨﯾں‬and animosity between the East and the West.
Islamic values are mocked in the Western countries, which in
this era of globalization where the world has become a
global village, ensues (‫ )ﯾﻘﯾﻧﯽ ﺑﻧﺎﺗﺎ ﮨﮯ‬countless problems.
4. Suggestion to solve the problems of
Muslim countries
4.1 Unity of Ummah:
There are explicit (‫ )واﺿﺢ‬teachings in the Holy Qur’an
regarding unity, the violation of which may invite severe
punishments. Allah says in Surah Al Imran (The Family of
Imran) verse 103:
(103 :‫(آل ﻋﻣران‬ ۠ ‫َﺻ ُﻣ ْوا ِﺑ َﺣ ْﺑ ِل ا ﱣ ِ َﺟ ِﻣ ْﯾﻌًﺎ ﱠو َﻻ ﺗَﻔَ ﱠرﻗ ُ ْوا‬
ِ ‫َوا ْﻋﺗ‬
“And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah
(stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves.
”
4. Suggestion to solve the problems of
Muslim countries
4.2 Organization of Islamic cooperation:
Strive to gain a permanent seat in the United Nations Security
Council (UNSC) for the organization.
Organization must be freed from the claws of any country
financial and management dominance.
Proposed strategy of Muslims’ renaissance (‫ )ﻧﺷﺎة ﺛﺎﻧﯾہ‬should be
implemented through this organization e.g. joint defence,
joint currency, joint scientific and research institutions.
4. Suggestion to solve the problems of
Muslim countries
4.3 Joint defence:
Muslim countries should have a joint defence mechanism as
the Europe has in form of Nato.
Make joint investments to set up ordnance plants for the
production of weaponry like nukes (‫ )اﯾﭨﻣﯽ ﮨﺗﮭﯾﺎر‬and missiles.
A joint force whose successive (‫ )ﯾﮑﮯ ﺑﻌد دﯾﮕرے‬chiefs may
come from different countries.
The training of this joint force should be conducted on
Islamic lines so that the idols of nationalism, regionalism and
linguistic pride may be shattered.
4. Suggestion to solve the problems of
Muslim countries
4.4 Education:
Putting in collective efforts to eradicate illiteracy from Muslim
societies.
Make arrangements for religious education along with the
worldly knowledge
Establishment of universities of science and technology with
shared investments.
Launching of the Islamic universities where the religious
education should be imparted (‫ )دی ﺟﺎﺋﮯ‬in line with the
requirements of the modern world.
4. Suggestion to solve the problems of
Muslim countries
4.5 Common economy:
Make a common currency like euro in Europe
Eliminate action of usury and making economy based on
Zakat
Deposit all sums of money in an Islamic bank which must be
insured by the receiving bank.
Remove restrictions on trade among Muslim states
Ease visa policy
Interest-free banking
4. Suggestion to solve the problems of
Muslim countries
4.6 Society:
Endeavour to promote Islamic values
Strengthen the family system
Eradication sexual abuses
Promotion of Hijab
Establishment of modern institutions for reformation
4. Suggestion to solve the problems of
Muslim countries
4.7 Views of Iqbal and Jamaluddin Afghani on the unity of
Ummah:
The opinion of Syed Jamaluddin Afghani and Allama Iqbal,
the basis of Muslims unity is only in Islam; not region,
language, colour or race. That’s why both of them have a
consensus opinion regarding Pan-Islamism, as both yearned
for (‫ )ﺗڑﭘﺗﮯ رﮨﮯ‬an Islamic state free of such prejudices. Iqbal
says in this regard:
‫؎ ﻧﺳل اﮔر ﻣﺳﻠم ﮐﯽ ﻣذﮨب ﭘر ﻣﻘدم ﮨو ﮔﺋﯽ‬
‫ﺧﺎک ره ﮔزر‬
ِ ‫اُڑ ﮔﯾﺎ د ُﻧﯾﺎ ﺳﮯ ﺗُو ﻣﺎﻧﻧ ِد‬
“If the Muslims start preferring race or nationality to religion,
4. Suggestion to solve the problems of
Muslim countries
At another place, he says:
‫رﻣز ﻣﺳﻠﻣﺎﻧﯽ‬
ِ ‫ ﯾﮩﯽ‬،‫؎ ﯾﮩﯽ ﻣﻘﺻو ِد ﻓطرت ﮨﮯ‬
‫ ﻣﺣﺑت ﮐﯽ ﻓراواﻧﯽ‬،‫ا ُ ُﺧ ّوت ﮐﯽ ﺟﮩﺎں ﮔﯾری‬
“This alone is the creation’s objective, this alone is Islam’s
secret That there should be universal brotherhood, abundant
love!”
‫اﻗوام ﻣﻐرب ﺳﮯ ﻧہ ﮐر‬ ِ ‫؎ اﭘﻧﯽ ﻣﻠت ﭘر ﻗﯾﺎس‬
‫ﻗوم رﺳُو ِل ﮨﺎﺷﻣﯽ‬
ِ ‫ﺧﺎص ﮨﮯ ﺗرﮐﯾب ﻣﯾں‬
Judge not your nation on the criteria of Western nations
Special in composition is the Hashimâ Prophet’s nation
‫؎ اُن ﮐﯽ ﺟﻣﻌﯾّت ﮐﺎ ﮨﮯ ُﻣﻠﮏ و ﻧﺳب ﭘر اﻧﺣﺻﺎر‬
‫ت ﻣذﮨب ﺳﮯ ﻣﺳﺗﺣﮑم ﮨﮯ ﺟﻣﻌﯾّت ﺗری‬ ِ ‫ﻗو‬
Based on country and race is their organization The force of
5. Conclusion
Above discussion proves that challenges can not be
addressed by any individual or a country alone.
Muslims authorities, scholars, politicians, social thinkers and
scientists collectively can give solution of all problems.
Undoubtedly, Khutbat (addresses) of Allama Iqbal
“Reconstruction of religious thoughts in Islam” is much better
to solve the current issues.