Islam & Modernity (Asghar Ali Engineer Article)
nda...@aol.com
Thursday 12 November 1998
Islam and Modernity
Challenging Popular Perceptions
By ASGHAR ALI ENGINEER
IT is generally maintained that Islam and modernity are incompatible and
contradictory to each other. Also, it is thought that Islamic teachings are
incapable of adjusting to modernity. This is a stereotypical way of thinking.
It should be borne in mind that any religion, including Islam, can be
understood at many levels. How one understands religion depends on the
perspective of the interpreter, rather than on the religion itself. Be it
Hinduism or Islam in India, these religions were interpreted differently by
their orthodox and modern followers in the 19th century. There was acute
conflict between the two sections of followers in Hinduism and in Islam. There
was an even sharper conflict between the orthodox and modernists in Islamic
tradition.
Creative Tensions
Religion as we understand it, or inherit it, is never what scriptural
teachings are but what traditions from the given socio-economic milieu have
got associated with it. It is this complex whole -- scriptural teachings,
traditions and local customs -- which constitutes religion in the popular
mind. And, these accretions, over centuries, become more important than
scriptural teachings. However, with changing social mores, new traditions
emerge and provide space for new interpretations. The creative tensions
between what is and what ought to be provides for socio-religious dynamics.
No religion can escape this fate in a living and changing society and Islam
is no exception.
If we go by the Koranic teachings alone, Islam appears to be very close to
modernism. In fact, what goes by modernism itself is limited to the 19th and
early 20th century. We have entered what is called the post-modern era which
reappropriates some elements of the pre-modern period. However, we must first
define the parameters of modernism before examining the Islamic credentials of
modernism.
First, modernism is characterised by individual rights and individual
freedom. Related to this is the concept of human rights. In fact, human
rights hold a key position in modern western discourse. Also, related to this
is the concept of democracy. Democracy and democratic discourse is quite
central to modernity. Another important criteria of modernity is women's
rights. Last, the attitude towards science and scientific way of thinking is
equally crucial to the concept of modernity.
Though, technically, the era in which the Koran was revealed was
pre-mediaeval, its teachings have astonishing closeness to these parameters
of modernity. The Koran upholds collective rights though it stresses that
every individual is finally responsible for his or her actions. The Koranic
verse 99:7-8 states, ``So he who does an atom's weight of good will see it.
And he who does an atom's weight of evil will see it.'' Thus individualism is
quite central to the Koranic ethic.
Similarly, the concept of rights in the Koran is also individual. In fact,
some modernists have drawn comparisons between the UN Human Rights
Declaration and Koranic pronouncements and concluded that there is no
conflict between the two. The Koranic statement that ``There is no compulsion
in religion'' (2:256) is quite significant in this respect. The Koran also
upholds the rights of the individual to worship the way he/she desires even
if it be an idolatrous way of worshipping. Chapter 109 of the Koran, verses
1-6, states this emphatically. Also, the right to worship in one's own way is
emphasised in several other verses like 2:148. The right to life is an
important aspect of the UN declaration of human rights. The Koran also
stresses that one cannot take the life of any person, including non-believers
or dhimmi, without a just reason and due process of law. It finds expression
in the Koran in the verse 5:32 which states, ``...that whoever kills a
person, unless it be for manslaughter or for mischief in the land, it is as
though he had killed all men and whoever saves a life, it is as though, he
had saved the lives of all men.''
Sexual Equality
Each universally accepted human right finds correspondence in Koranic
pronouncements. However, we have cited a few only for want of space.
Similarly, it is usually thought that Islam is unfair to women and their
rights. This is far from true. In fact, the Koran is the first revealed book
which defines women's rights concretely, in respect of marriage, divorce,
inheritance and property. In the marital contract, a woman has an equal right
and, in fact, can marry on her own conditions. The Koran gives women the
right to free themselves from marriage by compensating the husband for the
mehr given by him at the time of marriage. Even if she is married in
childhood by her father, she has the option at puberty to opt out of
matrimony. She, of course, has the untrammelled right to property whether by
way of inheritance or her own earning.
Polygamy is an exception rather than a rule. Its misuse by Muslim men is a
different story. As far as the Koran is concerned, it is permitted in
exceptional circumstances and on rigorous condition of justice and equity
between all wives. If one reads the two verses on polygamy in the Koran
together (4:3 and 4:129), it becomes quite clear that polygamy is permitted in
exceptional circumstances.
The Koranic norm is clearly sexual equality, not male superiority. It is
stated in verse 2:228 wherein her rights are equated to what is held against
her i.e. her duties. Maulana Azad calls it a revolutionary declaration of
sexual equality by the Koran. It is even more explicitly stated in the verse
33:35. This verse leaves no one in doubt about the Koran's concept of sexual
equality.
The Koran does not expressly throw light on forms of government, but makes
clear that mutual consultation is highly desirable and requires even the
Prophet to consult his companions. From this, it is clear that Muslims should
run their affairs through democratic means.
Inductive Spirit
As far a scientific way of thinking and scientific discoveries are concerned,
one finds several verses in the Koran on nature and God's creation. Dr Iqbal,
the noted poet-philosopher has, in fact, pointed out in his lectures
Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam that the Koranic spirit is
inductive as against the deductive spirit of Greek philosophy. Sir Syed Ahmed
Khan also aptly put it that there is no contradiction between the word of God
and the work of God.
Thus, it is seen that Koranic teachings, as against many popular Muslim
practices, are quite modernistic in their orientation. It is for the Muslim
intellectuals to popularise these teachings and challenge existing practices.
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
Mo
exceptional circumstances and on rigorous condition of
justice and equity
between all wives. If<
Absolute lies . The Quran itself says 'Prophet you can have
as many wives and slave girsl to sleep with , and that
privelage is for you only . The rest of the Muslims must
stick to four (pooor guys) BUT they can have sex with all
the married slave girls''
Obviously the Prophet was giving his men license for sexual
activities , you dont have to be devout or an Islamic
apologist to see the obvious ..
ramk...@imap3.asu.edu
war-widows! Rest of the lies from Asghar Ali are really funny!
nda...@aol.com wrote:
: Times Of India