Islam And Modernity

 Islam And Modernity

 

 

The present thinking seems to be more likely interested in getting advance without having a proper understanding in advancement. It is human nature to have interest in moving forward. However, a proper definition,theory and practical must be presented.

The current philosophy seems to be more focused in materialistic value rather than metaphysical part of human. The discussion about material is really widespread. This resulted in the empathy of human souls. The regular fighting,suicide,anxiety, depression,corruption and others are all born from this lackness.

Most of the new sciences that emerge are most likely with the goal of either getting wealth,fame and rank. This is crucial for the Muslim because they believe in the life after death and all of the things he possesed in this world cant be used to buy the Lord`s pleasure. However, this does not mean that Islam restrict gaining them entirely. Islam has its own way in acquiring and using them aligned with the religion`s way.

However, these all has changed since the imperialists left their territories. They changed the political,education and economic management of the Muslim`s countries. Of course this will result in the weakening of the Muslim countries because they set themselves as the role model.

This paper will discussed briefly about Islam and how its stand against modernity. Common people will never now the line between permissible and forbidden things in Islam. This is because it is not their job in doing so rather than the scholars job. Briefly, it is permissible as long as it does not neglect the teachings of Islam

What Is Islam?

Islam is a religion that focus on the oneness of God with some logical explanations. This religion was there since the first human being reside the earth which was Adam and Eve. Throughout times, the sole God which is called Allah sent prophets to warn them about His presence. Each prophet has their own rulings.The total numbers of prophets is 313. The current Muslim followed the last and final messenger named Mohamad. He lived in Mecca about 1400 years ago.

Derived from his teachings, the scholars of Islam from time to time will settle the issues that related to the religion. The last 200 years was the first problem encountered by the Muslim all around the world, which was the imperialism.  The imperialists did not only took the wealth away from Muslim land, but also implemented their philosophy and lifestyle in their colonist land. Thus, few scholars of Islam did preach the danger for the Muslim in adopting the western philosophy.However, adopting the western knowledge is not totally false as long as it being filtered rightly. This is to ensure that wrong understanding on this worldly life absorbs to the Muslim mind and souls. Thus the filteration process must be made by the qualified scholars of Islam who knows the real tradition of knowledge and the current needs.

Among the warned things in Islam is wastage. Please note that wastage can be in the form of energy and time rather than materials alone. Allah said in the Al-Quran

 

 

أن المبذيرين كانو اخوان الشياطين و كان الشيطان لربه كفورا

 

Translations : Indeed, the people of wastage is the brothers of the devils and the devils disobeyed his lord

 

It is clear in this verse that Allah did not like wastage.

Modernity And God

For the Muslims, it is permissable for them to posses the most advance technology. In fact, it is recommended if it can bring benefits to the religion. However, it is human nature to forget something when they are doing something else. We can see a lot of illogcal thinking roses from not having a proper guideline such as feminsim,materialism, transgender,bisexual and others. This kind of similar event is already recorded in Al-Quran where Allah said :

 

ألتي لم يخلق مثلها في البلاد

 

Translation :

 

“And the nations that never build something like that”

 

The whole context of this verse is talking about the people of A`ad  where Allah sent them prophet Soleh. They were known for their great buildings. They were able to carve the mountains and made great pillars in them. However, they turned away from the message and Allah sent them wind as a torment.

Conclusion

 

Not all of the modern philosophy is against the Islamic values. There are some that goes along with it but need to be filtered by the scholars. This is because modern people do not have any reference on their thinking. They can think,speak and act to whatever they wants even it is against the holy books.

In Islam, the Al-Quran,As-Sunnah and the scholars are made as the reference of thinking. Whatever we think,speak or act must come from these sources. If one is unable to do so, he must seek the guidance of the scholars. This is to avoid the confusion from those parties that propagate life is just a matter of wealth,rank and fame.

If we analyze carefully, very few of those who gave their life in the pursue of materials managed to become very succesful. This is because the Muslim believes, no matter how hard you try on something, the destined has been pre determined by god. If one try its best to avoid something, the thing will hit him no matter what. While if one try its best to achieve something, the thing will not come if it is predestined by God. Hence, it is the best to accept the destined set by God. This is the sixth pillars of the faith of Muslim.

When this thing is not implemented in our sciences, we can see that as if human is trying to protest on the God`s destined. One of the signs of this condition is that he is willing to do the things against the main jurisprudence of Islam. If one not careful enough, he eventually might fell in this category and will suffer great loss in the hereafter.