ISLAMS GIFTS TO THE WORLD [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

WHY CULTURAL DECAY?

PRESENTED BY

AL-BALAGH FOUNDATION

INTRODUCTION

(We take) Allah's colour, and who is
better than Allah at colouring, and we are His
worshippers.
Holy Qur'an (2:138)

Islam came to light man's path and provide him with a
system of life that regulates his relationship with his
Creator and his fellowman. It brought about a radical
change in man's concepts, ideas, beliefs, and life. It
built a grand 'ummah' and a remarkable culture and
started a scientific revival that changed the course of
history.

Islamic culture grew, developed an independent
character, and found a definite identity; in a systematic
and distinguished way.

Basing their efforts on monotheism, Muslim
philosophers, 'fuqaha', intellectuals and researchers
shared in the build-up of the 'ummah's' cultural
character.

In the past, Islamic culture faced a series of
military and ideological wars that dragged on for many
centuries, but, in spite of all the tribulations and
hardships, it emerged victorious. And today, Islamic
culture, Islamic doctrine and the Muslim 'Ummah' are the
target of a hostile, vicious and ignorant war launched by
both the East and the West.

Our forefathers did their job, now it is the task of
the Muslim intellectuals, researchers, and preachers
(ulama) to face up to the present-day ignorant, cultural
invasion, spearheaded by capitalism and helped by
existentialism and the variety of modern, materialistic
schools and philosophies. Spilt construction Muslim
'ulama' and intellectuals challenged the ignorant
cultures at the time of the first stage of cultural and
ideological interaction, following the embracing of Islam
by other nations, including the Persians, Indians and
Chinese. Such non-Islamic beliefs also seeped into the
Muslim world through the translation of Greek and Roman
thought, and through the adherents of the distorted
divine religions; Judaism, Christianity and the like.

Our 'ummah' is undoubtedly going through a bitter,
culture struggle. Our war with our foes is cultural in
the first place and it is the most dangerous of all wars
staged against our Muslim 'ummah' even more dangerous
than the ideological one.

The superpowers have lift no stone unturned to swerve
the 'ummah's' political march. In the twentieth century,
they have made efforts, laid. plans, built educational
institutions, organized political parties, and innovated
theories and schools of thought, such as Qadiyaniyah and
Baha'ism, for this purpose.

They have mobilized the mass media; radio stations,
television networks, cinema and theater, as well as the
print media, in order to present a cultural
substitute to the Muslim generations, in a bid to
make them drop their Islamic beliefs and repudiate their
great Islamic values. But Allah wills to keep His Word
high and that of the idolaters low:

... Then as for the scum, it passes away
as a worthless thing; and as for that which does good to
people, it tarries on the earth. Thus does Allah set
forth parables.
Holy Qur'an (13:17)

Those Muslims who are working hard to revive Islam,
and those who call for it to guide humanity must, once
again, join hands, unify their ranks, and put aside their
slight religious, racial and sectarian differences;
clinging to the call of guidance and hoisting the flag of
enlightenment to mankind.

As it presents this booklet to its readers, Al-Balagh
Foundation prays, to Allah; the Exalted and
All-Powerful, to make it useful to them. It is hoped that
this modest effort will help in correcting wrong concepts
by purifying our thoughts, and exhorting Muslims to hold
on to Islam. Allah certainly hears our prayers.

AL-BALAGH FOUNDATION

CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION

Concepts are the main pillar of the edifice of culture
and knowledge. Thanks to these, a certain 'ummah's'
cultural and ideological character, with its particular
qualities, from others.

Our Islamic knowledge, in the fields of thought,
literature, jurisprudence, law, politics, ethics, art,
philosophy... etc, has its own concepts and expressions.
If our concepts, such as those of freedom, obedience,
responsibility, 'ummah', homeland, politics, worship,
asceticism, art, counsel 'shoora', culture, civilization,
innate nature (fitrah), reason, realization, spirit,
soul, hypocrisy, apostasy, ignorance (pre-Islamic era),
equality, justice, oppression... are well defined,
well-coined, and well-used in the light of Islam,
expressing exactly their ideological, doctrinal and
cultural meanings, then we can shape our separate,
distinguished cultural character, and at the same time
have a tenacious, cultural build-up. Should we do this we
would no longer lack the ability to discern and sift out
the concepts. Foreign ideas and concepts could hardly
have a harmful on our message and beliefs.

Every expression has its won special, definite
meaning, a certain ideological sense; and a well-defined
cultural import, It is not right to use the word
freedom the way capitalists and pornographers
do, or understand it in the sphere of personal conduct,
economics and polities the way they do. Nor, it is right
to understand homeland and nation
the way man-made theories and laws do. We should
understand it as it is in Islam; our nation is the Muslim
'ummah'. The concept of 'ummah', as we know it, is 'a
human group bound to each other by the bonds of doctrine
and principle; 'The Muslim 'ummah' is one; always open to
new converts, but of a definite type and character.'
So, the Muslim 'ummah' is never restricted to a certain
community, people, land or language and it is capable of
increasing in number. Any individual, or nation that
embraces Islam joins this 'ummah' and becomes part of it.

'Culture' and 'civilization' are two words that are
vaguely and wrongly understood by many people; some
people even mix them up. As a result, a call to abolish
the cultural character of the Muslim 'ummah' has emerged.
Some called for subservience, first, to the Western
materialistic culture, and then, to the Communist,
Marxist one. They also called for dissolving the
'ummah's' character, and obliterating its peculiarities
by means of borrowing foreign concepts, and modifying
certain expressions and slogans, without touching a
borrowed thought; which is alien to Islam. Great effort
was made, actually , by the 'ideological agents' and the
collaborators of the 'cultural imperialism' to achieve
this end.

It is a matter of great importance to properly define
the meanings of 'culture' and 'civilization', and show
the correct use of each of these two words. In order to
explain the difference between them, let us define these
expressions, and give some examples.

Culture is 'a set of ideas and concepts about the
universe, existence, life and man'. Under this
category fall beliefs, laws, regulations, morals,
philosophy, art, and literature. Briefly, culture can be
defined as 'a set of principles and values on which
human character and social life are based, and by which
their relationship is defined'. The scope of culture
is then, 'the human side of life'. And, it is due
to this that the concept of culture, and the way of
developing it, varies from one culture to another; and,
so, we have Islamic culture, Greek culture, Roman
culture, Capitalist culture, Communist culture.. etc.
Each one of these cultures has its own style and way of
shaping human character, and building life.

The way Islam understands life and moulds man, with
all his ideas, concepts, sentiments, behaviour, social
organisation and human ties, differs for example, from
the way capitalist or communist cultures do. This
cultural style of shaping man's character leaves its
impact on his life. It marks, with its colour, his
behaviour and existence, his artistic, literary, cultural
and behavioural activities, making his character and
society distinctly particular among the individual
characters and societies made by other culture.

The Holy Qur'an refers to this cultural colour, and
the distinguishing marks of the Muslim individual and
groups:

So, if they believe as you believe, they
are indeed on the right course; and if they turn back,
then they are only in opposition. But Allah will suffice
you against them; and He is All-Hearing, All-
All-Knowing. (We take) Allah's colour, and who is better
than Allah at colouring, and we are His
worshippers.
Holy Qur'an (137-138)

So, the doctrine of monotheism and the values of the
faith form the core of Islamic culture. They are a
tenacious, close-knit body. Substituting cultural ideals
and concepts such as laws, morals, philosophy, and
theories of sociology and psychology...etc, for other
ideals leads to ruin; in fact, to the ideological and
behavioural collapse of the 'ummah'.

Civilization, on the other hand, differs greatly in
its meaning from culture. It is 'the modus vivendi to the
way man's energies and the resources of nature are
employed; which is done through science, natural
experiments, discoveries and inventions, that enables man
to harness natural resources, making use of them in his
industries, construction materials, agriculture, and the
type of wars he fights. He can produce whatever tools or
equipment he needs; however inexpensive, primitive, or
complicated and advanced they may be:

This is the scientific side of life. Man, in this
case, discovers the laws of nature and life and employs
them in industry...etc.

The difference between culture and civilization, then,
is that the former is related to the human side of man's
life, while the latter is related to the materialistic
side.

Culture shows man how 'he should behave in life'
and draws for him 'his relationship with the Creator
of the world and his fellowman', while civilization
is defined as 'man's ability to discover laws of
nature and life, and how he should employ them for his
benefit'.

Civilization, then, is shared by men regardless of
their social theories, beliefs and philosophies. It
differs only slightly one culture to another, and the
scope of difference depends on the cultural concepts and
social values that govern the different cultures.

We should pay particular attention to an important
point concerning 'culture' and 'civilization', because
they are two expressions that have new meaning which is
different from the original, literal one. In Arabic,
'hadharah' refers to the process of living in a
village or the countryside and means a permanent, settled
life; which is opposite to the wandering life of the
bedouins.

As for 'madaniyyah' (civilization), it is taken
from the verb 'madana' - (to settle in a certain place),
therefore, both words are literally similar, denoting
settlements, permanent life, and residence. The two words
give this meaning idiomaticness, but each one of them
covers a specific area which makes it impossible to use
them interchangeably.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CULTURE AND
CIVILIZATION

In spite of the fact that the area of 'culture' and
its sphere of influence is the human side of man's life;
including beliefs, behaviour, ideals, laws, arts,
literature…etc, and the area of 'civilization' is
the material means of life; such as transportation,
machinery, petroleum-drilling the process of producing
medicine, and curing the sick ..,etc, they are linked
firmly together, and affected by each other.

What matters, here, is Islam's view of the
relationship between culture and civilization, which
gives culture precedence over civilization.

In the light of cultural values, centred around the
doctrine of monotheism, man makes use of the achievements
of civilization for his own benefit, Whatever culture
allows him, he is free to produce and then use.

But whatever culture forbids, as being 'haram', he has
no right to use, or, for that matter to make as a tool;
which would ruin self-fulfillment, and human life,

For example, civilization presents us with medicine;
manufactures planes, cars; produces cotton and woollen
textiles; produces different materials from petroleum;
develops agricultural production and improves breeds of
animals; provides housing with furniture, as well as
heating and cooling systems...etc. thus, it provides
resources for man; putting at his disposal whatever helps
him lead a comfortable life.

Here, culture enters the scene, giving explanation for
the way of using and benefitting from all these
remarkable human achievements. However, when man
manufactures tools and equipment of destruction,
annihilation, and torture, and employs his talents to
produce tools for entertainment, debauchery, and
pornography; such as drugs, liquor, and tools of aberrant
sex...etc, culture, with its values and standards, blocks
the way of deviation and the unwise use of man's energy,
with that of resources of nature.

The Holy Qur'an mentions this relationship between
culture and civilization and the grave danger of
deviating from the straight cultural path. It talks about
nations that misused their material achievements due to
their misunderstanding of the role of their achievements,
stemming from their lack of values and ideals. The Qur'an
says:

And Allah sets forth a parable; a town
safe and secure, to which its means of subsistence came
in abundance from every quarter , but it disbelieved in
Allah's favours, so Allah made it taste a pall of hunger
and fear because of what they wrought.
Holy Qur'an (16:112)

Do you build on every height a monument?
You (only) sport. And you make fortresses that you may
abide. And when you seize, you seize as tyrants. So, be
in awe of Allah and obey me. And be in awe of Him Who
aids you with that which you know- He aids you with
cattle and children. And gardens and fountains. Surely I
fear for you the chastisement of a grievous Day.
Holy Qur'an (26:128-135)

And, it also emphasizes the leading role of culture in
this verse:

So, be in awe of Allah and obey me, and be
in awe of Him Who aids you with that which you
know.
Holy Qur'an (131-132)

Prophet Hud (a.s.), as the aforementioned verses show,
exhorted his people to be obedient and pious; to adhere
to the religious beliefs he brought to them, which
outlined the way they should use their material
achievements in the best, proper way. He warned them that
their civilization might turn into a catastrophe that
would devastate them; changing their life into total
misery and suffering; a life of starvation, fear,
repression...etc. How perfect the Qur'anic analysis of
that situation is! How easily it can apply to our time!
Anyone who would like to examine the similarity between
pre-Islamic era (jahiliyyah) civilization would find no
testimonies better than the concepts of our modern,
ignorant, materialistic achievements and his civilized
progress, into tools of oppression, exploitation,
deviation, enslavement, and blood letting. Never has
history witnessed such a large-scale, horrifying
predicament that man has brought upon himself as is in
the case of the present-day.

Since the hour of their birth, the contemporary,
ignorant civilizations of Capitalism and Communism, among
others, have been treading the same path as the old
'jahiliyyah' civilizations. Both ancient and modem
civilizations, as expressed in the Qur'an exploit man's
scientific advancement devastatingly, bringing down upon
humanity deviation, misery, oppression and ruin.

ISLAM'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS CIVILIZATION

AND DIFFERENT CULTURES

After studying the difference between culture and
civilization we should now determine the attitude of
Islam towards civilization and the various existing
cultures on this planet.

Islam displays a confident posture in that it refuses
to subscribe to any culture forein to it which includes
any concept, doctrine, legislation, moral value, life
philosophy ...etc, that is not based on its beliefs, or
has no common ground with it. So, the imitation of the
capitalist, communist, socialist, Roman, Greek...etc.
civilization; the free adoption of any of their
doctrines, or the dissolution into their entities, is
something firmly rejected by Islam. There is no way to
reconcile these cultures with Islamic principles,
objectives or system; whether on the level of beliefs and
philosophy, or legislation, ethics, arts, literature,
education...etc.

Civilization, on the other hand, has no special
affiliation (with..) or distinguished identity.
Discoveries, inventions, and industries are all at the
disposal of humanity. They are a means to serve man and
provide him with comfort, with the exception, of course,
of that which is detrimental to man's life or goes
against his morals. Within the limits of his culture, the
Muslim can react positively to the scientific movement,
and cooperate with executives and groups worldwide;
anytime and any where He can make use of scientific
products and achievement, regardless of their origin.
Within the context of his cultural motives, he should do
his utmost to be in the fore front, He has to be a
cultural leader, for he is the one who can direct man's
ability and natural resources in the right direction, so
that they can be employed for the benefit of all
humanity.

Collapse of Cultures

A community, exactly like the human body, is subject
to feebleness, disease and decay. The first social fabric
that may contract disease is often that of thought and
belief, next, is the social conduct and morals, then, the
social, political and economic apparatus and
institutions; such as the family, slate, school, press,..
etc.

The moment the thought of a given group of people,
which is, in fact, the soul of their culture, debilitates
and frays, the fabric of the group disintegrates and
decays. The more extensive the social deviation the worse
the ruin. Thereafter, disease creeps slowly into the
social units; the very social bodies and institutions
that have been built by all individuals to symbolize the
collective spirit of the group and represent its cultural
progression. When the disease permeates all the cells of
these institutions, they began to function reversely.
This time the disease travels from the institutions to
the individuals. As a result, such morbid phenomena
change into a social and behavioural tide that engulfs
everyone. Sometimes human communities may contract
cultural malaise while they are at the summit of their
scientific progress.

The human community, though scientifically and
industrially advanced, is suffering from the most fatal
social plagues, namely the dangerous deviations which are
threatening to annihilate, on this planet, all the
scientific achievements and marvelous production of man's
intellect.

Man's diseased, materialistic culture is tumbling down
the slope of history. It is not only simply unhealthy,
but also has entered the final phase of its morbid
downfall.

The 'pre-Islamic era' 'formula' of life, adopted by
man, inevitably ends in total destruction and
annihilation. This is a fact recorded by history and
stressed in the Qur'an.

It is a lesson drawn from the fate of numerous extinct
cultures.

How many a town We destroyed while it was
iniquitous, so it is fallen down upon its roofs; and (how
many) a deserted well and palace raised high! Have they
not travelled in the land so that they should have hearts
with which to understand, or ears with which to hear? For
surely it is not the eyes that are blind, but blind are
the hearts which are in the breasts.
Holy Qur'an (22:45-46)

Have they not travelled in the land and
seen what was the end of those before them? Allah
destroyed them. And for the infidels is the like
thereof.
Holy Qur'an (47:10)

And how many a town which rebelled against
the commandment of its Lord and His messengers, so We
called it to severe account and We chastised it with a
stern chastisement! So it tasted the evil consequences of
its conduct, and the end of its affair was
perdition.
Holy Qur'an (65:8-9)

We have certainly been promised this - we
and our fathers before; these are nothing but stories of
the ancients! Say: Travel in the land, then see what was
the end of the guilty!.
Holy Qur'an (27:68-69)?

And Allah sets forth a parable: A town
safe and secure, to which its means of subsistence came
in abundance from every quarter; but it disbelieved in
Allah's favours, so Allah made it taste a pall of hunger
and fear because of what they wrought.
Holy Qur'an (16:112)

In these Qur'anic texts, the Noble Qur'an draws man's
attention to the progression of history, the growth and
development of cultures; then, it describes their
downfall shrinkage, and decay, explaining the reasons for
their extinction. It calls on us to look for their
traces, and examine their histories; to put our fingers
on the points of weakness and the areas where diseases
have struck, It is in our own interests to avoid the
wrongs of past nations, and fully grasp the lessons of
history. When the Qur'an relates the story of a nation's
rise and fall, it aims at developing our sense of
awareness with regard to man's past experience, and
enables us to make the best use of the lessons of history
drawn from the stories of numerous nations and various
cultures. The Qur'an focuses on the key reasons behind
cultural downfall and summarizes the plagues of the human
community by the following:

1. Spiritual Imbalance:

The disruption
of man's relationship with Allah which is represented by
his repudiation of the Creator of the universe and life,
as well as his abandonment of Allah's Shari'ah.

Have they not travelled in the land and
seen what was the end of those before them ? Allah
destroyed them. And for the infidels is the like
thereof.
Holy Qur'an (47:10)

Disbelief, in the logic of the Qur'an, means denial of
the right, and the split between man and the natural laws
set for him. As a result disbelief leads eventually to
ruin for it is actually the process of abolishing the
laws governing man's existence, and falsifying the course
of history. In other words, the disbeliever moves against
the goals of life. These two phenomena surface as a
direct outcome of the deeper cause of disbelief. When man
abandons the natural laws which govern him, human
civilization weakens and decays, and fades away.

In this case cultural collapse is inescapable, because
life moves in the wrong direction. Man, left alone, can
never define his own goals in this life, the goals that
lead him to his Great Creator.

2. The second cause behind cultural downfall is
man's mischief, or misuse of life and
man's existence, or unwise use of
things, or the use of man's existence for
goals other than the ones set for him.
Should such a thing arise, if man misuses Allah's favours
and the resources of nature in the wrong way, for bad
purposes, in the wrong place and time; not as Allah has
ordered, man's own deviation, in this respect, serves as
the green light that signals the start of the collapse of
a certain culture:

Then We made Our promise good to them; so
We delivered them and whom We pleased, and We destroyed
the extravagant.
Holy Qur'an (21:9)

The Qur'an, as seen in these verses, describes the
irresponsible, mischievous use of life as a devastating
pickaxe, demolishing the edifice of culture, tearing it
down unit after unit, until, finally, it collapses into
ruin. The destroyed edifice expresses the story of man's
mutiny against natural laws. The Qur'an depicts this
important law in these verses:

And Allah sets forth a par able: A town
safe and secure, to which its means of subsistence came
in abundance from every quarter; but it disbelieved in
Allah's favours, so Allah made it taste a pall of hunger
and fear because of what they wrought.
Holy Qur'an (16:112)

And you dwell in the abodes of those who
wronged themselves, and it is clear to you how We dealt
with them and We made (them) examples for you.
Holy Qur'an (14:45)

With such clarity the Qur'an discloses the grave cause
of man's down fall. It shows the role of the use of
riches and the resources of nature, and the employment of
science, as contributing to either man's peaceful, smooth
life, or his downfall.

From one culture to another, and from one man to
another, the manner in which things are used differ. And,
so, wise use of the means of civilization and the
potentials of life depends entirely on man's cultural
awareness.

That is why the use of resources and endowments by
ancient, materialistic cultures, as mentioned by the
Qur'an, was marked by mischief and aimlessness.

...but it disbelieved in Allah's favours,
so Allah made it taste a pall of hunger and fear because
of what they wrought.

Holy Qur'an (16:112)

We conclude from the Qur'anic analysis that the nature
of this mischievous use of things leads man to starvation
and fear, which reflects man's cultural misery, and
pushes to the surface the factors of death and collapse,
that are deeply embedded in an unstabile society. Misery
and terror are the result of human oppression and
economic and political illegal practices, which end in
Struggle and in destruction of resources. Being not
entitled to receive Allah's blessings, man loses them and
his social fabric and culture eventually fade away. All
social phenomena, as we can see clearly in this vicious
cycle, are, in fact, the product of man's
misunderstanding, and his erratic, obscured perception of
the goal and value of life.

3. Confusion in man's standards and the lack of
clear goals: When human culture enters the stage
of cloudiness and opaqueness, mixing the values of evil
and good, man moves ground, aimlessly, with no direction;
values vanish, and man's spirituality shrinks. At this
point, man transgresses the limits of Sacredness and
finds himself in the vortex of debauchery and rot.

When a set of ideological and behavioural phenomena
comes to the forefront reflecting man's confusion with
regard to human standards and his lack of noble and
defined objectives, it means that man's culture has
become old and frail; living out its last days. Truthful
are Allah's words:

How many populations have We destroyed,
which were given to wrong-doing? They trumbled down on
their roofs. And how many wells are lying idle and
neglected, and castles lofty and well-built?

Do they not travel through the land, so that their hearts
(and minds) may thus learn wisdom and their ears may thus
learn to hear? Truly it is not the eyes that are blind,
but the hearts which are in their breasts.
Holy Qur'an (22:45-46)

It is true we were promised this,- we and
our fathers before (us): these are nothing but tales of
the ancients. Say: Go you through the land and see what
has been the end of those guilty (of sin)
Holy Qur'an (27:68-69)

Curses were pronounced on those among the
Children of Israel who rejected faith, by the tongue of
David. And of Jesus the son of Mary: Because they
disobeyed and persisted in Excesses. Nor did they forbid
one another. The iniquities which they committed: evil
indeed were the deeds which they did.
Holy Qur'an (7:78-79)

When human values and standards decline in a
particular, morbid society, social disorders and maladies
spread; what the Holy Qur'an reveals. Oppression, crime,
aggression, evil-doing, ignorance and lack of sound
judgement are all the results of unprincipled, straying
man, who has abandoned all ethical standards and even his
own reason, and formed animal groups roaming the land,
governed by a disintegrated, materialistic civilization.

...They are as cattle; no, they are more
astray. These are the heedless ones.
Holy Qur'an (7:179)

These are the main morbid phenomena which herald the
downfall of human culture; as seen by the Holy Qur'an,
which is expounded on, elaborately, in many of its
verses. Whenever we see such phenomena creeping into
man's life, we know, positively, that both culture and
society are moving toward destruction and ruin, and that
man's culture is helpless and unable to accommodate his
movement; unable to base his history on the serene logic
of existence and the ultimate goal of life, especially
when the Noble Qur'an has painted culture as a tenacious
tissue made from man's awareness and understanding of the
universe and life.

This cultural formula and cultural tissue may by
shredded into pieces when the factors of man's downfall
work on it. It appears, in the Qur'an, as a house erected
by man to protect himself, but it collapses over his head
when man toys with its foundation. The house buries man
and terminates his existence. It remains a scene of ruin
and debris; which is testimony to man's ignorance and
tragedy. If one examines history, from the perspective of
the Qur'an, especially the ancient past, one will find
civilizations that grew and prospered, then shrunk and
breathed their last. Modern culture made by modem,
ignorant man, is only a confluence of the ignorant
cultures of past generations, referred to in the Qur'an,
and a stagnant pool on whose floor all microbes of
annihilation and destruction exist.

At this point, the observer of the drift of modern
materialistic culture, which carries deep in it the seeds
of its own destruction, cannot help lamenting over this
ignorant culture, while he witnesses its tragic end as it
propels headlong at full speed to meet its inevitable
fate.

And warn people of a day when the
chastisement will come to them, then the wrongdoers will
say: Our lord, respite us to a near term, we will respond
to Your call and follow the messengers. Did you not wear
before that there will be no passing away for you? And
you dwell in the abodes of those who wronged themselves,
and it is clear to you how We dealt with them and We made
(them) examples for you. And they have indeed planned
their plan, and their plan with Allah, though their plan
is such that the mountains should be moved thereby. So
think not that Allah will fail in His promise to His
messengers. Surely Allah is Mighty, the Lord of
retribution.
Holy Qur'an (14:14-47)

PHENOMENA AND OBSTACLES

Muslim communities were inflicted, during a harsh
phase of their lifetime, by cultural stagnation and
decay. As a result, the diseases of ignorant and
materialistic cultures slithered into their once-strong
body. The maladies of western capitalist culture and the
Eastern Communist one mingled with a set of morbid
sediments and potent, deeply buried, long-standing
factors of decadence. The character of the Muslims
suffered from every kind of decay and ideological and
behavioural breakdown. Muslim society, meanwhile, was
overcome by stagnation and disorder of awareness and
conduct; understanding and mutual relationships; values
and practices; thought and production; innovation
suffered the tearing apart of the civilized and cultural
fabric. It retraced its steps, regressed and fell into
the pit of laziness, ignorance and cultural, political,
scientific and social decomposition. Gradually it began
to lose the peculiarities of its character, the
ingredients of its entity and its Islamic originality,
which had always pushed it ahead of other nations. A
reformer, who endeavours to rebuild and amend the
cultural formula of the Islamic community has, first of
all, to analyse its character and its constituents, and
to examine the extent of depth of the disease and
estimate how fatal a blow it deals to the community's
reasoning for its existence and growth. Naturally, he
deals with these phenomena as obstacles; hindering
factors, and a reverse, counter movement blocking the way
of change and social reforms. So, he should channel all
his efforts to fight these impairments and protect his
own reforms and efforts, from their evils and destructive
effects, to bring about social change.

By examining our Muslim communities, and studying the
most common and harmful, morbid phenomena that are
permeating them, one finds that they share common
maladies. In addition, there are disgusting, local
symptoms peculiar to each one of these societies. It is
unwise to ignore these, for any attempt to reform society
on solid Islamic bases without getting rid of the
phenomena; uprooting them and obliterating their effects,
is doomed. We must remember that these phenomena and
symptoms are organically related to each other. They can
be summarized as follows:

1. Ignorance of Islam.

2. Decline of Social Awareness.

3. Disorder of Human Character.

4. Weak Sense of Responsibility.

5. Regression and Lack of Self-confidence.

6. Despair of Change and Reform.

1. Ignorance of Islam:

... I admonish you lest you be of the
ignorant.
Holy Qur'an (11:46)

And these parables, We set them forth for
people, and none understand them but the learned.
Holy Qur'an (29:43)

Ignorance is a dangerous enemy of man, the blight of
life; the source of corruption; and the force that leads
to decay and extinction. That is why Allah, the Most
Exalted, warns Noah, peace be upon him, not to be
ignorant:

... I admonish you lest you be of the
ignorant.

Ignorance is the key cause of the downfall of nations
and the dissolution and rotting of cultures. Present-day
Muslims suffer greatly from ignorance and scientific and
cultural decadence. They have only a trifling share of
knowledge. They know nothing of their noble Islamic
mission. They are unmindful of their goals and roles in
life as Muslims. And so it is not an easy task to remind
them of their Islamic ideology and their cultural
position, correct their concepts and view of life and
rebuild their ideological and behavioural structure.

They are still groping about blindly in ignorance, in
the alleys of invading principles, and yielding to the
influence of foreign ideological currents and imported
doctrines and theories, including communism, racism,
capitalism, socialism, existentialism...etc. This is
simply attributed to their unawareness of the grand
Islamic thought and ideology. It is also the result of
the campaigns of distortion and suppression of facts
organized by Islam's enemies, the most effective of which
are crusading missionaries spiteful orientalists, and the
followers of Communism, materialistic Capitalism and
vicious zionism, which act through a variety of political
and cultural facades.

In order to be successful in their mission, Muslim
reformers have to spread Islamic culture and awareness,
and cleanse the Islamic mentality of all invading,
foreign doctrines, by employing every scientific means
available.

2. Decline of Social Awareness:

Not every individual is able to analyze events;
realize how they take place; or detect their positive and
negative sides and not every person has the ability to
realise the causes of corruption, and to be alert to that
which takes place around him and threatens his own
existence, The majority of people move within their daily
circle of activities, without giving a thought to the
social and cultural corruption and injustice which is
engulfing their life; simply stated, they are not aware
of their surroundings, only being accustomed to and
obsessed by their daily lives. Man has become a part of
this pitiful reality; a human drop in a vast ocean; not
pausing for a moment to ask himself: In which direction
is this aimless human current moving? Why is there all of
this injustice and mischievous corruption? Where am I
going? But, how can he ask these questions when he lacks
sound reasoning for his backward, stagnant life? How can
he simply do this while his barren mentality is unable to
think of reforms, or envision a new image of the world;
one different from his own? How can he peer out of the
window of reason to the spacious horizons of progress and
freedom?

Such a man can never be fertile ground for Islamic
reforms. Nor can he accept, receive of accommodate an
Islamic way of effecting change for the better. Simply he
is shackled by his stupidity and unrestrained freedom.

There is a pressing need for extraordinary great acts
of historical and conscientious explosions to wake and
sober people up to face the bitter reality of their
existence.

Heroes can discharge huge, deafening bombs of truth to
awaken man's sleeping will and stir his inept depths.

Intellectuals and true adherents of the faith are able
to shred to pieces the screen that prevents people from
seeing things as they really are; great leaders can
awaken a feeling of seriousness in their torpid, inactive
nations: and, so, the Muslim reformer, who calls for
Islam, should paint, faithfully and accurately, the
tragic state of humanity if he wants to address this
group of people. Then, he should make a comparison
between man's painful reality and the other way of life
which Islam wants man to lead. Thus, adequately enthused
and urged, man may move, of his own accord, to criticize
his life, judging it in the light of a lofty call for a
better and enriched one.

The Muslim preacher must also sow in his community the
seeds of awareness so that it can proceed smoothly, with
the sublime aims of Islam etched in its mind. Without
such awakening, the gap remains wide between the Muslim
preacher and the masses he is addressing. This gap
represents a serious problem, for the reformer can make
no progress in an environment of torpor and paralysis. He
finds no one to understand his call, nor anyone to share
with him the shouldering of his mission. The people the
reformer addresses are low in their awareness to his call
and they do not respond to something they do not fully or
adequately understand.

3. Disorder of Human Character:

The hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, and
He will requite their deceit to them. And when they stand
up for prayer, they stand up sluggishly - they do it only
to be seen of men and remember Allah but little. Wavering
between that (and this-) (belonging) neither to these nor
to those. And whomsoever Allah leaves in error, you will
not find a way for him.
Holy Qur'an (4:142-143)

And when they meet those who believe, they
say: We believe; and when they are alone with their
devils, they say: Surely we are with you, we were only
mocking. Allah will pay them back their mockery, and He
leaves them alone in their inordinacy, blindly wandering
on. These are they who buy error for guidance, so their
bargain brings no gain, nor are they guided.
Holy Qur'an (2:14-16)

The Qur'an, by these verses and others which are
concerned with analysing the characters of both the
individual and the group, raised the social awareness of
the vanguards of Islam in its early days, depicting the
shaky and hypocritical character which lacks originality
and soundness, and possesses no internal tenacity due to
its weakness and shattered will.

This morbid phenomenon of hypocrisy and double-dealing
is a dangerous plague that may strike human cultures.
Hypocrisy and character disorders, in any given society,
deprive it of stability and harmony, and make it suffer
from restlessness, breakdown, and collapse because of
disharmony and lack of morals. The hoes of Islam realized
the danger of this phenomenon on the Muslim society. They
worked on demolishing the Muslim character by subjecting
it to the influence of contradictory political, social,
and ideological currents; and to pressure, fear, and
terror. The Muslim began gradually to lose his
distinguished, independent character. Without originality
and enlightenment, he easily fell prey to those invading
ideologies.

The Qur'an pays particular attention to this
phenomenon and alerts Muslims to it; warning those who do
not feel affiliated to Islam-those who have no
self-esteem, who are ready, at every moment, to bow
humiliatingly to others, kissing their feet, who can
change their beliefs as they change of profits, or
getting short-lived social or political positions - that
they should be mindful of their responsibilities. The
Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) emphasized this phenomenon
and laid great emphasis on the originality of the Islamic
character. He said:

Beware of being one who says: 'I am doing as
other people do and if other people do good deeds so will
I. If they do bad deeds then, so will I. Instead train
yourselves to do good deeds when other people do, and
avoid committing evil when other people do.

Imam Ali (a.s.) explained this point by saying:

People are of three kinds: Spiritual scholars
'ulama' men who educate themselves as a means of
salvation, and t he ignorant rabbles who follow every
call, and move with every whim.

Islam calls on its followers to treat this last
category of people with caution; to fight against this
morbid condition fiercely and uproot its causes. It can
only be done through deliberately and strictly building a
solid Islamic character which is impervious to hypocrisy,
self-destruction and aimlessness. A series of ideological
and ethical injections would make the Muslim feel to be
affiliated to Islam, which he should be faithful to,
without the slightest feeling of fear, hesitation or
internal weakness. Once he conquers his weakness and
internal defeatism, he will become a human force,
possessed of will, and the freedom of choice. Then he can
assume his role in fulfilling the Islamic mission;
putting humanity on the right track, and standing firm in
the face of disbelief, corruption and cultural crumbling.

Today, Muslim are suffering greatly from this most
dangerous blight, which stands as a serious hindrance in
the way of committed instructors, who guided by the
Qur'an, are trying to improve the Muslims' condition and
rebuild Islamic society on Islamic culture. It is a
disease that they cannot simply ignore and must take it
seriously for it is a plight to be reckoned with.

4. Weak Sense of Responsibility:

The sense of responsibility is a positive behavioural
outcome which can only be found in the strong-willed men
who feel they have the ability to fill the vacancies of
life. It is a distinguishing mark of those people who are
ambitious, feeling they belong to their group, and that
they should do everything within their power to lead it
to a good, decent, sin-free life. The responsible man
knows where he belongs in life. He possesses excellent
ethical sense, and strong will power.

But when this quality fades, and the malaise of
reliance on one another takes hold, we cannot find, a
single person who consecrates his life to serve his
'ummah'; feeling the pain and suffering of his fellowmen.

It is heartrending that this moral disease has
permeated Islamic societies where hardly a person is
found who feels responsible to his 'ummah', and commits
himself to serve his faith and mission, discarding any
trace of egoism or self-centredness.

Wakening a sense of responsibility within the Muslim
Community is an indispensable prerequisite for a
successful social endeavor.

Islam in the faith of responsibility; the religion
that urges its followers to work. Life without a sense of
responsibility is, in fact, chaos and a loss. That is why
the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.) has said:

All of you are shepherds, and all of you are
responsible for your flocks.

And he is also reported to have said:

He who no longer cares for Muslims' affairs
is no longer a Muslim.

So, Islam connects faith with one's care for one's
Muslim community and is the best way to free the Muslim
individual from selfishness and self-centredness, and the
habit of thinking only of his own interests, without
giving thought to his brothers. Individualism, egoism;
the shrinkage of the collective sense, and the lack of
the feeling of responsibility are the most dangerous
factors of destruction and subversion and for this reason
Islam unrelentingly fought them and worked to get rid of
them.

5. Regression and Lack of Self-Confidence:

Weak hearts get bored. Shaky wills collapse and break
down. A disintegrated 'ummah' crumbles and falls before
catastrophes and misfortunes. But alive, aware 'ummah',
whose members feel strong and powerful, and whose wills
are solid and firm, can turn defeat into victory, and
downfall into uprising. It draws lessons from events, and
makes the best use of the tragedies it under goes. Out of
hard and unfavourable conditions it emerges rich in
experience which lightens its path and shows it the right
course of action.

The Qur'an addresses the Muslim 'ummah', saying:

And be not weak-hearted, nor grieve, and
you will have the upper hand if you are believers.
Holy Qur'an (3:138)

The Qur'an tries to make the Muslim, who may yield in
a moment of weakness and uncertainty, overcome the
internal defeatism he suffers from. It instills in him a
spirit of steadfastness and spiritual strength, and
spreads out before him limitless horizons of victory.

Our 'ummah', the Muslim 'ummah', which prides itself
on its glorious history, has unfortunately succumbed to
extreme stagnation and deterioration; under the pressure
of many centuries of backwardness, ignorance and decay.
It has forgotten all about its glorious past, and lost
its cultural and material capabilities which would have
helped it continue its cultural march, that would have
put it at the fore front of all nations. It has awoken
from its deep slumber at the shouts of the invading
enemies; helpless, broken, unable to move having lost its
fortitude and strength, abandoned its mission and
principles, and buried under layers of ignorance its
precious scientific and cultural legacy. Short of weapons
to defend its existence and culture, it faced its foes.
With not enough knowledge and awareness, not ready, it
was only natural that our 'ummah' would be defeated;
dazzled by the trappings of the western invading
civilization. It became submissive; receptive to the
invading thought and culture. Having lost its leadership
position, it soon yielded to the invading conquerors.

Its enemies, on the other had, doubled their
subversive efforts to ingrain the feeling of
backwardness, ineptitude, and the inability to catch up
with the world in the fields of knowledge, civilization
and technology. They placed all kinds of obstacles and
hindrances before the 'ummah' and planted the spirit of
defeatism in it. The 'ummah' surrendered and accepted the
fait accompli, thus, the most important pillar of the
character of the 'ummah' was pulled down.

Nothing but the Qur'an can cure our 'ummah' of this
malaise. There is a great need to build a Qur'anic
generation, that believes in the goals of the Qur'an,
carries the spirit of the Qur'an, so that it can march
forward without weakness or hesitation.

This vanguard should take the utmost advantage of the
lessons of history, examine closely the experiences of
past and present nations, and monitor the direction of
events, so as to check the aimless movement Of mankind,
to realize that nothing is impossible in the world of the
possible and that its position is in the forefront. It
should lead humanity along the read of progress and
peace.

You (Muslims) are the best nation raised
up for people: you enjoin good and forbid evil...
Holy Qur'an (3:109)

And thus We have made you an exalted
nation that may be the bearers of witness to the people
and (that) are the Messenger may be a bearer of witness
to you...
Holy Qur'an (2:143)

When this vanguard again exists in the world of Islam,
this multitude of committed, strong-willed, Qur'anic-
educated men, who know no despair, regression or
inferiority; the whole 'ummah' of the Qur'an will be
reborn. It means that life, once again will enter the
torpid body of the 'ummah, the spirit of revival
will creep into its awareness in much the same way that
spring creeps into the trees. It will be the good news of
the 'ummah's' departure from ineptitude and lethargy.
Then the 'ummah' can reject the rotting focade to which
it had been forced to cling for so long and can use its
limbs again after their long paralyis.

6. Despair of Change and Reform:

Despair is a morbid, dangerous condition that marks
frail characters and hopeless souls, when images of
failure are heaped before them, or when they are reminded
of their ineptitude and failure to achieve all the goals
they dreamt of This phenomenon grows more dangerous
especially when it he comes a collective one,
transcending the boundaries of the individuals in the
group. Then, this disease begins to eat away at the wills
and kill the spirit of bravery, and blocks man's
movement. Even those who are lucky to be free from it
find their way full of obstacles.

This morbid condition has sneaked into the Muslim
individual and groups. Muslims despair of reforms and
feel helpless in the face of waves of corruption. They
are so burdened with the heavy years of oppression and
evil Colonialism that they cannot deal with their pitiful
backwardness in the fields of science, politics,
economics…etc.

The majority of Muslims choose resignation to reality,
keeping silent vis-a-vis corruption and decadence.
Neglecting the divine order to enjoin good and forbid
evil, they have left the arena to the enemies of Islam,
and the preachers of ignorance and corruption.

An analytical look at the social fabric of Muslims and
their psychology sums up the causes of despair and
resignation to the current way of life, on the following
points:

1. Some people feel despair due to an objective
feeling that can be traced to the individual's
psychological disorder. Some people are melancholy by
nature. The root cause of this condition is private
concerning the individual himself; but, then, it engulfs
the whole society colouring its altitudes and positions.

2. People's ignorance of the course of history.
This ignorance of, or misunderstanding of, human history
which is subject to ebb and flow, advancement and
regression, naturally yields a human attitude that is far
from being real. Such people can think only within the
boundaries of the present conditions and circumstances
enveloping their communities. How can they know that what
they are witnessing is only a fleeting, passing
phenomenon, and a transitional case of history, that
repeals itself now and then, like the bubbles that are
born on the lake bottom, then rise to the surface and
burst?

Let not control in the land, of those who
reject faith, deceive you. A brief enjoyment! Then their
abode is hell. And evil is the resting-place.
Holy Qur'an (3:195-196)

What we see today as an awe-inspiring, magnificent
edifice will become, in years, decades or centuries to
come, a dilapidated entity, a trace, or a story kept in
the depths of history records or museums. If these people
only know this fact, if they know that history is always
in constant motion, that it repeats itself, their view of
life will certainly change.

Truthful are Allah's words:

Indeed there have been examples before
you; so travel in the land and see what was the end of
the deniers. This is a clear statement for people, and a
guidance and an admonition to the pious. And be not
weak-hearted, nor grieve, and you will have the upper
hand if you are faithful. If a wound has afflicted you, a
wound like it has also afflicted the (disbelieving)
people. And We bring these days to people by turns, that
Allah may know those who believe and take witnesses from
among you. And Allah loves not the wrongdoers. And that
He may purge those who believe and deprive the infidels
of blessings. Do you think that you will enter the Garden
while Allah has not yet known those from among you who
strive hard (not) known the steadfast.
Holy Qur'an (3:136-140)

The Qur'an speaks, in a bid to stir up our sense of
history, about Allah's laws, and the laws that govern the
drift of human history which state that no political, or
social...situation remains as it is, that defeat is not
insurmountable, and victory is not everlasting. All these
historical phenomena are transitory. They have no fixed
value or constant existence, except when they are
grounded in right and justice.

...Then as for the scum, it passe away as
a worthless thing; and as for that which does good to
people, it tarries on the land...
Holy Qur'an (13:17)

How many nations were born and then perished! How many
states rose and fell! How many groups and parties
attained the pinnacle of triumph and glory, only to be
beaten and become mere stories and narrations in the
annals of history! How many a culture or a doctrine
spread across this planet then fell and faded from the
stage of history!

...and We bring these days to people by
turns,...
Holy Qur'an (3:140)

The course of history is a school in which man learns
from its events, and benefits from its facts and lessons.
That is why the Qur'an reminds us of the past nations,
instills in us the spirit of victory, exhorts us to
overcome our despair and weakness, and urges us to
sacrifice and fight for the cause of Allah.

3. The feeling of fear form the technological progress
achieved by the foes of Islam. Muslims feel they are
lagging behind in technology and this inferiority
complex, which clutches at the Muslim heart, is for the
despondent at least, a hard-to-overcome obstacle. None of
the preachers of the faith or the reformers can match the
advanced forces of the enemies of Islam, particularly in
the arenas of politics and industry; this is what many
despairing Muslims think. But the Qur'an, in its address
to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.), analyses this morbid
phenomenon and opens the Muslims' eyes to the facts of
history.

None dispute concerning the messages of
Allah but those who disbelieve, so let not their control
in the land deceive you. Before them the people of Noah
and the parties after them rejected (prophets), and every
nation purposed against its messenger to destroy him, and
disputed by means of falsehood to render null thereby the
truth, so I seized them; how (terrible) was then My
retribution!
Holy Qur'an (40:4-5)

Let not control in the land» of those who
reject faith, deceive you. A brief enjoyment! Then their
abode is hell. And evil is the resting-place.
Holy Qur'an (3:195-196)

4. Accumulation of Corruption. Corruption has
spread across the despairing Muslims as overwhelming and
hard to obliterate. But these people lose sight of the
fact that the intensity of corruption hastens its death.
When corruption and deviation rule a certain society it
rushes towards disintegration, and this, in itself, marks
the birth of a new society and the beginning of a fresh
historical phase.

The prophets were the best examples of diligent
preachers who dealt with their own people most kindly,
carefully and conscientiously. The prophets and
messengers of Allah (a.s.) and their faithful adherents
enriched the way to Allah with good experiences, wise
attitudes and courses of action. The Noble Qur'an
presents us with an example of the brave, unique actions
of people who knew no despair or weakness, Allah
addresses His Messenger Moses (a.s.), saying:

Go you and your brother with My messages
and be not remiss in remembering Me. Go both of you to
Pharaoh, surely he is inordinate; then speak to him a
gentle word, haply he may mind or fear.
Holy Qur'an (20:42-44)

Pharaoh, as the Qur'an describes him, was well known
as a haughty and arrogant tyrant. He was an evil man bent
on spreading disbelief, and sustaining crime and
corruption. But, in spite of this, Allah, the Most
Exalted, ordered His prophet Moses to go to him, say the
word of right to him, and establish the proof of Allah
before him.

For the same reason, namely calling people to be true
servants of Allah, the Qur'an gives the ideal attitude
taken by a number of believers towards other despairing
men, who asked the believers protestingly:

...Why preach you to a people whom Allah
would destroy...
Holy Qur'an (7:164)

The Qur'an mentions the story as an example of the
patience, forbearance and strength of the men who devoted
themselves whole-heartedly to the faith. It says:

...Why preach you to a people whom Allah
would destroy or whom He would chastise with a severe
chastisement? They said: To be free from blame before
your Lord, and that haply they may guard (against
evil).
Holy Qur'an (7:164)

These committed men do not want to let despair attack
themselves, lest it stands as a high wall blocking the
process of calling people to the right path, explaining
the truths about the faith and establishing the proof of
Allah for them. Having done this, the preacher and
reformer can feel at peace with himself, living with a
clear conscience because he has done what his Lord has
ordered him to do.

5. The failure of many reformers and reformist
movements is that they do not bring about the change
they promised people earlier, and keep to the principles
they called for before, This failure leaves a bad
impression and a negative effect on the souls of many
people. The result is the despair and pessimism that
makes people the reformers. Such people see only the
negative side of the reformer's efforts, and look only at
the failure of the reformist movements. They will not
even lock at the causes of the failure and decline to
work with the same spirit and determination with which
the true reformers work, after studying their
experiences, evaluating them, and setting a sound course
of action.

These people should realise that the failures of the
committed reformers have given them good, in valuable
lessons which they would never have experienced if it
were not for the hardships and sufferings of these
reformers, This encounter has blazed the trail for them,
and enlightened the road therefore, they have to make use
of this great experience and go on with the march of
reforms and struggle. They should discard the factors of
despair; setting out to work with fresh determination and
spirit.

EPILOGUE

There are some factors and reasons that actively help
to hasten the downfall of societies and cultures, if they
are begotten in their atmospheres or have the chance to
clutch at the ingredients of culture and civilization.

There looms on the horizon a number of morbid signs
and evidences indicating the imminent breakdown of the
present human culture; on that will totally disappear
from the scene. The Qur'an makes mention of all fatal
morbid reasons, obstacles and phenomena that stand
between the Muslim and his duty of facing the elements of
weakness and decadence. Before any of these factors
arises, the Qur'an points it out, and warns people of it,
lest the Muslim reformer forgets his duty of fighting
corruption, or gives up in the face of obstacles and
hindrances.

This Qur'anic attitude inspires us, we Muslims of
today, to ponder over the conditions of our 'ummah',
detect its points of strength and weakness, and those of
the materialistic, ignorant culture; which is launching a
war against us, and planning to tear down our culture and
bring an end to our existence. By contemplating on these
conditions we can find the means to answer back, inspite
of elements of weakness and decadence, making our way
ahead more fruitful. This is the way we can resume our
cultural triumphant and historical march; hoisting the
banner of Islam, and leading the whole world on the road
of guidance, prosperity and peace.