Introduction
Modernity refers to a philosophical movement in the West that involved changes in the cultural trends in the late 19th century and the early 20th century. The modern industrial developments and the World War 1 shaped the western modernity, which later spread to other parts of the world, including the Muslim countries. A major characteristic among the modernists is that they rejected religious beliefs and the certainty of enlightenment thinking. On the other hand, Muslims and Traditionalists rejected modernity on the argument that modernism banished religious values that dominated most aspects of life.
Further, some of the Muslims joined the on modernism movement, as they did not consider modernity as a break from the past, but rather as a renewal from the past, which involves the return to the traditional ethos of Islam of Mecca and Medina. Although Islam may be viewed as an anti-modernity religion, some scholars consider Islam to engage in the encouragement of reason and free will more than Judaism and Christianity.
Therefore, Islam is in a position to modernize and accept foreign traditions through analogy. However, it is difficult for Islam to achieve modernity fully following the existing orthodoxy in the Islam religion. This paper explores the concept of modernity in relation to the Islam religion including the effects of modernity on Islam, the relationship between the two concepts, and the changes in modernity.
Problem Statement
Modernity resulted in the cultural and social changes in the Western culture and spread to other cultures through the increased human interactions. Modernism rejected the principles of religion, which makes it a controversial issue in incorporating modernity in religion. For instance, in the Islam religion was greatly influenced by the modern life forces, which include intellectual forces, scientific forces, and social political forces.[1] This research paper seeks to establish the relevance of modernity on the Islam religion, and establish whether religious institutions should embrace modernity, given that modernity interferes with the traditional principles and beliefs of religion.
Definition of Modernity
Modernity refers to the intellectual concepts that involve the departure from traditions. The main outstanding feature of modernity is the constant change or loss of continuity in the traditional practices and beliefs from one generation to the next. According to CAO, modernization involves growing social mobilization, among other characterizations of modern societies, which include advancement of communication and mass media, and the changes in education systems among other social institutions including religion.
[2]Modernity designates the historical period and the post-medieval period, which includes the norms, attitudes, and practices that arose during that period and continued to develop to the modern times[3]. Modernity concentrates on the rejection and questioning of traditions, technological progress, and the prioritization of individualism and human freedom. Modernity affects religion through several aspects, which include the scientific and socio-political aspects, which facilitate change in the religious principles.
In sociology, modernity is largely defined to include characteristics such as rationalization, which involves understanding and managing the world through reasonable and logical systems built on objective and accessible theories and information. Further, modernity involves losing the sacred understanding of life and culture to acquire more universal beliefs that differ from the traditional cultural and religious beliefs.
Moreover, modernity involves secularization, which concentrates more on the losing of the religious influences and belief in the society that is experiencing modernization. Further, modernization entails the alienation of the individuals from the societal systems including the family units, the religious institutions, and working organizations among other aspects. Moreover, modernity considers the elimination of the social practices, the cultural objects and beliefs from the society’s original cultures. Further, subjectivism forms a key characteristic of modernity, whereby society considers a deeper evaluation of the truth and meaning compared to the traditional set-ups.
Changes in Modernity
Changes in modernity are determined by the social changes in the environments that social institutions such as religions operate. The determinants of social change include the structural factors, such as the existing societal strains or contradictions, and elements such as dislocations that war causes. For instance, the event of the World War 1 resulted in human interactions that contributed to the changes in the traditional structures leading to modernity.
Further, changes in the concept of modernity arise following the structural changes, which include the changes in the population structure. For instance, in case of war, people move to different regions that bear differing traditions and beliefs, which contributes to the interaction of cultures resulting in a new set of traditions and beliefs. Moreover, since modernity occurs through social change, it involves processes that contribute in ensuring that the society achieves the desired changes.
The social change processes include social movements that are created to promote a certain form of change in the society. Examples of such movements include the organizations set up to promote the rights of children and women, which include movements that promote the education for women and children. Moreover, modernity considers the directions of the social changes, which include the structural changes that arise following modernization, and the effects and consequences of the concepts of modernity on the society.
[4]Modernity can bring about both positive and negative effects on the society; hence, it is important to consider the possible outcomes of the given modernity to avoid instances on introducing negative aspects to the society, such as those that can bring about societal divisions. Modernity is dynamic since the social factors that transform the societal needs keep on changing. For instance, the development of technology and communication has facilitated the establishment of a new set of ethical values, which touch on the social aspects of the community.
Criticism on Modernity
The concept of modernity presents both advantages and disadvantages in the advancement of societies; hence, the concept has received several criticisms from thinkers such as Foucault. Foucault criticizes the aspect of modernity regarding aspects such as enlightenment reason and the reality principles that the Western culture embraces. Foucault argues that although modernity is desirable, it should involve a rational outlook on the cultural and religious aspects.
Further, Foucault criticizes modernity based on the modernists’ practices that undermine the modern reason and the modern norms. Moreover, Foucault bases his arguments on the ability of individuals to dominate through practices, discourses and social institutions. According to Foucault, modernity facilitates a form of awakening whereby reason may lead to chaos and disorder in the society, instead of promoting rational order in the society. Furthermore, Foucault argues that modernity concentrates on classifying and regulating all kinds of experience using a systematic construction of knowledge and discourse, whereby Foucault states that such experience comprises of systems of language that are rooted in the community’s social practice.
According to the arguments that Foucault presents, the role of enlightenment is to multiply reason’s political power and distribute it throughout the social field, which contributes to the saturation of the people’s everyday lives. Foucault greatly opposes modernity since it rejects reason and freedom while attempting to make the modern rationality reductive and oppressive. Further, Foucault considers the modern theories as components of power and dominion in areas where such theories see truth and knowledge as objective, neutral, universal, or as a channel for progress or emancipation. On the other hand, Foucault considers enlightenment as an obscure theory that is plural in nature, which contributes to the political suppression of plurality, diversity, and individuality while favoring conformity and homogeneity.
Muslim Modernity
Muslim modernity involves the incorporation of aspects of modernity in the Islam religion. Some scholars consider Islam incompatible with modernity following the principles and beliefs that the religion demonstrates. However, recent studies indicate that Islam is compatible with modernity, if the Muslims detach from the characteristics that make Islam exceptional compared to other religions such as Christianity and Judaism.
Further, modernity is possible in Islam if the people involved in the religion establish new interpretations that can enhance the faithfulness and productivity of the Muslims in the increasingly globalizing world. Other religious groups such as Christians have achieved modernity in their religion through such efforts as establishing clear separations between the church and the state. However, Islam has not taken into consideration such measures; hence, the political systems in most Islamic nations continue to affect the efforts involved in the modernity of Islam. [5]
Although Islam has not fully achieved the desired modernity, the Muslim Modernism or the Modernist Salafist movement provides relevant ideological response in an attempt to reconcile the existing Islamic faith with the Western values, which include democracy, equality, rationality, nationalism, and progress among other universal values
.[6] The modern movements have initiated several trends, which focus on achieving modernity in Islam. Such trends include the acknowledgement of the achievements of the Western legal systems, while maintaining varying degrees of criticism and objecting to the Western exploitation of the Islamic countries. This important in enhancing the scientific understanding among Muslims and strengthening the Muslim community aiming at preventing further exploitation by the West.
Further, the Islamic movements promote modernity in Islam through re-interpreting the key traditional sources of the Islamic jurisprudence, including the Quran, Hadith, Ijma, and the Giyas. The re-interpretation of the Quran and the Hadith facilitates the transformation of the Ijma and the Giyas to enhance the formulation of a reformist project, which corresponds to the existing standards of scientific rationality and the modern social theories.
[7] Moreover, the modern movements restrict the traditional Islamic law by reducing its reliance on the Quran and providing criticisms on the radical teachings of the Hadith. In addition, the Islamic modernists create avenues for independent critical reasoning, to facilitate the arrival of legal rulings in the event of unprecedented rulings, where the Quran and the Hadith are not applicable in providing effective judgement.
Moreover, the Islamic modernists have embraced a less radical interpretation of the authoritative sources of teachings, including the Quran. The modernists majorly focus on the issues that result in conflicts with the non-Muslim societies, including teachings on Jihadism, the penal punishments, and the treatment of the non-Muslim believers among others, since they demonstrate conflicting aspects on the modern views of religion.
For instance, modernists such as Rashid Rida and Muhammad Abduh interpret jihads as defensive wars aimed at responding to any form of aggression demonstrated towards the Muslim community, rather than a holy war against the non-Muslim communities. The Islamic modernists consider and interpret the Quran and other Islamic teachings in the light of promoting peaceful coexistence between the Muslims and the non-Muslim communities.
The modernists promoting the changing Islamic beliefs through teachings that justify matters such as the lack of Islamic belief is not adequate to declare a jihad against the non-believers. Further, the unwilling conversion of the non-believers does not indicate sincerity in the Islamic religion or lasting profession of the Islamic faith.
In addition, the Islamic modernists have established an apologetic, which focuses on linking the Islamic tradition to the Western ideologies and practices, to promote the acceptance of modernization among the Muslim communities. However, the modernists have received significant criticism on the apologetic, indicating that the apologetic is superficial and psychologically destructive, since the larger Muslim society views the apologetic as abusive to the modern Islam.
The Effects of Modernity on Islam
The world has evolved and many things are continuing to change as the people of the world advance. The advancement of people in the world has brought the factor of modernity. Islam is one of the few conservative religions in the world. It is characterized by the strict adherence to the law (Sharia) as described in the Holy book of Quran. However, as the world and way of life continue to change, forces have developed which tend to make the Islam adopt.[8] According to the author, the forces have been building up from the very begging of time.
These forces have forced the Islam to adapt to some of those forces, reject some of the forces, or adjust to the forces. An example of some of the forces that exist at the present has been the mode of dressing. Islam has for long time advocated the method of dressing especially for the girls and women. In Islam, women and girls have always been required to cover their faces in public. However, the modernity has brought along extreme forces that have made Islam’s to adapt.
The modernity has brought along the beauty elements and appreciating the women. The pressure has been too intense for some of the Islam girls to bear. Some have rejected the force; some have embraced it while some have adapted the force. During the years down the line, religion was the key element of concern among many Muslims. However, modernity has brought the concept of democracy. This has made the Muslims to make choices in democratic means. The religious issues were very sensitive, but at the modern time the democracy has changed the way Muslim thinks and the perspective of respect of each other’s choices.[9] The author further states that modernization has contributed to too many religious controversial interpretations.
The modernity has brought about the concept of radical Sheikhs and the moderate Sheikhs. The radical Sheikhs are the Sheikhs who are conservative and have not embraced the concept of modernity. They refuse to be part of the changing world and hence prefer to follow the strict rules and norms just the way it is written in the Holy Book of Quran. These Sheikhs have only embraced the basic fundamental changes as the means of transport. However, they still maintain the way they dress and the behavior. On the other hand, the Moderate Sheikhs have adjusted, endorsed, and embraced the changes of modernity.
The modernity has proved very critical and serious a serious issue as far as Islam is concerned. It has brought hatred, splitting, radicalization and the lack of tolerance. Modernity is the main reason Islamic militias are being formed in the world. These are brought by lack of tolerance. In reference to other religions in the world, Islam is the religion that has been so consistent. That cannot be said about the Christianity and other major religions in the world who have completely embraced the modernity.
Islam religion has been too slow in embracing the modernity. The main focus of Islam has been knowledge and education. Anything contrary to the impoundment and understanding of Quran is not taken seriously. Conservancy is in the roots of Islam. Islam is a religion that prides the purity of its teaching. Many of the Islam scholars have discovered that many Islamic preachers fear that the modernity will lead to contamination of the teachings.
Some have supported their claim by highlighting the Holy month of Ramadan.[10] The author blames the effects of modernity that he claims have made many Muslims to fail to adhere to the Holy Month without the best reason. As much as Islam advocates for the ‘God should Judge,’ it has resulted in forcing the Muslims to do what the Quran says. This has been seen by many as a brutal way a religion should behave.
However, the Islam preachers have supported the claim saying that the modernity is the reason many have fallen out of the religion. The extreme cases can be noted in the Middle East. Some Islamic groups have resulted to religious cleansing so as to maintain Islam purity. This has led to many deaths to non Muslims. This has generated a lot of criticism by non-Muslims towards Islam. Moreover, these actions have been condemned by many Islamic leaders depicting the executors as not truly Muslims.
The Relationship between Modernity and Islam
One of the fundamental questions to ask is, how can an Islam identify with modernity? This question has been posed so many times but everyone understands modernity in different ways.[11] According to Stephanous, he argues that there many people including the Islam define modernity in terms of the westernization. He describes the possibility of the existence of Islam modernity that the Islam themselves do not see. Islam defines the modernity as westernization influence.
That is not true, according to the author. There are forms of modernity that exist and are from Islam. Despite all fuss on modernity, there is some relationship that exists between modernity and the Islam. This can be disputed by many depending on what modernity one is referring. Modernity is a lifestyle issue that majority of Islam are very keen. The lifestyle revolves around food, medicine, dressing, finance, and many other factors that affect the lifestyle. Among the all the lifestyle, Islam has embraced and accepted the modern medicine.
The Islam does not have any issue in the modern medicine. They have embraced the outcome and invention discovery of modern medicine. The dispute arises when it comes to food and dressing. Many Muslims would not eat food that is not prepared by one of their own. Despite the globalization, that has enabled people to interact, Muslims have maintained that stand. They translate the Quran directly as it is written. This has been the case for a very long time.
The other issue us dressing. Modern dressing is a controversial topic in Islam. Many Muslims all over the world adheres to a similar way of dressing regardless of the culture. However, the dressing issue is a big deal in Islamic countries. Finance is another of a controversial issue that is very serious in Islam. Despite great inventions on ways to make money and save, Islam still takes the finance issue very dear. Due to this reason, Muslims themselves have invented their banking system using the idea of the modern banks. The only controversial thing in the banking systems is the clauses. Some clauses in the modern banks go contrary to the Islamic faith. This has put off many potential Muslims from using the banking system.
Democracy has proved to be a factor that does not relate well in an Islamic world.[12] According to the author the democracy came around due to weak leaders. Democracy is a necessary evil that Muslims believe should not be fully granted. They compare democracy to Western civilization where everyone is allowed to do what he or she feels. In Islam when that is allowed, many people will go against the teaching of the Holy book of Quran. Many believe that the only rules that exist in the world are in the Quran. The other rules are effects of modernity, and they aim to compete with the Quran. This issue is very distressing among the Muslims, and they always feel betrayed when a leader tries to force a law or a rule that goes contrary to the teachings of the Holy book of Quran.
The Islamic views on Modernity and Islam
Muslims have varied or mixed reactions when it comes to modernity.[13] According to the author, this is brought by the locality and the culture. It also depends on the nature of Muslim a person is or his/her ideology. When it comes to locality, Muslims in Middle East and some parts of Africa are very conservative. They only pick the necessity the modernization brings. This is contrary to Muslims in Europe who is nearly into full modernity.
This proves that the environment has a significant impact on the Muslims perception on modernity. Culture is also a major determining factor on how the Muslims view modernity. Muslims, who live among people who have accepted the nature of modernity, will tend to develop some less strict spot on modernity. The kind of Muslim, a person, is will play a significant role on how he/she views the concept of modernity. A person born into Muslim will have a different view on modernity than a person who has been converted.
The issue of modernity has had a significant impact on Islam as religion. Despite all the debate concerning Islam and the modernity, each Muslim has a personal view of modernity. At the end of all the fuss, it will depend on the personal view and the understanding the teachings of Islam and the modernity. It is, however, important to note that there are countries that are governed by Islamic laws (Sharia laws). These countries have the great influence on the perception of people and their view of modernity. They will tend to be more conservative and religious than their counterparts in other places of the world where rules and laws are based on democracy and are multi-religious.
Conclusion
Modernity has brought both advantages and disadvantages to the religion of Islam. Despite many of the Muslims blaming the modernity as the reason for their failure to adhere to a religion, it has brought several good too. However, in Islam conscience is the key that allows a person to do what is right. A person should strive to understand the teachings of Quran and try to let those teaching guide their day to day lives.
Modernity cannot to condemned since it has brought all people together both Muslims and non Muslims. Therefore, in regard to the impact of modernity on Islam, it has been immense. People should not criticize the modernity since the world keep moving and developing. The most important thing also is that Muslims should not define modernity in terms of westernization, but rather by the teaching of the religion and personal conscience. Modernity and Islam should complement each other.
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[1] Bennett, Clinton. Muslims and modernity : an introduction to the issues and debates. New York: Continuum, 2005. Pp 102-105
[2] CAO, Ting. “The impacts of modernity on family structure and function: a study among Beijing, Hong Kong and Yunnan families.” (2012). Pp 1-5
[3] Giddens, Anthony. Runaway World. London: Profile, 2011. Pp 84-86
[4] Masud, Muhammad K., Armando Salvatore, and Martin V. Bruinessen. Islam and modernity key issues and debates. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2009.
[5] Esposito, John, L. Islam and Modernity Islam and Modernity. Conversations with History; Institute of International Studies, UC. (2003). Pp 4-6 Berkeleyhttp://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/people3/Esposito/esposito-con4.html
[6] Jahanbakhsh, Forough. Islam, democracy and religious modernism in Iran, 1953-2000 from Bāzargān to Soroush. Leiden Boston: Brill, 2001.
[7] Moaddel, Mansoor. Islamic modernism, nationalism, and fundamentalism : episode and discourse. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2005.
[8] Rahman, THE IMPACT OF MODERNITY OF ISLAM (Islamic Research Institute, International Islamic University, Islamabad, 1966), 113
[9] Giddens, How Globalization is reshaping our Lives (Runaway World, London 2002), 607
[10] Tariq, Islam, the west and the challenges of modernity, ( Kube, publishers limited, 2009), 32
[11] Stephanous, Political Islam, Citizenship, and Minorities: The Future of Arab Christians in the Islamic Middle East, (University Press of America, 2012), 41
[12] Stephanous, Political Islam, Citizenship, and Minorities: The Future of Arab Christians in the Islamic Middle East, (University Press of America, 2012), 41
[13] Hunter, Reformist Voices of Islam: Mediating Islam and Modernity, (Routledge, 2014), 247