THE LONG AWAITED MUSLIM REVOLUTION
"….from the seed which we sow today there may spring up a mighty tree, whose branches, like those of the banyan of the soil shall in their turn strike firm roots into the earth , and themselves sent forth new and vigorous saplings; that this College may expand into a University, whose sons shall go forth throughout the length and breadth of the land to preach the gospel of free inquiry , of large-hearted toleration, and of pure morality."
(Sir Sayyad Ahmed Khan, the progressive Indian muslim leader)
A revolution within the muslim community is long overdue - a sea of massive movement led by the intellectuals and supported by many ‘seekers of change’ which is determined to redefine community lifestyles and their social values, giving a massive blow to blind dogmas, fundamentalism, polygamy, talaq system - thereby creating a society which is comparitively less obsessed with religion and that provides more equality to women.
Change is the only constant. In this context, nothing could be more meaninful than the change modern times have heralded in the lives of men and women of all classes, regions and nations. Industrial revolution which was born in England, the French revolution and the American revolution are the three greatest landmark events in the development of the hardware and software of modern civilization.
These have democratised technology and created a revolution in man’s thinking and activities. We now have the sublime ideals of equality of all citizens, freedom of speech expression and religion, the marvel of democracy - a government which is of the people, by the people and for the people ; and the universalisation and paramouncy of a welfare state as the goal of all national governments, whether democractic or non-democractic.
While these changes are happening the world over, large sections of muslim community seems to be living in a state of aloofness, despair and with a sense of hostility towards these new changes which it perceives as "unislamic, unholy and satanic". It is a grossly misperceived notion. Freedom and progressiveness can not be anti-religious, on the contrary they serve the very purpose of religion by making people better minded and ensuring them a more rational minded lives.
The reasons for this ‘closeness’ are not far to seek. A society that is historically strongly controlled and restricted by the Ulemas (Muslim clergy), with massive levels of illiteracy, a religion which inherits the legacy of one of the most ‘vigorous and strongly enforced’ traditions from it’s birthplace - Saudi Arabia. The past baggage continues to weigh down ‘the muslims’.
But the things need to change now. The advent of globalisation, the spread of liberalism, slow but gradual universalisation of modern education are the catalysts of this change. As the world grows, as the time goes, muslims are bound to change, it is inevitable and perhaps imminent.
There are several events which clearly indicate that, the falling birthrate of muslims across the world, the rise of liberal muslim organisations and NGOs in various regions of the world, the pan Arab revolution which is largely for democracy and clean systems with little or no emphasis on religion, and increasing interactions of muslims with non-muslims especially westerners.
While a few fundamentalists may continue to exist which may influence large sections in muslim countries, but their’s will be a temporary phase. But the need of time is something more radical. A massive revolution across different muslim countries, that tends to destroy or at least lessen injustices meted out towards liberals/non-muslims/women, redefine the islamic laws to suit the modern and rational times and to eventually minimise control of religion over society.
Europe had to fight for three four centuries to free itself from strong and repressive control of clergy. Let’s hope crescentdom (the Islamic World) doesn’t take that long.
XXX
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