Fitna 6: Islam and The West : Rethinking a New Narrative
In a previous article of the Moralis Series, I mentioned that the modern world has progressed, but it has left its soul behind, and this is due to the fact that humanity in the decades has drowned in the sea of materialism, forgetting its spiritual and moral side that distinguishes it from other creatures (by saying creatures I mean that whether you accept it or not, there is a creator for this universe).
The major misstep of societies since 1900s is that we often measure development from only the material dimension, and I would accuse here the western (civilisation) which first eliminated the role of the family and the church in raising society and then turned to what remained of other civilizations, especially the Islamic ones, and worked hard, and even still do, to obliterate its values through its crusades and colonial movements over the past decade, and through its intellectual war and its current attempt to spread secularism and atheism.
And what bothers me most about this issue is what we see today in believing the propaganda spread by the West about their humanity and their endeavour to spread peace and democracy, as if they came to bring nations out of the darkness of ignorance and war into the light of peace and coexistence.
I will return to this later, but before that I would like to touch on an important point that contributed to the spread of this idea among the Islamic community, it is their ability to be colonized. Or, like as called by Malek Bennabi, the “colonisability”. This term was proposed for the first time by the thinker Malek Bennabi to express the condition or character that characterizes the colonized peoples (especially the Islamic and Arab peoples here) by Western colonialism, which is represented by a deep internal submission to the colonizer resulting from the colonialists convincing them of their superiority over them politically, intellectually, and militarily, and this is what creates a state of dependency and submission to colonialism and allowing it to Manag the state’s internal and external affairs.
In his book, “Conditions of the Renaissance,” Malik Bennabi mentioned a wonderful interpretation that reflects precise consideration and depth of thought, as he highlighted the hidden role of the colonizer in rehabilitating the psychological condition of the colonized peoples, a preparation that generates in the souls of its individuals a new spirit marked by the trait of submissiveness, dependency, cowardice, and calcification of the mind and will.
“Colonialism is not the result of the frivolity of politicians or their actions, but rather it comes from the soul itself, which accepts the humiliation of colonialism and enables it in its land.” — Malik Bennabi.
Now, I would like to go back to the idea that I have mentioned above. Can we consider the west as developed civilisation? If so, according to who? What are the standards used to evaluate this civilisation?
If your answer is based on all the material development such cars, buildings, technology, internet, AI! Well, you probably need to reconsider your definition of civilisation, because this all these aspects are merely the lifestyle of the 21st century that do not necessarily reflect a developed society.
In his book: Rethinking Islam and The West, A New Narrative for the Age of Crises, Ahmed Paul Keeler highlighted the fact that modern societies, especially the western ones are so proud of their industrial revolution while all what they have done was, destroying a thousand of civilisations that were living back in for the sake of the industry.
“The truth is rather that a world of many cultures and civilizations that had accumulated vast knowledge of how to live sustainably and in balance with the natural world, was destroyed and re-ordered to serve the industrial system” — Ahmed Paul Keeler.
Indeed, we find ourselves amidst a series of escalating crises that surpass any challenges humanity has previously encountered. Scientists are compelled to use terms such as “apocalypse” and “Armageddon” to convey the imminent threats facing us.
Despite these warnings, the modern world persists on its current path, driven by a lack of alternative perspectives. The extensive investment in constructing this artificial world parallels a cancerous growth on a dying host. Like a relentless force, it continues expanding until the host can no longer sustain it.
This encapsulates the reality of modern civilization, where moral foundations are replaced by the pursuit of liberty, and desire becomes the driving force, fueling insatiable greed for more pleasure, fun, and wealth. Modern humanity is ensnared in a failing system, demanding transformation into consumers, with the stock market serving as the ultimate arbiter of success or failure.
Contrary to modern civilization, Islamic culture ensured a delicate balance between the moral and material realms. The relationship between individuals and society was governed by Sharia rules, prohibiting usury and placing limits on leisure. Rulers were tasked with upholding Allah’s principles within society, operating under the guidance of scholars.
The Islamic civilization established an intellectual and environmental framework conducive to achieving peace in all aspects of life. The core principles of balance, equity, and justice were central to this world and remain the foundation of the Islamic religion.
