DANGERS OF MODERNISM?
WHAT IS MODERNISM AND WHERE DID IT COME
FROM?
We can relate, ideologically, the modernist movement spreading these days to
one sect in the past. This sect is called the Muta'zila,
which is dated back to the third Islamic century. Although those people
accepted the Qur'an and Sunnah
they made ta'weel (their own interpretation of the Qur'an) and said 'aql
(intelligence) takes precedence over naql (guidance
of the Prophet). However, this school died out. The modernist movement did not
evolve from them, but they are very similar to them. The modernist movement
actually originated in
1) use it for things which it can't comprehend;
2) refer everything to it: accept what agrees with it, reject what does not;
3) judge the revelation by it. However, Ahl
As-Sunnah Wal Jamaa' believes that using the sound 'aql
should lead one to the conclusion that the Qur'an and
the Prophet are true and that their teachings should take precedence over pure
'aql.
THE INFLUENCE OF MODERNISM IN
Modernist are saying that the West and the world has
changed, and that Islam must become "civilized". Modernism has spread
the most in the
2) it allows Muslims from overseas to become part of American society and they
do not have to be recognized as Muslim. Also, new American Muslims will not
have to change their old lifestyle;
3) much of the literature, scholars, and institutions in the
In tafseer, Yusuf Ali is
the most popular translator of the meaning of the Qur'an,
even though he denies what the 'aql can't see (of the
unseen). In seerah, one book is saying the Prophet is
like anyone else. Another tries to say the sunnah is not for the shariah
and that sometimes we have to throw away the hadith
because Allah did not correct the Prophet's mistakes when he made ijtihaad. In Fiqh, modernists say
interest is permissible, menstruation women can pray, and Muslim women can
marry kaafir men. They say the face of women was not
covered until 150 years after the time of the Prophet, even though it existed
in his time, and that women should always pray in the mosque, even though hadith only show women in the mosque at Ishaa
and Fajr because they could not be recognized in the
dark. They also say the hadith that a people with a
woman ruler will not succeed is not true today and polygamy is forbidden except
under certain conditions (which do not exist). Finally, it should be mentioned
that this movement is organized and has resources such as magazines,
television, conventions, and literature.
SOME OF THEIR VIEWS
Modernists influence the thinking of people, and that person spreads their
views on unknowingly. Their way of thinking is the most dangerous thing about
them. None discuss aqeedah (belief) because it is not
HOW DO MODERNISTS GO
ASTRAY?
The observer can easily point out the following points as the driving force for
this trend:
1) Their premises and assumptions are wrong Modernists look to the West and try
to reinterpret the "old religion" with modern science and modern
times. They assume that:
a) the present situation is advanced or different (i.e. "this is not the
Prophet's time!"). However, the idea of progress and that things are
better now is Marxian and Hegelian. It is against the hadith,
as the Prophet said each generation is getting worse. They must prove that
there has been progression (no definition of it given). Islamically
the advanced society is the one that comes closer to Allah, and understands and
applies Islam better (such as the sahaaba). In fact,
the current societies have the things of the old societies (such as homosexuality,
etc.) as mentioned in the Qur'an;
b) religion is relative to time and place (i.e. "therefore we need to
judge Islam in light of modern science"). Modernists are "people of
science" and judge Islam according to modern science. They think that the
West is based on science, but they fail to notice that not all science is based
on fact. In reality, much of science is only hypothesis (not a fact). Also,
every science has its own philosophy, which will lead to its own conclusions;
c) the way of thinking of a society is based on (is a product of) its
environment. Modernists say most of religion is from the people and their
environment and it can be judged by later times, and hadith
are related to that time only. However, there is no proof for the modernist hypothesis
that religious truth is relative. Allah says the Qur'an
is Haq (truth). Modernists are saying (by inference)
that if the Qur'an is not true now, then it was never
true.
2) The
methodology they use is wrong. The methodology of the modernists is the way
they mislead people to the wrong conclusions. They claim to be scientific, but
they are usually inconsistent or have no proof or foundation for their beliefs.
Some of the means and principles they use include:
a) Sunnah and Hadith. They
claim the Qur'an is authentic and they only follow
"authentic" hadith. This implies that they
have a way to judge hadith (different from that of
the traditional scholars), yet most give no new way to judge hadith, and are using their 'aql
(intelligence) to determine this (like the female ruler hadith).
Modernists especially dislike hadith which have
specific meanings and prefer ones which only have general principles.
b) Use of weak hadith to help their points and
arguments (while they are calling for the use of authentic hadith).
For example, in the area of women in Islam (the two areas the modernists try to
change the most are the sunnah and women) they like
to quote two stories from the time of Umar: 1) when Umar was giving a Khutbah he
tried to restrict the amount of dowry, a woman opposed, and Umar
corrected himself and thanked the woman, and 2) Umar
appointed Ummah Shifaa as a
market-regulator (used by modernist to say women can work in the government).
However, both of these stories are not authentic.
c) Use vague terms without defining them. Modernists use terms like democracy,
freedom, and equality, but they do not define what they mean by them. The
danger in using vague terms is that a knowledgeable person will pass over the
word or concept, thinking they meant the Islamic or acceptable definition while
in fact they did not, while others may believe what they are saying is true.
d) Do not present all of the relevant information that is available on the
subject. That is, from Qur'an, sunnah, etc. They only present that which will
support their views. This tactic is used to avoid unliked
beliefs, so they just do not mention them.
e) Force their interpretation onto the text. This is what the Muta'zilla did, when they said 'aql
takes precedence over what is from the Prophet. Many modernists say Islam is
the "rational" religion. This is true if you mean everything is from
Allah and there is no contradiction, but to say that we can study everything in
Islam by judging it with only our intellect is unacceptable and there is also
no proof for this. To avoid implementing what the Qur'an
and sunnah says, the
modernists say we need to follow the "spirit" of Islam and not worry
about the laws specifically. But it is clear from the Qur'an
and Sunnah that we are to take both. They will argue
that the text of the Qur'an only says for women to
dress modestly and they do not like to talk about the specific details of hijaab and say we only need to follow the
"spirit" of the law.
f) They tend to oppose scholars by saying they meant something else. They say
that the door to ijtihaad is open, which is something
accepted by the Ahl As-Sunnah
Wal Jamaa'. However, it is
not open to everybody on any subject. Modernists claim that anyone would make ijtihaad until Imam Shaffie
narrowed the qualifications (not true), and today anyone can do it. In one
magazine, on the question of polygamy and divorce, some said that these two can
be restricted by ijtihaad. They often misquote
scholars and give their own meanings for what they said.
g) Often follow strange and rejected opinions. They try to revive some of the
old opinions because they like it and say that this writer said it in the past.
Modernists try to open the door to these opinions and choose what is the most
suitable and easy to follow. However, we are supposed to look for the fiqh opinions that are the closest to the truth. They
usually bring bad hadith such as "The differences in my Ummah is a
mercy" or reject authentic hadith such as the
one about the breakup of the Ummah into 73 sects.
h) Follow their desires. They often make rulings and fatawa
without permissible daleel (evidence). One said music
is permissible because he did not see something wrong with it, so it is halal. But he did not check what the Qur'an
and the sunnah say about
this subject.
ISLAM AND MODERNISM
Ahl As-Sunnah Wal Jamaa' believes that there is
only one true Islam. This is proven in Qur'an and Hadith. One hadith shows the
straight line as leading to Allah, and branching paths leading off it with a
devil at each one calling to it. Also, the Ummahh
will break into 73 sects, and the true way is the one who follows Muhammad and
his companions. Modernists are differing from Ahl As-Sunnah Wal-Jamaa' in:
1) everything in accordance with Qur'an and Sunnah is Haq (truth) and what
disagrees with it is false (some modernists disagree with this). Also,
statements consistent with the Qur'an and Sunnahh are accepted;
2) Ijmaa (consensus) of the sahaaba
(and early generations) is a hujja (proof) for all
Muslims. Modernists say sahaaba are men and we are
men, and even matters agreed on by them are open to ijtihaad;
3) anything in the Qur'an and Sunnah
cannot be opposed by 'aql, rational thought, opinion,
or qiysas. This is supported in the Qur'an and is not open to discussion or vote. One
modernists said the cutting of the hand of the thief is a "Khomeni Islam" and is unethical;
4) there are constants in Islam related to belief, worship, etc. and these are
good, sound, proper, and correct for all places and times. This view is
accepted by the Ahl Sunnah,
but not by many of the modernists, saying that all truth is relative and there
are no constants. However, these constant principles are basic aspects of the Ahl Sunnah and are traced to the Qur'an and Sunnah and Sahaaba. They are not questionable or changeable things. In
many of these things, modernists say we need ijtihaad
and tajdeed.
DANGERS
1) Many are influenced by it and do not know it. Also, their views are
unacceptable and should be refuted.
2) Many people do not recognize it as a movement of munkar
or bida' and do not evaluate its writings and
speeches, so they try to defend it. Many of their writings are from
rationalization (which has no end or conclusion), and the effects of this are
seen in the Christian church (that is, they now have no relationship to their
religion, and it has no practical value or purpose).
3) This group is also playing into the hands of the kuffar.
They are happy with is because their effort is to bring the Muslim women out of
the home to change them. The last 200 years has been a colonialist and
Orientals attack on the position of the woman in Islam (to destroy her and the
society).
CONCLUSIONS
1) The modernists movement as a whole (what it is
based on) is from Bida' (innovation). They have their
own principles and ways, which contradicts that of Ahl-Sunnah. They say we want ijtihaad
in the basic principles of the deen (religion) which
are constant.
2) They are very willing to reject and contradict the ijmaa
of the sahaaba on clear points (such as stoning of
the adulterer and the apostate is to be killed) and hadith
are dealt with as if they are not
3) One of the main points of modernism is to change the role of women. They say
it is permissible to mix men and women and to not wear hijaab.
The modernists are impressed by the West and their conclusions always seem to
agree with the views of the West.
Most of the information used for this article is from a seven part cassette
series which is available from: Dar Makkah: 2040
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