Muslims and modernity: the road from jihad to Brexit
As a believer in lifelong learning, I regularly attend short courses at a London further education college called the City Lit. This weekend, I attended a one-day course entitled “Hope And History: A Short Introduction To Contemporary Issues In Muslim Contexts”. Our tutor was Pakistani-born Dr Farid Panjwani, a lecturer at the Institute of Education, who was very informative and balanced.
Dr Panjwani gave a few basic facts about contemporary Islam:
- About 22% or one in five of the world population is Muslim
- Of all Muslims, Sunnis are around 85% and Shias are 15%
- Most Muslims are not Arab but Pakistani or Indonesian
- In the UK, there are 2.7 million Muslims or 4.5% of the population
- The largest component of UK Muslims (40%) are of Pakistani origin
He emphasised that there are huge cultural differences between Muslims around the world and warned against the Western tendency to see Muslim societies as monolithic.
Dr Panjwani explained the major consequences of colonialism and modernity for Muslim nations:
- A displacement from political power with the fall of old, long-standing empires such as the Ottomans
- The marginalisation of the Islamic legal tradition governing largely personal matters (sharia law)
- A challenge to social structures with new modern occupations and new gender roles for women
- Social conditions such as the power of political elites and high levels of unemployment that nurture rage and a sense of injustice
He explained that a key question for most Muslims around the world is: “How does one remain true to one’s religion while living a successful modern life?”
I found it interesting that Dr Panjwani mentioned a book which was published 20 years ago: “Jihad vs McWorld” by Benjamin R Barber. I read this book at the time and reviewed it here.
Today we tend to use the word ‘jihad’ (which actually means ‘struggle’) in the context of Islamic fundamentalist movements like ISIS but, in the sense that Barber used the term, it could be seen as referring to the anti-establishment, anti-globalisation, anti-immigrant movements that we see today in so many European countries and in the support for Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders (in different ways) in the United States.
Indeed, on one interpretation, there is even an element of similarity between those Muslims who reject Western values and seek to assert their distinct identity and those British voters who supported Brexit in order to oppose the political and business establishment and express antipathy to immigrants.
July 10th, 2016 at 12:33 pm
What Mr. Panjwani seems to have neglected to mention is the widespread refusal of Muslims around the world to question the Koran, to seek reformation, confront dogma. They seem unable to challenge the Islamic notion of “my way or the highway”, which is clearly, explicitly stated in its holy books – Islam is the only true religion, Allah is the only God, everyone else be damned, nay killed! Kill the non-believers! Why is it that they condone Mohammed marrying a 6 year old Ayesha, having sex when she was 9, and the slaughter, rape, plunder by Muslim armies? Why do they continue the barbaric cruelty of circumcision? Modernity implies discarding the nonsense from 1400 years ago. Muslims need to grasp the idea that “critical thinking” is not an enemy. If they don’t, Islam will wither and die.
Neil De Odhar
New York, NY
July 10th, 2016 at 3:51 pm
Our lecturer did talk about attempts by some Muslim scholars to interpret the Koran in a manner which involves not taking the words literally but seeing them as of their time and instead looking at the principles that the text represents and applying these principles to the modern world.
Of course, the Bible and the Torah both have texts which today would be seen as quite unacceptable, but there are Christians and Jews respectively who insist that the words should be taken literally.
July 14th, 2016 at 10:01 am
A Canadian friend of mine sent me this comment:
“I enjoyed your blog on Muslims and Modernity.
Your reader should investigate some of the local Mennonites here – there are large groups that still forbid women from cutting their hair, wearing pants, or engaging in any task that might be remotely considered “man’s work”.
The family we spent time with played in our orchestra and boycotted our concert with a local Beatle’s group on the grounds that the music was evil.
I work with many Muslims and they are just people like us………”
July 16th, 2016 at 5:09 pm
@Neil De Odhar
Hello Neil,
I’m a reader of Rogers blog and a Muslim – I just wanted to respond to your comment.
It saddens me that you seem to have such an extreme view of all Muslims. You seem to be lumping all Muslims into one pot – what you have to realize is that they are human beings just like you. Some are pious, some are not, some of them support Manchester United, some do not. “Those Muslims” isn’t some monolith. All are ordinary, lawed human beings in some way.
I actually keep out of political and religious debates and that stuff in real-life, I try to live a simple and happy life. If it comes up though, one way I explain it is “so some England soccer fans are violent thugs and hooligans, does that mean they all are?”.
All I can tell you is that among my Muslim friends and family we are just ordinary people, who go to work, want to enjoy life, watch TV, discuss the latest iPhone, have a BBQ in the sun, love our children etc. They just want to “get on”. They don’t mean harm on anyone. Never have I heard them wish harm on anyone either. Like the vast majority of Muslims they just pick and choose the best, peaceful, good bits from Islam and mingle that with the culture of their country.
As to your other remarks, two things: 1. I think “showing critical thinking” should be done by people everywhere. If you read more widely (including other religious texts) you’ll discover that extremist and narrow views are not confined to just some radical Muslims. 2. Most holy books are “of their time” – what we think of as a child now in our Western culture at 9 (or 15 more likely) is not what was thought of in 6th century Arabia. Context matters.
I assume “NY” means “New York” – I’d encourage you to spend some time with ordinary Muslims in your city. Maybe arrange to visit a local mosque and ask to discuss things generally with some of them. I think you will be surprised at the hospitality and warmth you will be shown if you show it back. You will then hopefully see my words are not just words.
Thats it – As-Salamu Alaykum (“peace be upon you”) 🙂
Imran
July 16th, 2016 at 6:46 pm
Many thanks for these helpful comments, Imran. I think you are absolutely right.
July 18th, 2016 at 5:58 am
@ Imran Chaudhry
A reference to Manchester United leads me to assume you reside in the UK. You’re fortunate. My comment wasn’t referring to Muslims living in free, modern, progressive countries. It was, instead, talking about the vast numbers of Muslims living around the world in Islamic societies.
1. I’m aware of “context”, and “of their time”. So why are girls as young as 8 or 9 being forced into marriage with much older men in places like Afghanistan? In 2016? Because they believe Islam says it’s okay. Mohammed is the role model.
2. Why, in our own time, is there the subjugation of women in Islamic countries? The beheading of people? The death by stoning of women accused of adultery? Male genital mutilation?
3. In Muslim countries, can anyone freely express an opinion if it happens to contradict the teachings of Islam? Do you think a person can declare his/her decision to quit Islam to follow some other religion, or perhaps become an atheist? The Koran orders apostates to be killed.
The point is that “critical thinking” will be a good starting point for religious leaders, opinion makers, in Islamic countries to forge ahead in the 21st century and beyond.
When new evidence/information comes our way, we update our understanding. If Muslims reject this basic tenet of progress, Islam will wither and die. It will be brushed aside like a dead leaf.
Neil
New York, NY