Comments on: Islam in the Modern Age http://iman-a.com/2006/03/20/islam-in-the-modern-age/ palestine, world, thoughts, art, culture, health, news, latest, politics Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:04:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Iman http://iman-a.com/2006/03/20/islam-in-the-modern-age/#comment-134 Iman Wed, 22 Mar 2006 04:53:50 +0000 http://iman-a.com/2006/03/20/islam-in-the-modern-age/#comment-134 Hi <strong>Rihab,</strong> how was the tea?! I don't think the list was in an order of importance, per se. You're absolutely right, education is very crucial. I've never taken Islamic Studies courses in school, but since you mention it..what history isn't portrayed faultless? Now as far as the variou schools of thoughts out there and the varying interpretations of different scholars, I would say as individuals we are also responsible for asking questions and researching. Hi Rihab, how was the tea?!

I don’t think the list was in an order of importance, per se. You’re absolutely right, education is very crucial. I’ve never taken Islamic Studies courses in school, but since you mention it..what history isn’t portrayed faultless?

Now as far as the variou schools of thoughts out there and the varying interpretations of different scholars, I would say as individuals we are also responsible for asking questions and researching.

]]> By: Rihab http://iman-a.com/2006/03/20/islam-in-the-modern-age/#comment-131 Rihab Tue, 21 Mar 2006 11:02:01 +0000 http://iman-a.com/2006/03/20/islam-in-the-modern-age/#comment-131 I agree with the five sources of weakness you mentioned, however, I would have arranged them as: 1)Intellectual (Educational) 2)Cultural 3)Political 4)Economic 5)Military... and I would change this to technological. I put educational in brackets because I think that's the root cause of a lot of problems in Islamic societies; it affects intellect and therefore affects our approach to every aspect of our life. I think it's fair to state that there are and always have been a variety of Islamic schools of thought, some of which completely oppose and contradict each other. Yet, from what I can remember of my Islamic studies classes at school, you were never made aware of the variety of thoughts that are out there nor are you made fully aware of the conflicts that existed in Islamic history. Instead, thoughts are taught in absolute terms and Islamic history is portrayed as faultless and exemplary (note I said Islamic history and not Islam so no one pounce on me for that). It's very important to make people, students, aware of the variety of thoughts and aware of faults in their history. Apart from being a more complete approach of educating students about Islam, showing students different perspectives of the same incident or showing them different interpretations of a single verse, educates them about tolerating different ideas and allows them to appreciate that there isn't always one right answer to a problem. Also, by not painting an over-glorified version of history, a better understanding of the mistakes of the past is created and so may, possibly, help reduce the likelihood of repeating them. However, on the point of over-glorifying history Muslims and Arabs are by no means the only ones who are guilty of this; the Brits, French, Americans and most other nationalities have the same tendency. Educating certain ideals, concepts and truths to people goes a long way in forming the way they think and has a long-lasting impact on the way society functions. I have a lot more to say about the political, economic & technological aspects of weakness in Islamic societies, but I need a tea break now. :D I agree with the five sources of weakness you mentioned, however, I would have arranged them as:
1)Intellectual (Educational)
2)Cultural
3)Political
4)Economic
5)Military… and I would change this to technological.

I put educational in brackets because I think that’s the root cause of a lot of problems in Islamic societies; it affects intellect and therefore affects our approach to every aspect of our life.

I think it’s fair to state that there are and always have been a variety of Islamic schools of thought, some of which completely oppose and contradict each other. Yet, from what I can remember of my Islamic studies classes at school, you were never made aware of the variety of thoughts that are out there nor are you made fully aware of the conflicts that existed in Islamic history. Instead, thoughts are taught in absolute terms and Islamic history is portrayed as faultless and exemplary (note I said Islamic history and not Islam so no one pounce on me for that).

It’s very important to make people, students, aware of the variety of thoughts and aware of faults in their history. Apart from being a more complete approach of educating students about Islam, showing students different perspectives of the same incident or showing them different interpretations of a single verse, educates them about tolerating different ideas and allows them to appreciate that there isn’t always one right answer to a problem. Also, by not painting an over-glorified version of history, a better understanding of the mistakes of the past is created and so may, possibly, help reduce the likelihood of repeating them. However, on the point of over-glorifying history Muslims and Arabs are by no means the only ones who are guilty of this; the Brits, French, Americans and most other nationalities have the same tendency.

Educating certain ideals, concepts and truths to people goes a long way in forming the way they think and has a long-lasting impact on the way society functions.

I have a lot more to say about the political, economic & technological aspects of weakness in Islamic societies, but I need a tea break now. :D

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