INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA

MAKING OF ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION IN OUR TIME

SUBJECT : THE ISLAMIC WORLDVIEW (UNGS 2040)

SECTION NO

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TABLE OF CONTENT

i.

INTRODUCTION

ii.

The Characteristics of Islamic Civilization

iii.

General Characteristics of Islamic Civilization

iv.

History of Islamic civilization

v.

The Improvement to Civilize Islam in The Modern Era.

vi.

Conclusion

vii.

References

INTRODUCTION

Civilization comes from the Latin word civis, meaning someone who lives in a town or citizen. When people are called civilized they have organized into large well-organized groups like towns, not in small tribes or family groups. The people in the same civilization not only work together in government, welfare and education, but also often share traditions such as language, arts and architecture. Thats mean it is the stage in human organization when goverment, social and economic institutions have developed to suffecient manage ( however imperfectly ) the problems of order, security, and effeciency in a complex society. A contemporary Muslim scholar, Dr. Yusof al-Qaradhawi defines civilization as a series of highly developed, materialistic, scientific, literary and social aspects of particular society or of similar society. Meanwhile, in Islamic civilization, the word tamaddun is used to describe civilization. The root word of Tamaddun is din which means religion or description of religious life. Then, the word is expanded to madanna that refers to the opening of city then it becomes madinah which means city or urban dwelling-place. Normally, in the development of civilization, a high stage of civilization is only achievable in cities (close to rivers) with many in habitants, enough crops and goods for trade, division of labor and technology achievement. Thus, the word tamaddun is used for civilization.

Islamic civilization can be defined as the manifestation of Islamic faith (tawhid) in every aspect of Muslim life. Islam itself comprise both of religion and civilization, It is also a spiritual and metahistorical reality that has transformed the inner and outer life of numerous human beings in very different temporal and spatial circumstances.Today nearly one-fourth of the worlds population from different racial and cultural background are Muslim, and historically Islam has played a significant role in development of certain aspects of other civilization, especially Western civilization

The Characteristics of Islamic Civilization

Islamic civilization is more emphasis on the human dimension of how to build it especially spiritual and intellectual, and rather than emphasizing the things that are physical or material. Therefore, when the Shahadah was declared the subsequent efforts, as reflected in the letters of the early decline in the Qur'an, fully strived to build the integrity of human beings, people from Asfala safilin be ahsanu taqwim. The Qur'an commands Civilizations Review :Is it not come to their important news about people who were before them, (namely) of Noah, 'Aad, Thamud, of Abraham, the people of Midian and the countries that have been destroyed? Came to them messengers with a real explanation, then God is not ever wrong them, but they who wronged themselves. (Al-Qur'an: At-Tauba [9]: 70)

Universality Islamic civilization is not confined to a certain nation or a certain place. It is a universal

civilization built by Muslims for all people in the world, regardless their race, language, culture, or location. Islamic civilization owns its greatness to the contributions of Persian, European, African, and Asian Muslims the like. Manifestations of Islamic civilization can be found in all parts of the world, not only in Arab countries, but from Europe to the east.

Unity (Tawhid) Unity ia the unity in faith, religion, purpose, unity of mankind and unity of the final destiny. No civilization without unity such as unity of faith, religion. The constitute elements, whether material, structural or relational or integral are an bound by tauhid in Islam. Tauhid or ultimacy of Allah implies that Allah s.w.t is worthy of worship of service. A person should lead his faith, actions and lifestyle according to this principle.

 Rationalism

Constitutive of the essence of Islamic civilization and it consists of 3 rules or laws.The first one is rejection of all that does not correspond with reality. Muslim must be willing to reject old practices, ideas and opinions which do not have sound and solid argument. Next,. denial of ultimate contradictories. The last one is openness to new approach, protects him against fanaticism, conservatism. Muslim must be willing to explore new ideas, approaches within framework of syariah and should not be rigid.

Tolerance Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said: Whoever commits injustice to non-Muslims; he will become my enemy in the hereafter. Islam is very tolerant towards other religions and accommodates different cultures. In the history of Islamic civilization in Cordova of Spain, Christian and Jewish communities remained free to practice their religious rituals, celebrate their festivals, and practice their own law. In contrast, as soon as Spain was re-taken by the Spanish Christians from the North, Spanish Muslims and Jews were forced to choose either to accept Christianity or leave their country! Many Jews left Spain and found refuge in the Maghreb (Tunisia, Morocco) under Muslim rule. Whenever Jews in Europe and Russsia were persecuted, they would flee to Muslim countries where they were safe and free to practice their religion and do trade. In Muslim countries, India Buddhist temples remained open, and none of the Indian populace was forced to become Muslim as long as they accepted Muslim rule.

Comprehensiveness Islamic civilization addresses all aspects of human life, individually and socially. Islamic civilization is rich in material (trade, standard of living, state and welfare institutions, education, science), cultural (literature, arts, architecture) as well as spiritual achievements (Sufism, law, ethics). While Western civilization accommodated Greek philosophy and science to Christian thought, and Roman law to Christian law, Islamic civilization is so broadly defined that it can

accommodate the achievements of other civilizations and cultures without sacrificing own fundamental and without its basic features.

Transgression -the tendency towards excessiveness.

To fall in the balance - the tendency towards negligence. Balanced should be in faith, actions, religion, worship, dealing, services, social interaction and other aspects of life.

Allah swt says :

(110)

Integrated civilization project means spiritual, material, cultural and moral dimension, pertaining to worldly life and here after as well as science and faith. Islam emphasized of the purity of means it implies in parallel with the nobility of the end and never accepts noble ends through impure or dirty means. It rejects achieving truth trough falsehood, even establishing mosque and school. Needed to further Islamic awakening and to work with seriousness and from determination.

o -Transforming the Islamic nation from weakness to power o - from poverty to prosperity o -from chaos to system o -from jester to seriousness o -from destruction to construction o -from disintegration to supporting and co-operation on goodness and piety. o -from financial under development to integrated progress(material & moral o -Awakening is able to do more in recruiting its abilities and potentialities for active work.

Allah says (surah al-Rad : 11)

Balance between Spirituality and Materialism

Western civilization is the most dominant civilization today. Western principles of law, finance, education, science, culture, and also Western values (justice, individualism, freedom) rule most parts of the world. Yet, even though Western civilization has contributed a lot to human welfare in material terms, the spiritual aspects are totally lacking because religion has no role in it. Thus, no wonder many Westerners today have turned to Eastern religions (Islam, Buddhism, etc) for spiritual and moral guidance and satisfaction. Islamic civilization on the other hand makes religion as its foundation. The principle of godliness (existence of Allah SWT) in the realm of civilization is always present. Islamic civilization is a balanced civilization that encompasses law, ethics, and spirituality and can accommodate Western scientific know-how, its intellectual culture (to a certain extent), and make it complete by adding the spiritual element which is lacking today (the criteria of absolute truth). There is no true morality without faith, and Islam addresses both needs of man, his material as well as his spiritual needs.

Integration between science and faith in Islam

Humanity need a new civilization, which has a different philosophy and message from western civilization. This is to restore its faith in Allah, His message, day of reckoning, His Justice and the sublime value without which man loses his humanity and life. It also to compasses all things man craves, religion, science, faith, reason. Spirit and matter. Mans way to paradise and guide him to avoid the way of hell and to enjoy his life to the fullest with the limitations. Man is guided by the light of both divine truth and human intellect.

In this civilization man should have a feeling that Allah is the All knowing, All wise , who knows everything.

General Characteristics of Islamic Civilization . Islamic civilization is based on a unity which stands completely against any racial or ethnic discrimination Islam was not opposed to learning from the earlier civilizations and incorporating their science, learning, and culture into its own world view, as long as they did not oppose the principles of Islam The sense of brotherhood and sisterhood was so much emphasized that it overcame all local attachments to a particular tribe, race, or language The global civilization created by Islam permitted people of widely ethnic backgrounds to work together in refined various arts and sciences. Although the civilization was profoundly Islamic, the non-muslim (over the world) participated in the intellectual activity to learn and knows the advancement of knowledge that will guide them towards civilization. The global civilization created by Islam also succeeded in activating the mind and thought of the people who meet the same intends.

History of Islamic civilization

The history begin when the death of the Prophet, Abu Bakr, the friend of the Prophet and the first adult male to embrace Islam, became caliph. Abu Bakr ruled for two years to be succeed by 'Umar who was caliph for a decade and during whose rule Islam spread extensively east and west conquering the Persian empire, Syria and Egypt. It was 'Umar who marched on foot at the end of the Muslim army into Jerusalem and ordered the protection of public treasury and a sophisticated financial administration. He established may of the basic practices of Islamic government. 'Umar was succeeded by 'Uthman who ruled for some twelve years during which time the Islamic expansion continued. He is also known as the caliph who had the difinitive text of the Nolble Quran copied and sent to the four comers of the Islamic world. He was in turn succeeded by 'Ali who is known to this day for his eloquent sermons and letters, and also for his bravery. With his death the rule of the "rightly guided" caliphs, who hold a special place of respect in the hearts of Muslims came to an end. "Thus We have appointed you a middle nation, that you may be witnesses upon mankind." (Qur'an 2:143) Islam was destined to become a world religion and to create a civilization which stretched from one end of the globe to the other. At first the Arabs, then the Persians and later the Turks set about to create classical Islamic civilization. Later, in the 13th century, both Africa and India became great centers of Islamic civilization and soon, Muslim kingdoms were established in the Malay-Indonesian world while Chinese Muslims flourished throughout China In trying to understand Islamic civilization, it is essential to remember not only the diversity of the arts and the sciences, but also the diversity of theological and philosophical interpretations of Islamic doctrines and even of Islamic Law. There is nothing more erroneous than thinking that Islam is a monolithic reality and that Islamic civilization did not allow the creation or subsistence of diversity. Although a sense of unity has at all times dominated

everything Islamic, there has always existed a diversity of interpretations of the religion itself as well as various aspects of Islamic thought and culture. The Prophet of Islam even considered the diversity of views of the scholars of the Islamic community a blessing from God. When one studies Islamic civilization, one sees not only differences of language and dress, writing and singing, color of skin and physical features, cuisine, and response to different climatic conditions, but also different interpretations of verses of the Quran, sayings of the Prophet, and tenets of the Divine Law as well as theological and philosophical questions. And yet a remarkable unity predominates in the civilization, as it does in the religion that created that civilization and has guided its history over the ages.

The Improvement to Civilize Muslim in The Modern Era.

Based on the facts, we could briefly define the ways to make Muslim nowadays for becoming a civilized people by not contradict in Islam shariah (laws). However, the opinions that listed are not very promising to happen as we have our country laws and certain criteria may be denied based on some aspects (politics, economics, laws, societies, effects) . Restriction. (hadd or hudud) may be applied through all the Muslim countries that can bear with the multiple races living in it. Restriction made people aware of wrong doings and the punishments will be an inspiration by other people.

The improvement of the laws in each country will make the society realized of the good things about being civilized. For example, littering. People who throw stash freely either in highways, streets or any other places that is not for littering will be sued or pay the fees that has been set by the government of the law enforcement.

In Muslim country, the lectures, classes, or seminars, must be extensively occurs about rules, history, prevention and improvement of Islam for Muslim to open their mind and heart moving towards civilized living style and the remembrance of Allah.

In the parenting aspects, every Muslim parents must guide their children to become a civilized Muslim based on the Al-Quran and Sunnah. Provide all the materials needed such as books and videos for them to easily understand what is the meaning of civilization. The importing things is the parents itself must behave and act according to Islamic guidance and be a good role model to their child.

In society part, there must be a leader to guide the community to lead the path of being civilized. There is some part in this world where Muslim is not civilized not because they are not learn but they .

The impediment of improvement the civilization in Islam

The cultural and society matters must be considered if we pointed out about civilization in Muslim community. For example, in Malaysia here, if we apply hudud (restriction) as a part of our law, there must be a conflict between other races. It is because, there are multi-races people of Malaysians and it may affect the view of people towards Islam. Plus, people may get offended if laws are not equally treated.

Secular Muslim. They see Islam as largely confined to the domain of personel belief and a relationship between God and the individual. Many value personel piety . They see no need for an Islamic state or for the implementation of what is referred as Islamic Law.

Theological puritans. Theological puritans are concerned primarily with theological matters such as correct belief. They seek to purify society of what they consider practices antithetical to Islam, such as reverence for saints and saint-worship, magic, certain Sufi practices and what they call innovation in religious matters (bida). They are also concerned with the literal affirmation of Gods attributes without any interpretation.

Militant extremists. The militant extremists also emphasize the universal brotherhood of all Muslims; they do not seem to support the concept of the nation state and are motivated by a particular understanding of jihad whose theatre is global. They believe that less resourceful people can defeat a powerful enemy.

Progressive ijtihadis . Progressive ijtihadis come from a range of backgrounds and intellectual orientations. They can be considered intellectual descendents of modernists along the following lines: modernists neo-modernists progressives. A range of names is used today for progressives, which may include liberal Muslims, progressive Muslims, ijtihadis, transformationists or even neomodernists. It is not a movement but a broad trend with a variety of voices in it. It includes Muslim modernists, liberals,

feminists, and even reformminded traditionalists. Many leading figures of progressive ijtihadis are based in the West and in Muslim countries where there is a reasonable degree of intellectual freedom.

CONCLUSION

In short, islamic civilation can be improved through many ways. However, we as a muslim must acknowledge the rules and shariah in order to gain the mind as a civilized muslim and every muslim must be part of the process in becoming civilization. Even though some part of the world wonder whether muslim is civilized enough as opposed to western civilization. For example, in Arab country, the government prevent their citizens to eat in public during Ramadhan not considered with other believers, while the truth is, that situation is actually based on their local culture. Furthermore, civilization is obtained by visual and learn. The courtesy of learning the civilization history is one of the ways to becoming civilized and by watching other human behaviour, the improvement of differentiation between good and bad can conclude the ways of living in the blessing of Allah by obeying the command and becoming civilized. The ups and downs of Islamic civilization were not due to the teachings of Islam but in fact, it was due to Muslims who ignore the teachings of Islam and do not practice Islam in its totality in their daily life. The glory of Islamic civilization during the life of mankind is well preserved in the history of the world. These tremendous achievements were even recognized by western historians until today. So, it can be a living example to show that Islam is a religion that comes to build a progressive society and would serve the goodness and betterment of the mankind.

REFERENCE

1. Syyed Hossein Nasr (2003) . ISLAM Religion,History, and Civilization Harper Collins.

2. Michael Freassetto and David R.Blanks. Western Views of Islam in Medieval and Early Modern Europe .St.Martins Press, New York

3. Josef W.Meri, MEDIEVAL ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION . An Enclopedia . Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. 4. http://www.historyguide.org/ancient/lecture1b.html 5. http://islamstory.com/en/node/27430 6. http://www.thekeytoislam.com/en/islamic-civilization.shtml 7. http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/index.php?page=articles&id=175127 8. http://www.scribd.com/doc/16406163/Impact-of-Islamic-Civilization-on-The-Modern-WorldGeneral-