Religious Schools: Their Mission and Role (Part Three)
Confession of Western Scholars
The renowned scholar, Leopoldus of Austria, adopted the name Muhammad Asad after converting to Islam. In his book “Islam at the Crossroads,” he states: “We can never expect that young Muslims who are educated in the Western way to be true Muslims and that they will not harbor enmity and hatred towards Islam. There are a few individuals who possess extraordinary strength and, due to their personal genius, overcome the educational methods they encounter. If we exclude these few individuals, the Western educational method will definitely weaken the faith of the youth.”
The same author concludes with utmost clarity: “If Muslims have neglected scientific debate in the past, they cannot now compensate for their past mistakes and fill the void of that negligence by accepting the Western educational system.”
Yes, dear readers, what has happened in the Islamic world over the last century—fragmenting it, causing it to follow the West, and weakening its connection with divine revelation—is undoubtedly the result of systematic planning by Western experts and enemies of Islam.
The poet of the East, Allama Iqbal, may Allah have mercy on him, reflects painfully on this situation:
“When you see that a bandit has killed a caravan, ask him how he killed it.
Do not feel safe from that science which you read, from which a nation’s spirit can be killed.”
Parts of the Gifts of Westernization
1. Separation of politics from religion
2. Attempting to confine religion to individual and personal issues
3. The belief that religion is an obstacle to scientific progress
4. Considering the veil a sign of male tyranny and memories of the Old Testament
5. The belief that religion is a factor of backwardness
6. The belief that Islamic laws and jurisprudential rulings align only with the situations of early Islam and require reform and revision today
7. The expansion of the banking system with interest and the abandonment of usury rulings
8. The growing prevalence of unhealthy entertainment and the promotion of hedonism
9. The revival of outdated traditions of the Old Testament
10. Placing scholars and religious leaders on the same level as popes and church leaders
By admin2
