Author: Obaidullah Nimruzi
Philosopher of Afghanistan: Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan (Part 21)
Call for Reform and Modernity in the Thought of Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan
Keywords: Reform, Modernity, Unity, Colonialism, and Rationality.
Abstract
In the previous section, we discussed Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan’s position as the pioneer of awakening and justice and showed how his thoughts had a profound impact on the reform movements and Islamic awakening. Now, in continuation of this discussion, we will address his approach to reform, modernization, and the unity of religions and examine his position in the process of intellectual and social evolution of Muslims.
Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan’s Reform Thought
Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan was one of the greatest thinkers of the 19th century and a pioneer of reform movements in the Islamic world. He believed that the reform and modernization of Islamic societies should be based on the original principles of Islam and its rational teachings. He argued that Islamic societies had deviated from their true path and were trapped in ignorance, tyranny, and colonialism. In order to escape from this situation, Muslims should return to their Islamic identity and strengthen rationality alongside faith.
One of the basic principles of his reformist thinking was the fight against ignorance and tyranny. He believed that ignorance was the greatest enemy of progress and had caused tyranny and colonialism to dominate Muslim nations. Therefore, Sayyed Jamal al-din always emphasized the importance of educating the masses and freeing them from old ideas and superstitions. He called on Islamic scholars and thinkers to turn to research and reasoning instead of relying on prejudice and imitation. This shift could pave the way for reform and progress.
Islamic Unity and the Unity of Abrahamic Religions
Another of Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan’s main ideals was Islamic unity. He believed that internal divisions and conflicts were the most important factors contributing to the weakness of Muslims and prevented them from achieving dignity and independence. In his opinion, Islamic countries should focus on their commonalities instead of sectarian and ethnic differences and strive for unity against colonialism and tyranny.
Interestingly, in addition to promoting unity among Muslims, Sayyed Jamal al-din also envisioned a kind of unity among the Abrahamic religions. He believed that Islam, Christianity, and Judaism share fundamental principles, namely monotheism, justice, and ethics. For this reason, he posited that if the followers of these religions could reach an understanding and cooperation based on these common principles, the world would take a significant step toward peace and tranquility. This perspective reflected his philosophical and social views on the role of religion in political and social developments.
Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan’s Response to the Intellectual Doubts of the Time
Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan had a rational and argumentative approach to the intellectual challenges of his time. One of the important issues he faced was the question regarding the decline of Islamic societies. Some Western intellectuals and even some domestic thinkers raised the question: if Islam is the true religion and the Quran is the divine book, why did Muslims suffer from backwardness and weakness during that time?
In response, Sayyed Jamal al-din distinguished between “name” and “reality,” emphasizing that the problem does not stem from Islam as a divine religion, but rather from the actions of Muslims and their distancing from the original Islamic principles. He likened this situation to a person who bears the name of “scholar” but is, in fact, ignorant. Thus, just as science cannot be ignored because of the ignorance of some people, Islam cannot be questioned due to the shortcomings of Muslims.
Reform and Modernity in the Thought of Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan
Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan did not view modernity as mere blind imitation of the West; rather, he emphasized the revival of Islamic rationality and intellectual independence. He believed that Muslims should, while preserving their religious identity, also benefit from scientific and technological advancements. He argued that the progress of the West was the result of science and effort, rather than a consequence of religion or atheism. Therefore, he invited Muslims to learn knowledge and technology from the advanced world and to take steps on the path of progress without losing their religious identity.
From Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan’s perspective, religious reform and scientific progress should go hand in hand. He believed that Islam is a religion that values knowledge, wisdom, and innovation, but Muslims have distanced themselves from these values over the past centuries. He called on Islamic scholars and thinkers to prioritize education, research, and the discovery of new sciences instead of getting embroiled in secondary issues and pointless disputes.
Finally, Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan can be considered one of the most influential reformist thinkers in the Islamic world, whose ideas influenced many intellectual and political movements in the subsequent centuries. He opened a new path in Islamic thought by emphasizing rationality, fighting ignorance and tyranny, and striving for Muslim unity.
His approach to reform and modernization became a model for reformist movements in the Islamic world. Sayyed Jamal al-din believed that a return to the true principles of Islam, along with the acceptance of science and progress, could lift Muslims out of their state of decline. He considered Islam to be a living and dynamic religion, capable of adapting to the changes of the times, provided that Muslims prioritized rationality, intellectual independence, and continuous effort.
Thus, Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan’s ideas continue to be of interest to researchers and thinkers as one of the main foundations for discussions on religious reform, Islamic unity, and scientific progress in the Islamic world.
Introduction
The idea of reform and modernization in the Islamic world has always been one of the fundamental and challenging issues in the fields of religious, social, and political thought. From the early Islamic centuries to the contemporary era, Muslims, faced with internal and external developments, have always sought answers to their intellectual, political, and social issues and crises. In this context, the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries can be considered turning points in the Islamic awakening process because, during this period, prominent thinkers emerged who were concerned with reforming the Islamic nation, confronting internal tyranny, and resisting foreign colonialism. One of the most important and influential of these thinkers was Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan, who, as one of the first reformist thinkers, played a key role in the formation of reform movements and the Islamic awakening.
Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan can be considered a comprehensive thinker who was active in various intellectual, religious, social, and political fields. He sought to awaken Muslims from their slumber through his extensive travels to various regions of the Islamic world and even Europe, instilling an awareness of the need to return to the original principles of Islam alongside an understanding of contemporary conditions. In his view, Islamic societies had fallen into ignorance, tyranny, and colonialism due to their distance from the rational teachings of Islam. The only way out of this crisis, he argued, was to return to the true spirit of Islam, fight against ignorance and superstition, revive Islamic sciences and teachings, and create unity among Muslims.
Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan lived in a period when Islamic empires were declining, and European colonial powers had gained widespread influence in Islamic lands. These conditions prompted him to criticize domestic tyrannical systems and fight against foreign domination. He believed that colonialism could dominate Islamic societies only when Muslims were ignorant, divided, and decadent. Therefore, he saw the solution in intellectual awakening and Muslim unity and, by emphasizing the role of science, rationality, and self-awareness, tried to pave the way for reform for future generations.
One of the prominent features of Sayyed Jamal al-din’s thought was his global and macro view of the issues concerning Islam and Muslims. Unlike many of his contemporaries who mainly focused on reforms at the local and national levels, Afghani sought the unity of the Islamic Ummah against internal and external threats. He presented the unity of Muslims not merely as an ideal but as a practical necessity, believing that Muslims could return to their past glory and honor only through unity and integrity. For this reason, he consistently tried to establish communication and harmony among Islamic communities and invited political and intellectual leaders to cooperate and build solidarity.
In addition to his reformist and unity concerns, Afghani also paid special attention to the relationship between religion and modernity. He was among the thinkers familiar with both Islamic intellectual traditions and modern Western philosophy and sciences. He believed that Muslims did not need to blindly imitate the West to progress; instead, they should benefit from the scientific and civilizational advances of the West while preserving their Islamic identity. He asserted that the backwardness of Muslims was not due to Islam but rather their distancing from the true spirit of this religion. Islam is a religion that has always emphasized science, research, and thought, yet Muslims have neglected these values in recent centuries. Therefore, Sayyed Jamal al-din emphasized the need to return to Islamic rationality and encouraged Muslims to acquire knowledge, think critically, and accept beneficial changes.
Another important aspect of Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan’s thought was his approach to other Abrahamic religions. Unlike many traditional thinkers who emphasized differences, Afghani focused on the fundamental commonalities among Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. He believed that these religions share common foundations in the principles of monotheism, justice, and morality. He maintained that if the followers of these religions could concentrate on their common ground and pursue understanding and cooperation instead of enmity and conflict, the world would move toward peace and progress.
However, alongside all these reformist views, Sayyed Jamal al-din also faced serious challenges. Many authoritarian rulers feared his revolutionary and reformist ideas and attempted to eliminate him from the political and social scene. Additionally, some Western thinkers and even some domestic intellectuals criticized his views, accusing him of extremism or idealism. Despite these challenges, the impact of his ideas was so profound that even after his death, they continued to inspire many intellectual and political movements in the Islamic world.
Considering the importance of Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan’s ideas in the realms of religious reform, Islamic unity, modernization, and the struggle against colonialism, this research attempts to examine his intellectual principles and analyze his role in the Islamic awakening and his lasting impact on reform movements. In this regard, the basic questions of this research are:
1. What solutions did Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan offer for reforming Islamic societies?
2. What was his view on the relationship between religion and modernization, and how did he attempt to harmonize the two?
3. What was his role in Islamic unity, and how is it related to the fight against colonialism?
4. How did his ideas influence the intellectual and political movements of the subsequent centuries?
This research will utilize historical sources, Sayyed Jamal al-din’s works, and analyses of his thoughts to present a comprehensive picture of this prominent thinker and examine his position in the history of Islamic thought and reform movements. It is hoped that this research can contribute to a better understanding of reformist ideas in the Islamic world and pave the way for further studies in this field.
Continues…
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