Author: Abu Jurair
The Roles of the Prophet Mohammad, (PBUH), in the Sphere of civilization (Part 3)
Types of civilization
The Difference Between Civilization and Culture
There is indeed a distinction between civilization and culture, and likewise, between civilization and civility. “Civilization” refers to a comprehensive set of life concepts, while “civility” pertains to the material forms and tangible objects used in daily life. Civilization can be both general and specific. General civilization includes fields such as engineering, medicine, and similar domains, where imitating non-believers poses no issue. However, specific aspects of civilization, such as clothing associated with non-believers or houses that do not safeguard the dignity and modesty of women, should not be emulated, as they stem from a civilization that does not align with Islamic values.
It is important to differentiate between civil forms derived from Western culture—such as symbols like idols and crosses, which are external expressions of a non-Islamic culture—and civil forms that result from advancements in science and technology. The latter are universal and do not belong to any one nation but are shared by all humanity, encompassing industries and scientific knowledge.
It is necessary to keep in mind the same difference between “civilization and civility”, as the difference between civil forms resulting from civilization and civil forms resulting from science and industry should be kept in mind, and this difference must be observed when acquiring civility; Therefore, there is no obstacle in using western civilization which is a product of science and industry; But the use of western civilization that originated from western civilization is not permissible in any way; Because the western civilization, in the image it presents of the life of the world and in the concept it has of human happiness, is in contradiction with the Islamic civilization; Therefore, it is not permissible to use western civilization in any case.
Certainly, the basis of Western culture is the separation of religion from life and the denial of the effect of religion in life; Therefore, the theory of separation of religion from the state arises from this position; Because believing in the separation of religion from life and denying any kind of effect of religion naturally results in the idea of separating religion from the state, and based on this, life and its system are formed; But the image of life in Western culture is benefit; Because benefit is the measure of actions and the system and culture are formed based on it, and therefore, benefit has such a distinct meaning in the western system and culture that it has given life an image of benefit, so that happiness is achieved by giving the best share of physical pleasures and providing According to this, the western culture is a culture of pure profit and does not value anything other than profit and only considers profit as the measure of actions. The soul is not necessary and it is enclosed in the church and its men; Therefore, there were no moral, spiritual and human values in Western culture; Rather, there are only material and beneficial values. Accordingly, Western culture has linked human actions to institutions separate from the government, such as the Red Cross and evangelists.
Effective Factors in the Creation and Growth of Civilizations and the Role of the Prophet (PBUH)
In the emergence and growth of a civilization, various factors and elements are involved, in this field, infidels and Muslims have various ideas, some of which we will mention:
According to “Will Durant”, four main pillars and elements can be identified in civilization, which are: prediction and caution in economic affairs, political organization, moral traditions, and efforts towards knowledge and development of art.
“Will Durant” believes: the emergence of civilization is possible when anarchy and insecurity have ended; Because it is only when fear disappears that curiosity and the need to innovate and invention are used and man surrenders himself to the instinct that naturally leads him to the path of acquiring knowledge and providing tools to improve life.
“Ibn Khaldun” considers seven factors to be effective for creating civilization: 1. Government and leader; 2. Shariah or customary law; 3. Ethics; 4. Work; 5. industry; 6. Population; 7. Wealth.
According to “Ibn Khaldun”, the first three elements can be considered the main and more important elements than the other four elements. 23
Here, “Ibn Khaldun” mentioned very important elements; Of course, it is clear from this statement that whether the law is Shariah or illegitimate, civilization is created, although there is no inner peace and tranquility; Like “India” when it had no law, it was always under occupation, after it got the law of democracy, it developed, or how Europe itself had sunk into decadence before the great French revolution, and after the revolution, when it had law, it grew and It became the cradle of civilization.
It should be known that if today the Islamic Ummah is not a civilized nation, it is because they left the divine law and in some cases, some took the law from the West or customs and only in some cases did they take it from Islam, but the traitorous and self-sold rulers (nations) united) does not get angry, this is where God says: «وَ مَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَنْ ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنْكاً وَ نَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيامَةِ أَعْمى قالَ رَبِّ لِمَ حَشَرْتَنِي أَعْمى وَ قَدْ كُنْتُ بَصِيراً»؛ Translation: “And whoever turns away from the remembrance of My Qur’an, then indeed his life will be narrow and difficult, and we will crowd him in the Day of Judgment blind. He will say in [the Day of Judgment]: My Lord! Why did you imprison me blind while I was sighted [in the world]?
