The Past and Present of the Islamic Movements

Those who hold the reins of power are in position to turn the nation on the direction of their interests. Power is a key fitting to all the doors. Whenever and whichever is needed this key works to open the lock of the required door. Once the fountains of power are degenerated all is spoilt, making entire system upset. When its fundamentals are set aright whole of the system becomes in order. The grandeur and dignity of Muslim Ummah was lost due to those who were in power. Keeping its marvelous sway in sight the thinkers of the Islamic Movements emerging around the third decade of the 20th century resolved to make power one of the objectives (not only goal) of their struggle. The Imperialists had very wickedly made the idea of separation of religion from the politics in the Muslim Ummah, so the power galleries had become out of bound for the religious elements. This thought had gained so big acceptance that very pious and deeply spiritual people themselves were bashful talking about the politics. So, the voice of the Islamic Movement was felt eccentric in the traditional religious circles and was regarded to be an ideological schism and innovation.

The intellectual class of the Islamic Movements was well acquainted with the modern dogmas and doctrines. They had gone deep in Quranic wisdom coupled with a substantial amount of insight, verve and courage. They were fully stocked with the weapon of sharp rejoinder and sound arguments in modern terms and also with the art of interpreting the categorical orders and basics of the Quran and Sunnah to satisfy the modern minds. They were intelligently in position to answer all the questions raised in the West, whether they were result of unawareness about Islam or mischievously hammered out.

The scholars in the Islamic Movements were cognizant of the fact that though there are some men with a magnetic appeal of their towering character, fighting for the freedom of their lands, the colonists had very foxily raised a lackey, unscrupulous and opportunist class from the Muslim communities, immensely impressed by the Western ideas and culture, for prolongation of their rule, counter activities against the freedom fighters and also to substitute for their masters, protecting the Western cultural traditions and economic interests, after they had to quit and decolonize the countries they has occupied.

The founders of the Islamic Movements placed extraordinary emphasis on the moral and spiritual training of their workers. The literature created in the light of the Quran and the Sunnah was an enormous feedback to understand the modern world and also sufficiently met the need of moulding the characters and shaping behavior patterns on the criterions of Islam. Their jumping in the arena of politics was not meant to all at once rising to the power, instead it could prove a hard journey mounting to the difficult heights of sufferings and trials. Basically what was in the minds was to introduce the lofty moral standards in the politics which had got completely secularized with the thought that religiosity has nothing to do with the politics and other fields thought special only to the politicians. Deen is the matter of Masjid and it should remain restricted to the Masjid. Most of the religious elements belonging to almost all the schools of thought had become convinced on this issue.

The most important thought, though not new but covered with the dust of ignorance for centuries, emanated from Islamic Movements was that while Islam is a complete code and a perfect system of life, the Muslims should make it the matter of their entire life. Politics, economy and all other realms of the life of a Muslim must be shaped in the light of Islamic principles. ‘Matter of Masjid’ should necessarily be the matter of politics and parliament. This was the thing enough for startling the Western world and also a peal of alarming bells in secular intellectual and political circles within the Muslim societies. Even the traditional religious groups did not lag behind joining their voices with the secular political forces against the stands and stances of the Islamic Movements. Islamic Movements not only had a tremendous ideological treasure in their literature, also had an enormous moral power of their spiritually and morally trained workers. These workers were their great asset, tested in all the critical moments of trials and tribulations.

In the cauldron of moral training they had developed the exquisite moral qualities of piety, honesty, devotion, contentment, sincerity, simple lifestyle, sacrifice, courage, rigor and activism blended with their had made them unrivalled examples for political and religious workers of all the parties. Books were their best companions and reading was not only a source of enlightening their mind but a matter of Ibadah, a sacred duty for them.

It was when politics was not all and everything, but only a part of their wise plan. Rectifying of the moral characters, developing the piety and the venture of calling the people to Allah and spreading the teachings of Islam (Dawa) used to be at the top of the priorities. Then they had unchallenged height of standards. But for last about a quarter of the century, an immense concourse and heat of the political activities have cast their shadows on the glittering morality and spirituality.

It is very strange that over three decades before when they fully got involved in the Jehadi activities in Afghanistan, instead they had made headway, the signs of decline in their moral strength rapidly started to become evident. The bookshelves either got empty or covered with dust and the grounds for dharnahs (sit in), rallies and public gatherings proved scanty because ‘this is the age of eloquence and oratory, not of the books’ became the popular slogan. Masters of rhetoric rose to the top and serious natures became used to commotions. The books no longer remained the friends and the habit of reading gradually diminished. The young men once had a chance of going to battlefield have been found abasing the seasoned and morally high old men who had been for last several decades very sincerely exhausting their energies and sacrificing most of their economic resources and precious moments of their lives in preaching and popularizing the lofty moral values.

In the Muslim countries, having electoral polity in vogue, particularly in Pakistan, an ugly game of denouncing, lies, mudslinging and character assassination is a common thing. The Islamic Movements themselves, from very beginning, were subject to all this from all sides, even from very ‘pious’ circles of different religious sectarian groups, but their leadership always remained very careful in the matter of react. Doing the same in retaliation, without substantiating their arguments with solid proofs, was out of question for them. Now the matter is different. Responding in the same language and the same way is thought the need of the time. Vulnerability of the leadership is exhibited in more bitter reaction, often regardless of the moral values. Even some very sincere and sympathizing voices in a bit critical tone about the Islamic Movements and their leaders arising from any corner are presumed to be hostile and are harshly silenced. I fear this write up may be treated unpalatably.

Though still the cloaks and robes of the men in the Islamic Movements have not any visible stains of corruption but as sickness catches, evil too catches. Most avaricious people are in front line in the politics. In Pakistan from president, prime minister, cabinet ministers to most of the bureaucratic but down at the clerical and office boys realms corruption is at its high. Even the cricket players have been plagued with the same virus are bringing disgrace for their nation and country. All starts when the moral traits to live in the limits of lawful earning fade away, contentment becomes the forgotten matter and all are hungry to amass maximum wealth through every means, no matter legal and illegal. Materialism has now replaced the Belief and Faith. In this condition penetration of the virus of greed remains not inconceivable. The natures are greatly tainted with rising materialism. The vehicles of the leaders of Islamic Movements are not less costly than of heavily corrupt politicians. Living standards are in rise.

Since the trait of reading came under eclipse the knowledge of the Quran and Sunnah and acquaintance with past history has gone at the lowest degree. Islamic movements actually rose from literary roots. The founding fathers and elders at the time of their formation were far behind the burst of IT revolution making the research work so easy. Very interestingly, their hand written letters which they wrote to their addressees both from their devotees and critics proved worth getting marked the classics. Replying the letters to them was a moral obligation. Now the leaders having enormous facilities of only moving their fingers on keyboards of the computers and just press the mouse on ‘send’ fail to fulfill this moral obligation. Perhaps it is out of their haughtyness.

In absence of present computer facilities the great founders and their learned companions had to dig their own well of searching out refences turning tens of thousands pages of the voluminous reference books, exploring the ideas and thoughts. They were the religious scholars of unrivalled caliber and had a deep insight in contemporary social sciences. Even in the second and third row of the leadership then there was a good number of excellent intellectuals. Now there is dearth of knowledge and intellect. The level of scholarship has immensely lowered, so no works of early degree are being and nor are likely to be produced in near future. It is commonly repeated that the trend of reading has died. I think, demise of intellectual creativity happened first and then the death of the trend of reading came about in the ranks of the contemporary Islamic Movements.