ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Reviving Islamic Ethos Muslims Ethos Through the Centuries ====================================== In my last lecture, I invited your attention to what Islamic thinkers and reformers had often pointed out in the recent centuries. I said that Muslims today have come to view Islam in a manner characteristic of diseased minds. They failed to perceive the intrinsic vitality of Islam, which continued to exist unaffected.

The adverse change in the typical way of thinking, or ethos, of Muslims has deep-rooted causes. The deterioration in Muslim ethos set in when Islam, or one's faith, and actual practice of the same came to be regarded as separable. This theoretical approach to Islam ignored the fact that it is a religion of action. For, no human happiness and wellbeing could be achieved on any unrealistic and theoretical bases.

By virtually discarding action as the means of achieving human progress, the Muslim ethos became unrealistic. Islamic teachings regard appropriate efforts as capable of shaping every human destiny. This approach is realistic, sensible and in harmony with Nature. That any human achievement depends on the propriety and effectiveness of the relevant efforts has been frequently stressed in the Qur'an: "...

man has only that for which he makes effort." (The Qur'an, 53:39) "That day (when the earthquake will shake the earth) mankind (after resurrection) shall issue forth in scattered groups to be shown their (good/evil) deeds. "Then, whoever had done an atom-weight of good shall see it; "And whoever had done an atom-weight of evil shall see it." (The Qur'an, 99:6/7/8) The above verses emphasize the crucial significance of rectitude in human action for shaping individual and societal destinies.

No doubt, these and similar other Qur'anic teachings are relevant to all individuals and nations alike. These principles had been deeply upheld by the early Muslims whose faith and action showed no contradiction. They never desisted from actively pursuing what they believed in. Their positive and comprehensive efforts underlined their awareness of the futility of approaching problems or situations in a one-sided, theoretical manner.

Their deep, thorough and active commitment to Islam, as reflected in their individual and collective efforts, enabled than to achieve meaningful dynamism and self-reliance, as well as astounding success.