Stagnation of Thought: The Way Out

Abstract

How the ummah, the Muslim community that once ruled the waves and flourished in all branches of thought declined. The ummah today shows a sharp contrast between its present and its past, for just as yesterday Muslims were strong, victorious and indomitable, basking in scientific progress, pioneering in development and booming renaissance; today Muslims are isolated, divided, weakened, and demoralized- so overwhelmed are the Muslims by a debilitating feeling of powerlessness that they stand as spectator, expectant but incapable of effecting any change. This chronic crisis of helplessness has brought the Muslims to a point where they have degraded themselves, their rights denied and their just causes defeated. Consequently Muslim world today stands undeniably at a crossroad where it must embark upon self-examination- a systematic, objective, balanced and rational assessment of its present reality aimed at working internal reform.