Jolting Out Of A (Religious) Slumber

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 3 May 2024 Muslims seem to see their glory only in the past. And they want to take the rest of the world back to those "glorious" days! By Ghulam Mohiyuddin 01/05/2024 23:41:01 You said it, Mr Mohiyuddin! Discussing Indian society from a socio-psychological perspective, commenting on Hindu society from Prehistory to modern times, maverick writer Nirad C Chaudhuri wrote in his 1965 book The Continent of Circe that when a community, race, religion or civilization tends to look back and bask in its past glories, its wistful nostalgia has a sense of desperation, despair and resignation. Rest assured, its decline has begun. In his later works, he said this in the context of Bengal and the Bengali community. Look at today's Bengal and look at its intelligentsia. Just like Muslims of today, Bengalis have been cashing in on their past glories and living in the times and works of Rabindranath Tagore, Vivekananda, Aurobindo, Satyajit Ray, J C Bose, Uttam Kumar, among others. What has this community done and achieved in recent times? The same can be said about the Muslims. Undoubtedly, Islam enjoyed a long period of supremacy (specifically, intellectual supremacy) in all spheres. The Islamic Golden Age was a period of scientific, economic and cultural flourishing in the history of Islam, traditionally dated from the 8th century to the 13th century. But it ended with the rise of Islamic gunpowder empires. Sadly, today's Islam is known for violence, fanaticism, obscurantism and extreme primitivism. Just the way Bengalis did nothing to stem the rot and remained nostalgic, Muslims also keep harping on their glorious past. This is defeatism. Bengalis and Muslims suffer from what's known as Nostalgia Syndrome or Beckoning Back Proclivity (BBP) in Behavioural Psychology. People, groups and communities who don't do much and achieve precious little, often resort to eulogising the 'achievements' of their ancestors to prove that they're not good-for-nothing! This has a ring of inferiority complex. To be proud of one's (magnificent) past is alright but dwelling upon that all the time is a pathological state of mind. Looking back with pride shouldn't hamper your looking forward. To quote Altaaf Hussan Hali from his 'Musaddas-e-Hali,' " Soo-e-Maazi Dekh Magar/ Daur-e-Guzishta Se Seekh Sabaq " (look at the past but also learn from it). Muslims Must Read Hali's Musaddas, Madras Lectures on Islam by Dr Allama Iqbal delivered in January 1929 and Shibli Nomani's 1892 book, "Safarnama-e-Rum-o-Sham. " In this volume, Shibli spoke of orientalism in his journey across Islamic lands- a full century before Dr Edward W Said. The exhortations of these modern greats from the sub-continent must jolt today's fanatic Muslims out of their religious slumber and sickening complacency. But do zealots read an array of books? This is a million-dollar question. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/jolting-religious-slumber/d/132251 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism