A Simple Review of Islam and Modernism by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 26 March 2025 Islam and Modern Advancements – How Islam encourages progress while maintaining religious integrity Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani’s Islam and Modernism explores whether Islam and modern life can coexist, arguing that progress should align with religious teachings. He highlights how past Muslims embraced beneficial advancements while warning against blindly adopting Western ideologies like secularism. The book is strong in its historical examples, scholarly references, and balanced approach but tends to view modernity mainly as a Western concept, lacks engagement with reformist scholars, and takes a defensive tone. Despite these limitations, it remains a valuable resource for Muslims seeking to navigate modern challenges while preserving their faith. …. Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani’s book Islam and Modernism talks about how Islam and modern life can exist together. The book answers an important question: Can Islam and modern progress go hand in hand? Usmani says that Islam supports progress, but it must follow the guidance of Allah. He explains how modern changes affect Muslims and discusses their good and bad sides. Good Points of the Book One of the best things about this book is that it has a balanced view. Usmani does not reject modernity completely. Instead, he says that Muslims should accept useful things from modern progress, like technology and science, but they should not follow ideas that go against Islam. He believes that modernity should help Muslims without harming Islamic values. The book also gives historical examples to show that Muslims have always accepted good changes. Usmani talks about the Islamic Golden Age, a time when Muslims led in science, medicine, and philosophy. He uses this history to show that Islam does not stop people from growing and improving. Instead, Islam teaches people to use new knowledge in the right way. Another strong point of the book is that it is based on Islamic teachings. Usmani uses verses from the Qur’an, sayings of the Prophet ﷺ, and writings of old Islamic scholars to support his ideas. This makes his arguments strong and useful for those who want to understand Islam deeply. Usmani also warns Muslims about blindly following Western ideas. He talks about concepts like secularism, democracy, and liberalism. He believes that some Muslims accept these ideas without thinking if they match Islam. He argues that secularism, which separates religion from daily life, does not fit with Islam, because Islam is a complete way of life. Weak Points of the Book Even though the book is well-written, it has some weaknesses. One problem is that Usmani sometimes treats modernity as only a Western idea. He agrees that science and technology are good, but he does not discuss modern social and political ideas in a deep way. Some ideas, like human rights and gender equality, can be understood in ways that do not go against Islam. Another issue is that Usmani does not discuss the views of modern Muslim scholars who believe Islam can be more flexible. He strongly supports traditional Islamic thought but does not talk much about reformist scholars who think Islam should be interpreted in a new way. If he had included their views, the book would have been more complete and helpful for readers. At times, the book sounds too defensive, as if modernity is mostly a danger to Islam. While Usmani is right to warn against harmful Western influences, he could have also talked about how Muslims can contribute positively to the modern world. The book focuses more on protecting Islam from modernity rather than showing how Muslims can shape the modern world. Why This Book is Important This book is very useful in today’s fast-changing world. Many Muslims find it hard to balance their religion with modern life. Usmani’s book helps them understand how to live as good Muslims while still being part of modern society. His message is clear: Muslims should accept modern progress but not forget their religion. The book is helpful for students, scholars, and anyone interested in the relationship between Islam and modernity. However, if someone is looking for a book that supports a more flexible or modern view of Islam, this book might feel a bit strict. Final Thoughts In short, Islam and Modernism is an important book that explains how Muslims should interact with the modern world. Usmani makes strong arguments for accepting modern progress carefully, without letting it weaken Islamic values. His use of history, Islamic teachings, and deep knowledge make the book valuable. However, the book would be better if it had a more detailed discussion on modern issues and included different views. Even with these small weaknesses, the book is still a thought-provoking and useful read for those who want to understand how Islam and modernity can exist together. --------- Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/ijtihad-rethinking-islam/review-islam-modernism-mufti-muhammad-taqi-usmani/d/134983 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