Part One: SEERAH (Biographical Sketch) CHAPTER

C:\Users\Admin\Dropbox\The Message - Material of Maulana\16. Books and Review\Apa's Books\Life And 110 point of view means that a religion gives such commands to its adherents as are impracticable from the point of view of the age factor. As mentioned above, no such command exists in Islam. In its practical aspects, Islam is a religion of adjustment, giving ample concession to circumstances. There is enough flexibility in Islam in this regard. That is why Islam could never become irrelevant, whatever the age, so far as practical matters are concerned. When we look at this issue from the ideological point of view, we do find on certain occasions, that the demands of Islam and the demands of the age are diametrically opposed to one another. But as mentioned above, in matters of ideological differences the way of peaceful persuasion alone will be adopted. At all events, no practical initiative be taken, when the circumstances are unfavourable. In such a state of affairs, ideological difference can never create any problem in any age or in any situation. One thing is worth remembering in this connection, and that concerns Ijtihaad. One role of Ijtihaad is that whenever any teaching of Islam appears to be going against the demands of the time, the religious scholars are dutybound to strive by exercising Ijtihaad to seek a reapplication of the teachings of Islam to changing situations. Ijtihaad is in fact another name for seeking reapplication of Islamic teachings to the changing needs of the time. (See chapter on Ijtihaad). Muslim scholars of modern times, feeling the need to exercise Ijtihaad have made an effort to reapply the principle of Islam in this matter. For instance, on the Indian subcontinent Maulana Husain Ahmad Madani and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad said that since in modern times the nationality was linked with the homeland, Islam would also follow the same principle. That is to say, in whichever country Muslims lived, they would be regarded as copatriots like other citizens. And they would not insist on a separate nationality for themselves. The aim of Ijtihaad is that in all ages the gap between Islam and the age may continue to be filled. In no circumstance should the impression be formed that Islam has become irrelevant in the changed circumstances. It