The Role of Ulama in the Modern Age

Changes in the Criterion of Power invented by Marx and later elaborated upon by many scholars in an enormous body of writings influenced the entire world. Thus, people began thinking of history as something that had nothing to do with God—in complete contrast to the past, when they looked at history through the prism of Divine action. CHANGES IN THE CRITERION OF POWER The caravan of the West was like a rapidly flowing river, while the East turned into a stagnant pond. Before the Ulama of the East, the task was to prepare its people to think creatively, imbibe the spirit of freedom of thought, critical thinking, and not fall prey to intellectual stagnation. W hat we have just discussed relates to some philosophical aspects linked to the discovery of the laws of Nature. From a practical point of view, this discovery provided the West with a great advantage. It made it possible for the Western people to change the criterion of power. They developed a new understanding of power, which was hitherto unknown. The West replaced the old, traditional age with the scientific age. They replaced handicrafts