From Past to Presenta Decline

From Past to Presenta Decline

1988 7 July 19 From Past to Present: a Decline (350) “Whereas during the Middle Ages the trend was almost entirely from East to West (when Islam acted as the teacher of the west), in modern times the direction of influence has been reversed.”

The profound influence which Islam exerted on the culture and knowledge of the western world in mediaeval times has been well documented by historians, but seems to be falling into oblivion in the context of today’s world. The Cambridge History of Islam, written by Professor P.M. Holt and other distinguished orientalists, lays great stress on this aspect of Islamic history, but at the same time points out contemporary regressive trends. At the end of a chapter entitled, ‘Literary impact of Islam on the western world,’ the writer says: “Whereas during the Middle Ages the trend was almost entirely from East to West (when Islam acted as the teacher of the west), in modern times the direction of influence has been reversed” (Vol. 2B, pp. 888-89).

Teachers of the world in the past, Muslims have now become the pupils of the present. This reversal of roles tells us why Muslims, who were respected in the past, have now lost their position of honour among the peoples of the present.

One of the greatest contributing factors to this sorry state of affairs is the disproportionate amount of time which is spent by Muslims in lamenting over their lot in life. Protesting against what they see to be. the ‘deprivation’ of their circumstances has almost become a way of life for large sections of the Muslim populace. Their vociferousness would almost lead one to believe that some divine law had been altered in order deliberately to disfavour them. They behave as if the ancient law which approved of receiving only when one was ready to give should now be distorted to mean that those who make protests and demands should be the ones to receive.

Considering that God has not changed the laws which apply to this world, the present preoccupations of the Muslims are likely to achieve little beyond hastening them on their downward path to doom and destruction.