ISLAM IN THE CHANGING WORLD

deviation from the archetypal democracy advocated by the Prophet and his Companions. It is a matter of historical record that Islam, in its early period, set an example of the highest form of democracy. It would certainly be correct also to say that it was Islam which, for the first time in history, put an end to monarchy by systemizing politics on the democratic method. The truth is that the examples taken from Islamic history which purport to show the necessity for reform relate not to religious but to temporal issues. Such reforms are, of course, necessary procedures, but Islamic reform per se would, more appropriately, mean the purification of Islam of external influences rather than any modification of Islam itself. It has to be conceded, however, that our understanding of Islam does sometimes has to face problems created by changing circumstances. On such occasions solutions are found by the exercise of ijtihad. Ijtihad in this case means the re-application of Islamic injunctions, rather than any reform or change in their original substance. For instance, during the first phase of Islam, dates were based on the sighting of the moon. Now, after the discovery of new scientific methods of scanning the heavens, the calendar is based on dates determined by astronomical observations. This, however, will not result in the reform of updating Islam. It will only mean a re-application of Islamic injunctions. It is hardly proper to evolve a theory of religious reform on the basis of such examples. Islam’s injunctions on the subject of women are often cited as being in need of reform. It is held that under the influence of ancient circumstances, women were degraded by Islam and that now, in view of recent developments, the rectification of this error on the part of Islam is a matter of the greatest urgency. To be brief, Islamic commands pertaining to women are concerned with practical requirements rather than with establishing the superiority of one gender over another. While 'modernists' favour out-and-out equality between the two genders, Islam believes in their being equal, but different in roles. Islam’s position on this matter is that, in matters of respect, there is no difference between a man and a woman. As regards rights, too, both are treated as equals. However, for the sake of being practical, their respective roles are different. The truth is that the examples taken from Islamic history, which purport to show the necessity for reform relate not to religious but to temporal issues.