Islam The Misunderstood Religion by Muhammad Qutb

Islam The Misunderstood Religion by Muhammad Qutb

Page:01
ISLAM
THE MISUNDERSTOOD
RELIGION
Muhammad Qutb
شبهات حول الإسلام
Page:02
Chapter One
Is Religion Antiquated?
Dazzled by the achievements of science during the 18th and 19th centuries many westerners thought that religion had exhausted all its usefulness and surrendered to science once and for all. Almost all the eminent Western psychologists and sociologists expressed themselves in similar terms. Thus Freud, the renowned psychologist, for instance, showing the futility of any advocacy for what religion stood for in modern time, says that the human life passes through three distinct psychological phases: superstition, religion and science. Now being the era of science; all religion is out of date.
As we have already explained in the preface there were certain causes which led the men of science in Europe to adopt a view of life antagonistic to religion, and based on its hatred. It was due to the great controversy that raged there between men of science and the Christian church and made them think - quite justifiably of course that whatever the church stood for was reactionary, retrogressive, backward and superstitious, and that therefore, the church must of necessity vacate its seat for science so as to enable humanity to move ahead on the path of civilization.
Without appreciating the difference between the peculiar conditions of life spread in Europe at the time of this unhappy conflict and those in their own Islamic orient, people opposed their sacred traditions handed down to them from past generations and demanded their outright abolition. Then came the contagion of imitation which plagued the dominated Islamic orient and led the naive among its people to fancy that the only way to progress
Page:03
Is Religion Antiquated?
in the shortest possible time.
Thus man is degraded to lower planes of feeling and thought. His imagination sinks low and so do his ideals and the means to achieve them. They are all marked with abjectness. Mankind is doomed to a perpetual life of hideous internecine wars that scarcely permit it to soar to higher and nobler ends in life. In such a world there is no room for love or sympathy as men are wholly obsessed with their carnal pleasures. They are led by their blind passions. How can they in such a context have lofty aspirations or even appreciate genuine human feelings?
Men in such a world no doubt gain some material profits. But of what use are these when fellowmen are constantly wrangling over them, each ready to cut his brother's throat should he find it opportune for his own material welfare. Materialism spoils life so much that even man's material achievements are rendered useless and senseless. Men are enslaved by greed, lust and avarice. Blind appetites alone govern them. They have no control whatsoever over these vices. Nor can they ever hope to extricate themselves from their trammels.
Similarly, the nations too, due to similar causes, get entangled in devastating wars which spoil all harmony in life. And science with all its dreadful weapons is employed for the extermination of the human race and its obliteration rather than make it serve man and contribute towards his well-being.
Viewed in this context religion means broadening the mental horizon of mankind, for life is not confined to this world alone but continues even beyond it-up to eternity. This brightens hope in man's heart and encourages him to fight steadfastly against evil and oppression. Religion teaches love, sympathy and universal brotherhood and is thus the only way to peace, prosperity and progress which is in itself a sufficient reason for its retention.

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Page:01
ISLAM
THE MISUNDERSTOOD
RELIGION
Muhammad Qutb
شبهات حول الإسلام
Page:02
Chapter One
Is Religion Antiquated?
Dazzled by the achievements of science during the 18th and 19th centuries many westerners thought that religion had exhausted all its usefulness and surrendered to science once and for all. Almost all the eminent Western psychologists and sociologists expressed themselves in similar terms. Thus Freud, the renowned psychologist, for instance, showing the futility of any advocacy for what religion stood for in modern time, says that the human life passes through three distinct psychological phases: superstition, religion and science. Now being the era of science; all religion is out of date.
As we have already explained in the preface there were certain causes which led the men of science in Europe to adopt a view of life antagonistic to religion, and based on its hatred. It was due to the great controversy that raged there between men of science and the Christian church and made them think - quite justifiably of course that whatever the church stood for was reactionary, retrogressive, backward and superstitious, and that therefore, the church must of necessity vacate its seat for science so as to enable humanity to move ahead on the path of civilization.
Without appreciating the difference between the peculiar conditions of life spread in Europe at the time of this unhappy conflict and those in their own Islamic orient, people opposed their sacred traditions handed down to them from past generations and demanded their outright abolition. Then came the contagion of imitation which plagued the dominated Islamic orient and led the naive among its people to fancy that the only way to progress
Page:03
Is Religion Antiquated?
in the shortest possible time.
Thus man is degraded to lower planes of feeling and thought. His imagination sinks low and so do his ideals and the means to achieve them. They are all marked with abjectness. Mankind is doomed to a perpetual life of hideous internecine wars that scarcely permit it to soar to higher and nobler ends in life. In such a world there is no room for love or sympathy as men are wholly obsessed with their carnal pleasures. They are led by their blind passions. How can they in such a context have lofty aspirations or even appreciate genuine human feelings?
Men in such a world no doubt gain some material profits. But of what use are these when fellowmen are constantly wrangling over them, each ready to cut his brother's throat should he find it opportune for his own material welfare. Materialism spoils life so much that even man's material achievements are rendered useless and senseless. Men are enslaved by greed, lust and avarice. Blind appetites alone govern them. They have no control whatsoever over these vices. Nor can they ever hope to extricate themselves from their trammels.
Similarly, the nations too, due to similar causes, get entangled in devastating wars which spoil all harmony in life. And science with all its dreadful weapons is employed for the extermination of the human race and its obliteration rather than make it serve man and contribute towards his well-being.
Viewed in this context religion means broadening the mental horizon of mankind, for life is not confined to this world alone but continues even beyond it-up to eternity. This brightens hope in man's heart and encourages him to fight steadfastly against evil and oppression. Religion teaches love, sympathy and universal brotherhood and is thus the only way to peace, prosperity and progress which is in itself a sufficient reason for its retention.