Revivalists in IslamHistorical Review

Need for revivalists and their continuation in Islamic historyThis day have I perfected your religion for you completed my favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. Surah Al Maidah 5:3

Allah (SWT) has perfected this religionAl Islam has eternal doctrines and perfect factual guidance.It is not fixed with a certain time in history or a certain old civilization. . It has flexibility and dynamism to provide guidance with changing times

Islam is the last universal DeenIslam is the last universal Deen and this Ummah is the last universal UmmahIt is bound to face different people in different times It had to face different challenges and strugglesVariations in the circumstances and challenges are far greater than any nation in the past.

Safeguards for Islam’s survival and continuation from Allah (SWT)Quran and Sunnah provide protected , perfect and dynamic guidance which can solve problems of changing timesIn all times of the history, such revivalist’s were raised who upheld the Islamic guidance and faced the new dangerous trends with courage and valor answering challenges most appropriately.

Attacks on IslamIslam has faced serious attacks on its spirit, doctrines, its people and territories.Internal dangers included Irtidad, kharjites, Itizaal, batiniyahetc.External dangers included attacks by crusaders and tartars. Other dangers included materialism, deviations, innovations, polytheism,

Response to these attacksAllah (SWT) created such leaders who exposed the true face of deviations introduced in the name of IslamThey spoke and produced monumental written works against innovations and falsehood. They condemned the false doctrines, struggled against the polytheistic rituals and stood up against ruthless rulers.They were the best people of their times in knowledge, intellectual abilities and character.

Lack of revivalist’s in other religionsChristianityChristianity faced innovations in the very beginning. It was based on Tauhid but was turned into polytheistic religion- combination of Greek mythology and Buddhist doctrines.St Paul was the one who changed its spirit. He kept only the names and formed a new religionMartin Luther in 15th century , stood up to bring some limited reforms. There was no movement to bring about real change .Secularism took power in Europe and Christianity was restricted to private life.

HinduismIt lost its way by severing its relation with one Creator of the universe.It gave up its simplicity and became a complex system of speculative thoughtsIt gave up monotheism, equality of mankind, moral and spiritual vitalityWriters of Upanishads tried to stop it by presenting philosophy of unity through plurality. Masses remained un impressed.Brahmanism found expression in Buddhism in 6th century.

BuddhismIt eliminated the concepts of Divinity, Hereafter and requital.It promoted suppression of all desiresIt commanded non violence, kindness and social service. It did spread through South AsiaIt soon deviated from its founder’s teachings.Idol worship and ritualism were incorporated.It adopted superstitions, complicated ideas and degenerated into moral corruption.All efforts to revive these religions have failed. Both Hinduism and Buddhism have submitted to secularism and materialism

Religions need guides and standard bearers who infuse breath of new lifePersonal example of unshakable faithMoral and spiritual excellenceImmaculate sincerityHeroic sacrifice and self confidenceArdent zealIntellectual eminenceErudite scholarshipFace new problems and challenges

Islamic history is full of revivalists who came forward to face new challengesQadriyah ( Rationalists believing free will)Jahmiyah ( Determinists)Itizal (Dissenters)Khalq-e-Quran (Creation of Quran)WahdatulWujood ( Existentialist Monism)Deen Ilahi ( by King Akbar of India)

Need to study valuable sources of Islamic historyWorks of literature by learned scholars about social, political and historical events of pastBooks in which men of learning have described these events and their feelings, critique and answers to challengesCompilation of letters which reveal inner thoughts of the great leaders about their timeMonographs written in refutation of innovations and deviationsEfforts to re kindle the fire of religious ardor and dynamic energy has never ceased

Legacy of Islam passed on to us by our Aslaaf (Predecessors)Pure faithTraditions of the Prophet (SAW)High moral valuesCanonical lawsMagnificent Islamic LiteratureWork of revivalists

Work of the revivalistsRe interpretation of Islam in changing times through research into original sourcesDefended Islam against innovative ideasSaved Ummah from turmoil and discordCompiled Hadith of the Prophet (SAW)Presided over different schools of FiqhShowed path of moderationCensured the society from its deviationsDispelled the doubts by reason

Work of revivalistsFounded new science of dialectics (Ilm Kalaam)Continued Prophet’s work of Dawah, Tazkeer, Inzaar and Tabsheer.Filled people with zeal and self confidenceConvinced enemies of Islam to accept its truthStood in front of materialism and saved Ummah from being its victimSafeguarded the political entities and strengthened it to face external attacks