One Ummah Network
Sun, 17 Dec 2000 11:58:13 -0800
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Submission by: Tavis Adibudeen [ [EMAIL PROTECTED] ]
Topic: Material and Intellectual Globalization Text: With Allah's Name, The Merciful Benefactor, The Merciful
Redeemer
Material and
Intellectual Globalization
by Tavis Adibudeen
Over the past century, the face of the "world as we know it" has
changed to the point where it is now almost unrecognizable in contrast to
its previous form. The advent of the industrial revolution forever altered
the course of history, presenting humanity with new hope and vision, while also
presenting them with new challenges and hardships. While transportation
changed from human feet, animals, and ships to automobiles, planes, and
powered boats, we also witnessed the destruction of two entire cities with only
two bombs, a race to produce nuclear weapons, and the ability to track a
person's every movement from anywhere in the world.
As we have now passed by the Industrial Age and entered the Information
Age, it is now abundantly clear that the world is getting smaller. The
very fact that I can send this message to thousands of people without leaving my
chair testifies to this fact. It is unquestionable that the shrinking of
the globe is having a tremendous effect on the way people view themselves and
the world around them. Studies about the effects of globalization are now
decades in the making, but what effect will this have on the Muslim Ummah?
Muslims now number in the billions (over 1.2 billion), and Islam is the
fastest growing religion on earth. This is important to realize because
all religions grow, but most of them grow through the children who are born
into their Hindu, Jewish, or Christian families. The unique growth of
Islam, however, is that millions of people are allowing Islam into their hearts
by choice. This feature has caused the population of Muslims in the world
to multiply exponentially. How Muslims react to this and utilize the
globalization of the world will undoubtedly influence the future of the
Ummah.
It is now possible to virtually reach any country in the world through some
form of communication. Muslims must now take advantage of this opportunity
to communicate with one another and also to spread Islam. Through this
communication (primarily through the Internet), we can develop a network of
Muslim intellectuals. When I speak of intellectuals, I do not mean the
scholars who give fatawa, but rather the common people among the masses.
These are the ones who will truly influence the future of the Ummah, so we
should not neglect them.
As with all other advancements, the information technological advancements
have brought new dangers to the Muslim world. It is now easier than ever
for our enemies to spread falsehood about Islam, exploit Muslim countries and
resources, and infiltrate our homes with filth and blameworhty
information. It is conceivable that the next Jihad for Muslims will be
fought online. Some might argue that it is already beginning. The
quantity of Islamic web sites testifies to this fact. When someone creates
a web site, he/she obviously feels that the web site contains information that
is needed. Unfortunately, while quantity is high, quality is low.
Muslims themselves are falling victim to misinformation, prejudices, and
sensationalism. As a result more and more Islamic web sites are attacking
other Islamic web sites. It has become the mirror image of the global
state of the Ummah where our enemies pass by unscathed while we attack our
own brothers and sisters.
Organizations such as the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) have
made a bid to bring Muslim "leaders" together in summit-style meetings to
discuss the issues relating to their countries (most of them economical).
These meetings, however, mainly geared toward the political and socio-economical
aspects of these countries rather than the issues that concern the majority
of practising Muslims. This again reflects the leadership that Muslims
have allowed into power. It is for this reason that we have not attempted
to channel our actions through them.
Unification of the Ummah cannot come through mere
political cooperation or even annexation. Those who believe that the
khilafa will return through this type of expansion are gravely mistaken.
We, therefore, chose education and the dispensing of Islamic knowledge
as our main tool in this struggle and have chosen the Internet as our
main fortress. Through this, we are able to control the information
that goes out without the need of a large staff or large donations of
money.
This Internet propagation, however, is not enough. Until the
people hear this message, internalize it, accept it, and put it into
practice, this movement will remain just another Islamic web site (without
goals and without long-term future). It must therefore start with the
individual and then branch out to the larger Ummah. We should setup
stations all over the globe where Muslim intellectuals (the common people) set
out on a mission to re-unify the Ummah.
We must truly turn away from the temptations of the material world as this
globalization enters our homes. It will invade our privacy and exploit our
families and children. It will serve the Muslim Ummah no good to latch on
to this material globalization that has captured the world's
attention. It is easier than ever to purchase, sell, gamble,
and charge usury (sometimes inadvertently). The Muslim goal, rather,
should be to utilize the intellectual globalization. We
can now hold serious dialogue between waring factions (without the need for
western arbitration). We can expand our network of scholarly resources,
unite the Muslim businesses, and setup global financial institutions that adhere
to Islamic principles.
This is the future that we see for the Ummah through globalization.
Just as people can be controlled with military occupation, they can also be
controlled with information. We must stop this before it is too
late. We have in our midst a Book, about which there is no
doubt. In it is guidance, light, understanding, and superior information
that clears up most of the issues about which people dispute. Every home
can now have that book (whether in the form of pages or
electronically). Muslims must use this information technology to their own
advantage. Through it we can again unite under the banner of al-Islam and
remove the biggest obstacle that has stood in the way of our progress:
ignorance.
The knowledge of Islam will no longer be held in the hands of the few
who have chosen not to share it with the masses. It is now
regularly available, but we must unite in order to coordinate global Islamic
education that is free from inaccuracies and biased interpretations. This
is the future of the Islamic Unification Movement, and insha'Allah, it is
the future of the Ummah. Those who choose to answer this call
will reap the benefits of it in the future. Those who oppose
it and ignore this progress will be left behind in their ignorance.
"For the worst of beasts in the sight of Allah are the deaf and the dumb,
those who understand not." (Qur'an 8:21)
One Ummah Network "And verily, this Ummah of yours is One Ummah, and I am your Lord;
therefore fear only Me." (Qur'an 23:52)
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