Lately, there has been an increased use of the term “future-proofing” by the decision-makers of the world – from the European Union and Japan to Malaysia – as they seek to progress in a way that anticipates future social, economic and environmental challenges, such as unemployment or climate change.
From the viewpoint of Islam, Prophet Muhammad (sa) and his subsequent intellectual-spiritual inheritors have always acted in a manner that would “future-proof” humankind from erroneous thoughts and action (Batil), base desires (Nafs Al-Haywaniyah), and disorder on the earth (Fasad).
What has happened to the Ummah of today? The question haunts us in the Muslim world – from Iran to Syria, from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan. The past was a different world altogether – one not caught up in sectarian killings, religious extremism and seemingly endless wars.
Though there were wars also in the past, they were contained in time and space, and the future still held much promise. What has happened to us? The question may not occur to those too young to remember a different world, whose parents did not tell them of their youth spent reciting poetry in Peshawar, debating Marxism in the bars of Beirut, or riding bicycles on the banks of the Tigris in Baghdad. The question may surprise those in the West who assume that the extremism and bloodshed of today have always been the norm in the Muslim world.
In order to revive the lost glory, every individual must play an important role in building the Ummah for the next hundred years. Let us look at some ways how we can contribute:
Unity around a common Islamic identity
“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you – when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favour, brothers.” (Al-Imran 3:103)
Islam is a religion that maintains peaceful co-existence within a society by putting disputes aside and emphasizing more on the concept of unity and brotherhood.
Dawah to non-Muslims
“None of you will have faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (Bukhari)
Quite beautifully, this narration includes both Muslims and non-Muslims in relation to maintaining brotherhood. Imam an-Nawawi comments that our Prophet (sa) is directing us about Dawah and how a believer should invite a non-believer to Islam just how he loves Islam for himself. He continues: “For this reason, it is recommended to supplicate for the disbeliever to be guided.”
Building awareness of Allah (swt)
“Allah has endeared to you the faith and has made it pleasing in your hearts and has made hateful to you disbelief, defiance and disobedience. Those are the [rightly] guided.” (Al-Hujurat 49:7)
Consciousness of Allah (swt) and feeling His presence is an essential part of Islamic teachings. He is Omniscient, and this has been amply mentioned in the Quran. This feeling makes one fearless, steadfast and strong in one’s righteous mission.
Strong leaders across different fields
We should groom the young generation of Muslims into leaders with strong Islamic identity. No matter if it is humanities or technology, they should be aware of their mission of spreading the glory of Islam through their respective fields.
Respect and cooperation between different segments of the society
Diversity is a basic characteristics of any society and is an asset indispensable to the progress of humanity. In a cultural diversity setting, we show respect to the beliefs and practices of different religions. It is the basic principle of Islam. The Quran assures us that we can live together in peace and harmony with people of other faiths.
Building local institutions for solving problems
Muslim nations need to establish and develop local institutions for resolving problems, rather than relying on foreign aid.
Entrepreneurship for exploring new opportunities
Islam spread originally along the trade routes through North Africa, Iran, Central Asia, Indonesia, and China. As Muslim traders settled along those routes, they married and established families, which often became the nucleus for a new Muslim community. Despite the diversities of cultures, they maintained the unity of Islam through the centuries. Today, with trade routes easily followed around the world, we should follow the same process – build Muslim businesses across the globe for furthering the spread of Islam to new regions.
Initiatives in technology and research
One of the main reasons for the downfall of the Muslim Caliphate was also their incapacity in modern technology and research. The same cause alienated Muslims of the sub-continent when Hindus were given preference by their British rulers in granting positions of leadership in the undivided India. Even today, the Muslim world is heavily relying on the developed nations for buying their technology. This weakness will always keep us vulnerable. Heavy investment is required in research and technology expertise that is acquired and developed locally.
We may not be able to witness the fruitful result of our efforts in our lifetime, but we can surely strive towards building a better Ummah for the next generation.
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