Islam And Modernity

Search for “Modernity” by itself is a commendable desire and a natural urge of mankind. If this urge was not there, man could not have gained access to airplanes and space-crafts from camels and horses, nor would have progressed to electric bulbs and search lights from wax candles and earthen lamps.

Hence, Islam is not opposed to modernism as far as it implies to be modern in simple sense of the word. Very often it has been appreciated and given due encouragement. Particularly the use of latest and newer methods in industry and craft and war technologies is proved from the hadith.

On the battle of Ahzab when the tribes of Arabia joined together and raided Madinah, Salman Farsi suggested a new technique for its defence which was never practiced in Arabia before. He suggested digging a trench around the city. This was hailed by the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and he himself took part in digging the trench.

On the advice of Salman Farsi the Prophet used two new weapons in the battle of Taif which according to some narration were constructed by Salman himself. One of them was catapult which served as cannon of the time; the second was “Dababah” the Tank of the time. Ibn Kathir has reported that the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) had sent two of his companions, namely Urwah Ibn Masud and Ghitan Ibn Salmah to the city of Jarash in Syria to learn the techniques of manufacturing catapults and tanks. These two companions could not take part in the battle of Hunayn and Taif because they were in Syria learning this technology.

Ibn Jarir has reported Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) had asked people of Madinah to promote agriculture by increased cultivation. According to one narration the Prophet advised people to promote their business by increasing trade in clothes because a cloth merchant always wishes that the people remain prosperous and free from worries. Also He (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) persuaded many people to go to Oman and Egypt for trade.

These were the few examples of the Prophetic era which have been casually mentioned. The aim of this description was to emphasize that Islam has not objected to any modern advancement just because it is recent and modern. Rather it has encouraged modernity for rightful purposes and within limits.