Islam is both cultural and
faith system but not a political ideology (Politicization). The politicization
of Islam in past decades had created a distinction between Islam as religion and
cultural system and the use of Islamic culture symbols for the political purpose
gave rise to resurgent Islamism. Basically, Political Islam is coming out of the
crisis of situations: it is both crisis of meaning and structure. On the other
hand, Islam has been pushed into conflict between socio-cultural structures and
culture Fragmentations. Though, there is a inter-cultural structure of
communication but there is a political dissociation at large scale of the
non-Western from the Western Culture even Indigenous Culture. It is a crystal
clear fact that the combination of Civilizational Unity and Cultural diversity
is the hall mark of Islam. Islam is a cultural system rather Political System.
The Creation of “Islamicate” as Pax-Islamica in Arabia which was all aimed at
uniting the Warring Arab Tribes but today it is being used for exactly opposite
Purposes: disuniting and Fragmentation. Basically, It is political Islam as an
ideology that Oscillates Islam between Culture and Politics. It is nothing but
the Politicization of Islamic Cultural Objects and Symbols. The Pseudo-Islamists
want to establish a prototype “Khilafa” (Islamic State) by acting as Homo
Politicus (A man of Politics) and Homo Religious (A man of religion). In
contrast, it is the Muslim predicament with Modernity that causes trouble in
Islam. For Instance, the Islamization of Knowledge claimed by the Islamists is
totally opposed to that of “Anthropologization of Knowledge” along the line of
classical Sociology of knowledge once established by Karl Mannheim. What Karl
argued: “Knowledge is neither abstract nor detached from the social conditions
for it evolves out of condition of being. But, the Islamist staunchly rejects
the notion of “Culture Relativism” (denies both subjectivity and objectivity of
Knowledge). They are neo- Absolutist. In reality, the Political Islam has
directly linked with the predicament. Though the Islamist do embark the concept
of Semi-Modernity, which refers to the Islamization of Modernity, which means
adoption of its material achievements while furiously rejecting the Cultural
underpinning. They have radical formula that aimed at decoupling Modern
knowledge from its links to cultural Modernity: it links to the primacy of
reason and off course to secularity. The values of Modernity are Democracy,
Plurality and Human Rights.
Basically, the Islamists call their anti-Western hysteria as a resistance
against the Western Universalism and indigenous Pluralism (they are rejecting
both). Moreover, there is a trouble in understanding of Cultural Modernity and
diversity as they claim it belongs to western values. As an Illustration, there
must be made a clear distinction between the instruments of Modernity (Science
and Technology) and valued based cultural worldview of Cultural Modernity and
diversity. In his philosophical discourse of Modernity JurgenHebermas refers to
the Key events, which contributed in the establishment of European project of
Modernity. They are as follows:
1. Renaissance 2. Reformation of Religion 3. The Enlightenment 4. French
Revolution
It was the above mentioned events that contributed in the rationalization of
European worldview of Knowledge, culture and Science. According to Hebermas, the
core idea of Culture Modernity is the “Principle of Subjectivity” because of two
reasons:
1. Firstly, man shapes its own destiny through reason and rationality.
2. Secondly, this makes the religious faith reflective in all aspects whether
culture or ethics.
Moreover, Hebermas subjectivity has four Connotations: Individual being part of
Collectivism, Right to Criticism, Anatomy of action, and Idealistic Philosophy
itself as self-Conscious idea. What Kant said “Human reason is the only idea
refer to and it can’t be stopped “. Until and unless the religion is reformed
through subjective reason, there would be always a misconception that revolts
against the Western hegemony had been confused with the renunciation of
universal values and the misconception to differentiate the industrial items
from the Social Items.
In a nut shell, it is the inner Islamic pendulum between Culture and Politics
that is fueling resurgent Islamism by rejecting indigenous Cultures and Customs
by referring them as the Western ideals and values.
Remember:
#Islam is not #Islamism rather #Pluralism and #Peace.
Indigenous Cultures are part of our Collective Identity and they cannot be
renounced neither by religion nor by Cults.