How Do You Understand Modernity In Islam?
• Understand that there are three point of views concerning Modernity and Islam: • Thinking of Islam as a variable which should “accommodate itself” to cope with “modernity” as a constant. This view sees Islamic principles as old-fashioned beliefs that are no longer applicable in the modern world. • Thinking of modernity as a variable and Islam as a constant. In this viewpoint, Islam is the “stiff” law that modernity should cope with and conform to. • Islam and modernity are both compatible. In this viewpoint, they are both considered “variables” with great flexibility that enables them to co-exist. • Understand that Islamic laws (Shari’a) can be classified into five categories: • A thing that a must is called “fard”. • A thing that is only recommended is called mostahab. • A good percentage of other things are “no different” and are called “mobah”. • There are some things that are reprehensible. These are called “makrooh”. • And only a few things are prohibited. These are called “hara
