7: The challenge of globalization

Globalization is a new mask behind which the Western civilization hides. How can we safeguard our cultural identity...

stress our uniqueness and stir our loyalty to face the challenge of globalization?

I must reiterate that my answers are neither comprehensive nor final. At the same time we must not be apprehensive of terms and manipulations which blur the facts, for there will be some parties who would try to exploit the big ideas and monopolize them for their own interests. However, the big ideas, in their triumphant progress, will eventually be for the good of man. It is perhaps for this reason that a certain scholar said: We started acquiring knowledge for the sake of other than God, but knowledge would not be but for God. Now the word 'globalization' is not something we may choose to have or not have, for it will spread and no barrier can stop its progress. The whole earth is basically one nation, and prophets were sent to all of them; we all are of one nature, physically and biologically; we all descend from Adam, and Adam was created from earth; no human is superior to any other human but in so far as he or she does good for mankind (a reference to a tradition of the Prophet's,) – all mankind and not some portion of it. God is the Lord of all men, and 'that which is for the good of mankind remains on the earth' (the Qur'an, 13, 17.)

But people are distributed all over the earth, and they did not have any effective communication among their groups in the past – they in many cases did not even realize that other groups and communities existed on the other side. Later, communities did come to know one another, and there is not a group or land that is not known to those who care to know. Scientists are endeavouring now to explore other parts of the universe to check whether there is intelligent life on any other planet or in another galaxy. Now all great discoveries would be utilized by their progenitors to begin with, but such discoveries invariably spread and become a public property – that is the story in the case of domesticating animals, the discovery of agriculture and the discovery of writing. Writing was at one time confined to a small minority, in a way that Pre-Islam Arabs were for the most part an illiterate nation. The beginning of writing is conventionally accepted to mark the beginning of history, the beginning of proper exploitation of human intellectual energy. Even the Internet was started by and for the Pentagon, but it broke loose and was in the service of all mankind, and no one is likely to dominate it or monopolize it for their own interests. Globalization is governed by the same laws, globalization in the sense of organizing the world. It is true that this process will necessitate an international control and dominance, but those who wish globalization to remain the monopoly of some sectors are only dreaming. Therefore, we must not be opposed to globalization – what we should be doing instead is to rise to a level in which no one can exploit us.

The greatest truth that the prophets learnt and endeavoured to teach mankind is that a human being cannot be exploited or humiliated except with his consent and through his ignorance. Once he is enlightened with knowledge, no one can exploit or humiliate him – he would not tolerate that. That is why the dissemination of knowledge and not holding it back is the task of the prophets and their legacy. Universal techniques are now at the disposal of man – he now has easy access to information. It is not the others who now hold back knowledge: it is rather we who are scared of information, alarmed of discovering what is going on. But the truth is that our only hope is in knowledge and in reading, reading in the widest sense. It is the Muslim World which blocks the smooth flow of knowledge. We seek to keep hidden by keeping away from the world, and yet knowledge ('ilm in Arabic) has liberated itself – it is entering every home, but we still dig our heels in of our own will, and opt to keep ourselves and our nations in the dark.

We should not be scared of thought and knowledge, and we should not be scared of disbelief, but thought seems to scare us to almost the same degree as does disbelief. It is so because we do not realize that disbelief is the result of the absence of thought, and not the other way round. So when shall we understand? When shall we be liberated? Jesus once said: "You know the truth and the truth will liberate you." Knowledge is power, knowledge is freedom, and knowledge is universal: it is through this gate that we must enter the world; only the ignorant can be exploited, so when will the Muslim World learn not to be scared of knowledge, understanding and being there to witness what is going on? Indeed, even if you choose to, you cannot conceal yourself and keep isolated! God's land is no longer big; it has shrunk, and there is no refuge where we can hide from knowledge, and if we stubbornly try to do, so we would be like the proverbial ostrich which hides its head in the sand. But this policy is no longer the way to safety; instead, we need to enter the gate of knowledge, and be there in the world, witnesses of the world. Muslim scholars have for a long time opted to protect themselves by keeping ignorant of things, but that is no longer possible. I say with all the clarity in the world that I do not possess the proper expressiveness to describe what idols obstruct our way to knowledge. Knowledge is self-correcting: it is as Imam Malik, may God bless his soul, once said: "In its keenness to be truthful, 'lim (roughly, knowledge) becomes morality." It is so because knowledge would not stand an error; it must see it put right. And 'ilm is not opposed to ethics; on the contrary, ethics is the result of 'ilm, the fruit of experience and knowledge. It is when 'ilm got separated from ethics that ethics became chains and shackles and misguidance. Proper knowledge is knowledge of the outcomes or consequences; to divorce ethics from knowledge and from outcomes is the misbehaviour for which past peoples were punished (a reference to the Qur'an, 26, 137,) – their clinging to what is outmoded. A Muslim needs to think and rethink of this point as presented in the Qur'an: an ignorant person will be a loser as a result of his ignorance; he will have a scourge that God sends to drive men to seek knowledge. When something becomes a science, it has become a universal property of mankind. That same principle applies to Islam: once we understand it scientifically, Islam has become universal. By reflecting on such principles it will become manifest why both 'ilm and Islam are no longer controlled by the Muslim World: the world will no longer yield but to science, and that is why the Qur'an says: "Say 'Have you any certain knowledge? If so, produce it before us.' " (6, 148).

Those who are intent on making us scared of knowledge and science, meaning to protect our faith, are really supporting idolatry. Ibrahim (Abraham), peace be upon him, has taught us not to fear; he did not fear the star because it set (a reference to the Qur'an, 6, 76.) God's servants will have no fear in the future, nor do they grieve over what has gone by (a reference to an expression that occurs 12 times in the Qur'an; see for instance 2, 38: 'whosoever follows My guidance, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve,' .) It is Ibrahim, too, who said to his people, as reported in the Qur'an, "How should I fear the beings you associate with Allah, when you do not fear to give partners to Allah without any warrant having been given to you? Which of us two parties has more right to security? Tell me if you know. It is those who believe and do not confuse their beliefs with wrong – wrong being synonymous with darkness – that are truly in security, for they are on right guidance, (6, 81-82)."

Wakefulness, and vigilance! Muslims, wakefulness and vigilance! keep sharp your ears and your eyes. O man, or mankind! Injustice and disbelief and darkness are uncertainty and a misleading of multitudes, a restraining of knowledge and exploitation of men.

The difference between the prophets and their recalcitrant peoples is that the prophets did their utmost to spread knowledge, enlightenment and light, while the others tried their best to perpetuate darkness. They feared the spread of light and knowledge and enlightenment. It is still a disease in the world now that those who know would like to suppress knowledge, and guard against the spread of science and knowledge; they do their best to restrain science and knowledge from reaching all nations. That is the difference between a believer and a disbeliever, the selfish and the unselfish. But yet, God will have full control (a reference to the Qur'an, 11, 21.) So go ahead, enter the gate to meet them; once you are in, victory will be yours (a reference to the Qur'an, 5, 23.) God's light will spread to the whole world: This, too, we learn from the Qur'an: "Allah will not allow but that His Light should be perfected, even though the Unbelievers may detest it, (9, 32).

That God will perfect His light is something I believe in, not because I believe in the unseen, but I see its effects in the world. I see it in God's world around me, and in the world of spirits: things have come to surface, so that nothing remains concealed. And even if we fail to fulfill that, God will replace us with others who take up the responsibility, (a reference to the Qur'an, 47, 38.) The Qur'an itself will attract to itself the support of new people. Should we fall back, God will choose others to replace us, and they will behave differently: they will love the Lord of Men more that we do, and will love His creation more, and protect them: they will be closer to God than we are.

It must also be said that democracy is nearer to God and His Apostle than the life of present-day Muslims – democracy and rejecting the taghoots have not been discovered or realized by Muslims; democracy was established by other nations. Indeed, even after others have discovered democracy and felt its blessing, Muslims cannot just transfer it to their lands. It is the democratic nations who dominate us. So how much longer shall we close our eyes and have padlocks over our hearts? When can we shake off the heavy loads that weigh us down, and the shackles that impede our movement?

People see that our change is far off, but it is not – it is coming soon! Dawn has broken, and darkness is clearing, and chains are falling down. The command of Allah is coming, that is inevitable: do not then seek to hasten it: glory to Him, and He is far above having the partners they ascribe to Him, (reference to the Qur'an, 16, 1.)

The last remnant of the wrong-doers will be cut off. Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher of the Worlds, (reference to the Qur'an, 6, 45.) So it will come to pass.

Well, have I answered your question? I wonder.