Political Islam: Trends and events

Abstract

In the 21st century, there is evidence of an attempt to assert the continuing and validity of Islam in the context of the modern Muslim world. This study therefore, argues that the failure of the Western - style secularist regimes in the Muslim world has strengthened the position of the traditionalist who view worldly ideologies as mere fallacy because they are ill-concerned, full of distortion, unreliable and lacks what it takes for practical implementation. This study reveals that, the “political Islam” is not anti-modernization and development though its concepts of modernizations and development are diametrically opposite to the western concepts. It observes that, secularization which form an indispensable part of Western model of development and modernization has shattered the moral spiritual dimensions of the societies wherever it has penetrated. It observes that, as interpretation, innovation and imagination cannot be ruled out in the unfolding drama of events, a balance will have to be struck somewhere and somehow between the dictates of today and the demands of yesterday. The study concludes that, the conservative scholars, who helped the establishment in the past, are fast losing their influence. That, political Islam is a reality today and it will be a growing trend in the near future. The agitation of the Muslin activists who are trying to establish Islam is nothing but simply to integrate and operate “Shari’ah” to govern the society.