Contemporary Muslim Intellectuals & Their Work

Most of us resort to social activitism as a means to enliven Islam in the lives of the people. Programs and activities are planned to attract and reach out to the masses. Volunteers come in droves with high spirit to have a share of their contribution in the work of da'wah. Alhamdulillah with Allah SWT's help, a sizeable number come to a realiazation of their past follies and willingly adjust their life styles in accord to the dictates of Islamic principles and injunctions. The work thus continues on ends....programs & activities, realization and adjustment.

Another, believes strongly that meaningful changes can be brought about via political means. Once, the hold of power is already in their hands it's just a matter of instructions that the way of life envisioned by Islam, could be enforced upon the people. Thus, Islam is alive again in their lives. What if they fail to retain the political power? Will the masses opt out of to their chosen life styles? That being the case, enforcement fails to make the masses abide by the Islamic principles and injunctions.

Where do the well thought ideas, philosophies and academic researches stand? As of today, the Muslims are not short of their intellectuals. Unfortunately, these few Muslim intellectuals are not seen actively enggaging in social activism or political dynamism so much so they are left out in the cold. The likes of Tariq Ramadan, Syed Naquib al-Attas, Syed Hussain Nasr, Kalim Siddiqui, Ziauddin Sardar, Muzafar Iqbal, Hisham Heller, Shaykh Mohd Dr Afifi etc are seen as not revolutionary enough or as liberals or modernists.

It is really unfortunate, if we simply ignore their work. Their vast experience in enggaging with the West, the multi cultural/racial and multi religious society at the international level have undoubtedly enriched and matured their thoughts and actions. We abide by the unchanging principles but man made ideas and thoughts at least deserve our attention and consideration. The intent is to educate the think tank, the policy makers, those in authority and not least the leadership with well thought and fruitful strategies.

In restrospective, if the social and political activists are to thread the same path, they may come to appreaciate or better still will be more acceptable to these intellectuals' ideas and researches.

It is these activitist who are in the position to translate those ideas into a reality. On another note, we simly can't by pass the work of well established Muslim scholars in the person of al-Ghazali, al-Shafi'i and the other three Imams, Ibn Taimiyyah, Fakr al-Din al-Razi and others by going straight to al-Qur'an and al-Sunnah.