{"id":165275,"date":"2022-05-18T02:57:16","date_gmt":"2022-05-18T02:57:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/?p=165275"},"modified":"2022-05-18T02:57:21","modified_gmt":"2022-05-18T02:57:21","slug":"islamic-alternatives-for-the-concept-of-civilisation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.iium.edu.my\/?p=165275","title":{"rendered":"Islamic Alternatives for the Concept of Civilisation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Spahic Omer<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The concept of civilisation is questionable. It was conceived in the 18th<\/sup> century. As part of the fast-developing Enlightenment thought, civilisation was understood as a sign of mans evolution from the stages of rudeness and barbarism to the stages of refinement and sophistication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Adam Ferguson (d. 1816), a Scottish philosopher and historian of the Scottish Enlightenment, wrote in his seminal book \u0153the History of Civil Society\u009d (1767): \u0153Not only the individual advances from infancy to manhood, but the species itself from rudeness to civilisation.\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the way, Adam Ferguson was the first who used the term \u0153civilisation\u009d in English. In French, it was Victor de Riquety Marquis de Mirabeau (d. 1789), a French economist and a leading figure of the French Enlightenment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0153Civilisation\u009d was a Western construct. It was created in the milieus of Western colonisation and imperialism and was used for their justification and consolidation. It was imposed as such on the rest of the world, including the Muslim world. In the course of the past two centuries, the Muslim mind had to grapple with the concept and its monolithic mould, producing mixed results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally – and as painfully – civiliation was an embodiment of the Western worldview(s) and its moral principles and values, which however are deeply rooted in the de-sacralisation of existence at large. If the Western mind from the Renaissance and the Enlightenment eras was at war with God and Heaven, so was its civilisation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As much paradoxically as expectedly, civilisation has often come to be closely connected with conflicts, conquests and dominance. Since the term was coined, about two-and-a-half centuries ago, many horrible things have been committed in the name of civilisation. There were yet times when the modern \u0153civilised\u009d man behaved like the most primitive and most savage being the planet earth has ever known. He still does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Islam and civilisation  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inasmuch as the revealed message of Islam emphasises that \u0153the noblest and most honourable of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous (god-fearing and pious) of you\u009d (al-Hujurat, 13); that \u0153Allah does not look at your appearance or wealth, but rather He looks at your hearts and actions\u009d (Sahih Muslim); that \u0153the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children\u009d (al-Hadid, 20); that \u0153the things that endure, good deeds, are best in the sight of your Lord, as rewards, and best as (the foundation for) hopes\u009d (al-Kahf, 46); and that \u0153the life of this world is nothing but a provision of vanities (goods and chattels of deception)\u009d (Alu \u02dcImran, 185) \u201c civilisation in Islam should exemplify those principles, both in theory and practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its ideals and the exigencies of life should forge a resilient and mutually harmonising partnership. In Islam, civilisation (all-inclusive progress, refinement, civility, success and happiness) is tantamount to life, and vice versa<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ultimate aim of civilisation is to produce upright, good, content, dynamic, enlightened, creative and forward-looking individuals. The order that such people will establish on earth will be a microcosm of a higher existential order of things, meanings and experiences for which they live and whence they derive inspiration and direction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surely, civilisation is about people, not things; about spirit, not matter; and about the permanence, rather than transience, of life. It is about the truth and certitude, not about falsehood and scepticism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, as expected, Islam addresses differently all the positives that are entailed in the concept of civilisation, elevating them yet further. It developed its own ideas and vocabulary. These two potential Islamic substitutes for the term \u0153civilisation\u009d stand out: \u02dcumran<\/em> and hayah tayyibah<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u02dcUmran<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u02dcUmran<\/em> is the strongest candidate. It in fact could be translated as civilisation in its Islamic universal meaning and application. \u02dcUmran<\/em> is derived from the Quranic word istamara<\/em>, which expresses the object of mans creation and his raison detre<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ibn Khaldun (d. 1406) uses \u02dcumran<\/em> exactly in that sense. He speaks about \u0153civilisation\u009d per se<\/em>, but roughly three and a half centuries before the word \u0153civilisation\u009d was even created. Hence, Muslims should have continued using \u02dcumran<\/em> in Arabic throughout, and should have later anglicized, Latinised, Germanised, Gallicised (Frenchified), etc., it \u201c that is to say, universalised it \u201c and should have carried on applying it as such the whole time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u02dcUmran<\/em> is much more comprehensive than hadarah<\/em> and tamaddun<\/em>.\nIt is as much a total phenomenon, almost a proper noun, as a definite noumenon\n(to borrow Emanuel Kants expression). It is practically an absolute and\nunmodified concept. While hadarah<\/em> and tamaddun<\/em>, on the other\nhand, are mere conditions, coupled with descriptions, of \u02dcumran<\/em>. As if\ntheir existence is contingent, depending on \u02dcumran<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Ibn Khalduns thought, therefore, hadarah<\/em> and tamaddun<\/em>\nmean no more than \u0153city-living and sedentary lifestyle\u009d, as a dimension and\ncharacter of \u02dcumran<\/em>. In addition, one of Ibn Khalduns foremost\nconclusions is that the qualities of hadarah<\/em> and taraf<\/em> (luxury)\nare the natural destinations of \u02dcumran<\/em> and its organic evolutionary\ntrajectory. They spell its rapid decline and ensuing collapse, after which it\ncries out for renewal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hence, Ibn Khaldun articulates such expressions as hadarah al-\u02dcumran<\/em>\n(the city-dwelling, urbanism and\nsedentism of \u02dcumran<\/em>) and al-\u02dcumran al-hadari<\/em> (\u02dcumran<\/em> described in terms of city-dwelling, urbanism and sedentism). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it must be borne in mind that to Ibn Khaldun, and according to\nthe totality of his philosophy of \u02dcumran<\/em>, if there is al-\u02dcumran\nal-hadari,<\/em> there is also al-umran al-badawi<\/em> (\u02dcumran<\/em>\ndescribed in terms of villages,\ndesert and nomad lifestyles). The latter is the embryonic form of the former. It denotes the\nelementary index of \u02dcumran<\/em> in general. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Put another way, if there is \u02dcumran<\/em> (civilisation) of cities, towns and other forms of human settlements, there is also \u02dcumran<\/em> (civilisation) of desert \u201c or Bedouin civilisation \u201c \u0153as found in outlying regions and mountains, in hamlets near suitable pastures in waste regions, and on the fringes of sandy deserts.\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All this shows that neither hadarah<\/em> nor tamaddun<\/em> is suitable to exemplify all the meanings and values enclosed in the Islamic vision of civilisation. \u02dcUmran<\/em> is the closest to fit the bill. Hence, \u0153Islamic civilisation\u009d should be \u0153Islamic \u02dcumran\u009d, al-\u02dcumran al-islamiyy<\/em> in Arabic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ibn Khalduns science of \u02dcumran<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a small detour, on account of Ibn Khalduns visionary disposition, his science of \u02dcumran<\/em> – as he explicitly calls it at the beginning of his \u0153Muqaddimah\u009d – is not just a system of sociology. Rather, the same stands as a general framework for theoretical as well as applied science of human society and its civilisation (\u02dcumran<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ibn Khalduns methods were based on pragmatism. He was not an idealist.\nHe studied \u02dcumran<\/em> and its eternal laws the way they are, nothing more\nand nothing less. His historical, naturalistic and inductive modes of\nargumentation prevented him from falling into rampant anti-intellectual traps.\nHe deliberately avoided \u0153political utopianism\u009d. In a way, he was an empiricist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As far as \u02dcumran<\/em> is concerned, Ibn Khalduns realism and\npracticality obliged him not to dwell extensively on abstract and ideal models.\nHe did not really care to evaluate the events, people and outcomes in relation\nto what and who was more, and what and who was less, Islamic. As if he left\njudgments to God. That might be a reason why his book sections end with such\nemphatic declarations as, for example, \u0153God gives success and guidance\u009d, \u0153God\nknows better\u009d, \u0153God inherits the earth and whomever is upon it\u009d, \u0153this is how\nGod proceeds with His creatures\u009d, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But he gave frequent hints as to what \u0153Islamic \u02dcumran<\/em> (civilisation)\u009d and other forms of the same could be. For instance, when speaking about human \u02dcumran<\/em> (civilisation) as a whole, requiring political leadership for its organisation, he clearly differentiates between the model based upon the religious law which is divinely revealed by God, and the model that is based solely upon rational politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the first scenario, people are obliged to submit to the divine\nrevealed law \u0153in view of their belief in reward and punishment in the other\nworld, (things that were indicated) by the person who brought them (their\nreligious law).\u009d In the second scenario, people are obliged to submit to the\nhuman-made law \u0153in view of the reward they expect from the ruler after he has\nbecome acquainted with what is good for them.\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ibn Khaldun then proceeded to affirm in most unequivocal terms: \u0153The\nfirst (type of rule) is useful for this world and for the other world, because\nthe lawgiver (Almighty God) knows the ultimate interest of the people and is\nconcerned with the salvation of man in the other world. The second (secular\ntype of rule) is useful only for this world.\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u02dcUmran as a state of mind and soul<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Islamic \u02dcumran<\/em> (civilisation) is a state of mind and soul, subtly woven into a pattern made up of time and space dynamics. A complex and all-embracing whole is thus created. Neither pole can aptly operate, nor achieve its potential, on its own. That is why the Quranic notion of istimar<\/em> (the natural goal of which is \u02dcumran<\/em>) is preceded by the commandment of \u02dcibadah<\/em> (worshipping God alone) and the affirmation of Gods Oneness (tawhid<\/em>) (Hud, 61). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to bring the matters of \u02dcumran<\/em> (inhabiting, developing,\nenjoying and sustaining the earth) close to mans heart, man is then in the\nsame Quranic verse reminded that he too was created from earth. Tacitly man is\nreminded that he was created as Gods vicegerent, or viceroy, on earth and as\nthe earths guardian. Which means that peoples \u02dcumran<\/em> is them and they\nare their \u02dcumran<\/em>. A good \u02dcumran<\/em> benefits only them, whereas a bad\n\u02dcumran<\/em> affects nobody else but them. \u02dcUmran<\/em> is an unmistaken\ntestament of peoples earthly success or failure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Considering the inborn nature of man and the constant, in consort with turbulent, fluctuations of life, man is destined to oscillate between civilisational rises and falls, and between victories and defeats. But he should learn his lessons and should always come back stronger and more determined. What matters most, under all circumstances, is the state of his mind and soul; it is his character and integrity. That being so, in the same Quranic verse, having made mention of istimar<\/em> (\u02dcumran<\/em>), God reminds people to repeatedly ask forgiveness of Him and to turn to Him in repentance, for He is \u0153always near, ready to answer\u009d (Hud, 61). Without the divine guidance on-board, there can be no totally good and progressive civilisation (\u02dcumran<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The inadequacy of the terms hadarah<\/em> and tamaddun<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Habitually, civilisation was rendered in Arabic as hadarah<\/em> and, to a lesser extent, tamaddun<\/em>. Islamic civilisation was called hadarah islamiyyah<\/em> and tamaddun islamiyy<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both hadarah<\/em> and tamaddun<\/em> indicate city-dwelling, urbanism, sedentism and sedentary lifestyles only, as opposed to villages, desert and nomad lifestyles. The words clearly demonstrate the influences of the philosophy underpinning the concept of Western civilisation over the philosophy that was developed in connection with the belated development of the concept of Islamic civilisation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two given Arabic designations were inadequate for the ways Islam sees and deals with the things that concern civilisation. They were inadequate because they literally translated, and adopted, the correspondingly inadequate Western concept. They were relative and qualified, whereas civilisation is universal and all-encompassing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The root word of \u0153civilisation\u009d were the Latin words civitas<\/em> and civis<\/em>, which mean \u0153city\u009d and \u0153citizen\u009d respectively. Accordingly, city was always the essence and, at the same time, receptacle of Western civilisation. Urbanisation and wide-ranging physical development were its main features. They were its chi. Moreover, in furtherance of civilisation, advanced cities were favoured over the other forms of settlements. Living in cities was equated with being civilised, sophisticated and even cultured. Living elsewhere was less so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evidently, inherent in civilisation were tendencies and practices of discrimination. Even though at first sight it was concerning just geographical places \u201c that is, the physical milieus and loci of peoples lives and functions \u201c discrimination often spilled over into the ambits of peoples very lives and their overall wellbeing. Taking into consideration its origins, purpose and goals, it was rarely a case that civilisation produced a good without generating any side effects in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hayah tayyibah<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Islamic \u02dcumran<\/em> (civilisation) could also be called hayah tayyibah.<\/em> The feminine word tayyibah<\/em> (its masculine version is tayyib<\/em>) is derived from the Arabic verb taba<\/em>\/yatibu<\/em>, which means to be \u0153good\u009d, \u0153pure\u009d and \u0153upright\u009d. Related to the verb are the noun tibah<\/em>, which means \u0153goodness\u009d, \u0153purity\u009d and \u0153righteousness\u009d, and the adjective tayyib<\/em>, which means \u0153good\u009d, \u0153pure\u009d and \u0153righteous\u009d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God says in the Quran; \u0153Whoever does\nrighteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer, We will surely\ncause him to live a good and happy life (hayah tayyibah<\/em>), and We will\nsurely give them their reward (n the Hereafter) according to the best of what\nthey used to do\u009d (al-Nahl, 97).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By hayah\ntayyibah<\/em> it is meant a life full of appropriate meaning, value, respect,\npurity, goodness, contentment, ease, facility, lawful provisions, Gods\nblessings and His pleasure. By its very nature, this type of life is a\nprecursor to hayah<\/em> tayyibah<\/em> in the Hereafter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It goes without saying that hayah tayyibah<\/em> can be the desired condition of \u02dcumran<\/em> (civilisation) and also its equivalent, both conceptually with regard to semantics and practically. It can be both a means and an end. It can be an alternative word for \u0153Islamic civilisation\u009d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever the\ncase may be, it must be mentioned that in Islam, the word tayyib<\/em> is very\ncomprehensive and profound. It signifies a world of its own, so to speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To begin with, the Quran calls a good, clean and productive\nland al-balad al-tayyib. <\/em>It yields\nrich produce by the permission of God at all times (al-Araf, 58). In a similar\nway, all things, occurrences,\ndealings, environments, as well as persons, that are tayyib<\/em> (good, clean\nand productive) can only lead to and generate more tayyib<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tayyib<\/em> is an\nantidote to depravity and all sorts of impurity. It incessantly breeds only\nmore tayyib<\/em>, just as \u0153barren soil\n(land, life systems and milieus) yields nothing but poor produce (or it springs\nup hardly anything useful)\u009d (al-Araf, 58).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, behind everything that happens in the heavens and on the earth\nstands Almighty God who is Tayyib<\/em> (the Good, the Pure, the Kind and the\nSource as well as Bestower of all goodness, wholesomeness and purity) and who\naccepts only that which is tayyib<\/em> (good and pure) in deed, saying and\nthought. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

God likewise blesses people with good provision, making only the good,\npure and beneficial things lawful (tayyibat<\/em>), and prohibiting the bad\nones whether in food, drinks, deeds, manners and beliefs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This leads to the creation of good, pure and virtuous men (tayyibun<\/em>)\nand women (tayyibat<\/em>) who are bent but on living good, pure and virtuous\nlives. They do things that are good (tayyib<\/em>), shunning the bad or evil\nones (khabith<\/em>). They heed the words of their Creator: \u0153Not equal are things that are bad (khabith<\/em>) and things that\nare good (tayyib<\/em>) even though the abundance of the bad may dazzle you.\nSo be mindful of Allah, O people of reason, so you may be successful\u009d\n(al-Maidah, 100).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition,\nGod supports good and pure men and women (tayyibun<\/em> and tayyibat<\/em>)\nwith the good, authentic and firm word of faith (kalimah tayyibah<\/em>). The\nword is compared to \u0153a good tree (shajarah tayyibah<\/em>), firmly rooted,\nreaching out with its branches towards the sky\u009d (Ibrahim, 24, 27). Those men\nand women will be rewarded on the Day of Judgment with Paradise and its goodly\nand splendid mansions (masakin tayyibah<\/em>) (al-Saff, 12).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All this can only take place in a context that is infused with an amalgamation of the heavenly and earthly goodness, virtue and integrity. That context with its people and their productive ways of living becomes a quintessence of everything good and positive. It becomes a pure, good and happy land whose soul and individuality are its \u02dcumran<\/em> (civilisation). That land is described as tayyib<\/em> and the life in it as tayyib<\/em> too. Its \u02dcumran<\/em> oozes the same mood, and hence can be characterised only as tayyib<\/em> as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No wonder that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) called Madinah – the first Islamic city where the first and most exemplary Islamic \u02dcumran<\/em> (civilisation) was realised – Taybah<\/em> or Tayyibah<\/em>. In doing so, the Prophet (pbuh) wanted to teach people essential lessons concerning the actual meaning and scope of good life and what its development, orientation and refinement penchants ought to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Prophet (pbuh) called Madinah Tabah <\/em>as well, whose meaning is similar to that of Taybah<\/em> and Tayyibah<\/em>. Apart from what has been said beforehand, the Prophet (pbuh) named Madinah taybah<\/em> and tabah<\/em> perhaps by analogy with the Quranic reference to the successful and prosperous homeland of Sheba which was called baldah tayyibah<\/em> (a land most goodly, pure and happy) (Saba, 15).***<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Assoc. Prof. Dr. Spahic Omer is an academic in the Department of History and Civilisation, AHAS KIRKHS. The views expressed here are those of the author\/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of IIUMToday.<\/em>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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