As
this course comes to an end, it only makes sense that we contemplate what
constitutes modernity. One may have
never considered exactly what modernity means.
What exactly does it mean to be “modern”? This term is found throughout literature dealing
with topics from science to religion.
So, we should have a fair understanding of what it means. Right?
As it turns out, modernity is not exactly an easy concept to wrap your
mind around.
The
definition defines “modern” as an adjective pertaining to present and recent
times and not ancient or remote. This
definition is in accordance with my impression of modern as well. Benavides’
piece on modernity includes the Latin origin of the word and what it
means. In Latin, it is equivalent to
“now.” However, modernity is bigger than being “of now” or recent and it sparks
a series of questions. For example,
“when did the period of modernity begin? Does modernity have a start and
end? Is modernity relative to time and
place? Is modernity associated with religion?
The answers to these questions are debated and include a variety of
different opinions.
It
seems difficult to pinpoint a relationship between Islam and modernity. Although Islam has some similarities with
Judaism and Christianity, Islam is still a very unique religion. Throughout history there have been “Islamic
Modernists” who have made changes and shifts in scientific and legal thought. However, there have been no changes and
shifts in Islam. To the Muslims, Islam
is perfect. But while Islam is perfect,
Muslims are not. Thus, there are no
shifts or changes needed in Islam. For
example, if we apply modernity to Western styles of dress we may say that
wearing jeans and shirts is “modern” and “of now.” Still, it isn’t right for a Muslim woman in
Islam to necessarily adopt these “modern” styles of dress. There are certain rules and guidelines
regarding what Muslim women (and men) must wear. To some degree, there can be
modernity in the dress code, but generally this is seen as “innovation” and not
necessarily good innovation.
Overall,
I think the concept of modernity is very sticky. There is no clear
definition. Thus when people use the
term, there is often an underlying argument as they are referring to what they think modernity means. In my opinion, modernity does refer to “now”
and I think that there can be no time in which we can say that modernity began
or ended. What is modern in 2013 will
not be modern in 2043 just like what was modern in the past is not modern
now. “Modern” is just an adjective that
describes a person, place, or thing and people will have different opinions on
what is considered modern.
In
the beginning of the semester, we began by discussing Ibn Khaldun’s paradoxes
of civilization. This mission was no
easy mission. Now, at the end of the
semester we are discussing modernity and what it means. Again, this is no easy mission either.
Throughout the semester we have explored concepts and ideas central to
Islamicate civilization and if there was one theme that was constant, it is that
the study of Islamic civilization in itself is difficult and it requires an
understanding of languages, opinions of scholars, different groups of people,
etc. Before the conclusion of this course, I would just like to point out that
in my opinion in order to fully understand Islamic civilization, one must have
a strong knowledge base concerning the religion of Islam itself. Many people mistake Islam for a race or
ethnicity but it is a religion. Muslims,
or followers of Islam, can be black, white, Arab, African, etc. Islam shapes
Muslims and in most cases in order to understand why these civilizations did
what they did or said what they said comes back to what Islam “says.”
