After the Islamic nation lost its leadership, wandered astray, while nations pounced on it like hungry wolves, various renaissance projects have emerged to rescue the nation. Different approaches and means are being proposed, with religion being a focal point of contention. Some view religion as essential to the renaissance process, while others reject this idea.

Elements of Renaissance

According to the principles of sociology, there are certain elements necessary for any renaissance project to succeed. These elements can be summarized as follows:

Firstly: The Central Idea

Dr. Jasim Sultan defines it as "a set of principles and beliefs upon which the value system is built and which colours the societal system."⁽¹⁾ It is the ideology that permeates society, the foundation upon which it is based, shaping all aspects of life within it, and governing its affairs according to its principles and teachings. Examples include the Arab civilization, which was based on Islam, the Soviet Union, which emerged from communist ideology, and the United States, which is founded on liberal principles.

The Values Arising from the Society's Culture Regulate Individual Behaviours Even in the Absence of Legal Deterrents

Secondly: The Motivating Idea

It is the concept that addresses psychological motivations and human instincts, touching people's lives. It stems from the central idea and is connected to it. Algerian thinker Malek Bennabi referred to it as the motivating idea: "The greatest miracles in history are always associated with motivating ideas."⁽²⁾

For example, communism adopted a motivating idea expressed through slogans like "We want bread," while the Zionist project had a motivating idea to gather Jews in Palestine, encapsulated in the term "Land of Milk and Honey," referring to the bounties of Palestine, adding to the idea of the "Promised Land."

Thirdly: Culture

Malek Bennabi states: "Culture is scientifically defined as a set of innate characteristics and social values acquired by individuals since birth, as initial capital in the environment they were born into. Culture, in this sense, is the environment that shapes an individual's traits and personality."⁽³⁾

The importance of values arising from society's culture lies in their regulation of individual behaviours even in the absence of legal deterrents, which cannot cover all aspects of individuals' lives. These cultural values are fundamentally derived from the central idea we mentioned earlier, representing the ideological framework.

Sociologists Assert That Only Religion is Suitable as the Central Idea in Renaissance ProjectsTop of Form

Fourthly: Productivity

Productivity is the natural outcome of adhering to the three mentioned components: the central idea, the motivating idea, and culture. Following these, the efforts of individuals in the society, regardless of their specialties and capabilities, converge towards a unified direction, with each contributing a brick to this construction.

Religion as the Central Idea

Let us delve further into the central idea, which serves as the foundation for the other components. The disagreement among the renaissance projects in our nation revolves around this foundation: what does the central idea entail? Is it religion or another basis?

• From a religious perspective:

There is no salvation or renaissance for this nation except through what its predecessors adopted and succeeded with. It is the source of its dignity and elevation, as Caliph Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "We were the most humiliated people, and Allah honoured us with Islam. Whatever we seek honour in, other than what Alah honoured us with, will humiliate us."⁽⁴⁾

An observer of the periods of strength and weakness experienced by the nation can clearly see its progress, renaissance, and cultural prosperity during the periods in which it adhered to its religion. Conversely, weakness, degradation, backwardness, poverty, and ignorance only afflicted it during the periods in which it deviated from the teachings of Islam.

According to Sociology, There Is No Renaissance for the Nation Except Through a Central Idea Represented by Islam as Creed and Law

That's because Islam is a religion of action, construction, and embracing means of strength and civilization. It rectifies both this world and the Hereafter, motivating and encouraging knowledge, progress, and prosperity. It even makes the necessary specializations in the nation obligatory duties, and everyone is deemed sinful if there's no one to fulfil them.

• From a Sociological Perspective:

Here, we're discussing religion as a central idea from a sociological viewpoint. Sociologists argue that only religion is suitable as a central idea in renaissance projects. Among those who advocate for this is Arnold Toynbee, who said, "I lean toward advocating the role of religious beliefs in the course of history. When we look at civilizations that have persisted until our present day, we find that behind each of them lies some form of religious belief."⁽⁵⁾

This fact is also affirmed by Malek Bennabi, who stated, "Civilization only emerges from religious belief."⁽⁶⁾

Indeed, this is an undeniable truth. Anyone who examines the seeds of civilizations that have arisen in the East and the West will discover that their seeds were religious ideas.

The central idea must reflect the cultural identity of the society, which has been entrenched over a long history. It should express its final character, not be an imported, alien idea from another society. This idea must encompass a solid, unchanging component, which is a clear creed capable of explaining and organizing the relationship between humans and the universe. It must also provide clear answers to questions about their Creator, humanity's position among other creations, and their purpose for existence. Additionally, it should include a flexible component, represented by the ability to deal with the developments of the era and keep pace with changes, which is represented by the system of teachings of the Sharia.

Hence, according to a sociological perspective, this nation, for which Islam has come to become its final identity and ultimate reference point, has no renaissance except through a central idea represented by Islam as creed and law. As for imported ideologies, foremost among them secularism, they are ideas that emerged in a different climate, amidst the void of Western societies lacking a religious idea that fulfils those aforementioned criteria, making it suitable to be a central idea.

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(1) Laws of Renaissance, Jasim Sultan, p. 14.

(2) The Problem of Ideas in the Islamic World, Malek Bennabi, p. 42.

(3) Preconditions of Renaissance, Malek Bennabi, p. 83.

(4) Narrated by Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak, and Al-Dhahabi said in Al-Talkhis: Authentic according to the conditions of Al-Bukhari and Muslim.

(5) Abridged Study of History, Arnold Toynbee (3/152).

(6) Preconditions of Renaissance, Malek Bennabi, p. 56.

Read the Article in Arabic.