Why is society so regressive and fixated on outdated traditions?
Musharraf Ali
In the journey of human development, there have been many milestones that brought significant changes to life. When humanity’s first ancestor descended from the trees and stood on two legs in the open fields, he did not know that this step would bring a revolutionary change to human life. His old way of life was about to change drastically. By standing on two legs, his hands were freed, and with these free hands, he began making various tools. These tools not only made his life easier but also began making life easier for future generations. This phase of his life is known as the Stone Age or the Age of Metals, but humans did not stop at this stage; they continued their journey forward.
When he first discovered the method of growing crops, it also brought a revolutionary change to his life. This step marked the beginning of a new era for him. Agriculture put an end to his nomadic lifestyle. He domesticated some wild animals and began living socially. He created the institution of family and started trade and economic activities through the exchange of goods. The responsibility for food shifted from the community to individuals, and the people who became free started doing new tasks. They began making new tools to assist in agricultural life. These included blacksmiths, carpenters, barbers, washers, potters, and others who became known as craftsmen. Agricultural life marked a new stage in the journey of human development. It was here that royal power was born, and social classes began to emerge. New forms of production relationships, such as masters and slaves, appeared. However, humans did not stay at this stage for long. Slaves rebelled against their masters, and as a result, the feudal system was created. In this system, the highest lord was the king, who owned all the land. Beneath him were smaller lords who made peasants work the land. The peasants kept only a small portion of the crops they grew, while the king and smaller lords shared the rest. The institution of religion was also created during this period. Priests worked under the king to silence any voices of rebellion from the peasants. They would tell people that the king was the representative of God and that life after death would be a relief from suffering.
They claimed that the hardships in people’s lives were the punishment for their sins or the result of their past lives’ actions. Therefore, they should worship the invisible force, ask for forgiveness for their sins, and if that force was pleased with their worship and penance, they would attain salvation and be freed from this painful life. These priests answered the questions that arose in people’s minds about themselves and nature, such as: “Who am I? Where did I come from, and where will I go? Who created this earth, and who is running it?” The priests, religious scholars, or avatars of that time answered these questions under the available knowledge and the interests of the political system. This stage, known as feudalism, lasted a long time, but humans did not stop there and moved forward. They entered a new era, one marked by entirely new means of production. This was the era of industrial transformation.
The invention of machines reduced the need for human labor in production, and according to the needs of this era, a new type of society and new production relationships were created. Just as the earlier stage of human development was called feudalism, this new society came to be known as capitalism. In this system, the highest feudal lord, the king, was overthrown, and his feudal structure was destroyed. In its place, a new political system called democracy was introduced. In the feudal era, all power was concentrated in the hands of the king, and the people who had to obey the king’s orders were called subjects. Now, these subjects were transformed into citizens. A citizen was a person who had rights. This period is called the capitalist era.
Currently, humanity is at this stage of its development, and its effort to move forward continues. Those who are benefiting greatly from this stage are trying to stop this progress. They are using all their power to maintain the status quo, just as the feudal lords or kings did in the past. However, as history has shown, even though their efforts may cause some delay, in the end, they will fail. They cannot take human society backward, nor can they keep it in the present for much longer.
Now, we will talk about the many communities and societies that have lagged in the race for development in this era. We will focus on the reasons for their backwardness. One such community is the Muslim community. It is no secret that, whether in education or industrial development, Muslims have fallen behind compared to the societies of the Northern Hemisphere. Historically, they were once either equal to or ahead of these societies. So, what happened that caused them to fall behind in the race for development? One major reason seems to be their attachment to the past. Any society that does not keep itself focused on moving forward in the field of knowledge and keeps looking backward repeatedly will stumble along the way. Such a society will not be able to focus its mind on the journey ahead. Its heart will continually push it to go back, and it will appear to walk with half-heartedness.
In their minds, the thought will persist that they should return to the past because that era seemed better. This is why, even though the rest of the world has moved forward, they remain stuck in that same stage. This stage is the feudal stage. Although they benefit from the conveniences of the capitalist era and modern science, mentally, they are still stuck in the past. They have fallen in love with that past. The memories of that stage have made them self-absorbed. They are like a person whose pescription has changed, making them unable to see the world as it is today. The image of the past, which has been fixed in their mind, seems so appealing to them that they believe if they change their prescription, that image will fade away. This is why they have stopped trying to change their prescription. Not only have they physically inherited the remnants of feudal society, but they have also kept them in their minds.
Many Muslim-majority countries in the world tried to move beyond the feudal stage, and some succeeded, like Turkey. However, within less than 100 years, the suppressed forces that had been hiding and working quietly from within reemerged. As soon as they found a favorable environment, they began efforts to push the country back to the old stage. Similarly, Iran, after moving forward, eventually reverted to the past stage. Some other countries made further efforts, but the capitalist forces, which aim to maintain the status quo of today’s era, thwarted their attempts. Instead of allowing these countries to remain in the present capitalist era, they were pushed back to an earlier stage. The reason for this was that if these countries remained in the present era, they would not only share in the benefits of the available resources but would also start competing with the capitalist powers.
You will find many Muslims who, while benefiting from modern science, speak English and appear to have moved beyond the past stage in terms of language, dress, and lifestyle. At first glance, you might think they have progressed past the old stage. However, if you delve into their minds by reading their writings or thoughts, you will discover the reality that they are still stuck in the old stage. They still believe in and consider the justice and social system of the feudal era to be superior. Any individual, community, or society will remain backward as long as it stays attached to the past stage. Those who look to the past for answers to today’s challenges will always remain not only governed but also continuously victims of humiliation and exploitation. Today, it is essential to show the world the way forward regarding knowledge. The remnants of feudal society within ourselves must be identified and confronted with a determined mental struggle. To build the future world, the new generation must be enriched with intellectual wealth through enlightened thinking.
