Dimensions of Benefiting from the West: Intellectual and Practical Challenges

مغرب سے استفادے کی جہات : فکری و عملی تحدیات

Abstract

Muslim Scholars of modern age are always looking for an answer to the intellectual question whether following the West should be made as slogan or not? What will be the core principles for social, academic and political interaction and integration with West? What will be the right direction and limits of cultural amalgamation? This has been a dilemma, even a bone of contention among scholars for last many decades. Muḥammad Asad, Mawlānā Maudūdī and some other scholars extended their views and deliberated discussions on this issue. The opinion of Mawlānā Maudūdī creates a crossroads, a path that shows distance and gulf from the West and the others intends to pave a path to connect with the West. Therefore, one of the meanings of this opinion is that we will have to accept the social and economic commitment of the people of the West while using the educational system. As well as the curricular and pedagogical issues of the West if they have contemporary or economic benefits for the people of Islam. The article is an academic and thought-provoking effort to analyse the views of scholars and conclude in balanced manner.