Atif
Civilization has drawn its source from the day human beings first stepped onto the field of existence, and it will keep going for as long as human life itself continues. Civilization is the social order that helps human beings develop their cultural achievements. [Mustafa al-Siba’i]
Civilization is one of humanity’s most important achievements across history. From the very start of their social life, people have always tried to build up their living environment and gain knowledge. There isn’t a single nation you can find whose pages in the history of civilization haven’t been filled with its own actions and achievements. Any civilization that carried a universal message and humanitarian appeal, and remained realistic in observing its own morals, principles, and foundations, has greater continuity and endurance in history, and is counted worthy of survival and praise. The sum of all these efforts, over the passage of time, has laid the ground for the rise of different civilizations.
Islamic civilization emerged at a time when the world was drowning in deep ignorance and darkness, and the people of the world were living in an atmosphere of savagery, fear, and dread. There was no book to guide them, and no reforming figure left to set their lives in order. But with the rise of Islamic civilization, great changes took shape across the world, and human life took on a new form.
This civilization arrived on the field of existence at a time when other civilizations already existed too, in China, India, Persia, Egypt, and Rome. Islamic society and Muslims came face to face with various deeply rooted civilizations, cultures, and beliefs, and the newly sprouted Islamic culture not only left behind a great spiritual legacy of its own, but also became heir to the different civilizations of that era.
Islamic civilization is not limited only to building cities, economic development, scientific advancement, or the establishment of powerful governments. Rather, it is a civilization built on tawhid, faith, knowledge, morals, justice, and human dignity. In this civilization, material progress isn’t separated from spiritual values, and knowledge and learning are put to use for human wellbeing and the flourishing of society.
The foundation of Islamic civilization was laid with the emergence of Islam and the mission of the Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) into the land of revelation, and through its own emergence it brought light to a dark society and culture. The Holy Quran called humanity toward reflection, learning, justice, building up the earth, and reforming society. The Prophet of Islam (PBUH) also laid the first foundations of a civilized society by building a society grounded in faith, brotherhood, justice, and social responsibility.
After the prophetic era and the age of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, Islamic civilization gradually expanded, and great scientific, cultural, economic, and political centers arose across different regions of the Islamic world, from east to west. Alongside religious sciences, Muslims left behind important works and achievements in medicine, mathematics, astronomy, geography, philosophy, architecture, literature, and the natural sciences too. For this reason, Islamic civilization can be called a comprehensive system for human life, one that strikes a balance between faith and knowledge, morals and progress, this world and the next, and between the rights of the individual and the interests of society.
The importance of understanding this civilization isn’t just about recalling the glory of the past; understanding it properly can turn Muslims’ attention toward recognizing their own scientific, moral, and cultural capacities, and putting them to use in building a better future. On the other hand, many of the principles Islamic civilization stands on, justice, the protection of human dignity, love of knowledge, and social responsibility, are universal needs that concern the whole of humanity.
