Jalal Uddin al-Afghani (1839-97)
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Imagine you are living in the late 19th century, and you have been brought up in an Orthodox Islamic environment. How would you, through an ultra-Islamic lens, look at the world around you?
You have read and been told that within the century after its introduction, the influence of Islam was seen in all four corners of the world. India was run over by a series of opulent dynasties upon dynasties of flamboyant Islamic rulers. In the 18th century, India was the wealthiest nation in the world. Islamic traders had introduced the religion to the shores where they traded.
After defeating the Crusaders, the Islamic rulers steadfastly asserted Allah's law on Earth. At its pinnacle, the Ottoman Empire controlled most of southeastern Europe to the gates of Vienna, the Balkans, Ukraine, parts of the Middle East and North Africa.
Jalal al-Din al-Afghani was an elusive character and a wanderer who was either embraced or shooed by the countries in which he sojourned at different times of his life. Probably born to a Shiite family in Persia, Afghanis insist he was born in Afghanistan. At 18, he was in India and performed his Haj soon afterwards. He became a scholar of religion and would be called upon to impart his knowledge. He went to Iran, Turkey, Egypt and the United Kingdom. His idea of modernisation without Westernisation was popular among the masses but not with elites and clerics. He promoted being meagre, which did not excite the leaders. He suggested a pan-Islamic movement and is said to be the first Modern Muslim who used the shield of Islam in his political appeal.
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You have read and been told that within the century after its introduction, the influence of Islam was seen in all four corners of the world. India was run over by a series of opulent dynasties upon dynasties of flamboyant Islamic rulers. In the 18th century, India was the wealthiest nation in the world. Islamic traders had introduced the religion to the shores where they traded.
After defeating the Crusaders, the Islamic rulers steadfastly asserted Allah's law on Earth. At its pinnacle, the Ottoman Empire controlled most of southeastern Europe to the gates of Vienna, the Balkans, Ukraine, parts of the Middle East and North Africa.
Al-Afghani saw the time that passed as the most glorious days of Islam. Right in front of his eyes, he saw the reign of leaders who use Islam as their selling point slowly crumbling. The British were making inroads into dismantling the wealthiest Muslim Empire. The Ottomans were getting sicker by the day with ineffective leaders and widespread unholy practices. The schisms within the fold also made it easier for its enemies to hoodwink them, using their weaknesses to their benefit.
Just who is this Al-Afghani? How is he of relevance today?
He had his hand in France, Russia, and India and left a long trail of people who were angry with him. At one time, he was even inducted into Freemasonry. Flitting between his Shiite background and Sunni knowledge, he still failed to unite both denominations. At one time, he gave a scathing opposition to Darwin's 'Theory of Evolution' but later rescinded that animals do evolve but can never be human.
He died of mandibular cancer in 1897 but remains a prominent figure amongst Muslim scholars who like to see the so-called golden era of Islam make a comeback here on Earth. Unity within
the ummah, he never achieved, but at least when it comes to threats to their own kind, they flock together. Like a swarm of bees, seemingly buzzing around haphazardly, perhaps appearing to bump into each other, they fall into formation to protect their hive.
the ummah, he never achieved, but at least when it comes to threats to their own kind, they flock together. Like a swarm of bees, seemingly buzzing around haphazardly, perhaps appearing to bump into each other, they fall into formation to protect their hive.
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