This article “MUHAMMAD ‘ABDUH’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO MODERNITY” was written by Ahmad N. Amir, Abdi O. Shuriye and Ahmad F. Ismail summarizes ‘Abduh's modernity views that brought many changes and reforms to al-Azhar and Egyptian society and many of his views transcendent to the Arab world. I will review the important points mentioned in regards to his reforms and overall evaluate the paper. According to the authors ‘Abduh wanted to bridge the gap between traditionalists and modernists. According to him, this could only be done by accepting that change was needed and by linking it to the principles of Islam. This paer showcases how ‘Abduh wanted to show that Islam was part of a modern, rational society, …show more content…
This ideal rational society had ever existed in the first golden ages of Islam. He saw various causes for decay. Foreign elements had crept into Islam. In addition, the authors mention that the essence of Islam was forgotten a distinction could no longer be made between main and side issues. From this followed the habit of blind imitation (taqlid). ‘Abduh linked this spreading of the taqlid to the rise of bad leaders in the umma. They did not try to understand Muhammad's message. They encouraged the slavish acceptance of authority and thereby discouraged the free use of reason. They introduced their own supporters into the ranks of the ulama and with the corruption of education, they contributed to ignorance and thus to the decline of the entire world of …show more content…
God and his prophet were for him the highest authorities within this faith community. Yet this umma needed a spiritual authority, the caliph. According to the authors the caliph was the first 'mujtahid' or practitioner of the '' ijtihad ''. He could legitimize reforms in the Islamic world. Taking over European institutions and law, such as the reforms in the Ottoman Empire, was not a solution because they did not sprout from the traditions and customs of the Islamic world. However, the Caliph was bound to consultation, shura , of the umma. He was not infallible and received no revelations from God.
In the context of Sharia reform, the authors suggest that he paid serious attention to the role of women in the community. Not only the Shari'a, also habits and traditions were discussed by him. He also spent time on this topic, because the role of women in Islam was a point where criticism often came from the West. His work on women was on the one hand directed to a Muslim audience, but on the other hand to Western critics of