Islamic Culture in an Era of Religious Resurgence and Ideological Decline

Abstract

Objectives: This study delves into the major obstacles that Islamic culture encountered across various historical eras, analysing how it successfully addressed them by engaging with the Quran and the Sunna while fostering a thorough and accurate understanding of these timeless sources. It explores how this engagement, a distinguishing feature of the adherents of the Sunni tradition (Ahl al-Sunna wal-Jamāʿa, i.e. those who follow the Quran & the Prophet's teachings), resulted in the isolation of deviant sects with political or ideological inclinations, especially the most dangerous among them, the Bāṭiniyya sect, which manifested itself as populism and heresy, combating Islam as it spread across the lands, toppling thrones, kingdoms, and empires. Methodology: The author employed a descriptive method while adopting an analytical deductive approach to identify the most dangerous challenges Islamic culture faces from within. Results: One of the most significant findings of this study is how to safeguard the beliefs and the practical application of Islam in daily life, protecting them from falling into the abyss of a distorted Islam or the “Islam of Harm.” This harmful version of Islam has always found its supporters among secularists, idolaters and infidels, ever united in their struggle to defeat it. Originality: This study's authenticity, depth, and precise diagnostic qualities are in harmony with the ground-breaking evolution of the Islamic Culture course at Qatar University.