Modern Islamic Reform Movements

From the 18th century onward, the Muslim world witnessed a series of reform movements responding to internal decline and external colonial pressure. These movements sought to revive Islamic thought, purify religious practice, and address the challenges of modernity. While differing in approach, they shared a common conviction that the Muslim ummah's weakness stemmed from departure from authentic Islamic teachings and that renewal (tajdid) was both possible and necessary.

The Wahhabi-Salafi Movement

Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (1703-1792) launched a movement in the Arabian Peninsula calling for a return to pure Tawhid and the elimination of what he considered shirk and bidah that had accumulated over centuries. His alliance with Muhammad ibn Saud created the first Saudi state. The movement emphasized direct engagement with the Quran and Sunnah and rejected blind following (taqlid) of later scholars. Critics accused it of extremism, while supporters saw it as a necessary purification. The movement's influence spread widely in the 20th century, shaping Salafi thought worldwide.

The Modernist School

Jamal al-Din al-Afghani (1838-1897) and his student Muhammad Abduh (1849-1905) represented a different approach: engaging with Western thought while maintaining Islamic identity. Abduh, who became Grand Mufti of Egypt, argued that Islam was inherently rational and compatible with modern science. His student Rashid Rida (1865-1935) founded the influential journal al-Manar and sought to bridge the gap between Salafi theology and modernist methodology. This school influenced subsequent movements across the Muslim world, from Turkey to Indonesia.

Revivalist Organizations

The 20th century saw the rise of organized Islamic movements. Hasan al-Banna founded the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt in 1928, combining Islamic education with social services and political activism. In South Asia, Abul Ala Maududi established Jamaat-e-Islami in 1941, developing a comprehensive Islamic political theory. The Tablighi Jamaat, founded by Muhammad Ilyas in 1926, took a different approach, focusing entirely on personal piety and grassroots preaching rather than political engagement. Each of these movements has had a lasting impact on Muslim societies globally.

Contemporary Landscape

Today's Islamic landscape reflects the diversity of these reform traditions. Traditional scholarship continues through institutions like al-Azhar and the Deoband system. Salafi thought remains influential in the Arabian Peninsula and beyond. Modernist approaches are prominent in Southeast Asia and among Muslim communities in the West. The common thread among mainstream movements is the commitment to the Quran and Sunnah as the ultimate sources of guidance, even as methodologies for interpreting and applying them differ significantly.