Renowned scholar Dr. Anis Ahmad has called for a fundamental rethinking of history and civilization beyond Eurocentric perspectives, arguing that such frameworks limit understanding by excluding ethics and divine principles. Speaking at a lecture at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) in Islamabad, Dr. Ahmad emphasized that the Qur\u2019anic perspective sees history as a moral process driven by universal values like justice, fairness, and social responsibility, contrasting sharply with Western approaches that often equate progress with material achievement.<\/p>\n
The event, titled \u201cUnderstanding History and Civilization the Right Way,\u201d attracted a large audience of educators, students, and scholars from across the globe, highlighting the international significance of the topic. The lecture was part of IPS\u2019s ongoing series focusing on contemporary global challenges and the future of humanity.<\/p>\n
Dr. Mustafeez Ahmad Alvi, an expert in Islamic socio-political thought, opened the session by noting that prevailing ideas about history and civilization are overwhelmingly shaped by Western, Eurocentric viewpoints. He cautioned that this lens can shape political and social responses in ways that do not necessarily benefit all societies or humanity as a whole.<\/p>\n
In his address, Dr. Anis Ahmad traced the trajectory of Western historical thought, explaining how it moved from the rationalism of ancient Greece and the religious interpretations of medieval Christianity, to the scientific materialism of the Renaissance and Enlightenment, and later to the relativism of postmodernism. He observed that each stage increasingly sidelined the roles of ethics and divine guidance, resulting in a vision of human progress that compartmentalizes life into secular and sacred spheres and measures advancement mainly in material terms.<\/p>\n
In contrast, Dr. Ahmad outlined the Qur\u2019anic framework, which perceives history as an ongoing ethical journey, not merely a sequence of events or material changes. Islamic thought, he explained, regards history as a dynamic interplay between past and present, providing essential lessons for building a just society. According to Dr. Ahmad, the true rise and fall of nations are determined less by their military or economic power and more by their adherence to universal ethical standards such as honesty, justice, and social responsibility.<\/p>\n
He further clarified that culture and civilization are deeply connected to values. Culture represents the ethical and spiritual foundation of human life, while civilization is the material expression of these principles through institutions, economies, and social systems. Dr. Ahmad argued that Islamic civilization is not the exclusive legacy of a particular ethnic group or region but a value-based system relevant to all humanity. Core principles such as the unity of God (tawhid), justice (adl), and moral conduct (akhlaq) are, he emphasized, universal in their application and can promote sustainable development and human dignity in any society.<\/p>\n
Addressing modern challenges, the lecture touched on issues such as the crisis in education, risks of historical distortion, and the ethical gaps present in current political and economic systems. Dr. Ahmad urged Muslims not to settle for ritualistic or superficial interpretations of their faith, but instead to embrace Islam\u2019s holistic perspective, which integrates belief with reason, morality, and social responsibility.<\/p>\n
Responding to a question about whether the Islamic viewpoint on history is theological rather than scientific, Dr. Ahmad maintained that the Qur\u2019anic approach is neither mythological nor dogmatic. He stressed that it is grounded in observable, ethical principles of human behavior, making it rational and open to verification. Islamic history, he concluded, is a record of human choices, responsibilities, and their consequences\u2014not a collection of miracles or myths.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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