Islam and Modern Era Challenges
Islam and the Challenges of the Modern Era
13/3/2026
The insightful ones will create new abodes,
My gaze is not towards Kufa and Baghdad.
This morning in Mumbai added a delightful, blessed, and memorable chapter to my journey. Early in the morning, Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Khan, accompanied by a few colleagues, came to meet at the Taj Palace Hotel, Mumbai. Maulana is actively engaged in the fields of education and dawah in Mumbra, Mumbai, with sincerity, insight, and wisdom. Allah has endowed him with extraordinary abilities, and he executes every task with deep contemplation, excellent management, and silent perseverance. Recently, he arranged for the printing of my book “Nazm al-Lali fi al-Musnad al-Aali,” and brought along some beautiful copies as a gift, which was a lovely manifestation of his affection, attachment, and scholarly taste. I was also introduced to his companions, who were granted the privilege of hearing the Hadith Musalsal bil-Awwaliyah and were bestowed with the permission of Hadith. On this occasion, there was a very beneficial and insightful discussion on the need for mutual unity, brotherhood, and intellectual harmony within the Muslim Ummah.
Later, around 1:15 PM, we reached the Jami Mosque in Mumbai with the kind and sincere Mr. Mahmood Karim. This mosque holds a distinguished position due to its historical grandeur, religious dignity, and its famous pond. There, the esteemed Mufti Ashfaq warmly welcomed us; it was at his invitation that we attended. The mosque’s library is a custodian of rare and precious scholarly treasures, where ancient and valuable manuscripts are preserved. I had the honor of viewing an ancient and complete manuscript of Tirmidhi Sharif, as well as rare copies of Shamail Tirmidhi and others. Maulana Mufti Ashfaq, with great kindness, love, and scholarly generosity, introduced these treasures, leaving a lasting pleasant impression on the heart.
Around 2:30 PM, we arrived at the educational center of Sabu Siddiq, where the program’s organizers and administrators—Ms. Uzma Naheed, her esteemed husband Mr. Salman Ghazi, Professor Hina, and others—warmly, lovingly, and sincerely welcomed us. The atmosphere of this institution was marked by seriousness, scholarly dignity, and religious zeal, which left a pleasant impression from the start. Here, I had the opportunity to deliver a detailed lecture on the very important and thought-provoking topic of “Islam and the Challenges of the Modern Era.” The audience included teachers, students, intellectuals, and serious minds from various fields, whose faces reflected the significance of the topic, presenting a scene of “the whole world is all ears.”
The lecture emphasized that although individuals and institutions of the Muslim Ummah appear to be active in various aspects of serving the religion—some in the field of education, some in dawah and preaching, some in writing and research, and others in welfare services—the real question is whether we have correctly identified the fundamental causes that are leading to the collective decline, intellectual disarray, and cultural deterioration of Muslims. If the nature of the disease is not determined, if the root of the ailment is not reached, then all treatment measures prove superficial and ineffective. It was clarified in the discussion that the challenges of the present era are not only the result of external onslaughts but also internal weaknesses, intellectual disarray, educational backwardness, moral decline, and a lack of religious consciousness are fundamental factors of this crisis. It was also highlighted that mere temporary reactions or emotional slogans do not change the circumstances; rather, a deep intellectual insight, organized strategy, and awakening of collective consciousness are indispensable:
Here, the lack of zeal for action is self-entrapment,
Where the wings fold, the hunter is present.
This session continued for about an hour with great focus, attention, and intellectual concentration. During the lecture, the silence, seriousness, and attentive gazes of the audience reflected that the points of the discussion were touching their minds and hearts. At the end of the lecture, a question-and-answer session began, which continued for quite some time. The audience raised very serious, precise, and thought-provoking questions, reflecting their scholarly interest and deep connection with the topic. Each question contained a pain, a quest, and a restlessness for the future of the Ummah, and the answers attempted to clarify these aspects. This session proved to be very successful and memorable in terms of its significance, intellectual depth, and mutual exchange of ideas: Whatever comes to the lips of the son of Adam passes.
Around 6 PM, we visited the flat of Maulana Abdul Razzaq Nadwi. This meeting was more heartfelt than formal. Upon arrival, the love, warmth, and sincerity with which we were received dispelled all the fatigue of the journey. During the tea session, a very pleasant, informal, and familiar atmosphere prevailed, with discussions on various scholarly, intellectual, religious, and social topics. Sometimes contemporary religious issues were discussed, sometimes the state of educational institutions was commented upon, and sometimes various aspects of the responsibilities of scholars were exchanged.
In Maulana Abdul Razzaq Nadwi’s conversation, the gravity of knowledge, the maturity of experience, and the warmth of sincerity were evident. Alongside seriousness, there was also an element of humor, which made the session even more delightful. This gathering was not merely an exchange of words but a scene of spiritual and scholarly companionship where love, respect, and a shared purpose were fully reflected. Shibli pointed out the flaw in the ghazal that it does not continuously express love and affection, but what Shibli considers a flaw in the ghazal, we see as its virtue; and this virtue was prominent in this gathering, with no restriction on topics, no continuity of statements, yet from every angle, there was pleasure, meaning, and freshness.
We performed the Maghrib prayer at the “Iqra” building in Mahim, where the director of this institution, Mr. Salman Ghazi, warmly welcomed us. He presented a brief yet comprehensive introduction to the institution of Iqra. Shortly after, Ms. Uzma Naheed arrived, accompanied by Professor Syed Hina Fatima and her daughter Sarah. After a brief but very beneficial conversation, we took our leave.
The Isha prayer was performed at the Taqdeer Wali Mosque in Qismat Nagar, Kurla, where Maulana Muhammad Mazamil Nadwi welcomed us. Maulana Mazamil has been serving in teaching roles here for nearly forty years. There is a long-standing connection with him since the days of Nadwa, and many pleasant memories are associated with him in Mumbai. In this mosque, the esteemed father of Mahmood Bhai served as an imam for a long time, adding further significance to this location.
After the Isha prayer, the mosque’s environment transformed into a spiritual, scholarly, and dignified gathering, where a large and respectable group of scholars, imams, graduates, students, and learned individuals gathered. In this blessed assembly, I had the opportunity to deliver a lecture, and the chosen topic was: “Education and Training of the New Generation,” a topic that holds great sensitivity, importance, and decisive significance in the context of the present era.
The central focus of the discussion was that the construction of the new generation is not possible merely through the provision of curricular information, but rather it requires a comprehensive educational system that creates complete balance and harmony between human nature, moral structure, and the demands of sound intellect. It was elaborated that if education is severed from its natural sources, if intellect becomes independent of nature and revelation, and if the connection of training with character-building is severed, then such education can only create mental burdens, not righteous individuals:
He creates a garden from the wave of his heart’s blood,
He who is naturally free becomes bound by the cage.
It was clarified that the greatest challenge in the current era is that the new generation is growing up in an intellectual and cultural environment where there is an abundance of information but a lack of wisdom, a multitude of resources but ambiguity of objectives, and apparent progress but inner turmoil. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the Ummah to create educational frameworks that are adorned with faith, morality, insight, intellectual independence, and a sense of responsibility. The real goal of training is not merely to produce professionals but to prepare individuals who are connected to their religion, aware of their culture, and informed about the demands of their time.
During the lecture, the audience remained deeply engaged, silently attentive, and emotionally connected. Their expressions indicated that the topic had become the voice of their hearts. At the end of the lecture, a question-and-answer session began, which continued for quite some time. Serious, precise, and thought-provoking questions were raised by scholars and students, discussing important aspects such as the contemporary educational crisis, the curriculum of religious schools, the mental training of the new generation, and the role of the family. Each question contained an intellectual unrest and a yearning for reform, and the answers provided as much guidance as possible.
On this occasion, at the special request of the audience, the Hadith Musalsal bil-Awwaliyah was recited, which is always considered a source of blessing for scholars due to its spiritual continuity and chain of transmission. Subsequently, many scholars and graduates were granted permission for Hadith, and this scholarly connection added further significance and spirituality to the gathering. In this context, a brief introduction to my work, “Sharh Muslim,” was also presented, highlighting its scholarly aspects, methodology, and objectives. The audience listened to this introduction with great interest and viewed this scholarly service with appreciation.
After this spiritually uplifting scholarly session, there was a very elaborate and loving dinner arrangement, where the formal gathering transformed into an informal scholarly assembly. The table was not just filled with food, but with an atmosphere of love, sincerity, and warmth that enhances the beauty of the companionship of scholars. During the meal, discussions on various scholarly, religious, intellectual, and social topics continued. There was an exchange of views on the future of educational institutions, discussions on the demands of dawah, and serious consultations on the collective issues of the Ummah. Sometimes it felt like: Who listens or doesn’t listen, I continue the conversation.
The love, devotion, respect, and sincerity expressed by the scholars and attendees present there were themselves a valuable treasure and an unforgettable memory. The devotion on their faces, sincerity in their demeanor, and warmth in their words left a lasting impression on the heart. The truth is that such gatherings keep the relationships of scholars alive and strengthen scholarly and spiritual bonds.
May Allah reward all these individuals with goodness, accept their love, bless their scholarly and religious services, and grant them further steadfastness and sincerity in serving the true religion. It is not possible to individually mention the names of all the attendees, and mentioning a few selected names might create an impression of undue preference; therefore, it is more appropriate to collectively offer a token of gratitude to all.
On the way back, I also inspected some of Mahmood Bhai’s constructive projects. His hard work, insight, and excellent management are commendable. May Allah bless his business, services, and all his projects with goodness and prosperity, and grant him the ability to serve the religion and the Ummah further. Ameen.
Dr. Muhammad Akram Nadwi
