The world of the twenty-first century is marked by an unprecedented pace of change. Technology has altered not only how we work, communicate, and learn, but also how we think about life, morality, and community. In such a world, the question arises: how do timeless principles of faith and spirituality guide us when the ground beneath us is constantly shifting?
This is where the vision of Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal becomes profoundly relevant. His call for Ijtihad, the renewal and reinterpretation of Islamic thought in the light of modern challenges, was not merely an intellectual exercise; it was a lifeline for a community at risk of stagnation. Today, in the digital age, his call echoes louder than ever.
Iqbal understood that civilizations thrive not by clinging rigidly to the past, but by drawing strength from their roots while responding to new realities with courage and creativity. For him, Ijtihad was the dynamic principle of Islam, the bridge between revelation and human reason, between eternal truths and temporal needs. It was through Ijtihad that Muslims could harmonize spiritual faith with scientific progress, moral vision with worldly action.
But Iqbal also warned that abandoning Ijtihad leads to decay. When a community closes the doors of fresh thought, it risks reducing faith to ritual, losing its ability to inspire life, creativity, and movement. In his time, he urged the Muslim world to rethink law, governance, education, and culture in the light of modern demands while staying anchored in the Qur’anic spirit.
Fast forward to the digital era. We now live in a world where artificial intelligence writes essays, algorithms shape public opinion, and data drives global economies. Ethical dilemmas arise daily: How do we deal with privacy in a world of surveillance? What does justice look like in an age of automation where machines replace human labor? How do we preserve human dignity in a society driven by consumerism and virtual reality?
These are not simply technical questions; they are deeply moral and spiritual ones. They demand Ijtihad, a fresh reasoning that draws from faith to illuminate new paths. Just as early Muslim scholars addressed challenges of their time, today we must engage with issues like bioethics, digital rights, environmental stewardship, and artificial intelligence through the lens of higher moral values.
Iqbal envisioned a future where revelation and reason work together, not in conflict. He saw science as a way to uncover God’s signs in the universe, and faith as a compass to ensure that knowledge serves humanity rather than enslaves it. In the digital age, this vision becomes crucial.
Technology can either dehumanize us or elevate us. It can create echo chambers of division, or it can connect hearts across continents. Without moral direction, it risks amplifying greed, inequality, and exploitation. With the guidance of faith, however, it can become a means of empowerment, spreading knowledge, healing, justice, and opportunity.
To continue Iqbal’s quest for renewal is to embrace responsibility. It means nurturing a generation of thinkers, scholars, and leaders who are unafraid to question, unafraid to reinterpret, and unafraid to imagine a better future. It requires courage to engage with the complexities of globalization, digital transformation, and cultural change while holding fast to spiritual depth.
Most importantly, it calls upon individuals, not just institutions, to awaken their Khudi, their inner self, and take part in shaping society. Ijtihad is not confined to legal scholars alone; it is also a mindset for every Muslim who reflects, questions, and acts with sincerity to align their life with both faith and the challenges of the age.
Iqbal’s philosophy was never about escaping into the past; it was about bringing the spirit of the past into conversation with the present to build a vibrant future. In the digital age, his call for Ijtihad becomes a call for renewal, creativity, and moral courage. The question is no longer whether we need Ijtihad, but whether we have the vision and bravery to practice it.
In a world of endless information but little wisdom, Iqbal’s words remain a guiding light: faith must be alive, dynamic, and responsive, or else it ceases to inspire. The task before us is clear: to revive the spirit of renewal, so that our faith not only survives in the digital age but leads humanity toward a higher horizon.
In the quiet hours of dawn, when the heart is still and the world has yet to awaken, one can hear the subtle whisper of truth: the Quran is not a book meant to be confined to ritual alone; it is a living dialogue between the Divine and the human spirit. Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal,…
In every age, humanity faces a crisis of the soul. We build taller buildings but have smaller dreams. We hold more information in our pockets yet possess less wisdom in our hearts. Faith, once the fire that lit civilizations, now often flickers as a mere formality. Our actions have become scattered, chasing shadows instead of…
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