A Path from Inner Transformation to Civilizational Rebirth: An Integrated Vision of Revival in the Thought of Muhammad Iqbal and Malek Bennabi

Abstract

Muslim world are facing multifaceted challenges in the twenty-first century. Among these challenges of the modern era, the decline of Muslim civilization and loss of Muslim identity are of the primordial focus of contemporary Muslim intellectuals. Among the leading thinkers, Muhammad Iqbal (1877-1938) and Malek Bennabi (1905-1973) are two eminent scholars of 20^th century who not only analyzed this problem, but also offered a solution to revive Muslim ummah. Although both thinkers emerged from different socio-political settings, they realized that the cause of Muslim decadence is not rooted in political subjugation alone rather the real cause lies in their spiritual, moral and intellectual demise. The current study will explore their approaches to civilizational revival in first two sections^__ with Iqbal focusing on reconstructing religious thought and the concept of Selfhood (Khudi); and Bennabi focusing on the revival of ideas and the termination of colinizability. Whereas, the last two sections will be comprised of comparative analysis and concluding remarks to ascertain that both intellectuals (if put together) can help pave a path leading from inner transformation to civilizational rebirth in order to attain authentic Islamic renaissance. Their complementary paradigms integrate moral-spiritual regeneration and socio-intellectual reconstruction that is relevant for Muslim world in the current era.