Societal Advancement and Civilizational Reform in the Prophetic Model

Abstract

This research is intended to define the concept of societal progress (advancement) and to identify the fundamental characteristics and forms of this concept. It also intends to outline the most critical levels of the societal progress project as viewed by Islam; to illustrate how the individual will develop and mature into a contributor to the process of societal progress; and to present strategies to achieve an overall and total societal Renaissance. This study employs qualitative thematic document analysis, supported by inductive coding and interpretive synthesis, to examine Qur’anic, Prophetic, classical Islamic, and contemporary scholarly sources concerning societal advancement and civilizational reform. The findings showed that societal progress means regaining the position of the society within civilizational development after passing a stage of weakness and stagnation. Processes of advancing society are based on two major dimensions. First, the construction of the individual in his intellectual, psychological, spiritual and physical aspects. Second, the construction of society at all political, social, scientific, technological and economic levels with full strength. It can be concluded that in order for society to develop according to the Islamic outlook on the issue, it is important to start with personal reforms and end up with structural reforms. In addition to that, it should be noted that there could be an opportunity for Muslims to utilize the Prophetic model as a framework which will not make them abandon their basic tenets while moving forward in the face of global challenges.