A Young Muslim's Guide to the Modern World

by Seyyed Hossein Nasr

This guide was written particularly for young Muslims, urging them to become familiar with their religion and to gain an understanding of the modern world from the Islamic point of view, in order to respond positively to challenges.

Nasr presents an exposition of the teachings of Islam, as revealed in the Qur'an, explained in the "Hadith" and "Sunna" of the Prophet Muhammad (Praise His Name) and commented upon by Muslim scholars and thinkers.

He also outlines the Western religious and intellectual tradition. The work goes on to challenge the youth of other religious traditions to become responsible and committed by recognizing the importance of their cultural identity.

The author's publications include "Ideals and Realities of Islam", "Science and Civilisation in Islam", "Muhammad - Man of Allah" and "Traditional Islam in the Modern World".

Genres: Islam, Religion, Philosophy, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Social Science, Self Help

270 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Seyyed Hossein Nasr was born on April 7, 1933 (19 Farvadin 1312 A.H. solar) in Tehran into a family of distinguished scholars and physicians. His father, Seyyed Valiallah, a man of great learning and piety, was a physician to the Iranian royal family, as was his father before him. The name "Nasr" which means "victory" was conferred on Professor Nasr's grandfather by the King of Persia. Nasr also comes from a family of Sufis. One of his ancestors was Mulla Seyyed Muhammad Taqi Poshtmashhad, who was a famous saint of Kashan, and his mausoleum which is located next to the tomb of the Safavid king Shah Abbas, is still visited by pilgrims to this day.

Seyyed Hossein Nasr, currently University Professor of Islamic Studies at the George Washington University, Washington D.C. is one of the most important and foremost scholars of Islamic, Religious and Comparative Studies in the world today. Author of over fifty books and five hundred articles which have been translated into several major Islamic, European and Asian languages, Professor Nasr is a well known and highly respected intellectual figure both in the West and the Islamic world. An eloquent speaker with a charismatic presence, Nasr is a much sought after speaker at academic conferences and seminars, university and public lectures and also radio and television programs in his area of expertise. Possessor of an impressive academic and intellectual record, his career as a teacher and scholar spans over four decades.

Professor Nasr began his illustrious teaching career in 1955 when he was still a young and promising, doctoral student at Harvard University. Over the years, he has taught and trained an innumerable number of students who have come from the different parts of the world, and many of whom have become important and prominent scholars in their fields of study.

He has trained different generations of students over the years since 1958 when he was a professor at Tehran University and then, in America since the Iranian revolution in 1979, specifically at Temple University in Philadelphia from 1979 to 1984 and at the George Washington University since 1984 to the present day. The range of subjects and areas of study which Professor Nasr has involved and engaged himself with in his academic career and intellectual life are immense. As demonstrated by his numerous writings, lectures and speeches, Professor Nasr speaks and writes with great authority on a wide variety of subjects, ranging from philosophy to religion to spirituality, to music and art and architecture, to science and literature, to civilizational dialogues and the natural environment.

For Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr, the quest for knowledge, specifically knowledge which enables man to understand the true nature of things and which furthermore, "liberates and delivers him from the fetters and limitations of earthly existence," has been and continues to be the central concern and determinant of his intellectual life.

Reviews

[Taha Rabbani · Rating 4 out of 5]

فکرمی‌کنم حدودای سوم دبیرستان بودم که پدرم این کتاب را به من معرفی کردند. جالب است چون فکر کنم تنها باری است که پدرم کتابی به من معرفی کرده باشند که بخوان! آن موقع که خیلی از این کتاب خوشم آمد. به طوری که سید حسین نصر برای همیشه در ذهنم ماند.
متاسفانه توان فکری اینکه کتاب‌های جدی‌ترش را بخوانم ندارم. کتاب سه حکیم مسلمانش را خوانده‌ام. ولی چیزی برایم نداشته. مصاحبه‌اش با جهانبگلو را هم خوانده‌ام. کتاب علم و تمدن در اسلام و آرمان‌ها و واقعیت‌های اسلامش را هم خریده‌ام ولی نخواندم. جدیدا کتابی ازش ترجمه شده با نام گلشن معرفت که درباره صوفیه است. قصد دارم بخرمش!
فقط نمی‌دانم می‌خوانمش یا نه!

[Bhetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really adored this book. I felt this was a great starting point for highlighting the gaps in my knowledge about Islamic and Western intellectual traditions. By its broad strokes overview, I was given a foundation in which to approach what I am missing and for further reading.

Despite its lightning quick tour approach, I learned so much from it. The most important part was its contribution to me understanding philosophy and the importance of philosophy as well as everyday philosophical terms we use.

Nasr strongly criticises both muslims and the West. By the West, he does not mean the geographical countries or ethnicities but the dominant ideas and life attitudes that are unIslamic in their nature; these have invaded the Islamic world and prompted more conflicts themselves. It would be quite easy for a Westerner to take offence: this is because although Nasr criticises muslims, he has a clear love for Islam and everything he believes it stands for; he does not shy away from comparisons. The audience in mind are muslims, who wish to approach all from an Islamic worldview. The primary objective of his book is to highlight that, yes, an Islamic worldview is fundamentally not allied to a modern one -- East or West.

Highlighting where the conflicts begin and how they originate -- in subversive, hidden ways -- is the first step to understanding how to be Islamic in a modern world.

[Nazmi Yaakub · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bekalan kepada anak muda dalam menempuh kekalutan dan kekecohan dunia moden dalam erti kata kehidupan yang ditentukan oleh program falsafah Barat dan bukannya moden dalam erti kata kemajuan sains dan teknologi yang tipikal.

Meskipun, pemikiran Prof Seyyed Hossein Nasr adalah kepada falsafah perenial dan agama trasedental - yang sekaligus mempunyai kesan besar kepada agama khususnya Islam; tetapi pengalaman SHN yang berdialog dengan Barat, boleh memberi manfaat kepada pembaca dengan syarat memiliki pandangan alam Islam yang jelas.

Buku ini mengingatkan kita betapa pentingnya ilmuwan dan sarjana dari rahim dunia Islam melihat Barat dengan tepat dan tidak terburu-buru dalam membuat penilaian. Kesannya bukanlah semata-mata menyebabkan kerugian dalam erti kata tidak memperoleh impak positif daripada peradaban Barat, sebaliknya pandangan yang terburu-buru menyebabkan kita akan terperangkap dengan usaha Barat untuk 'membimbing' umat Islam dalam melihat kepada agamanya sendiri.

[Hasanul Banna Siam · Rating 5 out of 5]

অনেক ভাল একটা বই। পড়া শুরু করেছিলাম গত বছর। প্রথম ৬০ পৃষ্ঠা খুবই General কথাবার্তা দিয়ে শুরু, তাই কিছুটা Bored হয়ে গিয়েছিলাম, কিন্তু নতুন করে আবার পড়া শুরু করার পর মুগ্ধ হয়ে গিয়েছি।

প্রত্যেক নতুন চ্যাপ্টারে লেখক টপিকের Level-up করেছেন, এবং এক পর্যায়ে সমাজ, ইতিহাস এবং বর্তমান সময়ের challenge গুলো নিয়ে বেশ ভাল রকমের Insight শেয়ার করেছেন।

ইসলাম সম্পর্কে হালকাপাতলা আগ থেকে পড়াশোনা থাকলেও, এই বই পড়ার পর নতুন অনেক কিছু জানতে পেরেছি। Young Muslim দের জন্য, এই বইটি একটা Must-read.

[Khaled Mounir · Rating 5 out of 5]

لكي يستطيع الإنسان الخوض في هذا العالم علي بصيرة
يلزمه أن يفهم العالم الحديث والبنى الفلسفية التي تختفي ورائة او بشكل موجز "المعمار الفلسفي للعالم المعاصر"
الكتاب عبارة عن مقابلة بين الرؤية الاسلامية للوجود في مقابل الرؤية الغربية بما تحمله من تشابكات وتقاطعات بين الإرث الديني القديم وحركات العلمنة والحركات الفلسفية التي كانت لها دور هام في تشكيل بنية هذا العالم
مع إبراز المشاكل والتهديدات التي خلقها العالم الحديث
وكيف ان باستطاعة البنيان الاسلامي أن يعيد التوازن ويحد من المشاكل التي حاقت بالعالم
اسلوب الكاتب رائع وسلس،وقراءته قراءة عميقة في ذات الوقت،توضح العديد من نقاط المفارقة والمباينة بين الرؤيتين،ومع إيضاحة للعديد من الرؤى المخفية خلف مظاهر الحياة الحديثة والتي يغلف عن فهما المسلمون،والكتاب إطلالة سريعة علي العديد من الهياكل التي تشكل العالم الحديث من البنى اللقتصادية والفنية والسياسية والفكرية
كتاب مهم جدا في بابه وينصح بقرائته حيث يمكن اتخاذة كمنصة للانطلاق والتبحر في مواضيعه

[محمدحسین بنـکدارتهرانی · Rating 4 out of 5]

چراغی بود در روزهای تاریک نوجوانی ما

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend this for either young Muslims who are Muslim by name, but haven't been raised and educated in the reality of Islam, or for young Muslims who have only been surrounded by Muslim communities and have little to no concept of the Western culture.

It's a book for those looking to reconcile their faith with their surroundings. However, there's not much new material for those teens already well acquainted with Islamic concepts and the greater society around us.

[Javad Amiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

در تمام کتاب دکتر نصر دعوای مشهود بین ادیان و انسانها را با ارایه مصادیق بررسی کرده اند. همین دعوای اینکه آیا باید تابع اراده خدا باشیم و یا مثل بشر متجدد فریاد "انا رجلا" در برابر آموزه های وحیانی سربدهیم.و مسلما دکتر نصر شما را اولی فرا میخواند.

[Ahmad Abdul Rahim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Young muslim's guide to the modern world adalah karya cendekiawan dn juga faylasuf muslim prof sayyed hossein nasr. Buku ini bagi aku ibarat versi miniatur bg buku beliau yg satu lg islam in the modern world. Prof nasr masih meneruskan gaya penulisan beliau yg encyclopaedic itu. Pun begitu, ibarat itu pn tidak tepat kerana terdapat byk lg input2 tambahan yg membezakn ia dgn buku beliau yg disebutkn itu tadi.

Antara sebabnya aku fikir, adalah buku ini ditulis dgn bermatlamatkn sbg suatu risalah nasihat kepada anak muda. Ini berlainan dgn islam in modern world yg merupakan lebih kepada kritikan beliau terhadap dunia moden. Kerana itu, di samping bab2 lazim yg menceritakan ttg kepentingan nilai intelektual, spiritual, ethics dihidupkan kembali dgn sandaran tradisi2 islam, terdapat juga bab2 istimewa spt bab yg menceritakan ttg latar belakang agama kristian, bab yg menceritakan ttg profil2 tokoh2 pemikir yg telah mencorakkan dunai Barat (dan by extension, dunia moden), serta persoalan sains dn teknologi.

Buku ini essentially menerangkan ttg pertentangan antara dunia moden dan islam. Gol muda yg lahir di tengah2 kemodenan adalah yg paling terdedah kpd pesona modenism (dan semakim jauh dr islam), justeru diluncurkanlah buku ini.

Sekali imbas, ia merupakan tema2 yg sama diulang oleh gol islamis. Tetapi penulis ada menyentuh hal ini dn menegaskan bahawa topik dunia moden vs islam tak boleh di conflatekan semata2 kpd "western decadence" atau krisis dalaman barat (spt banyak wacana2 islamis). Itu tidak lebih drpd slogan2 lohong kerana tiada diagnosis lengkap yang diutarakan.

Apa yg prof sayyed hossein nasr cadangkan sebaliknya adalah, utk gol muda mengkaji dunia Barat (sbg pioneer modenisme) secara menyeluruh dn berkerangka, yg mana aku boleh simpulkan sbg konflik pencarian makna dn agama. Disinilah terletaknya krisis dunia moden. Adapun manifestasi2 krisis ini dlm pendidikan, ekonomi, sosial, politik adalah secondary. Sekiranya ini difahami dgn betul, maka satu jalan keluar dapat dirajah dgn baik
tanpa melahirkan bersamanya sikap2 fanatik.

Buku ini terbahagi kpd 3 bhg. Bahagian pertama menceritakan ttg asas2 dn esensi islam yg immutable dn mapan. Bhg kedua, ttg fenomena keagamaan, falsafah, politik, ekonomi dan seni di dunia Barat/moden. Dn bhg terakhir adalah blue print bg anak muda yg mahu menjaga keimanannya dgn utuh dlm dunia yg serba serbi moden dan tidak berTuhan ini. Nasihat2 yg terkandung dlm bhg ketiga ini adalah disusun dgn topik yg sama mengikut diagnosis2 masalah dlm dunia moden spt yg disebut dalam bab2 terdahulu.

Aku setuju dgn kawan aku, prof sayyed hossein nasr adalah melodramatik di dalam menerangkan permasalahn dunia moden. Tp content-wise aku tetap kekal bersetuju dgn prof nasr (tidak spt kawan aku td :p).

[Nathaniel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Given the title, I expected perhaps Mr. Nasr to provide arguments or learned perspectives for the young Muslim to utilize in his interactions with the non-Islamic, Modern West, which could be equally useful for the Western non-Muslim in understanding an educated Muslim perspective. Instead what is given is polemic.

The first half of the book is both interesting and enlightening, but Part II quickly devolves into a laundry list of things he's not terrible fond of. Some of his criticisms of the West are certainly true and valid, but when he talks about evolution being just "theory", "despite the fact that much biological evidence has been brought against [it:]", one must roll their eyes and concede that, indeed, he comes off as a "religious obscurantist", not because he doesn't reject Islam and theism but because he so passively rejects the findings of biological science. Further, when he claims gay marriage is a "severe attack" against the family as a deviant "redefining" of marriage, and that abortion is a matter of "agnostic humanism [....:] consider[ing:] the individual to be the highest principle", he becomes simply and thoroughly insulting.

In the end, Nasr mostly forsakes the title of his book, presenting less a guide and more of an Islam 101 pamphlet with notes on Western decadence and accomplishments stashed inside. Nasr is a good writer and a needed voice in the Western world, but this particular book was a waste of time.

[S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is great about this guide, is that it doesn't get involved in the dos and donts as much as it tries to encapsulate the whole of Islamic revelation, thought, history... One is beautifully reminded of the achievements of the Umma in the light of the revelation. The book has three major parts, the first concernz the concise minimum knowledge that a young Muslim should presumably apprehend jurisprudence schools madhahib, or kalam schools achaarites, muatazilites... The second is dedicated to an bjective depiction of the modern world, from its roots and the evolution of the western civilization, including social, intellectual, educational even regarding the western lifestyle. (A brief exposé of each 'great ' philosopher of the western civilization) The last part consists of the author's suggestion to a better understanding of the modern world, in the light of the Islamic revelation.
Despite the unbearable pitfalls of the post modern era, the author remains positive about a possible change and amelioration of humanity's current state. SHN urges muslim scholars to get to know Western civilization, and deepen the superficial knowledge that we have of that civilization.

[Motahareh Nabavi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm finally beginning to understand why I have such a hard time grasping Nasr - it's because of the Traditionalist lens through which he views the world, which I will be reading critiques of to understand better.

[Amirreza · Rating 1 out of 5]

اول از همه این که عنوان کتاب به نظرم غلط اندازه
چون چهارده فصل نخست کتاب به تعریف جنبه های مختلف اسلام مثل قرآن و سنت و معرفی جنبه های مختلف فرهنگ و تاریخ غرب پرداخته و غیر از توصیف راهنمایی خاصی نکرده. برای هر کدوم از این موضوعات هم کتاب های بسیار بهتری پیدا میشه . جدای از این، جوان مسلمان این اطلاعات پایه ای رو به احتمال زیاد از قبل می‌دونه. بیشتر به درد جوان سکولاری می‌خوره که نسبت به اسلام کنجکاوه
فصل آخر کتاب که تازه به عنوان کتاب می پردازه فقط چهار تا مثلا راهکار ارائه داده:
١- علمای اسلام باید برای انتقاد ها و شبهات پاسخ بدن
٢- جوانان مسلمان باید این پاسخ ها رو بخونن!!
٣- جوانان مسلمان باید تا حد ممکن در برابر سبک زندگی غربی مقاومت کنند
۴- جوان مسلمان باید به میراث هنری اسلامی توجه کند
کل کتاب رو براتون خلاصه کردم!

[Mohammed Irfan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Someplace I turned to to clear some of my confusions. I left out more confused

[Suad Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was important -- It could not have come at a better time in my life.

[Wayfarer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This particular book is neither a 4 star nor a 5 star-rating, but rather in-between, let's say a 4.5-stars.

This book presents an overview and takes a thematic look at various aspects of traditional Islamic culture and the Modern West. The book needs to be further refined in light of recent changes and thus retaining it's utility. This book is recommended for most lay-persons, as it gives a good overview, raises many questions and possibly highlight gaps in ones knowledge - this is not meant to be a one-stop guide; rather it invites the reader to begin his or her own journey to understand both Islam and the West in a more profound and meaningful way. The key to charting a successful course in today's world is in going back to the traditional sources and heritage of Islam, to understand Islam and this Heritage for what it truly is, and to use this 'light' to navigate the tumultuous oceans of the modern world. Ultimately, Muslims on an individual level and in society, need to begin by reviving their Intellectual traditions. To put it simply, they need to go and find the old vestiges of this knowledge, the repositories - seeking the old wise sages before they expire away by way of death and thus the keys to this knowledge are forever lost.

[Afiq Fadhli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aku beli buku ini sebab aku tertarik dengan tajuknya. Buku ini ada 2 bahagian. Bahagian pertama menceritakan secara surface tentang Islam seperti tentang tauhid, kenabian, Islam-Iman-Ihsan, al quran dan hadis etc. Dalam bahagian ini juga ada diceritakan tentang islamic science, falsafah, kesusateraan dan seni.

Dalam bahagian 2 pula berkenaan dengan dunia moden. Antara isinya tentang agama di barat, falsafah barat (diceritakan tentang tokohnya secara sepintas lalu seperti Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, Rene Descartes etc), sains dan teknologi, kesusateraan dan kehidupan moden.

Dalam epilogue, diceritakan bagaimana untuk young muslim menghadapi dunia moden ini. Buku ini lebih kepada panduan untuk orang muda yang tinggal bukan di negara Islam. Sebab persekitarannya sudah tentu berbeza dengan negara yang majoritinya Muslim.

Harapnya lepas baca buku ini dan tahu sikit2 tentang modern world, bolehlah aku habiskan baca balik Risalah Untuk Kaum Muslimin yang tergendala sejak setahun lebih. Sebab aku suka penerangan tentang barat yang diceritakan dalam buku ini. Penulis dapat menjelaskan dengan bahasa yang lebih mudah difahami (bagi aku).

[sidana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Batı ile Dogu arasındaki felsefi,sanat,politik,vb konularda karşılaştırma yapılmış güzel bir kitap.Genelde çok kapsamlı konular olduğu için özetlenerek 300 sayfalık bir kitapta toplamış..

"Bütün Ademoğulları tek bir bedenin azları gibidir,
Çünkü onlar tek bir cevherden yaratılmıştır.
Bu bedenin bir azası acı çekerse,
Diğer bütün azalar da sırf bu yüzden acı çekerler."

Sunni olsun,Şii olsun tüm müslümanlarca kabul edilen tek bir metin vardır"

"İnsanları Allah'a davet eden Allah'ın dininin varolmadığı bir yer ve zaman hiçbir zaman olmamıştır"

"iSLAM'DA sorumluluk verilmeden özgürlük sözkonusu değildir..."

"Modern Batı'nın İslam'ın fikhi kurum ve uygulamaları üzerindeki yıkıcı etkisi Moğol istilasının etkisinden bile büyük olmuştur"
"Söyleyene değil,söylenen bakınız.Hz.Ali'ye atfen

"İslam'ın bir din ve hayat tarzı olmaktan çıkarılıp bir ideolojiye dönüştürülmesi hadisesi sadece ihyacı hareketler arasında değil, bazı modernist hareketler arasında da görülmektedir."

"Batılı bilim, alemi Allah'tan ve yüksek varlık düzeylerden bağımsız bir varlık olarak gören anlayışa sahiptir."

[مريم · Rating 5 out of 5]

دائما كان لدي شعور بعدم الترابط ، وبأني لا أستطيع أن ألملم عقد الرؤى اللتي يطرحها أحدهم ويطرح غيرها الآخر ،وأن كل فكرة تتمركز حول نفسها ليس فقط غير مكترثة بالأوجه الأخرى للحياة بل عاجزة عن التعرف إليها ناهيك عن الإعتراف بها ،حتى قرأت ( الإسلام بين الشرق والغرب) وكان بالنسبة لي كما يقول محمد عبد الباري : " خاتمة لفاتحة الطريق" طريق واحد شديد الاتساع يتكامل مع بعضه رأسيا وأفقيا بدلا من أن يمنح لكل فكر صراطًا .
هذا الكتاب دليل مهم على الطريق لا يسع السالك المسلم في هذا العصر إهماله منظومة كتبها حسين نصر بلغة سلسة متبعا الإرشاد لا التلقين كما يليق بالدليل ،بدلا من طرح الأبعاد وترك النظر
السهل المهم الممتنع / ينصح به بشدة
* هل في ترجمه للعربية ؟!

[Aiman Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Mudha" is a Sanskrit word which means confused. I discover the word from Julius Evola's Yoga of Power and other books about Indian tradition. In Bahasa, they use "muda" to define youngsters. Now I can't help to feel that it's a derogatory term. It's not only the youngsters are confused, the 40s and 50s are pretty much the same too. Perhaps the latter are more "mudha" than the former. They are not aware the deeply embedded Hindu-Buddhist heritages in their culture inherited from their great ancestors. They are not that aware also with the Islamic tradition that they acquire now.

Even though Prof SH. nasr addresses the book to the young Muslims, which I have in mind the teenagers and young adults, let's brace it, even majority of those uncles in their 40s and 50s are not much different than the youngsters in terms of their Islamic worldview.

For a Muslim reader who does not pledge allegiance to any particular sect in the Islamic tradition, this book is like a headlamp when you're wandering in the darkness of confusing woods of ideas.

In the first part of the book, Prof. Nasr begins by introducing the reader with several topics dedicated as an historical overview to the detailed Islamic sciences. This provides the young Muslim reader with their Islamic consciousness. If my memory still serves me, there are historical background to the Islamic theology, spirituality, economy, etc. Initially this part was not interesting to me as I have some exposure in the traditional Islamic education including the theology and Sufism. Later when I read it, there were intellectual blind spots on my part that I didn't realize. It doesn't hurt to be humble in learning.

In the second part of the book, the author provides an historical overview of the Western civilization. This was the part that enticed me the most. At that time I was deeply attached with Western philosophers. So the snippets about towering figures of Western philosophers - like St. Thomas Aquinas, John Stuart Mill, Nietzsche, and others - really stimulated my mind. Now I'm no longer impressed with Western philosophers. On hindsight, they gave rise to the birth of secularism with its many offshoots like capitalism, liberalism, individualism, etc. These isms gave rise to the modern Western civilization. Since then humans began to exploit nature ferociously in the name of "growth". It happened before, but the modern civilization increased the rate exponentially. OK stop ranting.

In the last part of the book, Prof. Nasr provides sketches of blueprint for the Muslims on how to survive in this (post)modern world. There's no concrete plan. We have to discover it by ourselves. Having the right tools at disposal will be helpful for young Muslims to traverse the world. What are the tools? The Islamic worldview derived from thousands of years worth tradition (covered in part 1) and the predominant current worldview in (post)modern civilization (covered in part 2).

Somewhere along the lines Prof Nasr indicates the necessity to ally with other living classical traditions like Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. This is what I like Prof Nasr the most i.e. his openness to other traditions. In Malaysia we have a great Islamic philosopher too, perhaps you have heard of Prof. Syed Naquib Al-Attas. Read "Islam and Secularism", followed by "Prolegomena to the Metaphysics of Islam" and you'll be stunned. But Prof Al-Attas is not that open to other traditions, there's a hint of Islamic supremacy tone in his writing. There's nothing wrong to have special affinity for one's tradition but we have to acknowledge that we have utilized the Greek philosophy to elucidate our Deen. His disciples might disagree with me, but I would like to define "Malay" more broadly i.e. covering the pre-Islamic period as well. I always bring this example of the transcendent theosophy of the Persian Sufi philosopher, Mulla Sadra, which is a great synthesis of Islamic Sufism and the esoteric teaching of Zoroastrianism. Even Prof Al-Attas talks about that in Prolegomena. Now why don't we have our own homegrown acculturation from our ancestors' Hindu-Buddha traditions? That question leads me to personal voyage in the realm of Hindu shastras and Buddhist sutras.

And Allah knows best.

[Fae · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this cover to cover because I personally found it really important for me to know, but I likely wouldn't recommend most people do the same. Though I love Nasr, it genuinely felt like he scribbled these chapters down as notes between office hours, or for recreation while eating breakfast or something. It was kind of unorganized and basically a litany of different ideas (like philosophy in Islamic world, philosophy in the West, then how to respond to that, but extended to most fields, like literature, theology, art, etc). Obviously, I loved that this gave young Muslims an important orientation to center themselves and their Islam as the core part of an infiltrated worldview, but because its so categorically written, it lacks a larger argument and doesn't lead up to something significant. It's not very creatively written, and therefore reads more like an encyclopedia or reference book of ideas.

That being said, I did find it really important for me to read at this particular time, and I certainly wouldn't have finished it otherwise. Onto the next Nasr book for me!

[Uzma · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book did for me what I wanted to get out of it in terms of content but I wish the tone wasn’t as preachy as it was. specially towards the last chapters. I liked the comprehensive overview of evolution of thought in the western world. The Islamic history was more or less known. He did provide a really good coverage of both histories and is an amazing scholar. I was expecting a neutral tone after reading his “Islam in the Modern World” and his very detailed yet subtle analysis of how the spirit and rich tradition of Islam is lost in the conflict between modernism and fundamentalism.

But this book being an older title is probably weaker in that respect. It has a ring of a typical stance from teachers which ends up making people distanced from one of the two sides without attaining a balance.

Still a recommended read. Wish it was readable by more audience.

[Anam Azam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every few decades, the fashion trends and criteria for judgment that originate from the West change. Thus, the best and only option left for young Muslims is to hold firmly to the universal message of Islam.

[Talal Alali · Rating 5 out of 5]

So insightful

[Mohammad Mollanoori · Rating 3 out of 5]

مهمترین چیزی که به نظرم میرسه این کتاب مطرح میکنه، اهمیت هنر و زندگی است در این مواجهه.

[Yahia L · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The task of providing such a guide is made difficult not only by the complexity and chaos that characterizes the modern world, but also by the fact that parallel with the domination of the Muslim world by the West, Muslims have come to forget many aspects of their own religious teachings."

This quote taken from the introduction is exactly what Seyyid Nasr does in this guide for Muslim youth. The first part of the book deals with fleshing out the basics of Islamic teachings and Islamic sciences and impact on other sciences in a discursive manner. The second part deals with the Modern world which I found to be the most important to the narrative of the text. Nasr seems to setup the West as almost an imposing and alien force to Islam. I found this as an American to be the wrong framework. The West can't be an alien force since the Muslims here are by definition western and Islam has been in America since it's foundation. This continues through the next couple parts of the book eventually leading to the conclusion which seemed more like a polemic speech rather than a guide for young Muslim people to learn how to fit in the modern world.

[MM · Rating 3 out of 5]

A useful, if at times repetitive, book. Part I addressed the message of Islam and Part II the nature of modernism. Part II I found particularly helpful as a quick guide with some insights, and some of the issues he mentions I will have to research further. Unfortunately, Part III, A Muslim's Response, of the most relevance to me, is around 7 pages and basically "Look into your own intellectual tradition". In a book dealing with a mindset which relativizes worldviews (perhaps hypocritically), I was hoping for something that would perhaps 'unrelativize' the Islamic worldview. To be fair, though, it is written for a Muslim audience.

As a starting point for further research, it is certainly beneficial, and I enjoyed his summary of the most influential Western philosophers' positions. However, I did not find in the criticisms of the modern world enough reason to consider Islam an inevitable Truth (with a capital T, as Dr Nasr writes it), and I am not sure why anything Islamic scholars did post-Righteous Caliphs' period is considered part of "Islam" itself and not just history unfolding itself in a blossoming empire.

As the title says, it's for a Young Muslim, so if you already know about Islam and modernism, it's really not for you.

[Hailane Salam · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a book that provides a fresh perspective on the intersection of Islam and the modern world, "A Young Muslim's Guide to the Modern World" by Seyyed Hossein Nasr is a must-read. Although it was published quite some time ago, the issues and challenges addressed in this book are just as relevant today. Nasr's insights into topics like technology, education, and globalization are both thought-provoking and engaging, and his writing style is accessible to readers of all levels. Whether you're a young Muslim looking to make sense of the world around you, or simply interested in learning more about Islam and its relationship to contemporary issues, this book is sure to enlighten and inspire you.

[Mahmoud Haggui]

Well, among all the arts of Islam, the art of chanting of the Noble Quran is the most important and central. So to be clear, I think the Quran has come to be considered as the Divine Words, Hence it had a great impact and influence over the Arabic language itself. the Quran revelation had made Arabic the appropriate vehicle for this mission. Furthermore, on can ask, Didn't the Arabs write any piece of literature before the Islamic Era? No, According to Taha Hussien, (Al Amid) "The Major or the greatest Scholar" the Pre-Islamic era which is falsely known as " the age of ignorance" ( Al-Jahiliyyah) had so many amazing poets. Moreover, the impact of Quran was so obvious in a literary masterpiece of " the peak of Eloquence" ( NAhj Al-Balagha) for Imam Ali.

[Dina Kaidir · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was approached to teach a private class to a young college student, whose wish to deepen her understanding of Islam, I found most admirable and was instrumental in leading me to agreeing to study this book with her.

We had our third session today and I introduced this book to her. Her mother, a personal friend, enjoyed the lesson too :)

Al-hamdu li'Llah.

"In a sense,...Islam is the religion which came to bring nothing new but to reassert the truth of tawhid which always was." ~SHN~