Islam and the World

Syed Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi, Asif Kidwai

• Publisher: Nadwi Press
• Year: 2025
• eBook ISBN: 9789366087290
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Islamic Theology

A Landmark Work in Islamic Intellectual History

*Islam and the World* stands as one of the most penetrating analyses of Islamic civilization and its role in human history ever written. Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi, one of the twentieth century's most influential Islamic scholars, presents a compelling examination of how the rise and decline of Muslim civilization has shaped the destiny of humanity itself.

What makes this work essential reading:

A Masterful Historical Analysis – Nadwi meticulously reconstructs the world before Islam, examining the moral, spiritual, and social darkness that characterized the sixth century across Roman, Persian, Indian, and Chinese civilizations. Drawing on both Islamic and non-Islamic sources, he demonstrates how humanity had reached a critical juncture where existing religions had lost their vitality and societies were plagued by tyranny, materialism, and spiritual emptiness.

The Islamic Transformation – The book brilliantly illuminates how Islam revolutionized human civilization, establishing principles of justice, knowledge, human dignity, and social responsibility. Nadwi shows how the early Muslim community created a balanced civilization that honored both material progress and spiritual development, leading humanity from darkness to enlightenment.

Understanding Muslim Decline – With scholarly objectivity, the author analyzes the causes and consequences of Muslim civilizational decline, explaining how the gradual departure from Islamic principles led to the loss of moral and intellectual leadership that had once guided the world.

Western Civilization's Impact – In what translator M. Asif Kidwai describes as the "core" of the work, Chapters V and VI present a bold challenge to Western modernity. Nadwi argues that despite tremendous scientific and technological achievements, Western leadership has produced a civilization characterized by materialism, spiritual despair, and moral bankruptcy—creating new forms of darkness even as it claims to bring enlightenment.

A Vision for Renewal – Far from pessimistic, *Islam and the World* offers a compelling vision for Islamic revival and humanity's redemption. Nadwi calls Muslims to rediscover their faith's transformative power and shoulder once again the responsibility of moral and spiritual leadership for all humanity.

Why This Translation Matters:

M. Asif Kidwai's translation has made this Arabic masterpiece accessible to English readers worldwide. His thoughtful rendering captures the power and eloquence of Nadwi's prose while maintaining scholarly precision. The translator's own extensive foreword provides valuable context about the work's significance and its message for contemporary Muslims.

Scholarly Yet Accessible – Written with remarkable clarity and supported by extensive documentation from both Muslim and non-Muslim historians, this work appeals equally to scholars, students, and general readers seeking to understand Islam's historical role and contemporary relevance.

For Readers Who Want:
- Deep historical understanding of pre-Islamic civilizations and Islam's transformative impact
- Critical analysis of Western modernity from an Islamic intellectual perspective 
- Authentic Islamic scholarship that engages seriously with world history and philosophy
- Inspiration to reconnect with Islam's mission of human upliftment and social justice
- Comprehensive documentation drawing on classical and modern sources

A Book That Challenges and Transforms:

*Islam and the World* does not merely chronicle history—it interprets it through the lens of Divine guidance and human responsibility. Nadwi demonstrates that the decline of Muslims was not simply a change in political power but a tragedy for all humanity, depriving the world of a civilization that balanced material progress with spiritual development.

This work has inspired generations of Muslims to understand their faith not merely as personal belief but as a comprehensive vision for human civilization. It remains urgently relevant as humanity continues to grapple with the spiritual emptiness and moral confusion that characterize modern life.

Essential Reading for:
- Students and scholars of Islamic history, civilization, and thought
- Anyone seeking to understand Islam's worldview and its vision for humanity 
- Readers interested in comparative civilization studies
- Those exploring alternatives to secular materialism
- Muslim youth seeking authentic connection to their intellectual heritage

*Islam and the World* is more than a book—it is a summons to Muslims to reclaim their civilizational mission and an invitation to all humanity to rediscover the principles that can lead from darkness to light.

Table of contents

• Foreword to the Arabic edition
• Translator’s note
• PREFACE
• Chapter One: Before the advent of the Prophet Muhammad
• Chapter Two: Advent of the prophet
• Chapter Three: The Era of Muslim glory
• Chapter Four: Muslim Decadence
• Chapter five: The rise of the west and its consequences
• Chapter Six: The real loss of mankind under western domination
• Chapter Seven: The world of Islam in the field of action
• Chapter Eight: The leadership of the Arab world