Islam Aur Ahya-e-Islam: Revival of Islam

In each successive era, there has been a tendency for individuals to revert to the tenets of their religious traditions and the original teachings of their faiths. For example, in India, Swami Dayanand Sarasvati advanced the slogan "Back to Vedas." In conclusion, the evolutionary history of religions demonstrates that in every religion, there have been instances of religious revival. These have manifested in various forms, including reformist, renewalist, and even militant efforts. These have been made either to create space for new changes within the respective religion or to reinvigorate old traditions, with the aim of providing a declining, outdated, and decrepit society with a new lease on life. Nevertheless, it is pertinent to inquire whether this aspiration has ever been actualized.

With regard to the revival of Islam, the existing Urdu literature on the subject is largely narrative in style, written with a sense of devotion and dedication. However, the tone is defensive in response to critics and tends to be apologetic. To date, few have addressed this subject in a purely objective, analytical, and critical manner. Consequently, the style of some of the articles may appear unfamiliar to Urdu readers. However, all such writings are based on information and interpretation, sometimes embellished with allusions and sometimes with explicit references.