Dear Brothers & Sisters,
The topic is good as it talks about a thing which our minds usually get confused about. Brother Lion-of-Desert already clarified the difference between westernization and modernization I would like to add just a few more things.
Everything Western is not necessarily modern and everything modern is not necessarily western. For example, there is nothing modern about drinking alcohol or dating or having pre-marital sex, these are rather some of the diseases, which the western societies are gripped by with disturbing consequences (and unfortunately, the same things are now being blindly followed by our own societies, thinking it to be modern and cool).
There are institutions and systems in the West which are based on fair and just principles, or universal principles, because of which their societies have progressed. Due to progress they have advanced in many areas of life, especially in science and technology, through which they created facilities that helped them become more and more productive thus helping able to contribute in further advancement their country. If that is what we call “Modern”, then this is not because of the West but because of the Universal Principles, which any society may apply and become advanced.
Islam is all about Universal Principles and therefore Islam is the basis for any society to become Modern or advanced just as the Muslim World was (modern) before the Western World started adopting those same principles (which the Muslims did previously). But unlike the Muslims, the Western world monopolized their advancement therefore (in an unfair manner) keeping itself ahead of other societies.
However, as far as cultures are concerned, it is natural for a culture to make its place in a society or in the world at large if it enjoys a great influence over the others, just as the American or Western culture is doing today (whether by force or by influence, due to its technologically/materialistically superior position in the world which is reflected through all sorts of media).
We have to be careful whenever it comes to choosing between a cultural value and Islamic principle, because culture is about a person’s identity but Islam is about life.
I apologize for any mistakes as I did not re-check what I wrote due to shortage of time. Hope I will come back to hear the views of my brothers and sisters and sorry for not being around for quite sometime.
With best regards and wishes,
Abdullah
