The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences Vol. 6, No. 2, 1989 339 

Book Review 

Reconstruction of Culture and Islam 

by Prof Mohammad Taqi Amini, (author); Z. A. Usmani (Translator); 
!Ahore: Siddiqe-e-Akbar Academy, Sole Distributors; Amjad Academy, 
40, Urdu Bazar, Lahore, 270 pp. 

Mohammad Taqi Amini is an erudite religious scholar and profound 
think.er. He possesses an inquisitive mind which refuses to accept things at 
their face value. He sets out to prove that the reconstruction of Islamic civiliza­
tion aims at striking a balance between the physical and the spiritual forces 
inherent in men. He attempts an outline of the scheme of cultural reconstruc­
tion. Also, he mentions the effects and implications of Western civilization 
on modern life and evaluates the impact of two conflicting ideologies. 

The author believes that for the manifestation of faith and the construc­
tion of culture, the necessary good deeds are not mere rituals or outward 
signs of virtue. Good deeds, on the other hand, comprehend both the inner 
and outward facets of life and they comprehend the whole being of man. 
The inner life however, comes first; for without it a healthy community can­
not come into existence, nor can man's use of nature yield any common benefit. 

The author reveals that in the framework of Western civilization 
materialism dominates, and materialism recognizes reason as the only source 
of knowledge. But according to the Islamic concept of cultural reconstruc­
tion, the spiritual dimension is the basis of everything and which recognizes 
the combined guidance of reason, heart and revelation for the acquisition 
of knowledge. In all spheres of life such a wholesome and all pervasive guidance 
is needed. The guidance of one faculty is not enough. 

In Western culture, the essential nature of man is regarded as animalistic 
and therefore the nature of character is determined in terms of material power 
and worldly gains. Only those qualities are valuable which have a direct bearing 
on worldly gains and material power. For example, in business, punctuality, 
patriotism, social sense, and natural interests are the criteria. On the other 
hand, qualities which do not have any bearing on worldly gains are not valued. 
Rather, violation of these qualities is considered a merit. Qualities like modesty, 
chastity, affection, mutual friendship and love, caring for the family, generosity 
of heart, soft-heartedness, sincerity, humanity, and consideration for the rights 
of others have no value for a Western mind. 

The Islamic scheme of cultural reconstruction, on the other hand, is 
based on a Divine view of life. This view divides life into material and non­
material and insists that both are necessary for the perfection of humanity. 



340 The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences Vol. 6, No. 2, 1989 

For this reason, in the economic system of the Islamic scheme both these 
factors are considered essential. Total reliance on the guidance of reason 
is not considered sufficient. 

The author envisages that through education, the proper moral climate 
will be created and maintained and a mutual correspondence established be­
tween law and moral sense. Without such a correspondence no human organiza­
tion can work to any desirable ends. If, through a mere change of the state 
organization, the solution of the economic problem of the society is achiev­
ed, the other psychological and social problems will emerge, in the absence 
of moral reform in all their disturbing entities, and there will be almost no 
real solution for them. 

In the end, the author remarks that in the Islamic scheme of Cultural 
Reconstruction, rights and duties have been determined properly from both 
sides. If these rights and duties are properly observed, the problems of the 
government and the people can easily be solved and a chaotic situation, like 
the one that prevails now, can be prevented. 

Ghulam Sarwar 
Rawalpindi, Pakistan