Islam Rediscovered
16. Islam Stands the Test of History
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16. ISLAM STANDS THE TEST OF
HISTORY
Islam claims to be an eternal religion. Any claim of
this kind invites people to judge its validity on
historical grounds. If latter day history testifies to its
claim, it stands endorsed, otherwise it must be
rejected. Marxism in the 20th century is a clear-cut
example of historical rejection. According to his
concept of historical determinism, Karl Marx held
that modern industrial capitalism bore within it the
seeds of its own destruction. He further observed
that according to its own inherent laws its antithesis
would emerge which would destroy it. Whereupon
a new synthesis would come into being. But, quite
contrary to his prediction, industrial capitalism has
not only survived, but is making great progress.
Historical events have thus buried Marxist theory.
Then there is the case of Adolph Hitler who made
grandiose claims that Germans were the “master
race” and were destined to rule all Europe. The rout
of Hitler and his Nazi party at the end of World
War II put paid to all such theorizing.
