An intellectual review of Maryam Jamila’s views in Islam and Modernism

Abstract

Modernism emerged in the West after the Renaissance and Enlightenment, promoting reason, science, and material progress while distancing society from religion. Over time, this ideology influenced Muslim societies, leading some thinkers to reinterpret Islam according to Western standards.

Against this trend stood Maryam Jamila, a powerful and independent Muslim voice. Born Margaret Marcus into a Jewish family in New York, she later embraced Islam and migrated to Pakistan to defend her adopted faith. This article presents a critical study of her influential book Islam and Modernism. It explores her intellectual journey and examines her strong critique of Western materialism and Muslim modernist reformers whom she believed were weakening the foundations of Islam.

The study highlights her central argument that Islam and modernism represent two opposing worldviews and cannot be reconciled. Her work remains highly relevant today, as Muslims continue to face challenges related to identity, faith, and cultural influence in the modern world.