proposal

En(countering)Globalization: Religion in the Contemporary World

Asia Association for Global Studies

Chung Cheng National University

13-14 March 2010

Taipei, Taiwan

Globalization Can Enhance Islamic Identity

A proposal by

Mazin S. Motabagani,

Associate Professor Orientalistics

Faculty of Education, Department of

Islamic Studies

King Saud University, Riyadh

Once the notion “globalization” became wide spread and discussed widely by intellectual circles, the idea of the national identity being in danger was one of the main themes of discussion.

 But in Islam even though such fear and apprehension exists, the basics for maintaining and protecting the Islamic identity are firmly established in the scriptures of Islam (Qur'an a Sunnah), and the first generations of Muslims who were firm in adhering to Islam. Not only that but Islam has taken great advantage of globalization particularly in the field of communications which I believe provided unlimited means for Muslims to learn about Islam. It also provides a great platform for Muslims to communicate with each other through the internet: e-mails, chatting, forums, blogs and many other means. It also provided the Scholars of religion great opportunities to spread the teaching and tenets of Islam. Communication also helped Muslims to learn about the basic principles governing the way a Muslim identify himself. What are the basic characters a Muslim must possess in order to be a Muslim.

This paper will try to search the into the great achievements of age of globalization plus some of the negative effects. However, more importantly how Islamic Identity was able to not only survive the challenges of Globalization but also how to take advantages of globalization in the field of communication and strengthen Islamic identity and spread the knowledge about Islam.