Intellectual Crisis Impeding Muslim Ummah's Progress

Prof. Bashir Galadanci, a regional coordinator at the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) in West Africa, has highlighted an intellectual crisis as a fundamental issue hindering the progress of the Muslim Ummah.

Speaking at an academic course organized by IIIT in Central Nigeria, he noted that the perceived political, economic, and social decline within Muslim societies reflects deeper structural weaknesses in their knowledge systems. Galadanci described the dualism between secular and religious education as a major obstacle to development, creating a divided leadership class that struggles to understand the modern world.

He pointed out the disconnect between religious scholars and contemporary realities, which stalls progress. To address these challenges, he proposed the integration of knowledge through the "Integrate Knowledge" initiative, which aims to harmonize Islamic knowledge with modern scientific disciplines.

Established in 1981, IIIT promotes reform to reshape knowledge production in Muslim societies, urging academic policymakers to pursue research-driven reforms to tackle the root causes of the Ummah's challenges.