There is no clarity, as though is the case with many other important figures in history, on parts of Al-Afghani’s biography. Time and again he has been accused of tendency towards Shiaism and Freemasonry. Notwithstanding that, he is still popular among a strata of political schools in the Middle East and other parts of the Islamic world: the Islamic Brotherhood, modernists, to some extent nationalists, as well as Shia revolutionaries.
However, he is unpopular among some Sufis. Also, parts of the Islamic orthodoxy, including the Salafi movement, are critical of Al-Afghani. This though some orientalists still tend to view Al-Afghani as the vanguard of Salafi thought which is mistaken. For example, according to Al-Afghani, one of the prime cause of the Muslim world’s demise is its negligence in the utilization of rationalism. By contrast, a major current of the Salafi discourse is that the demise of the Muslim world is primarily connected to its negligence in the correct understanding (plus subsequential application) of the primary (textual) sources of Islam.
The following text is a harsh critique of the Easterners. Unfortunately, one cannot deduce from it whether Al-Afghani means the Eastern political elites and rulers when using the term “Easterners” or -categorically -all “Easterners”. He could be using this term even in a more restricted fashion, i.e. only applying it to the Muslim world’s rulers. Not being specialist on Al-Afghani, these questions shall be left to those who are privy to his works. The title of the text leads one to dedce that Al-Afghanis Weltanschauung was marked by an West-East dichotomy. But this too is still speculative and maybe a fruitful field of discussion or even study to the specialists on Al-Afghanis philosophy.
The following text was translated into Pashto from Urdu by Muhsin Amin and has been published by different Afghan media outlets, including Tariq Bazgar’s DAWAT magazine 2008 online edition. Muhsin Amin states that his translation is based on the text which appeared in Urdu-language writer Shaahid Hussein Razzaqi’s book: “Sayyid Jamal Ad-Deen Al-Afghani, May God’s mercy be upon him. Life & Thought”. This English translation, which was undertaken merely for academic purpose, though innitiated by the request of an acquaintance, is, thus, based on Muhsin Amin’s translation of the Urdu. Therefore, the following text is a translation’s translation, and in consequence to be treated with certain academic foresight.
The causes of the East’s fall from its lofty position into an abyss of humiliation, the prevalence of poverty and hunger among its people, the emergence of
indignity and abasement, and being subjected to invasions of foreign nations lie in the Easterners having lost the light of reason by not appyling it as well as
having morally degraded.
Hence it comes as no surprise when they choose a beastly life. They do not pay attention to what concerns them, nor do they seriously contemplate on it. They
do not avoid evil and mischief in their actions, and have not learned to exert effort for their own expedience and how to save themselves from loss.
Dormancy has overcome their minds; their outlooks and opinions have become unservicable for the reform of themselves. Their eyes are unable to grasp the
humiliations which have overwhelmed their habitat and restricted it. They fall into precicipes of elimination and plight on account of of their own handiwork.
Deviant imaginations have led them to the darkness of the world of desire and lust. It is these imaginations and doubts which they follow besides being led by a
corrupted nature.
They will not sense pain unless calamity strikes their bodies. Once
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