Ali Engineer, Asghar2019-09-252019-09-252012-01-12http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12424/182624"Sir Syed whose birth day falls on 17th October was one such great social reformer. He never touched on any religious doctrine but wanted Muslims to go for modern secular education so that gates of modern knowledge which was mostly available in English, could be opened to them. The Ulama opposed his movement for modern education and founding an institution of modern learning and issued fatwas against him and dubbed him as ‘kafir’, ‘Christan’ and ‘Yahudi’. One of them even traveled to Mecca and obtained a fatwa for his killing. The question arises why such fierce opposition to social reforms which was, after all, for betterment of Muslim community in India. It was certainly not religious belief alone. Opposition to social reforms emanates from host of complex factors. Firstly, change is always feared as it brings uncertainty and unknown consequences, especially on part of those who do not benefit from change. And apart from theologians and community leaders, it is feared by the masses who have not experienced any change and have lived in ignorance and superstitious beliefs."(PG 1)engWith permission of the license/copyright holderIslamic ethicssocial ethicssocial reformPolitical ethicsReligious ethicsSpirituality and ethicsPreprint