European civilisation developed in a mostly seamless and homogeneous manner, without major tremors cutting off one generation from the traditions of those preceding it. While there were three notable exceptions in the continent's political and social history, namely, the French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution and the Bolshevik Revolution, the fruits of its intellectual and scientific development followed one another calmly and methodically, each complementing the other and building on what was already there.

And so the ox-drawn cart made way for the horse-drawn carriage, and the latter was replaced by the steam engine, followed by the car and then the plane. These appeared at intervals without making sudden breaks with traditions or causing violent tremors that destroyed existing lifestyles. Similarly, philosophical thought evolved gradually, connecting Greek philosophers, the Scholastics, Thomas Aquinas, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Hegel, Husserl and the Existentialists. Each read the output of his predecessors, added to it, modified it or corrected their mistakes, using the same or similar terminology. Ordinary readers did not struggle or feel any shock as they moved from Plato to Sartre, or from Wittgenstein to St Augustine.

Nevertheless, and despite the fact that all the constitutional, political, social and economic institutions and systems in Europe gradually crystallised out of existing needs and circumstances, over the course of history there were always certain people who were incapable of adapting, or who rejected the new values, because they left them confused or anxious, or powerless to keep up. Some of these people found a solution to their problem either with a priest in the village, or a psychiatrist in the city, or through socialising or by finding among the multitude of political parties available one whose principles agreed with their own. Others, who could not cope with the fast pace of change, resorted to tranquillisers, alcohol, drugs or violence.

From the Camel to the Plane

If this was the case for large numbers in the West, where evolution took place at a relatively calm, naturally sequenced pace, what of Islamic societies, where we can say without much exaggeration that their members were catapulted, almost instantaneously, from riding a camel to riding in cars and planes?