ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the Islamic anti-rationalistic fideism by looking at its contemporary defenders. It looks at the writings of two well-known Muslim thinkers of the 20th century, Sayyid Abu A'la Maududi and Sayyid Qutb. Maududi and Qutb are primarily recognized as the principal figures of 'Islamism' and Islamic fundamentalism; both advocated a radical view that it is every Muslim's duty to the work towards establishing Islam as a global political entity. Maududi begins his critical piece on rationalism by quoting at the length from an article written by an unnamed Muslim graduate who provides an account of his tour of China and Japan. He provides several quotes where the graduate questions various Islamic injunctions and doctrines. Qutb's articulation and defense of his conception of the Islamic worldview in this work contains an explicit criticism and rejection of the philosophical sciences.
