It is at this stage that the people with a distinctive ideology need to opt for a judicious mix of loyalty and competence. Loyalty to keep track of ideology and competence to maintain viability. Losing sight of loyalty could render one the slave of institutions. And pursuit of mere puritanical objective may smother the growth of institutions itself. Both courses are disastrous.
Examples abound in our surroundings.
Madrassas made themselves irrelevant to the modern life because of their stubborn adherence to the traditions and overstress on spiritual content while modern institutions produce few conscientious Muslim professionals. Darul Uloom Deoband gave rise to thousands of madrassas in India, but contributes almost nothing to the social and economic well-being of the Indian Muslims. The Aligarh Muslim University produced lakhs of graduates but most of them are self-centred professionals who hardly share the Sir Syed s zeal for promotion of modern education among Muslims. Similarly, if Muslim owned media turns green, it needs no enemies. And if it moves to the other extreme of copying others in churning filth and vulgarities, such media can hardly make any difference in the lives of the Ummah.