The Possibility of Civilizational Becoming in the State of Istiz'af

Civilization is the largest system of human relations, which is realized at the global level. Now, can the oppressed decide to be civilized in a state of Istiz'af (weakness) and start the civilizational process? This is the major question in this article, in which different meanings of weakness are mentioned and then "considering people as weak" is separated from "weakening". In this view, weakness and considering people as weak are the work of the arrogant (will to impose) and weakening results from the act of the oppressed (in the will to obedience and submission) and there is no logical connection between these two. One can be oppressed but not weak, just as one can be arrogant but not strong. After explaining the nature of weakness, the origin of weakness, and the ways of weakness (such as inferiority), the types of weakness are also introduced. Among the types of weakness, in addition to intellectual weakness, economic weakness, and social weakness, emphasis is placed on "weakness in faith and righteous deed" as one of the serious and hidden elements in the civilizational process of Muslims. Finally, the issue of civilizational weakness is defined as a comprehensive weakness that includes all types of weakness, including weakness in faith and righteous deed and the level of facing this level of weakness is also resistance and standing on a comprehensive and inclusive level (civilizational resistance).