Abdessalam Yassine. (2000). Winning the Modern World for Islam. Translated from French by Martin Jenni. Iowa, USA: Justice and Spirituality Publishing, Inc. 172 pages. [ISBN 0-9675795-0-3]

Abstract

This book review examines Abdessalam Yassine’s work, Winning the Modern World for Islam, highlighting its central argument that Muslims should engage with modernity critically rather than reject it outright. Rooted in justice, spirituality, and ethical governance, Yassine advocates the “Islamization of modernity” by selectively adopting scientific, technological, and democratic advances while resisting the secular and materialist assumptions underlying Western modernity. The review elucidates the book’s intellectual contributions, particularly its emphasis on non-violent Islamic renewal, while noting its limited empirical grounding and underdeveloped practical framework for implementing its proposed vision.