the crisis of modernisation and islamicisation 329Main Features of RevivalismA number of features could be said to have marked the stage of
Islamic revivalism. The adoption of Islamic practice by the masses
as a way of living, the establishment and re-emergence of Islamic
religio-social organizations, the establishment of the Organization
Islamic Conference and in what concerns us in pursuit of the his-
tory of Islamic economic thought, the establishment of the Islamic
Development Bank, the increasing popularity of Islamic socio-eco-
nomic literature that led to the convening the First International
Conference on Islamic Economics, the establishment of specialized
institutes on Islamic economics and Islamic thought, the tendency
towards the Islamisation of economic systems in some Muslim coun-
tries, the establishment of Islamic financial institutions, and the estab-
lishment of Islamic business enterprises are of the main landmarks
of the Islamic revivalism.
Religious Features: Revival of Islamic Practice
The adoption of Islam by the masses could be noticed in the way
individuals were beginning to behave and, more noticeably, to appear.
By mid nineteen seventies beards began to appear on young faces,
white robes, quftans, replaced western costume among male youth,
veils for women including young school and university girls descended
on their hair and faces, Qur"àn was more spoken of and Qur"ànic
verses more quoted, and mosques were filled more, prayers times
observed and religious study circles more attended. At the initiative
of their heads, mosques, it was observed, arranged free evening
tuitions to help school and university students pass their exams; the
free voluntary help came from school teachers and university pro-
fessors. There was a developed sweeping feeling among the masses
that they wanted to adhere more than ever to the faith that had
been, among some at least, almost forgotten.
Socio-political organisations
The reemergence of the Islamic socio-political organizations could
be noticed in Egypt by the revival activities of the Muslim Brothers
society, after being re-admitted to operate during Sadat’s presidency.
Further religious societies and groups were established, all proclaiming