Despite the distinct buzz of activity in the area of Islamic action and theory within the Muslim world and elsewhere, many Islamic movements and pronouncements fall short of the Islamic ideal. Many of them indeed go against the very spirit of Islam, and do the faith a considerable damage in the sight of Allah and man. This is due to a gross misunderstanding acquired over centuries of Muslim intellectual lethargy and indifference to changing realities. The present paper traces the unfortunate growth of such tendencies in the distant and near past, but emphasizes the contemporary scene, which it examines (and tries to put right) with incisive clarity and candor, along with an unerring commitment to the vibrancy and universality of Islam.