Tag: Reform

In my altmuslim article I argued that the media savvy reformists like Manji needed to work with the community savvy reformists like Ramadan.

Further proof for why this should occur. Because they are saying the exact same things.

Here is Ramadan yesterday:

To promote that view, I have found it necessary to revisit the Islamic scriptural sources. Some of what we highlight today as core principles of Islam derive from the specific cultures of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia; we read our texts mainly against the backdrop of a period, since the 13th century, when Muslims in those areas were struggling against Western aggression. They emphasized withdrawing from the taint of the West and drew a border between two different worlds: "the abode of Islam" and "the abode of war." That polarized understanding of the world, which relies on a specific reading of only some verses of the Quran and of Prophetic traditions, is outdated.

Here is Manji in Janury, as I reported before: 

Perhaps the United States and Western Europe should take a hint from Islamic Civilization. Between the eighth and 14th centuries, Muslims led the world in innovation precisely because they engaged the imagination of outsiders. The harvest? Several hundred years of creativity in agriculture, astronomy, chemistry, medicine, commerce, math, even fashion. It's when the Islamic empire became insular, to "protect" itself, that the motivation to remain robust, and the talent to do so, disappeared. 

What follows is from January of last year.  I saved it.  I don't know why.  It's like fantasy or science fiction.  Totally unrealistic. 

Crossposted at Samaha 

To the daughters that I turned my back to, the 15 daughters that died in March of 2002 a horrific death in the face of flames, in the name of a man-made Islam, to the three daughters Allah had gifted me, to all of my daughters reading this, and no I will not call you my sisters, as sisters grow up and we let them be women, daughters remain daughters forever under their mother’s protection, my dear daughters I apologize to you.

Promoted to the frontpage 

For Pakistani and Indian Muslims across the globe, Dr Zakir Naik has become the undisputed king of popular Islam. People tune in to watch him on tv, queue up to attend his lectures, buy his books and generally just admire the man. Yet if Ali’s reformist project is to succeed, it is essential that Dr Naik is displaced from his position.