Which Islam?
Nov. 21st, 2004 09:32 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tagrynZeyad at Healing Iraq made a strong point some time back, and I wanted to share it as well as putting it down for future reference, since I think it is going to bear repeating in the future in other forums.
"When Islamic clerics today say "This isn't the real Islam." or "Islam is a religion of compassion and peace." one should ask them which actual Islam are they referring to? The Islam of Sunni subsects of Hanafiya, Malikiya, Shafi'iya, and Hanbaliya? The Islam of Shia subsects of Imamiya, Zaidiya, Ismaeliya, Allawiya, Nasseriya, and Darziya? The Islam of Sufiya? The Islam of Wahhabiya? Of Salafiya? Of Kharijiya? Which and whose interpretation of Islam? That of Bin Laden? That of Qardhawi? Of Sha'rawi? Of Sayyed Qutb? Of Khomeini? Of Sadr? Of Sistani? There is no consensus whatosever on any verse of the Quran despite 14 centuries of exegesis and debate, because 'only Allah knows the hidden explanation.'
Any sect of the above can give you a different interpretation and can justify whatever actions they carry out. Each sect claims it is the 'chosen one' and that only its version of Islam is the right one, some go as far as labelling followers of other sects 'infidels' and justifies slaughtering them. A follower of any of the above believes that they are where they are today after much critical thought and evaluation of evidence when in fact it can only be explained by blind faith and heredity. If I was born a Hindu then I would definitely think that I am right and that others are wrong, infidels if you wish. If I was born in Mecca before Muhammed I would definitely be praising Hubel for the rest of my life. If I was born a heathen in the jungles of Congo I would definitely scorn missionaries that would try to convert me. It looks like it is going to take centuries for Muslims to realise that NO religion is superior to another, and that NO one adheres to a specific religion because it is the 'right' one. So if we would just stop killing and taking revenge on each other in the name of religion and move on we would not be where we are today."
"When Islamic clerics today say "This isn't the real Islam." or "Islam is a religion of compassion and peace." one should ask them which actual Islam are they referring to? The Islam of Sunni subsects of Hanafiya, Malikiya, Shafi'iya, and Hanbaliya? The Islam of Shia subsects of Imamiya, Zaidiya, Ismaeliya, Allawiya, Nasseriya, and Darziya? The Islam of Sufiya? The Islam of Wahhabiya? Of Salafiya? Of Kharijiya? Which and whose interpretation of Islam? That of Bin Laden? That of Qardhawi? Of Sha'rawi? Of Sayyed Qutb? Of Khomeini? Of Sadr? Of Sistani? There is no consensus whatosever on any verse of the Quran despite 14 centuries of exegesis and debate, because 'only Allah knows the hidden explanation.'
Any sect of the above can give you a different interpretation and can justify whatever actions they carry out. Each sect claims it is the 'chosen one' and that only its version of Islam is the right one, some go as far as labelling followers of other sects 'infidels' and justifies slaughtering them. A follower of any of the above believes that they are where they are today after much critical thought and evaluation of evidence when in fact it can only be explained by blind faith and heredity. If I was born a Hindu then I would definitely think that I am right and that others are wrong, infidels if you wish. If I was born in Mecca before Muhammed I would definitely be praising Hubel for the rest of my life. If I was born a heathen in the jungles of Congo I would definitely scorn missionaries that would try to convert me. It looks like it is going to take centuries for Muslims to realise that NO religion is superior to another, and that NO one adheres to a specific religion because it is the 'right' one. So if we would just stop killing and taking revenge on each other in the name of religion and move on we would not be where we are today."
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Date: 2004-11-21 10:06 pm (UTC)Have you read The Arab Mind by Raphael Patai? A fascinating and enlightening book.