Muslim reformation required

Submitted by the Grand Infidel of Kaffiristan (Australia), Feb 19, 2009 at 21:54

Dr. N. Ali writes from the UK:

"......First of all, thank you very much for bringing everyones' attention towards this topic."

The sad fact is that this sort of thing is not an isolated case - too many similar stories are easily found.

"......There is NO doubt that in several Muslim countries, non-Muslims (Infact, even Muslims from different sects) are being persecuted, even though "there is no compulsion in religion"."

this is very true - incidents in Iraq currently attest to this.

" .......This is NOT the only problem. "

I am well aware of that but it is good to see a Muslim response which is much closer to reality than the utopian viewpoint some Muslims seem to have.

1) Education: "The acquisition of knowledge is compulsory for every Muslim, whether male or female." "The ink of the scholar is more sacred than the blood of the martyr."

What comes to mind is the Taliban blowing up schools newly built for them by Nato in US engineers in Afghanistan and punishing girls for daring to get an education - which they think is unIslamic. Why is there so much confusion? Every other culture has no problem with this - in fact it is not an issue. Why is it so open to misinterpretation - ior misinterpretation as the Taliban would say. If you went to Afghanistan now, and pleaded as a Muslim for them to change their minds - do you think you would be seriously listened to?

"Question: How many Muslims are educated or even try to educate themselves? NOT many."

Therefore they are not even aware that they are unaware - so they continue with the same traditions and behaviours - create the same turmoil - then wonder why they lose respect.

"2) Persecution of Non-Muslims and Muslims in Muslim countries: I understand that several people are under the impression that all Muslims are alike and follow the same idealogy. I am afraid that's not true. There are several sects among Muslims and there are several differences in idealogy between each sect."

Prime examples are Iraq and Darfur.

"........Because of lack of freedom of speech, many Muslims are scared of coming forward and speaking against crimes being committed against non-Muslims (whether they are Christians, Jews,Hindus, etc),

The lack of freedom of soeech is self imposed and maintained because of sharia and because powerful tribes/groups control the populace. Attack the ayatollahs/imams/sheiks and you are attacking Islam.

"but it does not mean there is noone who condemns such atrocities. The ONLY problem is that their voices have been silenced by people ruling them."

of course there are Muslims - who after all are human beiongs - for whom the injustices are totally obvious. You'd expect this. But the entrenched Sharia and attempt at theocracy in places like Iran means that the system perpetuates itself. Speak out against anything in Islam which obviously needs reform - and you are an apostate. Your fate rests with old bearded men in black turbans.

".....While Hamas claims to represent Muslims (and other Palestinians), they don't represent every single Muslim or even Palestinians, from our point of view. "

yes - how can they - when they only just one the elections over Fatah. And as you point out, all Palestinians are not Muslims. Still, enough people voted for them to get them into pse.ower - unless the results were fal

"....There are several Palestinians who don't agree to Hamas's idealogy and there is a general consensus among several "moderate" Muslims that Hamas MUST stop attacking innocent Israelis FIRST; We do condemn what Hamas does and it does NOT represent all Muslims. Peace between Israel and Palestinians can ONLY be achieved by mutual dialogue and respect for human life, NOT by firing rockets at Israeli women and children."

Absolutely right - but unfirtunately many Muslims - even on this forum - would totally disagree with you and see it as 'Allah's' will that Israel (and Jews) should be demolished.

Living in the UK it's obvious to you how much change thhe Islamic world needs - because you have another culture to compare it to

Islam requires a reformation. Unfortunately any likely Omartin Bin Luthers stand a very good chance of getting a Fatwa issued against them or end up with a knife across their throats by some fanatic shouting 'Allah akbar!' who was in turn spurred on bysome devoted imam who thought he was doing his religious duty.

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".