As salam al lekum

Submitted by Abdul Hasanovic (United States), Dec 20, 2002 at 20:29

I'm a practicing Muslim of and enjoy reading your articles but think they could be more balanced. I also wonder why you quote Quranic verses from other people and not directly? Have you read the Quran and know what comes before and after these verses? Anyway, my point is what is missing from your writings is putting them in a wider context of modernity and postmodernity. Not to be an apologist for militant Islam, but I think it is essential to understand it in this wider context.

Modernity is a mixed blessing that loses its civilizational legitimacy in its own poverty of meaning. I don't agree with fundementalist Islam, and find my own views closer to those of Ali Izetbetgovic and Rusmir Mahmutcehajic.

Have you ever read Izetbegovic's " Islam between East and West?" I think it gives a good base and direction for a "modern" and pluralist Islam. Maybe your reluctance to deal with the Bosnian experience stems from the fact that it went tragicly wrong with eventual and unprovoked ethnic cleansing of the Bosnians who tried to hold true the dream of a multi-ethnic Yougoslavia.

Modernism has completely devastated Christianity and Judism, with the exception of the courageous scholars Leo Strauus and Eric Voglien, and left some ever shrinking fiedistic island. Therefore, Islam unquestioningly following their lead is a bad idea. Your concerned Muslim brother. Abdul Hasanovic

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