New Modern Islam
Every now and then, I come across an article, a blog or someone talking about how there should be a new modernized version of Islam.
Some go as far as taking out verses from the Koran that talk about war, while on the other side of the spectrum some seem to limit it to making things like the hijab optional, and of course there are many thoughts in between those two.
Some countries are taking steps forward with some of these ideas, with some of them taking out certain Koranic verses from school curriculums, some others trying to make the hijab unfavorable, ...etc.
But, in my opinion, I think the whole approach is very wrong.
What we need is not a new and modernized Islam, what we need is a new and modernized understanding of Islam.
We have to understand that our time is very different from the time in which Islam came, the rules are different, the society is different, the circumstances are different, everything is different; And so the understanding and the application of Islam's laws and teachings should be different too.
We have to understand why a certain Koranic verse came, in what situation, under what circumstances, and to solve which problems, then draw realistic parallels with our life today and see if that verse's teachings apply to our new situation, circumstances and problems.
Islam, through the Koran and the teachings of Prophet Mohamed (PBUH), came with a set of general laws and teachings that will apply for all ages, but it also came with some specific laws and teachings for specific situations. It's wrong to generalize those for all ages too, because they don't necessarily apply. It's up to us to understand their reason and then draw the lessons that could help us in our new reality.
We should not allow ourselves to be like the people who pick a verse out of the Koran, take it out of context, without understanding it, and then say that Islam is a religion of this or that. Everything has a reason and a lesson behind it for a certain time, place and situation. We have to understand that and our children have to understand that too.
So what I guess I'm trying to say is that it's not Islam that needs modernizing, it's us and our way of understanding, analyzing and drawing lessons from it.
Vatican Lists 7 New Modern Day Sins Fact International: A New Paper on Islam An Other Cup - Yusuf Islam West And Islam As Equals Islam Surpasses Roman Catholicism As World’s Largest Religionالإسلام يُصلح أي زمان ومكان
Islam "straightens" any time or place.
"What we need is not a new and modernized Islam, what we need is a new and modernized understanding of Islam."
Veeeeeery Well said...i really liked your post its an idea am traying to communicate for others, and i found yuo did so with simple direct words, thanks.
L'Islam n'est pas une problématique technique. C'est une problématique cultuelle (je précise bien "cultuelle"), psychologique, ethnologique, culturelle, historique, politique...
A mon avis, il faudra relire l'Islam en le mettant dans tous les contextes que je viens de citer.
Il s'agit là d'une démarche très courageuse que les musulmans doivent prendre. Elle implique une remise en question totale de bcp d'aspects retenus jusque-là comme étant des postulats.
We have not only to reread Islam but alos to rethink Islam.
Posted by: k-pax at December 28, 2005 02:55 PMLots of thoughts going through my head right now, but I can't seem to organize them into anything better than, "Great post".
Posted by: Jenny at December 28, 2005 07:11 PM"We have to understand that our time is very different from the time in which Islam came, the rules are different...."
Just one thing:
Isn't religion suppose to cover all times.
Did Islam came at that time just for the people of that time? No,it is supposed to apply for all times. Therefore, I question religion.
"...is a new and modernized understanding of Islam."
just when i thought the world had gone to hell you bring me back with a sentence like this
couldn't have said it better.
Posted by: Nas at January 3, 2006 12:04 PMyou reminded me of a book written by "Saed Hawa" i think... at first he named it "towrd a civilized islamic society"... then he realized that " a true islamis cosiety = a civilized society"... so he omitted civilized...
so there is no modern or old islam... as u said... it is our understanding of it...
islam was sent as a perfect closure for religions... that is why it isn't just a religion practiced inside a wall of a sancturay... but a way of life... where... ur indentity becomes inseprable of ur muslim being...
