Modernizing Islam

Recently, we had a few trolls sign up for the forum with the intent to defame, declare takfir on us for sympathizing with kufar and disrupt the forum.  Alhamdulillah, Allah has protected us from their sin.

In the process, one of the accusation levied against us was that we were “modernist”.  Somehow, being called a “modernist” was a bad thing

We were modernist as opposed to what?  The opposite to “modern” is “primitive”.  So “primitive” is better than “modern”?  By this logic we should be living in a cave as opposed to a house.

What is “modern”?  It is relating to, or having the characteristics of the present or most recent period of development.

So, are we to believe that “primitive”, which is having the characteristics of the past, is better than modern?

Look at the world we live in.  Instead of using a stick we use a toothbrush.  Instead of riding a camel, we use a car.  Instead of hunting and gathering with stone tipped arrows and grass weaved baskets we go to the supermarket.

The hallmark of the Islamic religion is its pliability to the times.  Islamic Law, according to the Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh) allows for this pliability in everything except one thing, the religious components of our lifestyle.  This fact is evident if one studies the seerah of the Prophet (pbuh) over the course of his life and the lives of the sahabbah during the first 100 years of the Islamic Empire, which is the rough timeframe in which our scholars extrapilate much of the rulings of Shariah.  Many more rulings of shariah are directed at the changing times and often do not even have a basis in Quran or Sunnah because the situations in modern times have changed and have not been experienced by the Prophet (pbuh) or the sahabbah.

For example, in modern times, we face issues of the harvesting of human stem cells from new born babies to correct diseases that may exist later in the childs life.  Is this acceptable in Islam?  Well, the Prophet (pbuh) and the Sahabbah did not experience science on this scale and such things were unheard of in their time.  Thus, our scholars work out a morally acceptable shariah on the topic.  They can draw off of what we do know of Quran and Sunnah that is totally unrelated to the topic and apply it to make a ruling.

Islam is not a primitive religion, nor is it meant to be.  Islam is for all time.

People who call us modernists because we stand for progress in society according to Islamic values are missing the purpose of Islam.  Islam is not a religion.  It is an entire way of life that includes religious doctrine.  It regulates much more than religion.  Religion is perhaps 10% of Islam.  The remaining 90% is Economy, Science, Governance, Military, Diplomacy and many many other things.

These “primitive” Muslims make the 10% seem like 90%.  It is these types that wish to rule a country without knowing how to build roads, schools, colleges, using diplomacy to avoid warfare, establishing justice systems for all people (muslim and not), bringing economic prosperity and many other essential aspects of our lives.

I have seen these “primitive” Muslims tout the Taliban as the model Islamic government….

Read more and post discussion or debate:  Modernizing Islam

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