Tawfik Hamid: All about Islamic Reformation

Internet Vital to Reforming Islam
Friday, September 4, 2009 3:55 PM - By: Tawfik Hamid

For centenaries reformation within Islam has been impeded by several factors. This is clearly evident by the fact that many of the current leading Islamic scholars preach of today’s values such as stoning of adulteries, violent jihad, slavery, beating women, anti-Semitism, and many other inhumane teachings. Deep analysis of the factors that impeded reformation within Islam illustrates that the Internet can play a major role in making it a reality.

Previous failure of reformation efforts in Islam to bring the understanding of its text to modernity has been the result of numerous factors. These include killing those who dare to challenge some of its fundamental traditional values after considering those who challenge them as apostates. This has made many reformers unable to express their views and opinions for fear of losing their life. Failure to express these views has caused more stagnation of thoughts within the Muslim world.

Furthermore, critical thinking within the religion was suppressed in the Muslim world since criticizing the religious teaching is considered a taboo that makes the person feel that he will become and “infidel” for doing so. Stopping ijtihad (new interpretations) within the religion as what happened in the Sunni world further complicated this problem. Lack of exposure to other views and opinions either due to suppression by the religious authority or because of lack of proper communication channels also contributed to stagnation in the thinking process in many Islamic societies. Reformers who think differently used to feel weak and lonely as communication with other reformers was much limited. Control of women by strict religious rules was another factor that limited the progress of many of these societies toward modernity. Surprisingly, the Internet challenged all these factors and therefore can contribute significantly to reforming Islam.

First, many Muslims can now express their opinions about religious issues without fear for their lives. They can simply critique the traditional teaching and provide alternative interpretations anonymously and remotely without fear on the Internet. This encouraged many reformers to speak out and forced the recipients of their views to listen without being able to harm them physically.

The Internet basically changed the ‘war within Islam’ from a physical one (where the reformer could be killed) to an intellectual one where reformers are relatively safe and able to continue their mission. This option was not available before the Internet era when reformers were physically threatened. In fact, the reformers can now communicate together to become more powerful and even find a larger audience.

Second, the Internet has allowed an exchange of ideas with the non-Muslim world as well. This has enriched the thinking process in Muslim communities and bypassed the barriers that have been created by the radicals to prevent such exposure. Now Muslims can listen to different views and ideas from other parts of the world.

Muslim women in the Internet era can no longer be imprisoned by man. They can communicate more freely with others even with men. They can take the hijab off and send their photo without the hijab to whoever they want. The physical barriers on Muslim women were simply shattered by the Internet.

The Internet can certainly be used by the radicals to promote radical views. However, the net outcome of using the Internet is more likely to be positive than negative as it overcomes most, if not all, of the obstacles of reformation in Islam that existed. Using the Internet to promote reformation and modernity within Islam rather than extremism is our next challenge and goal to modernize the Muslim world. This form of e-reformation can change the future of our world and can determine the future of Islam.

Dr. Tawfik Hamid is the author of "Inside Jihad." He was a former associate of Dr. al-Zawahiri (second in command of al-Qaida) and currently he is a reformer of Islam. To know more about Hamid please visit http://tawfikhamid.com/. Hamid's writings in this blog represent only his thoughts and not the views of the institute where he works.

© 2009 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

Source: NewsMax.com/Tawfik_Hamid

Tawfik Hamid on Saudi Arabia: Progressives, Regressive and Terrorists

Strong Royal Family Vital to Keeping Saudi Arabia Progressive
Friday, August 28, 2009 11:21 AM - Tawfik Hamid

Since 9/11, the role played by, and the link between, Saudi Arabia and radical Islam were topics of discussion among many intellectuals. Some voices blamed Saudi Arabia for all problems of radical Islam and demanded a weakening of its ruling regime or the royal family. Careful examination of the interplay of powers in Saudi Arabia reveals three fundamental forces: the progressives, the regressives, and the terrorists.

The first power — the progressives — want to bring the country to the path of modernity. This group draws predominantly from the royal family and some progressive intellectuals. The progressives managed to allow women to reach the highest levels in education, to allow non-Shariah-compliant Western banking systems to work in the country, and to permit the installation of the Internet and satellite dishes that bring TV news and movies from all over the world directly to Saudi houses.

This group was supported as a political power by the Wahhabi system, yet managed to bring those elements of modernity. But the progressives could not bring more change in the society, as they were resisted by the second group, the regressives.

The regressives are primarily the Wahhabis and their allies. This group controls many areas in the education and legal systems, and promotes the following:

· Subjugation of women to men.
· Suppression of religious freedom (which manifests itself as the killing of apostates).
· Prevention of non-Muslims from having their religious books or temples in the country.
· Cruel punishments, such as stoning to death, for having extramarital sexual relations.
· Violent jihad on the part of the Muslim nation against non-Muslim nations

This group considers wars to spread Islam a responsibility of the Islamic umma (nation), rather than an individual responsibility. It does not condone terrorist acts, but teaches violent theological foundations.

The third power-wielding group are the terrorists, who consider declaring war against non-Muslims as a personal responsibility, and thus conduct violent acts such as explosions and suicide bombings. This group — if it were to take power — will make Saudi Arabia like Afghanistan under the Taliban.

It is fair to say that the Saudi royal family is not the Taliban. The Taliban does not allow women to have education, does not permit satellite TVs or any other sign of modernity. This difference between the Saudis and the Taliban is mainly due to the relentless efforts of the progressives, who managed to make progress in certain areas of Saudi society but could not make the same in other.

The complexity of the issue makes solving this problem delicate.

Weakening the royal family could deprive the country of the progressive voices that managed to take some positive steps to modernize the country. Weakening the current Saudi regime could simply allow the second and third groups to take over the country and make it more like a Taliban and al-Qaida model. On the contrary, supporting the enlightened elements within the royal family is pivotal to avoid a collapse into such a system.

The progressives are not currently in full control and are opposed by the other two.

mplementing uncalculated changes in Saudi Arabia could be disastrous.

One issue is that Saudi Arabia is seen by its population and many other Muslims as the leader of the Islamic world. This puts the progressives in a difficult situation, as any change in the Saudi society toward modernity must be justified by the religion. This could be seen as bad news by many, but as good news by those who know how to give religious justification to values of liberty and modernity. Islamic texts can be understood in many ways.

For example: The second Islamic ruler (or Caliph), Umar Ibn Al-Khatab (who is considered one of the closest disciples to Prophet Muhammad and one of the top 10 righteous people in Islam, who were given a “guarantee to enter the paradise”) banned the Islamic law of amputating the hands of thieves. This happened in the early history of Islam (“Aam Al-Ramada”) when poverty exceeded certain limits. Umar simply looked at the spirit of the religion of having mercy and justice, and gave this a priority over applying the literal text of the Quran. The progressive elements of the Saudi royal family can use such an approach (and others) as a model to bring religious justifications for changing the country gradually toward more modernity.

The power interplay within Saudi Arabia necessitates a wise approach to bring the country toward modernity without creating instability. The enlightened elements in the royal family and in Saudi society managed to educate women, allow TV and Internet, and are starting interfaith dialogue via the outreach of king Abdullah. In addition, the progressives were recently trying to stop underage marriage, allow women to drive, and supported a Saudi TV Program (“Tash Ma Tash”) that is critical of some aspects within the Saudi society. One of the most controversial phrases used in this program to critique traditional education was “We speak about the Saudi person and you speak about the Muslim person.”

The change in Saudi Arabia needs to be gradual to avoid instability, but progressive. It must have some element of religious justification in order to be effective. Islamic texts and history can allow this to happen.

Dr. Tawfik Hamid is the author of "Inside Jihad." He was a former associate of Dr. al-Zawahiri (second in command of al-Qaida) and currently he is a reformer of Islam. To know more about Hamid please visit http://tawfikhamid.com/. Hamid's writings in this blog represent only his thoughts and not the views of the institute where he works.
© 2009 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

Source: http://www.newsmax.com/tawfik_hamid/saudi_islam_muslim/2009/08/28/253591.html

New Age Islam: Mapping an Agenda for the Twenty-first Century

Indian Ulema have no time to lose, must call militant Quranic surahs obsolete

By Sultan Shahin

The so-called Indian Mujahedeen have used in their notorious e-mails certain Quranic verses to justify killing of innocent civilians. These are the same verses that enemies of Islam’s pacific and humane philosophy have been traditionally using for centuries to demonise Islam. Muslims who go berserk and want to simply smite all and sundry in their crazy stupor also routinely use these verses to justify their fanaticism and probably also to brainwash the still-not-so-crazy to their cause.

New Age Islam urges Indian Ulema to come out with explicit, unequivocal statements that the Quranic verses like the following - “Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers in fight, smite at their necks”- are now obsolete: they were meant for a specific situation during the Prophet’s life and do no apply today. Read more ...

Source: Muslim Heretics Conference

Islamists Attempt to Impose Their Agenda on Kuwaiti Society; Reformists Fight Back

By H. Migron and E. B. Picali

In June 2008, the Kuwaiti parliament reinstated the Committee for the Study of Negative and Alien Phenomena in Kuwaiti Society. The goals of the committee, whose members are mostly Salafi MPs, is to study "alien practices and other negative phenomena that are harmful to Kuwaiti society," and to find "effective ways to control them."

Since its formation, the committee has instructed the Kuwaiti Information Ministry to censure art, video games, and TV programs that "do not adhere to Kuwaiti traditions," such as Star Academy, the Arabic American Idol, which the country has banned, following the committee's order. The committee has also warned the Kuwaiti press against publishing photos and materials that "violate the values of Kuwait," and questioned the Minister of Health regarding a dance party organized by a hospital which involved "immoral mixing of the genders." Another issue that concerns the committee is transsexualism, which it considers dangerous and threatening to Kuwaiti society and "requir[ing] prompt and serious action."

The committee's actions have evoked a wave of protest from Kuwaiti MPs, intellectuals, and journalists, who cast them as an attempt by Islamists to impose their agenda and curtail the country's democratic freedoms. Satirical articles have been published ridiculing the committee's attempts to police Kuwaiti morals, and criticizing it for being preoccupied with dance parties and TV programs instead of tackling the country's real problems. Read more ...

Source: MEMRI

Reviving the Legacy of Reform – 191st Birth Anniversary of India's Great Reformer Sir Syed Ahmad Khan

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan

By Tufail Ahmad

On October 17, 2008, Muslims in India and Pakistan celebrate the 191st birth anniversary of the great Indian reformer Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (1817-1898), but few grasp the meaning of Islamic reform as he did.

Two Responses to the Same Crisis of Islam in India after Its Occupation by the British in 1857

After the 1857 War in which Muslims lost power to the British, two intellectual movements emerged. One group of scholars attributed the Fall of Delhi to moral decline among Mughal kings, rejected the West and its message of reform, and revived basic Islamic teachings. Led by Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanautawi, they established Darul Uloom Deoband, the largest center of Islamic learning after Cairo's Al-Azhar University. A second group of scholars, under Sir Syed, foresaw a bright future for Muslims in rejecting religious orthodoxy and in embracing Western sciences. They founded the Aligarh Muslim University, India's largest center of modern education for Muslims today, near Delhi. Read more ...

Source: Aafaq

Ayaan Hirsi Ali advocates social reform in Muslim countries

By Charlie Owen

BEAVER CREEK, Colorado - Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s entire life has been a battle of opposing beliefs. She was raised in a strict Islamic household where at a young age she was tormented by the religion’s abusive teachings towards women and violence towards non-believers.

As she grew up, she was tempted by the allure of Western cultures, but had been taught to hate Americans and their alliances with the Jews. When her father told her she had to marry a Muslim man whom she didn’t even know, she was forced to make a choice between submitting to her father and husband - which she’d been taught her whole life - or leaving behind all she held dear for her personal freedom.

Finally, on this day, seven years ago, Ali began to steel her will for “the final showdown” in her own head, one more decision she knew she had to make: To denounce her faith in Islam; a religion she now viewed as completely cruel and intolerant, or side with the same religion the hijackers of 9/11 claimed gave them the right to take the lives of American infidels. Read more ...

Source: Vail Daily NewsAyaan Hirsi Ali
Latest recipient of The MASH Award

A crisis in Islam

By Akbar Hussain

When the non-Muslim world says with clear conviction that Islam propagates extremism, Muslims all around the world, even the terrorists, cry foul and declare that they are maligning Islam.

But is there a loophole some where in this faith that can make a follower an extremist? How can the so-called religion of peace be twisted in such a way that it becomes a weapon of murder? This everyday carnage in the name of Islam has not been taken seriously by the Muslims, thinking this is a kind of protest against oppression.

I went to many mosques to hear the sermons provided by the clerics but was totally disappointed to note that there is no pragmatic approach to this serious issue. They still spread fear in the name of Islam and criminally keep the worshippers in the dark.

The so-called modern educated Muslims play a more vicious role than these illiterate mullahs, because they never touch the real issue, but bring logic to such dastardly and senseless attacks on innocent human beings.

I am appalled to see that, in my opinion, the majority of Muslims are not concerned about this crisis in their faith which they follow with such strong conviction.

A faith that does not value human lives is a cult. The main problem with Islam is its reluctance to embrace reason and logic.

The entire paraphernalia of Islam is protected by the poisonous tentacles of immovable dogmas and ignorance. This dark side is supported by fear and the followers are innumerable. I don't see any escape route.

Source: The Ottawa CitizenAkbar Hussain
Latest recipient of The MASH Award

Canada's a centre for Islamic reform

By Tahir Aslam Gora

We Muslims view all aspects of life -- economics, politics, family and universal realities -- through religious lenses. But we are living in a world where not many nations are judging everything by religious standards any more.

In this situation, it seems much of the world expects us to shed our religious beliefs in order to share common human aspirations and developments.

When we don't come up to the required standard of compatibility, our fellow citizens ask for reforms and reformers within the Muslim community who can help us to become compatible with rest of society.

Muslims have been striving for their own reforms through the ages. During the ninth and 10th centuries, Mutazalites, known as followers of rationality in Islam, encouraged reasoning and questioning within the theological orbits. Read more ...

Source: The Hamilton Spectator

Saudi wife calls for reformer's release

By Andrew Hammond

RIYADH - When Jamila al-Ukla's husband was taken by Saudi state security forces last month, she spent five days searching before finding him in prison, she says.

She checked hospitals and local police and called colleagues who worked in local human rights groups. When she tried to check his ransacked office on the campus of King Saud University a security guard removed her.

Ukla eventually learned that state security forces had incarcerated her husband, politics professor and political reform activist, in Uleisha prison in Riyadh.

Source: Reuters