Islamic Counter-Reformation Means Minimal Modernity

Submitted by GWK (United States), Jan 13, 2005 at 14:26

Ansar Raza asked a question that deserves a better response. It seems that the Qadiani Muslims are being persecuted by islamic fundamentalists as a cult. Little do I know how to respond to the theological questions the ulema pose, but you can see the depth and intensity of the anti-Qadiani feelings at the following site:

http://www.central-mosque.com/aqeedah/fatwas.htm

In fact, it seems evident that the reasonable questions that Dr. Pipes suggests work only if the reformationists feel that they will not be stuck on a limb when the counter-reformers come chasing after them. If we have to depend on modernizers within Islam to go out on a limb, there has to be some incentive for them to take the attendant risk, or they will remain silent.

(For example, let's supppose we lived in a dangerous world where others could order one's death or persecution for one's beliefs. At what point would one feel it was worthwhile to stick one's neck out?)

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