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Is Reform of Islam Likely or Even Possble

Reader comment on item: Atheism among Muslims Is "Spreading Like Wildfire"

Submitted by Richard Roy Blake (United States), Sep 29, 2021 at 17:24

As all efforts to reform Islam have thusfar been unsuccessful, what would an Islamic reformation look like and other than ex-Muslims is anyone taking the steps that would be necessary. In correspondence to Kurdish fighters engaged in the struggle against ISIS, I suggested that perhaps the Kurdish practice of Islam could be a model to the world if it could be codified. I even gave a possible theological support for codifying Kurdish practice, that being that when the peaceful verses of the Meccan period were abrogated by the violent Medina period, Kurdish Islamic scholars could make the argument that the Medina verses were written as a temporary emergency measure that ought itself to be abrogated. The most common response I received was that the Kurds had no interest in saving Islam. I assume that some of them might have been referring to the likelihood that you cannot trust what Islamic leaders say. and to provide a new non-violent profession would only further mask their true intentions. As you may know the Arabs have a saying that "only compared to the infidel is the Kurd a Muslim."

In the US the most vocal self-proclaimed Islamic reformer is Zudhi Jasser, president of AIFD. His path to Islamic reformation would be a good deal easier as most orthodox Muslims do not have a good opinion concerning the Kurds. Jasser would just need to take the same steps that Luther took when he accidentally began the process that reformed Christianity. Even more important than nailing his thesis to mosque doors, he would need to create an entirely different Islamic narrative AND set up reform mosques. When I sent this idea to Jasser some years ago, he ignored it.

Which causes me to ask what actually is Jasser accomplishing? None of the answers I could come up with were reassuring. Other than softening the image of Islam in the public square (which would make him a clever Islamic apologist), the only other possibility I could come up with is that Jasser sees the writing on the wall and is trying to give Islam a softer place to land.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (17) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
She Burnt the Bacon (One Godless Woman) [266 words]RobertNov 27, 2022 17:17289087
1I see this more among Arab women [60 words]ShishirNov 13, 2021 01:33276512
Is Reform of Islam Likely or Even Possble [353 words]Richard Roy BlakeSep 29, 2021 17:24275292
1A Serious Dissident: At Last [155 words]RenoxSep 29, 2021 02:19275276
Great message from Renox [71 words]PrashantSep 29, 2021 12:57275276
2Atheism among muslims( in Islamic world ) is a welcome step but will it add to world peace ? [184 words]aktSep 28, 2021 19:00275262
Atheism Cannot Stop Islam - Neither in Militant Action nor Apostate Complacency [281 words]M ToveySep 29, 2021 13:45275262
1Comments on atheistic Arabs article. Jews and Arabs who ask themselves questions [343 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Steven RossSep 23, 2021 13:52275032
Does Atheism Really Have An Answer [402 words]M ToveySep 24, 2021 11:43275032
1the science argument is faulty [125 words]JoeRuSep 30, 2021 03:13275032
The Reality of What Science Cannot Argue [279 words]M ToveySep 30, 2021 15:21275032
1Thanks JoeRu for a wise statement [80 words]PrashantOct 1, 2021 13:28275032
Literal interpretation started in the post Babylon era [128 words]ShishirMar 9, 2022 04:43275032
Babylonian Talmud Does Not Replace Torah/Tanakh the Same as Quran Does not Replace Torah/Tanakh [26 words]M ToveyMar 9, 2022 15:21275032
4Proof: Apostasy Is The Solution [366 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Mike RamirezSep 23, 2021 11:52275027
3I 100,% agree with Mr Mike Ramirez [50 words]aktSep 28, 2021 21:51275027
World-Wide Atheism Not Unexpected - Why Islam is Not Exempt [117 words]M ToveySep 20, 2021 14:14274893

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