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Here are more comments on
Pragmatic Muslims of North America
Commenting on any religion beyond it's traditional barriers is an act of boldness. I appreciate all who are taking a very lively discussion on this subject. It's amazing but true that we all have our own interpretation of Islam. I don't want to identify myself with any institutionalized religion on a very simple logic that none of them conforms my way of thinking. I try to be honest, truthful, avoid transgression, refrain myself from hurting someone and have no prejudice to other peoples way of life. People who knows me some of them call me a kafir, others say you are the right person.
Religion is a matter of understanding and very personal interpretation. I am not going to accept anybody's command in this regard. When Salman Rushdi was ordered to be killed by Ayatullah Khomenei, I lost all respect for that man. As a matter of fact Salman Ruhdi did not harm Islam, it's the mullah's who stamped Islam as an intolerant religion by their most stupid reactions on this issue. Taslima Nasreen, another most unenlightened person, did not do anything to harm Islam, she just harmed herself and mullah's played their role to harm Islam. Fools do many things to aggrandize themselves and the so-called intellectuals are befooled by these fools. If my faith is shackled to Gita, Koran, Bible or Torah, I am a slave of another persons thinking and I will resist that. I must be judged by my actions not by dogmas. Emancipation of my soul is not negotiable, I am the master of my destiny.
Akbar Hussain, Toronto
April 21, 2005
Thank you Sabahat for the clarification and thank you Khalid Bhai for the sharing of thoughts. We do all have a right to an opinion, Alhamdullilah and I think we also need to have more information in order to come to an appropriate consensus. Will work on a future forum.
S. Reshma Yunus
April 21, 2005
Sr. Reshma: You know that I am all for ijtihad , but the conclusions have to be within the set limits of the religion to be part of the religion.
We cannot get together and through ijtihad decide that there is no God and label it becoming modern Muslims can we?. Even though as humans we do have the freedom to do and believe anything we want. But if we still decide to call ourselves a Muslim, who would we be kidding? If some consider having children out of wedlock modern, then does Islam ( or we the Muslims have to ) has to give blessings to this God's forbidden act to stay modern?
You and I know that Islam is not against freedom or education of women or modernity and tolerance of the others (Muslims and non Muslims) in general . I am all for the freedom and education for women. My 2 daughters are in graduate and post graduate schools. Faults of some muslims should not be pinned on Islam.
When I mentioned that the other communities have problems I did not mean that we should accept our problems and live with them. We need to discuss and try to come up with the solutions.
Any person, PMU or any other group has full freedom to do what they want and live as they like. If some people want a female to lead the prayer in a mixed gathering then be it and more power to them. But at the same time I think I have the right to voice my opinion as a Muslim and as a human if I do not agree with a stand. Does that make me , NOT modern?
I do not think that we have to listen to any mullah scholar or any ordinary muslim to be a Muslim or learn about Islam. We have a direct relation with Allah and He gave us guidance in the Quran as to what he expects from us.
Islam does not have a religious hierarchy. WE DO NOT EVEN NEED AN IMAM IN A MOSQUE. On a prayer time the most knowledgeable or the most pious person selected by the gathered people from amongst themselves can lead the prayer. (In Davis California there is no designated Imam for years ever since the mosque was established there in early 80's)
God has given us given us a frame work and a brain to work with. We just need to make sure that we use the brain within that framework. Allah knows best and he knows what is hidden in our hearts. We are only answerable to Him . And we will face Him one day.
I am with you on your suggestion to bring these issues forward for discussion. AMV convection is far away so why not take the lead and set up a program as a discussion forum , and let us bring things out in the open and have discussions while the iron is hot.
You are one of the most active sister around that I know, I am sure you can make a lot of positive difference. You have my full support. Not only it will be good for women, but I am sure it will be great for Islam as well.
Khalid Saeed
April 21, 2005
Khalid Bhai: If the PMU (Progressive Muslim Union) is not the answer, what other answers do you propose so that we can bring about positive changes in Muslim communities. The way the Quran has been misinterpreted and hadith manipulated within the current framework screams for change. Also, just wanted to point out to you and to Ghazali Sahib that the calls for ijtihad predated the PMU.
My concern is that any change, such as more education for women, for example that resembles "modernity" will be eschewed by Muslims who fear it is ALL US sponsored propaganda. As I said previously, we will end up "cutting of our noses to spite our faces". This happened when Muslims in India refused to learn English and now Muslims in India are amongst the most illiterate of Indians - in everything.
Finally, in your email directed to Sabahat you pointed out that other communities have many problems, not just the Muslim community. I wholly agree with you, however, just because - for example - Catholics and Protestants have been killing each other for centuries does not mean that we do nothing about Sunnis and Shias killing each other off - often goaded on by the Ayatollahs, Shaykhs etc.
Perhaps, at the next AMV convention, we can bring these issues forward to be discussed in an open manner before totally condemning any group.
S. Reshma Yunus
April 21, 2005
A very robust conversation ensued in response to the posts here and on my blog yesterday which (among other things) took up Mr. Abdus Sattar Ghazali, Editor of American Muslim Perspective, on his piece titled
"Pragmatic Muslims of North America". Kudos to Ghazali Saahab for documenting it on his website. I have put a description of the trail at:
http://ifaqeer.blogspot.com/2005/04/conversation-with-american-muslim.html
Sabahat Iqbal Ashraf
April 21, 2005
I am moved to ask the very same question that Sabahat poses . We Muslims are getting ourselves caught up in a state where we are willing to "bite of our nose to spite our face" and not make the changes that need to be made just because we believe non-Muslims want us to make those changes. And by the way, the sixth pillar is not jihad, it is hijab (often it is the first) according to most theological content of most mosques and most lectures-khutbas etc.
S. Reshma Yunus
April 18, 2005
You have tackled an important aspect of the issue not tackled by others that I read. And I am glad you dealt it very nicely. That so called Progressive and pragmatic Muslims are actually knowingly or unknowingly trying to please the neoconservatives hegemonists by assailing the very foundations of Islam faith - The Qur'an and Sunnah. They do not realize that this will not work. Since they are dabbling superficially in an area that is beyond them - requiring years of assiduous scholarship and developing taqwa, after which gives those worthy of it the approval by the Ummah.
Siraj Mufti
April 16, 2005
Very nicely written. However, I have a blind spot against 'progressive Muslims'. It will be very generous of us, if we give them the cover of pragmatism. However, I am willing to go with your line of thinking, as some of the pragmatics are strong believers too. The trouble is the hijacking by more fanatical elements, who are not going to be as generous, as you are. They have a party-line like dictate to follow and they feel their stakes are too high to compromise. Each and every move is charted with long-term agenda. As I see, in US, the progressives are under Jewish influence. Asra Nomani (grand daughter of a prominent Indian Islamic scholar, Shibly Nomani) had been with Wall Street Journal. She had been brainwashed over a long period of time, to go hammer and sickle against Islam. Even though Pak authorities have singled out as involved in Richard Pearl murder; some hold that her close association with Pearl.
Ghulam Muhammad, Mumbai, India
April 16, 2005
Excellent article, to the point and you are correct, we call those "pseudo-events"; Daniel Boorstein, a professor of mine at the University of Chicago wrote an excellent book on "non events", "pseudo events" called, THE IMAGE--i think you know of the book; if not, it's worth reading because our American "news" is filled with pseudo events and few real news items or thoughtfulness.
This women thing in NYC is helped along by many pro-Zionist media groups who love this kind of tension in Islam.
Dr. Sam Hamod
April 15, 2005
Very well written article. You said it right. Actually there has been report of "Gay Imam" walking around on the campuses.
The points to be made about woman Imam is also that it is not a pomp and show position, Imam means community leader who should be available to go to funerals, to go to graveyards in all weathers, all times with congregation. Also be strong enough to give judgment in favor of just party no matter how strong and influential the opponent is.
Brother you are right we have to be very careful and alert.
Dr.Muhammad Khan
April 15, 2005
Read more comments:
Sabahat Ashraf: http://www.amperspective.com/html/sabahat_ashraf.html
Reshma Yunus: http://www.amperspective.com/html/reshma_yunus.html
Khalid Saeed: http://www.amperspective.com/html/ksaeed_reaction.html
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