Islam (should be) a faith without fear

L Murbandono Hs , Hilversum, Netherlands | Sat, 04/19/2008 12:24 PM | Opinion

"Faith without fear" is the guiding principle of Irshad Manji, author of The Trouble with Islam Today: A Muslim's Call for Reform in her Faith (2003). Manji's book, which has sparked widespread debate, is a symbol of women's struggle to make themselves heard. The Indonesian edition will be published this year.

To write her book, Manji went to Spain, trekked across the Arabian Peninsula, discussed the controversies in Islam with many key figures and explored the extreme of the extremes. The outcome is "faith without fear" when she finally encounters the Islam she can love. Muslims can, she learns, have faith without fear.

At least two basic Islamic principles have to be practiced seriously.

First, the ijtihad (Islam's tradition of independent thinking) has to conquer the taqlid (merely "swallowing" whatever is ordered). Far from being a relic of the past, ijtihad is the key to curbing the atrocities committed these days in the name of Islam. Manji discovers two Islams that represent the humanity ijtihad can restore to the religion, and the cruelty some Islamic groups will suffer at the hands of other Islamic groups should ijtihad remain buried. Manji appeals to the Islam world to bring ijtihad -- which has been lost to our civilization for hundreds of years -- back to life.

Second, Islam has to be patient and open-minded in facing criticism and questions -- they really are needed to bring about reform within Islam itself. It is necessary to answer questions about Islam honestly and to react peacefully to any criticism, however bitter and sensitive.

Historically, Islam was a cultural product of civilization when many other cultures coexisted. It was impossible to prevent conflict among cultures on topics such as spiritual matters and principles. Manji asks: Why we are so reluctant to admit others' influence and to accept their uniqueness?

Because of her book, fundamentalists bombard Manji with death threats. Several Arab countries have forbidden her book from entering their territory. However, millions of Muslims have been inspired by it to oppose suppression in the name of religion in their own communities. Published for the first time in 2003, Manji's book has been translated into at least 30 languages, including Arabic, Indonesian, Dutch, German, Farsi, French, Malay, Persian and Urdu.

Through her exploration of radicalism and fanaticism, Manji discovers how a religion of justice becomes an ideology of fear. That's why she calls on her fellow Muslims to stop blaming others for their ills and instead embark on a mission to learn: How can we Muslims change for the 21st century? She leaves us with a crucial thought: Debate must replace violence if Muslims are to save themselves, for it is clearly stated in the Koran that God does not change people until they change themselves.

Islam must be interpreted continuously in accordance with humanitarian principles in the concrete space and time of the communities concerned. Based on this, Manji is finally forced to formulate her central opinions on the current dilemma of Islam in dealing with fanatics, the Koran, prayer, God's will and human freedom.

On fanatics: Fundamentalist groups' obsession with "interpreting" Islamic teachings literally and then applying those interpretations in practice is the main cause of all the problems afflicting Islam these days -- violence, suicide attacks, terrorism, oppression of Muslim women, hatred of other religions and the like.

On the Koran: It is not a document to be copied and applied literally, but to be interpreted. Doing otherwise can destroy our capacity to think and feel about ourselves. Decisions based on the Koran are not dictated by the Lord but come through our free will and our human conscience.

The divine character of the Koran does not mean this holy book can be taken out of its real context as a product of human history.

Caliph Usman, anticipating the momentum of the political situation at the time, ordered the holy book to be compiled immediately.

In a great hurry, memorized revelations were written down, verses in dispersed parchments were gathered and imperfect or unofficial copies were destroyed: Koran! Manji asks: After being agreed upon in such a rush, isn't it that the perfect version was actually rather imperfect?

On prayer: Allah, The Omniscient, knows everything, including all languages. How could it be that you must pray in Arabic? What is wrong with praying in your own language?

On God and humankind: Only God fully knows the truth of everything. Only God can punish people who are unfaithful because only God knows what is true faith. No one has the right to punish his or her fellow humans. Therefore, God's will has nothing to do with irrational obligations and pressures coming from anything and anyone.

The writer is a journalist. He can be reached at Mung.Murbandono@rnw.nl

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