Comments: ‘No Thanks’ to Tariq Ramadan [Archive]

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Anonymous

25th April 2005, 12:12 PM

http://www.islamicawakening.com/viewarticle.php?articleID=1222 (/viewarticle.php?articleID=1222) 

Thankyou for this article. Something like this is long overdue. We cannot let people like Mr.Ramadan do this without so much as a word in protest, if a modernist muslim has problems with Islam that is his problem but we cannot sit passively without refuting them, otherwise these strange opinions may one day become the mainstream thinking amongst Muslims. May Allah Forbid.

Anonymous

26th April 2005, 08:40 PM

Assalam 

I am sorry but I don't agree with you at all. I fully understand your objections and appreciate the courtesy you have in your words. I realy doo appreciate. 

But it's too easy to wise away so easily the question Mr. Ramadan is asking to us. Cause I invite you to the statistics on the punishment in the so call islamic countries. Who are the victims? Who are the ones who loose their hands in Saoudi Arabia? Who the ones who are regularly punished? What are their social positions? How many among the princes and theirs have ever been punished during the last ten years? Or do you honestly think believe that all the rich Arabs we see here every summer in places we all know are not places for honest muslims are exempted from the islamic laws? How long shall we turn our eyes and look another way? How long shall we stand on thi obvious injustice in the name of the Holy Coran ? Ok, no muslim will accept to change a single word from The Book. But we cannot put our mind apart and just sit and say: it's so. 

You have clearly stand in your paper how sad is the muslim condition nowaday and how urgent is the need for us to change that condition. But while we are sitting here and speculate day long, their are crimes comitted on behalf of our religion. Now this brother Ramadan is just inviting us to*******wake up and stand up and say "Stop a while, let's think together". 

I will fully accept your position the day we'll have the same condition and justice for all muslim with regard is social position. I wil agree with you if you can prouve to me that the ministers, the princes and other musllim VIP living in the islmic states will be under the same law than the poorest muslim of the same country. 

I am sorry to say that, but this day is far from raising up. So I don't say "No thanks" to Mister Ramadan. I rather say "Thanks M. Ramadan" I will rather say "NOOO Stop injustice in the name of islam". 

May*******Allah bless us all

Assalam 

*******

Anonymous

27th April 2005, 12:39 AM

Tariq Ramadan has a vision of social integration into a heathen culture.******* The idea of pluralisim within the mosaic of heathenistic cultures is absolutely alien to Islam.******* He is not well grounded in the islamic sciences, and his words mean nothing to me.

Anonymous

27th April 2005, 11:57 AM

'Statistics, statistics, statistics...', is what we have been crying for since the launch of the call. Only if Mr. Ramadan would come up with something that could be considered as statistics, it least it would bring some reality into the issue.

Some people seem to be missing the point altogether. Do we have problems with the Hudud, or the social exclusion, and equality of all before the Law? How would lifting the Hudud solve our problem? Instead of cutting of a theif's hand, we will send him behind bars for 10 yrs, again, this won't be applicable to the rich and the ruling class. So how have we solved the problem?

If some of the ruling class are exempted from such punishments, the premis still doesn't call to remove the Hudud. After all, throughout our Islamic history, with the exception of a handfull of rulers, it was a general practise to exempt the rulling class and their allies from the Hudud. None of the scholars ever called for the Hudud to be removed on these premis.

Removing the Hudud, whether temporarily or permenantly, entails secularism, which is completely at odds with our believes.

Anonymous

28th April 2005, 07:37 PM

salams

1st. lets give some respect to sh. Ramadan.. he kills us in knowledge.. sometimes people with no knowledge act like the scholars

2nd. the article is too long..

Anonymous

28th April 2005, 08:00 PM

"...he kills us in knowledge"

I don't know about killing us, but his so called Knowledge (mostly of western Philosophy) is certainly in danger of damaging the Islam of many people.

Allahu Alam

Anonymous

28th April 2005, 08:32 PM

How do you know he kills us in knowledge? And what knowledge, exactly? Certainly, not Islamic. And how could his knowledge ever be considered 'a killer' after only 15 yrs of studying? We have leading Islamic figures in the UK who have been studying for 30 odd years, who would never have the guts to openly call for such Kufr. Rather, such comments only come from those who do not have the brain power enough to absorb the arguments, which is why they simply cling to personalities.

By the way, the article is probably the same length as the call. If you can read the call, I guess you can read the response too.

Anonymous

28th April 2005, 10:01 PM

Can someone give me the story of Umar with references and what happened in that time period where the supposed "moraturiam" was put in place?

Anonymous

28th April 2005, 11:56 PM

Alhamdolillah an excellent and quality article, Jazakallah Brother.

Anonymous

4th May 2005, 04:26 AM

Alhamdulillah, lengthy, but good read. I really liked your explanation on how Mr.ramdan has based his whole logic on two misconceptions. FOr the brother, who argued that Mr.Ramadan was right , please take a breath , try and read what author has got to say rather than looking at the article as a setback to Mr.ramadan's proposal.

Anonymous

4th May 2005, 06:00 AM

Assalam Alaikum brothers and sisters,

Anything for a nice(r) life eh?

Just how many weak/ignorant "muslims" will we see crawling to the godless West in these days?
Trying to leave us something that no longer even smells of what the Rasul (saw) taught us.

To borrow a line from the famous butter substitute ad:
"I can't believe it's not kufr!"
A new version of Islam that smells, tastes and looks just like kufr.

Anonymous

5th May 2005, 10:46 PM

Assalamalyku, About time articles like this appeared, we need more

Anonymous

7th May 2005, 12:54 PM

Assalamu alaikum! I agree with the writer of this article and*******I have to admit that I feel very bad hearing this anti-islamic ideas coming from dr. Ramadan who is a descendant of Hasan Al Banna that everyone knows his efforts to re-establish the Khilafah.

Anonymous

13th May 2005, 09:02 PM

Jzk, I think you hit the nail on head. 

Salient point being this type of liberal/interpretational accomodation is part of an on-going contemporary process. Subhanallah, its almost like individuals and groups*******compete to show the west who is the 'most' moderate*******and the 'least'*******like the reviled Islamists (the very worst of which is portrayed as those wanting the shariah imposed, which actually gives away the true aim of this campaign). 

This type of politically motivated re-interpretation should really stop and be discouraged as it sets incredibly dangerous precedents for the deen and its foundations.*******In my own humble opinion the permissability of voting was arrived at through not too dissimilar means, albeit with pure intentions. That may seem harsh but the concessionery/environment-sensative*******underpinnings of both positions is evident to the honest man.*******

WS
Defender

Anonymous

15th May 2005, 03:19 AM

who is tarik ramadan? 

To me or to muslims, in general, what he says *******should mean nothing whatsoever. We do not need guidens from someone who does not even understand the Islamic methodology neber mined Islam itself.

Ahmet

Anonymous

26th May 2005, 07:46 AM

The problems are due to Islam not being implemented completely which itself is oppression and instead of calling for complete Islam he says we should reject what little we have. I remember him being named as one of people the governments would support along with hamza yusuf, sohaib webb and some others

Anonymous

26th May 2005, 05:22 PM

He was on Shariah(-less) TV, on Channel 4 (a source on par with The Sun and toilet bowls) some time back.

He tried the same trick then that has been used for ages.
Confuse the issue by misdirection; while thinking no one sees what he really wants.

We're not all that stupid... Alhamdolillah

If I want to get married, I'm not going to go to the nearest group of "bro's", declare a sudden love for Islam, and then hunt down a sister in the group, get married asap, and then slack off the whole Islam thing, now am I?
Or am I? Ring any bells? Seen this happen before?

People have used Islam as a platform to get what they REALLY want for a long time. Whether it's a visa to the US, or trying to get hitched quick time.

But these people would have been useless Jews had they been Jews, and would have been burdensome Christians had they been Christians. We Muslims have our share, and we have to deal with them for what they are.

A person's actions will always (eventually) show them up for what they are. If someone keeps bringing down the Muslims time after time, can he claim to be a Sheikh? (Any similarities to a living man, claiming the same, is entirely intentional).

If one of your sheep is howling at the moon, it's likely its wolf in sheeps clothing.

May Allah help us.

Anonymous

8th June 2005, 06:12 PM

As salamu alaikum,

Mashaallah excellent article. It was good you mentioned the Rand report and all the money and time spent to secularize Islam from within - for example influencing Amina Wudud and others!

We should not waste too much of our time correcting people like Amina - she should be ignored.*******One of the objectives of the kuffar is to create friction between Muslims.******* The Muslim world has already experienced a lot of "divide and conquer".

S.S

8th June 2005, 07:04 PM

Salaam,

Tariq Ramadan is always openly rejecting the shariah of Allah, the question I would like to ask is: Why is it then that your*******dear brother Abu Muntasir keep inviting Tariq Ramadan to his Leicester conferences then to speak about Islam?

Ws

S.S

Anonymous

14th June 2005, 09:38 PM

S.S you stated(youre dear brother Abu Muntasir)? Is he not youre brother tooS.S,I have read youre other posts and you also said a simular thing earlier you stated(youre dear brother Sayid Qutb)Who are you and whats youre angel? i.e where are you coming from with this kalam!You have stated some ajeeb things on this forum,so please now show youre true colors,dont hide behind a sudanim and dont play games with brothers and sisters on this good forum,watch it!Because fron now on Ill be*******reading*******what you say,May Allah guide you.

slave-of-THE_ONE

15th June 2005, 02:17 PM

assalamu 'aleikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu

i see, my sister, that you've not taken the advices that i've been giving you in most of my previews posts, so pls beware of this:

Abu Bakr (ra) & Umar (ra) had an argument, then Umar sayed that he would*******complain to the Prophet of ALLAH (saw) about it.******* He, Umar (ra), went around all over madina to look for Him (saw) but did not find Him (saw) until he (ra) heared a call for people to gather around the masjid of the Prophet (saw).******* When he reached there he saw the Rasul of ALLAH (saw) red of anger and next to Him (saw) was Abu Bakr (ra).******* Rasul (saw) sayed in the nearest of meaneings "*******Who among you dares to anger and upset my friend Abu Bakr, while he*******has believed in*******me when all of you had doubts"

Be careful, my sister,*******with your writings because you might upset one whom ALLAH ta'ala has taken as a friend.

Anonymous

19th June 2005, 07:24 AM

Salam,

I'm stunned that given all the problems in the Muslim world that people would criticize Ramadan for this. Islam is a religion of MERCY. There are many prerequisites in society that must be in place before Hud punishments can be applied. Can you honestly say that in countries such as Saudi Arabia or Sudan or Nigeria or whereever people want to apply Hud punishments that everything else, such as hunger, poverty, illiteracy, disease, ignorance etc. have all been eradicated and now the only thing left is to impose Hud punishments.

And for those who refer to non-Muslim societies as "heathen", shame on you. Islam is a MERCY for ALL of humanity. Our measure of faith is how we live in the world amongst ALL people, regardless of faith.

We have a long way to go brothers and sisters if this is the attitude of so many of us.

Salam.

Anonymous

22nd June 2005, 11:55 PM

salaam all,Dr. Ramadan lays out his assessment and reasons for this call: namely that while the hudud are textually based, their interpretations are diverse, conditions of applications are stringent, and current applications are unfair in the socio-political context of today’s Muslim world. He explicitly states that Shari’a is a path to faithfulness/a way of life of which the hudud are but the limits or boundaries. He re-affirms his faithfulness to Shari’a and his respect for hudud not only by accepting their textual bases, but by demanding adherence to the objectives/intentions behind them; in other words being faithful not just to letter of the law but to spirit of the law as well. Dr. Ramadan outlines his arguments and calls NOT[/i] for disregarding the application of Shari’a, as some of his detractors claim, but for BETTER[/i] application of the Hudud aspect of Shari’a. And until we can meet the strict conditions of application, he asks that we suspend the application of Hudud (not the entirety of Sharia). He asks that we spare a limb, a body, a life until we get our act together. He makes this call as a Muslim, known to be practicing and who had deep discussions with other scholars for years about this matter.One need not agree with his assessment and call but*******questioning his motives, accusing him of appeasing the West, doubting his credentials are but smoke screen that prevent us from taking a serious look at our situation. It is slander to accuse him of betraying Islam and questioning his faith, that it self to me seems to betray the spirit of Sharia. For those who question his Islamic education, you should know in addition to his training in the West, he received training in Islamic classica education from Al-Azhar scholars and among his teachers is Sh. Guma today's Mufi of Eqypt. Check Dr. Ramadan's exchanges with other scholars regarding this call and listen to his response to questions generated by ordinary Muslims...only in respectful debate of these issues can the Muslim umma free itself from the shackles of "fear of the West"..here are links for you response to Muftihttp://www.tariqramadan.com/article.php3?id_article=0323&lang=en (http://www.tariqramadan.com/article.php3?id_article=0323&lang=en)Al-Azhar'shttp://www.tariqramadan.com/article.php3?id_article=0308&lang=en (http://www.tariqramadan.com/article.php3?id_article=0308&lang=en)to scholars and leadershttp://www.tariqramadan.com/article.php3?id_article=0311&lang=en (http://www.tariqramadan.com/article.php3?id_article=0311&lang=en)

Anonymous

24th June 2005, 02:05 PM

assalamu 'aleikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu

dear guest, on your last post you've sayed some pretty strange things, ALLAH ta'ala sayed:

" BRING YOUR EVIDENCE, INDEED IF YOU ARE TRUTHFUL"

First daleel required:

Where*******is your daleel to say that in order to apply the hudood of the shari'a, "hunger, poverty, illiteracy, disease, ignorance etc. must be eradicated" and that the hudood must be "the*******only thing left" 

because according to what you've sayed the talibaan where wrong to inpliment the shari'a in its totality, even in the matters of punishment, because they did not eradicate all the things you've mentioned.

but let me tell you what they had eradicated, by the mercy of AR-RAHMAAN, when they implimented the punishment prescribed by ALLAH 'AZZA wa JALL.*******They had eradicated oppression, injustice, aggression, theft of property of the orphand and widows, rape, adultery, fornication, disobidiance to ALLAH ta'ala in matters of salah, zakah, siyam,.

Second daleel reqired

you went on to say: 

"And for those who refer to non-Muslim societies as "heathen", shame on you. Islam is a MERCY for ALL of humanity."

if i understand correctly heathen means: 

One who is regarded as irreligious, uncivilized, or unenlightened.

form dictionary.com*******

do you dare call shame on a muslim who says that the kuffar societies are heathen, shame should be on you if you fail to bring an evidence to the contrary.

Third daleel reqired:

and you even went further to say that

"Our measure of faith is how we live in the world amongst ALL people, regardless of faith."


what so you mean and where is your daleel for such utterance?

i hope you'll give me an answer.

wassalamu 'aleikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu

slave-of-THE_ONE

24th June 2005, 03:27 PM

assalamu 'aleikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu

it was me who posted that asking for daleel and i still hope to receive a reply

Anonymous

24th June 2005, 05:36 PM

as-Salamu 'alaykum,



When I see Tariq Ramadan, I see nothing new; history indeed repeats itself.******* The truth of the matter is, these people stick unswervingly to false principles, just for the sake of creating a religion which they like.******* Islam is not "a la carte"- you do not pick and choose as you wish, nor do you innovate, but you follow.******* Tariq Ramadan is just like the Mu'tazila of old, in that he attempts to reconcile something non-Islamic with the Din, with catastrophic results.******* He's just a person impressed by the kuffar, and he has made it our collective duty to follow them down the lizard hole.



He twists the Sunna to fit his purpose, just as those before him have done, and to accommodate his false beliefs.******* If there are any pre-requisites for the application of hudud, than the scholars before us have spoken about them, and the sahabah (raddi Allahu 'anhum) would have practiced them.******* Essentially, Ramadan propagates the position that we cannot implement hudud until we eradicate "hunger, poverty, illiteracy, disease, ignorance etc.", and- conveniently for Ramadan- as such a thing is impossible, hudud are not implementable.******* This is a circular, ignorant argument that flies in the face of Islam, the Din that Allah sent down practicable, pragmatic and implementable- not simply in our lives, but in government, in politics and in everything.



These people forget the best generation- that of the Prophet (salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).******* Is anyone amongst them stupid enough to claim that in society at the time of the Prophet (salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and the four caliphs that “hunger, poverty, illiteracy, disease, ignorance etc.” did not exist?******* Of course they did!******* Did that prevent them from implementing hudud?******* The answer is a resounding “no”.******* So, where then is Ramadan’s argument?



Significantly, Ramadan has “beefs” not only with the Shari’ah being employed in these times, but with Shari’ah itself- and this is the most dangerous thing about his heretical call.******* In a recent interview on French radio, he condemned the stoning of proven adulterers as “barbaric”.******* Such people explain away Shari’ah by explaining that it can only be correctly implemented in very specific circumstances, conveniently for them, circumstances which are prohibitively unrealistic.******* Allah has not abandoned humanity- He has sent down a law which is practical.



The statement “Islam is a mercy to mankind” is broad in meaning, but the ignorant people have stretched its implications beyond reasonable limit.******* They have not only a severe case of tunnel vision, but a failure to appreciate the “big picture” of Islam.******* For example, on the basis that “there is no compulsion in religion”, they eschew offensive Jihad totally- this comes as a result of their taking Allah’s statement out of context.******* The salaf, the scholars, and, more importantly, the Prophet (salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) have reminded us of the obligation of war against the kuffar because of their kufr.******* There is no such thing as a permanent state of peace (politically speaking) between Dar al-Islam and Dar al-Kufr; under the leadership of a ruler, the Muslims are obliged to dispatch expeditions to make Allah’s word supreme. *******Political science tells us that war between humans will never end; tension between nations will always provoke war, and, as Ibn Khaldun said, this is part of human nature.******* Unlike the modernists think, war is not something bad.******* Until the entire Earth is under the rule of the Muslims- there is no peace.



Islam is in no need of pseudo-intellectuals like Ramadan and their inferiority complexes.******* I know who my Prophet is- and so should he.

Anonymous

1st July 2005, 06:59 PM

I think Time Magazine's nomination of Ramadan as one of the geatest INNOVATORS of the century is pretty spot on even though they probably didn't realize they may be giving his bidah and a lot more away!

And Washington Post's decription of him as the the Martin Luther of Islam also sums it up - ie someone who wants to change Islam.

It will never happen as the secularists will fail as Allah as promised to protect the Quran until the last hour. And the victory will be to Islam.

Ameen

S.S

2nd August 2005, 05:25 AM

Salaam Guest,

Yes he is my brother i didnt say he wasnt, but i dont know him, and because AbuZubair knows him really well and has extremely good relations with him he is his 'dear' brother-why take offense at that?

As a matter of fact ALL my posts were directed and addressed to the brother AbuZubair and i didnt know anyone else would notice them.

My angle? im just a Muslim - i dont believe in these groups or sects and movements..I'm not 'playing games' or hiding behind anything-i dont generally give my name in public on the internet, if we met face to face i'd happily give you my name.

Wassalam Alaikum wa Rahmatullah

Anonymous

9th August 2005, 01:41 PM

this is for the author of the article, before you wrote this article, did you contact dr ramadhan to obtain a clarification of his view? if so, what did he say?

Anonymous

14th August 2005, 04:46 PM

We are experiencing an era where people are trying to blurr the vision of the Muslims. Some are clear about their goals, sadly others have aligned themselves with the Likes of Ramadan in order to prove to the liberal camps that they are no longer what they used to be.

Very sad that some of the well known leaders of the Muslim communities are falling prey to this syndrome of the pendulum swing from one extreme to the other.

gag order

15th August 2005, 09:31 PM

Essentially, Ramadan propagates the position that we cannot implement hudud until we eradicate "hunger, poverty, illiteracy, disease, ignorance etc.", 

What he is lacking in intelligence, he more than makes up for in stupidity. basically he is suggesting a suspension in law and order, 

imagine if america decided to suspend its version of the "hudud" until hunger, poverty, illiteracy, disease, ignorance*******was eradicated thats right no government is stupid enough to*******do that yet we have tariq stupid enough to suggest*******it

and then there*******are people who agree with him all i can say is he grows on people then again so does cancer!*******

Anonymous

28th August 2005, 02:21 PM

to the author of this article - 

masha'Allah I'm SO proud to know that there still*******are people in this ummah with the brains, abilities, and guts to write such simple, HONEST and straight-to-the-point articles, without no fear except that of Allah swt.

May Allah swt bless & protect the believers from the new evils of this dunya.

Aameen.

Anonymous

9th September 2005, 03:26 PM

Asslamualikum,

I greet you with the peace and blessings of allah.

Regarding Mr Ramadan i believe that he may be sincere in his approach but let us look at the fiqh ruling.

An action done must have 2 factors without anyone of them it will be rejected as stated in the hadith related by our mother A'isha regarding bid'ah. the action doen must be sincerely for the sake of allah and it must be in accordance to the sunnah.

So we look at our current climate the reasons for our weakness is because we the muslims have moved in to a liberal extreme and are not focusing on the true understanding derived from the Qu'ran and Sunnah. if we stuck to the clear halah and stayed away from the clear haram and leave the doubtful matters inbetween then there is no arugemnt but only discussion withing the realm of halal 'ikhtalaf'

I urge all the brothers and sisters to take this approach and all will be well. also do not comprimise any aspect of islam if you do then you will only bring the downfall of yourselfs.

finally i would like to end by saying that we all make du'aa for Mr Ramadan that allah forgives his mistakes and guides him to a correct understanding like that of his late grandfathers Imam shahid Hasan al-banna.

Waalikum as salam

Shahaada

Anonymous

16th September 2005, 02:48 PM

Assalamu alikum

We need to return back to the quran and the sunnah with the understanding of the sahabah. We should not be surprised when we here about such people (Tariq Ramadan, Hamza Yousuf etc). O Allah help the ummah of muhammed SWS.

Abu Zubair

gag order

17th September 2005, 12:50 AM

assorted nonsense from tariq



"We've got to get away from the idea that scholars in the Islamic world can do our thinking for us. We need to start thinking for ourselves."*******when he was a teacher he would not allow his students to become the teachers but here he is suggesting that we*******replace the scholars and become mujtahids.



"I can incorporate everything that's not opposed to my religion into my identity," such as? can anyone give an example of something "western" which is permissable in islam which is not already "incorporated" into the identity of "easterner muslims"*******

Anonymous

13th December 2005, 10:05 PM

I am writting a refutation of Tariq Ramadan, from an 'Aqeeda perspective. inshallah if the admins of this board allow, after i have complete it, i will post it.

gag order

9th March 2006, 03:14 PM

more assorted nonsense from tariq

"a European Islamic culture needs to be created. How? By respecting Islamic principles while adopting European tastes and styles". taste? perhaps he means ordering non-alcoholic beer in pubs. style?*******perhaps he means burn your burka in the same vain as 'burn your bra'*******(feminism)

"We need to separate Islamic principles from their cultures of origin and anchor them in the cultural reality of Western Europe."******* in other words replace the culture of origin (asian/african) with the culture of origin (european) what difference would it make? 

*******

Anonymous

28th May 2006, 05:43 AM

We must review our aqeeda, what centrally makes us Muslim, and what nulifys our shahada. Very good article, mashallah... Well written and rationalised. I totally disagree with Tariq Ramadan, he is playing around with very consequentual matters, that puts directly into question his very faith.

May Allah guide him on the stright path. *******

abdullah al jazairi

10th July 2006, 05:02 AM

DANGERS OF APPROACHING THE QURAN WITH A COLONIALISED MIND

(A Muslim Community response to the Channel 4 Program ‘The Muslim Reformation’
Specifically and all ideas of Secularist ‘Reformation’ of Islam generally)

Before we discuss approaching the Quran with ‘fresh eyes’ and the need for ‘new’ Ijtihad, we must ask what is Ijtihad? Is it a method of allowing Islam to become compatible with whatever passes for ‘modernity’ throughout history? Or is it truly something greater than that, a way of defining the very meaning of what modernity should be and acting as examples for all nations of truly enlightened and responsible problem solving distinct from all other methods, viewpoints and ideologies?

Islam’s purpose never sought Muslims to imitate the current social and political circumstances they found themselves in. Rather, Islam throughout history, right from its inception, directed and dominated the current global agenda for humanity- it decided the bench mark for what a ‘modern’ nation should be- as an example to all other human nations. Thus Muhammed (saw) was never a ‘modernist’ (in the western sense of the word); he never called the culturally and intellectually backward Arabs to imitate the more advanced civilisations surrounding them.

He (saw) never created a feudal society (like the Byzantines), nor a divine autocracy (like the Persians), nor any other system that was currently used (or used since). Democracy itself predates Islam (and Christianity), yet we hear nothing of it mentioned by the Quran (or the Bible!) or even the early Islamic scholars who translated the Greek texts it was contained in.

This is because Islam is a comprehensive way of life. It is an ideology that contains a specific viewpoint to life (the Establishment of man's purpose in life in the affairs of life) which forms an ideal and a basis for human society and whose solutions to human problems naturally and purposefully manifest themselves in the forms of Political, Economical, Ruling, Educational and Social systems as well as Universal Rights for Humanity. And as such, it was not for Ijtihad to work out how to change Islam to accommodate other ways of life, but rather Ijtihad’s purpose was to derive solutions from Islam to solve new problems such that the Islamic way of life, its purpose and basis is continued and strengthened.

A misconception is that Islam can borrow everything from other cultures and nations- this is historically and Islamically inaccurate- Islam actually divided what it found from other nations into two categories, Hadharah- that which is related to a particular viewpoint to life of a nation- its concepts about life, culture, systems of living, beliefs, politics etc; and Madaniyyah- that which is related to material progress, like science and technology. So, when the Muslims encountered the Persians, we took their tools of departmental accountancy (Diwan) but left out their ruling system (which is from Persian Hadharah) and likewise we took Indian numerals but left out its polytheism (Numerology,-an Indian Hadharah concept). And it was Ijtihad that the Muslims had to thank for this. Thus Islam has always used the modern technology of its time but it always distinguished and remained separate from the alien Hadharah ideas it encountered whether they be Ancient classical ideas or those veiled under the disguise of the term ‘modernity’.

Now, as for the discussion for approach to the Quran (Islam’s fundamental basis) with ‘fresh eyes’, we must look into what it meant by this.
When Tony Blair decreed new legislation to counter Terrorism, by introducing ‘glorification of terrorism’ as a ‘required’ new law, many rightfully viewed it with suspicion, arguing that the previous laws were adequate and that what was needed was better enforcement not new legislation. As it turned out, the new legislation was not for the stated purpose of countering terrorism, but it is actually being used now to clamp down on domestic political dissent and conscientious objectors to British foreign policy. Thus, the call for ‘new laws’ was used to corrupt and bypass the very freedoms Britain claims to uphold and protect!

Thus it is with the same suspicion that we should hold talk of the need for new Ijtihad in Islam- though doing Ijtihad in itself is not a problem, in fact it is a continuous obligation, but the discussion over Ijtihad with ‘fresh
PTO

eyes’ and the desire to hunt for ‘new’ laws, smacks of an secular mentality exported from the West (aka ‘a Colonialised mind’) by individuals which have adopted a secular viewpoint to life and fused it with Islam using Islamic principles taken out of context, so that Islam becomes compatible with western ideology and restricted to merely being a religious set of beliefs and ritual actions with no further political impact locally or globally, which ends in the Western-desired result that Muslims integrate into artificial nationalities which sever them from considering the affairs of Muslims in other parts of the world.

For it is the one who truly possesses a victimised mentality, that holds up his hands in defeat of the western cultural assault and intellectual neo-colonialism, that now tries to reconcile Islam with western ideas and call it a ‘reformation’. Even when the west themselves admit that Islam is incompatible with their ideologies:

The Orientalist Scholar and Author of international Best-seller book “Crisis of Islam”, Barnard Lewis said about Islam and Capitalism: “They are contradictory. There is no scope for dialogue.”

“The Capitalist system is the eternal salvation for man on earth. Islam, despite its weakness and disintegration, threatens this new victorious way of life (i.e. capitalism).”- Famous American philosopher and thinker, Francis Fukuyama in his book ‘End of history’ (famous book written after the fall of Communism).

Why is it that instead of engaging the West in an Ideological discussion and debate about Islam as an superior alternative to Capitalism- we see those secularist Muslims, instead, rush to fellow Muslims and present Secular liberalism (aka Capitalism) as an alternative to Ideological Islam!

“Some people think that you cannot change Islam to please the west, I think they are wrong”
-Tariq Ramadan on his documentary Channel 4 program: ‘Dispatches, ‘The Muslim Reformation’’

Now, let us contrast that to the real solution for progression in the Muslim world, the call for the enforcement of the existing Islamic laws by the re-establishment of an Islamic vehicle that carries Ijtihad from the theoretical into the practical- the Islamic state (Al Khilafah). The Khilafah is the comprehensive establishment of Tawheed (Islamic sovereignty to God) and upon that basis, the complete implementation of Islamic solutions into life, human affairs and society through its social systems and state mechanisms.

Historically, the Islamic civilisation only degenerated when it stopped the application of Islam- this happened due to the doors of Ijtihad being closed as a result of its success and complacency during its zenith eras; this caused the understanding of Islam and its implementation to degrade over time, making the Muslims weak and ripe for colonisation by the Western forces and ideas.

In the call for change, Reformation is a dangerous word to use, since it implies reforming Islam around the current situation (Western ideals and way of life- i.e. Secularism) - rather than changing the situation around Islam and its ideals (i.e. the re-establishment of the Islamic system and way of life in the Muslim world).

The Reformation of the Catholic Church was called for by Secularists under the banner of ‘Reforming Christianity’ and ‘need for new Bible Exegesis’ (Ijtihad) - thus they took the Bible verse “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s” and re-interpreted it to ‘prove’ that Secularism did not contradict Christianity- thus they twisted the Bible to fit their ideas and politics and make them palatable to fellow Christians; much like some Muslims are doing today. Islam doesn’t need a Reformation but rather a Revival (a term used much more often in the Islamic texts- emphasising bringing back the deen to life and its affairs).

The key to Revival, is intellectually elevating the thinking of the Muslim world upon the Islamic basis and purifying it from foreign thoughts and ideas, while striving politically for the comprehensive implementation of Islam in all areas of life (i.e. a Islamic Khilafah), such that the true beauty and enlightened manner of Islam is appreciated and put on show for all humanity. Then Islam will be able to solve the multitude of problems facing not only the Muslims, but all humanity and use modern technology under the correct context and use of Ijtihad, that would develop science and technology at a much faster rate than that encountered in the west. For Islam doesn’t have Patenting laws nor Copyright (both western hadharah concepts) - thus it is not restricted in its dissemination of knowledge and research within its own society, -and in a society based upon the Islamic purpose and use of Ijtihad- the world would truly witness a vibrant and dynamic civilisation- just like it had in the past and will do again in the future soon inshallah.

For more info refer to www.bringbackjustice.com (and see: Ijtihad, Applying Islam in the 21st Century).

AL-KITAAB WAS-SUNNAH

28th July 2006, 06:24 AM

Who have a right to put his opinion on Allah's Shari'ah?

Can't we go back and learn from the Prophet ('Alayhi swalaatu wa salaam) when Usaamah bin Zayd (RadhiyaLlahu 'anhu) tried to defend a rich woman who stole? What did 'alayhi swalaatu wa salaam said? Even if was My daughter Faatwimah stole i would cut her hand!

Can we change or discuss Allah's law because some rulers are not just?

Come on brothers, lets be realistic and put a side our one sided opinions.

The solution always is to stick with the BOOK and the SOUND SUNNAH

Let us forget people like Tariq Ramadan, Zaki Badawi, Muhammad Tantawi, Habib Jafri, Hasan Ali As-Saqaaf, Hamza Yusuf, Nuh Ha Meem Keller etc

Unregistered

6th October 2006, 10:15 PM

Alhamdolillah an excellent and quality article, Jazakallah Brother.

More like a whole load of crap.

Why do (we) Muslims have such a hard time being self critical?

Come on Muslim Ummah, Wake up! Stop being so self righteous! Drop the 'muslim pride'

Unregistered

2nd July 2008, 03:02 AM

Assalamu Alaikum brothers and sisters in Islam,
Our primary concern at present is to preserve our children from the destructive influence of the irreligious propoganda that is being bombarded from the materialistic for profit culture. Our primary goal should be to lead a healthy life starting from eating Halal clean food (we must grow our own food free of chemicals, pesticides and transport it using God given benzene to us). We must develope INTERNATIONAL business specialists to handle the OIL that Allah subhanahuwa ta'Ala has given us. That leads to establishing security system to safeguard Islamic countries from the destructive attempts of foreign invaders (to get our resources and oil). That leads to developing a strong and righteous army of Muslims for SELF DEFENSE and "continued" learning of the ENEMIES plans. They (the sharlataan= shaitaan) never stops.
Provide free education and free medical care to all families in all Muslim countries. The result will be considerable peace. Establish Zakaat payment and consider TAX as part of Zakaat to make it EASY for the Muslims. In kindness will Islam flourish. Let us STOP being critical of our own Muslims under the encouragement of the enemies of Islam. Do not be victims to "DIVIDE and CONQUER" for they (shaitaan) will win if you do NOT love your own BROTHER in ISLAM. Forgive the other Muslim and the good non-Muslims, be aware of the missionaries who have come into your country to destroy your ONE TRUE RELIGION.
Let us FOLLOW THE SUNNAH of our beloved prophet Muhammad sallallahu alahiWasallam.
Salaam to ALL MUSLIMS all over the world.
'Keep us in the straight path, the path that is not of the wrong doers". Keep our Imaan and our chldren and theirs till the Judgement day strong and protected.
SMILE every day.

Unregistered

2nd July 2008, 03:21 AM

Please, be aware this is THE INTERNET. There are non-Muslims who have learned some Arabic and a bit about Islam "pose" as Muslims and use "profanity" (a big clue)
Thus DO NOT automatically assume all posts are from angry Muslims. Most angry "comments" are from enemies of Islam who want to make a fight between the Muslims. Do not bite the HOOK of treachery.
Say SALAAMS to all Muslims and if you do not agree w/ one then in a quiet calm way after one night of restful sleep and prayer talk to them. If they still disagree then they may NOT be a Muslim.
JazakallahuKhairan Brothers and sisters in Islam. We are ONE SOUL of Islam fro the spirit of Allah SubhanahuwaTa'ala.

*edited due to that comment being suspicious*

alghayb

2nd July 2008, 06:23 AM

Ramadan gets called a non-Practicing Muslim and doesn't defend himself.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/4700976.stm at time in video of 12:40

Can this video be ripped from site and hosted on youtube or somewhere?