Transcript Traditionalists vs. Progressives: Understanding the 'Other'

PLURALISM IN ISLAM
Moderator:
Dr. Faiz Khan
Panelists:
Reza Aslan
Yasir Qadhi
Irshad Manji
Youcef Mammeri
Anas Osman
Pluralism in Islam
O mankind! We have created you from a male and a
female, and have made you into nations and tribes that
you may know one another. Verily, the noblest of you,
in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Allah is
All-Knowing, All-Aware.
- Quran 49:13
I believe in the religion of love, wherever its stages
may go, as love is my religion and faith.
- Ibn ‘Arabi (adjacent calligraphy)
Sectarianism?
• If every sect thinks of itself as either the one and only
true faith or at least the truest and best of the others, is
it not the case that one of these sects is right and
the rest wrong, either absolutely or only relatively?
• If the historical record shows that there has always been
a plurality of opinion on most issues, where does the
idea of a single way to salvation come from?
• Does it come from outside? Is it a reaction to an outside
force? A result of the anti-colonial struggle? A reaction
to modernity?
Source of Guidance/Authority
• This day have I perfected for you your religion and completed My favor on you and chosen
for you Islam as a religion
- Quran (5:3)
• During the Prophet’s time, debate and discussion would continue to the
point of revelation that would clarify matters and was also context sensitive.
• Now that we do not have revelation, do we debate and if so, how?
• Can a discourse relevant to a few thousand in Arabia 1400 years ago be
the only framework to analyze and resolve the issues faced by 1 billion
across the world today?
• Can we accept a socio-historical (contextual) interpretation of the Qur’an
and Sunnah?
• Given the decentralized state of our community, and in the absence of a
central authority, who speaks for Islam? All of us? No one?
• Who claims to speak for us? What is a pseudo-Muslim?
Pluralism
• The very concept of the ummah denotes that there is unity
in diversity. If we are such a diverse body of people, each
with a relatively different historical experience, can there
only be one way to Allah?
• Given the plurality of ideologies, cultures, histories, and
moreover beliefs, what can unite us?