News & Comment
You should reform reality according to Islam instead of reforming Islam according to reality

News

The German newspaper Die Welt published an open letter of the public figures practicing Islam, who are in favor of reforming the religion. The goals and objectives are outlined in the manifesto by the residents of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The authors of the address, positioning themselves as serious scientists, say about the need to reform Islam, because they see themselves an integral part of Europe and the European Community. (Source: Aussiedlerbote)

Comment

Such statements are not something new. In essence, they are nothing more than part of an ongoing ideological struggle of capitalism against Islam. The basis of the legislative activity of the capitalist ideology – democracy, that is the position, when people themselves come up with the laws for all spheres of life.

Currently, the capitalist ideology, with its worldview, concepts and way of life is dominant in the world. Not only unprincipled personality, but also carriers of other ideologies are under its influence.

Here for us Muslims are shining examples. Having their own, the incomparable ideology Islam, Muslims often promote the ideas and concepts borrowed from the disbelievers, that are quite irrelevant to our religion. For example, the above-mentioned idea of reforming Islam. It comes from the idea that all religions are invented by people, so can be changed by them.

Such concepts are not acceptable for someone who considers himself a Muslim - subdued (to God). This status implies a belief that Islam - guidance and the religion of the Lord of the worlds. For this reason, a Muslim should arise a natural question: Do people know better than their Creator what is good or bad for them? The idea of reforming Islam from the mouth of someone who calls himself a Muslim, gives reason to doubt his adequacy. It is not permissible even for little thinking personalities. When the ideas, based on this thought, are being promoted by the people boasting of their literacy and education, there appear reasons to doubt not only the adequacy of mental, but also a moral component of such "scientists". And morality is an important factor of objectivity.

The similar situation can be seen in an attempt to fit Islam to "modernity". We are tried to present the current state of affairs, modern manners, customs, concepts as reality, which is above human capabilities and that man is not able to change it radically. This thought is a consequence of the once popular theory of evolution. Hence - a conclusion from this idea - you need to bend under the existing reality or you will go overboard of modern life.

However, for reasonable people it is obvious that the mentioned "modernity" is nothing more than the result of human activity. So this state of affairs can also be changed by humans and another reality with different situation, manners, customs, concepts can be created.

Islam is the truth from the Lord of people. This religion affects and regulates the aspects of our lives, which in any historical period of human life remain unchanged. From this it is obvious a reasonable conclusion: it will be more logical and correct to bring our lives in line with guidance from the Creator of people, not to "reform" the guidance according to the whims and desires of the irrational part of the human race.

(وَلَوِ اتَّبَعَ الْحَقُّ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ لَفَسَدَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ بَلْ أَتَيْنَاهُم بِذِكْرِهِمْ فَهُمْ عَن ذِكْرِهِم مُّعْرِضُونَ)

“If the Truth had been in accord with their desires, truly the heavens and the earth, and all beings therein would have been in confusion and corruption! Nay, We have sent them their admonition, but they turn away from their admonition.” [23:71]

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Viktor Nikolaev – Ukraine