Note on | Mustafa Akyol | A Proposal for Islam
This note is supplemental to Mustafa Akyol’s op-ed article, A “Proposal for Islam” published in New York Times, on September 29, 2017. Sadly the Pakistani readers did not get a chance to see it, since the local authorities did not allow its publication in Pakistan.
Link and Text of Article appear below at the end.
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“To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and that is on the earth, and weather you disclose what is in yourselves or conceal it, Allah will call you to account for it. Then He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills. To do as He wills, is His Exclusive Privilege.”
Quran, Chapter 2 Al Baqar, Verse 284
‘Say to those who are my ‘Abd’ (creations / slaves), who have transgressed themselves, despair not of the Mercy of Allah. Verily, Allah forgives all sins*; He is Forgiving and The Most Merciful.’
Quran, Chapter 39, Az Zumr, Verse 53
*Forgiveness of sins is contingent of seeking forgiveness from Allah
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Can we give it little thought why Islam that germinated at a reasonable distance from existing centers of civilizations spread within a hundred years to most parts of the contemporary civilizations. Not only that Muslims remained a political power for several centuries, but the culture that evolved under their governances contributed to advancement knowledge and later played a key role in European Renaissance and Enlightenment. A common perception is that force (sword) was the key element in propagation of Islam.
While it is true that the battle of Yarmuk and Qadsia were watersheds in breaking the state power of Byzantine and The Sassanid’s; Muslim conquests did not enforce conversion. Jews and Christians were living in fairly large numbers in the Middle East and Levant till late. The Ottoman Empire went a step forward in giving the status of Millets to such minorities. Jews expelled from Spain during Reconquista and Inquisition, were welcomed in The Ottoman Empire.
Our history remains illuminated with examples of the likes of Hazrat Imam Husain (AS), who stood up and sacrificed his life on the premise of that, Muslim rulers could not be installed by force or hereditary privileges. While the house of The Prophet (SAWS) remained prosecuted during the Umayyad Monarchy, they fared no better in the subsequent rule of Abbasids; who belonged to their own Hashmi clan. In the Abbasid age the House of Prophet (SWAS) was contained by perpetual house arrest.
Imam Abu Hanifa was imprisoned by an Abbasi Monarch, merely because he declined his offer to accept the position of Chief Justice. He died in captivity. Imam Ahmed Ibn Hanbal was persecuted by the successor of Mamun Al Rashid, Mun’tassim Billah. Although Mamun ordered his arrest, he died before Imam Hanbal could be produced in the royal court. The point of contention was, “Is Quran due to expire; since it is a creation.” These were the days when Greek Philosophy was intensively deliberated. Court intellectuals were of the view (by logic) that any creation was perishable.
When Imam Hanbal was produced (chained) in the court of Mun’tassim Billah, he was asked if he seconded to the Courts view of Quran as a creation which is due to expire. On his dissenting reply which translates in, “Being the revelation from Allah, Quran is eternal”, Mun’tassim ordered him to be lashed. The lashing continued unabated intermittently, for such time that Mun’tassim was succeeded by his successor who released him from captivity.
There were no major conflicts beyond Yarmuk and Qadsia. Regions like South Asia and Indonesia, which, now form some three fourth of the World’s Muslim population, were drawn to conversion by numerous examples similar to those narrated above, including efforts of Sufi Saints who professed Islam.
Political Islam declined soon. The rulers who are Caliphs “Shadow of God on Earth” in normative history were no better in their conduct than Roman Kings. The clergy joined hands with the Court for nurturing their own vested interests. Thousands of rawayaits and myths were injected in the collection of Ahadith for lending legitimacy to the Monarchy.
Nevertheless philosophers, scientists, academics and travelers enriched the advancement of knowledge within the Muslim areas of dominations. Muslim Spain (Andalusia) was a golden era, apart from Baghdad and Cairo, where Muslim academia progressed with the quest and dissemination of knowledge. The schools and libraries of Andalusia translated Arabic manuscripts into Latin. Sometimes back Greek and Sanskrit works were being translated into Arabic. It also indicates that Islam was not a religion or culture in silos or dictated by prejudice. There was an active cooperation with Hindus, Christians and Jews in acquisition of knowledge.
The overall decline came with the emergence of clergy (Ulama e Soo). While we can record one Husain, one Hanifa, one Ibn Hanbal and one Group Captain Zafar Masood (March 1971), in a given age; the question remains, where were all the others? Particularly given the basic Islamic doctrine of obligatory Jihad; not to be equated or confused with Qital. One must stand up to what is wrong (Zulm) and support what right (Adl, Ehsan etc.). It is clear from our history that majority tends to be neutral, while the opportunists shake hands with the Court, to protect their vested interest and continue enjoying life.
Think of our alternate history, if “The Kufans” had come out to support Imam Husain. From our recent past, if majority of Generals at Dacca in March 1971 had followed the example of Gr. Capt. Zafar Masood and Lt. Gen. Sahebzada Yaqub? A close friend, who professes a faith somewhat dissimilar to mine, also happens to be a member of its clergy. We often discuss comparative religions. He mentioned, that he likes one thing in Islam which is the absence of clergy. Sadly, clergy has existed in Islam from the early days, though it has not attained the structured version of the Roman Catholic or Greek Orthodox Church. It nevertheless remains deeply entrenched and highly influential (at least) in South Asia.
The clergy has bought no positives. They teach trifles and insist merely on rituals. The concept that Allah wishes its creations to establish a ‘Just Social Order’ on the planet Earth, has not dawned on them yet. Creating divisions and multiplying people into sects seem to be their only ambition. Their sermons are embedded with dire warnings, that would send anyone to hell. Anyone who does not follow their teachings blindly, is destined to hell anyway. Nor the countries which deploy religious police to enforce Islam do any service to Allah or His Prophet.
This cancer was responsible to shut the doors of Ijtehad (Independent reasoning) ca. thousand years back. For the sake of propping the monarchies of their times, they came up with something quite novel; “Whatever that was to be discussed has been deliberated and decided, there is no room for debate anymore Does one recall the statement made by the head of a patent office, who said something similar just before the advent of 20th century on looking at an X-Ray plate.
These days the same lot implores upon us to read the Quran by rote (since reciting one word would bring 10 virtues) however dare not make any attempt to understand its meaning and instructions. Does the idea not reverberate of that of the Roman Church that was challenged by Luther in Germany, some 500 years back? I was shocked lately when a well-educated school friend of mine; living in USA for almost 40 years and a devout / practicing Muslim suggested something similar, that interpretation of Quran may best be left to the clergy.
Do such members of the clergy or the enlightened Muslims living in a free society, suggest that the following verse (repeated thrice) be expunged from the holy book?
“And, We have indeed made the Quran easy to understand and remember; then is there who will remember (acquire and understand) and act?”
Quran Chapter 54, Qamar, Verse 17, repeat Verse 32, repeat Verse 40
Someone asked Dr Hamidullah who was one of the most towering Muslim scholars of the 20th Century (author of some 150 books in Arabic); as to why so much diversity is seen among Muslims, while performing their religious rituals. They fold their hand in several different ways during their prayers while some even do not fold their hands. Dr Hamidullah replied that it is the Will of Allah that whatever had been the practice of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) during his life time remains with his followers ever. In British India, these trifles while offering prayer would lead to commotion and often thoroughly washing the masjid if one could hear a loud “Ameen” during a congregational prayer. The clergy was good at dividing the Muslims into sects, while it now functions on a much higher plane even to the extent of giving the license to kill.
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No Political Party with an Islamic manifesto, or the respected Ulemas from the numerous supposedly apolitical Darul Ulooms, have ever come forward in even verbally condemning the social ills (that are absolutely anti-Islamic) that plagues Pakistan. Be it honor killing which is almost encouraged, bonded labor which is mass slavery in practice, child marriage and giving away young girls to opponents in compensation for settlement of disputes etc. etc.
These illiterates don’t even care to investigate that Hazrat Ayesha was married at 16 (not at age 6) and wedded at 19 (not at 9); thereby finding an effortless path to legitimize child marriages. When the British set a minimum age for marriage (which was 14 for girls) in India, it was termed as a pagan interference in Islamic law by then clergy.
On a thoughtful reflection, the fault lies not in our stars, but in us. Merely blaming the clergy will not absolve us of our fundamental responsibilities.
As Muslims it is our primary obligation to:
1. Study the Quran as the last revelation from Allah.
2. Understand The Quran
3. Live our lives in accordance with The Instruction that are given in The Quran
4. Decimate the message of Quran to others.
These days we are learning Mandarin, only because our future business interests seem promising in trade with China. How many of us, who have enjoyed 16 or 18 years of formal and quality education, have made an honest effort to achieve a basic understanding of Quranic Arabic, or apportioning a 15 minutes time each day for understanding The Quran? We are in sin, in our dependence on the clergy, who learned by rote and have minimal ability to think and analyze. They pacify the masses with a future; that you were destined to be crushed in this world by poverty, hunger, disease, and disappointment’ but don’t despair; you will be duly rewarded for your miseries in the afterlife.
If this nonsense is to be considered a part of Islam, or a message from Quran, the following verse in Quran becomes doubtful. The concept appears with minor change (in words) in three of its Chapters.
It is He, who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and Truth (The Book & Seerah), so that the Message (with dissemination) attains supremacy against pagan religions and deniers of Allah’s Sovereignty.
Quran, Chapter 9, Isra, Verse 33. Chapter 48, Al Fatah, Verse 28. Chapter 61, Al Saff, Verse 9)
The need for a Reformation is inevitable. However it cannot be led by the clergy who graduated by rote learning and remain obsessed with Taqleed. It has to come from a set of the enlightened who are neither digital plumbers nor cyber philosophers, but 360 degrees educated; similar to the erudite from the golden age of Muslim civilization. Back then, one person could be a combination of a philosopher, religious scholar, mathematician, astrologer, scientist and medical doctor. To name a few: Ibn Sina, Ibn Rushd, Al Haythem et al.
Therefore our educated and enlightened households will have to inculcate in their children, the concept of double or triple majors while graduating. A recent example: Edwin Schrödinger, well known to students of high school physics, was also a biologist with significant contribution to the exploring of DNA Structure.
The clergy as it exists needs to be eliminated, not with the Soviet example, but with 360 degree educated successors. There is a basis for initiating a Reformation movement, particularly with reviving the concept of Ijtehad and burying Taqleed for good. Unless we can do it in a generation, Muslims will be collectively condemned to another five centuries of slavery. This theory has roots in the Life of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) in Makkah and Medina.
Although thousands of history pages can be put forth in support of this theory, only some points are highlighted here:
· Prophet Muhammad was born in Makkah which was not exactly a barbarian society, as perceived then by the Byzantines and Sassanids. It was populated by tribes believed to be descendants from Hazrat Ismael (AS), the first son of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS). Due to no irrigation life was tough and structured on tribal traditions.
· Reaching the barren valley from boundaries of nearest contemporary civilizations was a month of travel by camel. The place was nevertheless well known for its shrine (Ka’ba), that was built by Hazrat Ibrahim (AS). The tribes excelled in trade skills, while its favorite pastime was poetry and common hedonism. Writing was not common. Very few people from Arabs knew how to read and write. Most traditions were oral. The Arabs took took pride in their excellent memory.
· Although Christian and Jews resided in the Arabian Peninsula in significant numbers, they had little to do with the neighboring tribes who were pagan, while the former took pride in themselves, as people of the book.
· There was no skill worth mentioning indigenously rooted in Makkah, nor was it home to any technology. Even the concept of ‘wheel’ was absent from the region. Swords came from Damascus while fabrics from Yemen.
· It was a rich city nevertheless with trade caravans passing through and the yearly Hajj ritual which was the legacy from the great grand father Ibrahim.
Apparent logic dictated advent of Muhammad (SAWS) somewhere near Constantinople, or the Sassanid seat of Power, Ctesiphon . What was the logic in Allah sending his last messenger to such a hostile, desolate and remote environment, as Makkah.
The answer lies in the nascent state of the environment. The do’s and don’ts of Islam, were disseminated and practiced by Prophet (SAWS) in an environment devoid of technology, philosophy and influences of external civilizations. The diktats were absolutely basic. Rituals could be practiced anywhere in the World, present or future. Moral values given were unquestionable, basic to human ethics and in line with past scriptures.
The idea was to cement the basics, leaving the trifles to the judgment of adherents of faith, according to their own time and environment. We are living in an age where we can understand the premise much better than our forefathers, due to the scientific discoveries and technological advancements in the last three hundred years. We now know for sure, that all our past acts can be reproduced before us. It is not desired that we go back to live in an environment that existed one and a half millenniums ago, but on the other hand it is highly recommended to seek answers to how our children will live in the next 200 years with the unforeseen challenges confronting them, with still retaining the basic moral and ethical values from Quran and Seerah.
That is what revival of independent thinking, reasoning, analyzing and Ijtehad is all about for a reformation in Islam, as it is presented today.
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September 2017
