Ilmul-Kalaam (argumentation based on Greek philosophy) is among such innovations in the religion that created intellectual schisms in the Muslim nation and initiated deviant trends. One of the sects that indulged in Ilmul-Kalaam were the Mu’tazilah. They gave precedence to intellect over the revealed texts of the Qur’aan and the Sunnah – when they perceived the two conflicted. This attitude set an evil precedent for all later groups who sought to make intellect and desire decisive over the Qur’aan and the Sunnah. In this book, we shall critique such modernist groups that attempt to impose novel interpretations upon Islamic teachings.
The Two Modernist Trends
One trend of Modernists are the self-proclaimed ‘Islam-experts’ and ‘Muslim-reformers’ that we see all to often paraded on major media outlets. They openly demand reformation in Islam and call for a ‘progressive’ interpretation of Islamic values. Their catch phrases are “humane Islam”, “gender-friendly Islam”, “Islam 2.0”, “Progressive Islam” and the like.
Their newly-found activity gained momentum with the emergence of violent extremist elements that misinterpret Islam to create chaos and cause hardship for Muslims. This began a search for an alternate, sensible and moderate voice – a voice that can expect state funding and favours.
The lucrative opportunity thus created has attracted an assembly-line of individuals with a history of apathy for Islam and Muslims, to masquerade as champions of the ‘oppressed Muslim woman’, good-governance for Muslim nations, human rights, etc. They claim to be the moderate voice and speak in a language that the media, especially the western media, likes to hear.
May Allah al-Kareem al-Ghafoor have Mercy on all of us, save and protect us from the all evils, Forgive us our sins, keep us steadfast on His true Deen (as practised by our beloved Prophet SallAllāhu Alaihi wa Sallam, his Companions and the at-Taaba’een), Guide those of us who are Misguided, and unite the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad SallAllāhu Alaihi wa Sallam, Aameen!
