Newsweek and the Washington Post bring us “What Islam Really Says” about various issues. They, correctly, have asked various Muslim experts. After all, the inheritors of a faith tradition have a privileged relationship with that faith tradition’s meaning, as do scholars of it. Non-Muslims, including, I daresay, most of the publishing staff of Newsweek and the Washington Post, should provide a forum in which the necessarily Muslim debate about the meaning of Islam can take place.
One voice in the present debate belongs to Irshad Manji and her recent campaign Project Itjihad, “a charitable initiative to promote the spirit of Ijtihad, Islam’s own tradition of critical thinking, debate and dissent.” In calling for diversity and reform in Islamic thought, she necessarily addresses Muslims; she necessarily addresses non-Muslims in calling for human rights, including women’s rights, for all Muslims. When we ask, “What does Islam say?” we ask, “What interpretation of Islam on Islam’s terms is there that accords with core ‘Western’ beliefs?”
I recognize the danger in asserting certain baseline values before the debate on religious meaning has been concluded. I am holding particular facts to be true: that all men are created equal, for instance. It is difficult to justify this holding. Call it my faith. While I neither ask nor expect all religions to think the same, I expect all communities of faith to act in accord with civil society; how believers justify this I leave to their hearts, their meetings, and their gods.
Eboo Patel, whose column on Islam comes out today, has observed that it is the congregants that define a religion, that how a society understands its mission is as important as what the mission is called. The debates of theologians are important, and I hope to say more about those debates, but unless their arguments reach the adherents of a faith tradition, they do not exist.
I also must credit Patel, about whom I’ve written before, with rescuing me from the theory of theological segregation. We moderns have no choice but to see our neighbors responding to the muezzin, so it should surprise no one that from time to time we are caught up in church plenaries, too. Just as congregants cannot now forget their neighbors outside whom church policy will effect, so too the neighbors, if not already voting, must consider the issues that someone else’s church considers. But we must go a step even beyond this self-understanding and tolerance of the other. Not only must a Muslim be able to explain how his Islam is a social, pluralist faith tradition, but the Jew across the street ought to be able to explain how a pluralistic society accords with Islamic tradition, too.
So, as a non-Muslim eager to see the present debate unfold, I have no answer to the question, “What does Islam really say?” I have only blank pages on which to record Islam's answer, a mind ready to persist if the debaters are not forthcoming, and a heart eager to distribute answers true to Islamic revelation and defensive of human equality.
Comments (99)
Lafarge to buy Orascom Cement for $12.8 bln link
Posted March 17, 2008 8:20 AM
Posted on March 17, 2008 08:20
Thanks to Oprah, Obama camp claims biggest crowd yet
Posted March 17, 2008 8:20 AM
Posted on March 17, 2008 08:20
Lafarge to buy Orascom Cement for $12.8 bln link
Posted February 9, 2008 7:53 PM
Posted on February 9, 2008 19:53
Thanks to Oprah, Obama camp claims biggest crowd yet
Posted February 9, 2008 7:53 PM
Posted on February 9, 2008 19:53
Lafarge to buy Orascom Cement for $12.8 bln link
Posted February 9, 2008 7:19 AM
Posted on February 9, 2008 07:19
Thanks to Oprah, Obama camp claims biggest crowd yet
Posted February 9, 2008 7:19 AM
Posted on February 9, 2008 07:19
Lafarge to buy Orascom Cement for $12.8 bln link
Posted February 8, 2008 11:33 AM
Posted on February 8, 2008 11:33
Thanks to Oprah, Obama camp claims biggest crowd yet
Posted February 8, 2008 11:33 AM
Posted on February 8, 2008 11:33
Lafarge to buy Orascom Cement for $12.8 bln link
Posted February 7, 2008 1:49 PM
Posted on February 7, 2008 13:49
Thanks to Oprah, Obama camp claims biggest crowd yet
Posted February 7, 2008 1:49 PM
Posted on February 7, 2008 13:49
Lafarge to buy Orascom Cement for $12.8 bln link
Posted February 6, 2008 2:59 PM
Posted on February 6, 2008 14:59
Thanks to Oprah, Obama camp claims biggest crowd yet
Posted February 6, 2008 2:59 PM
Posted on February 6, 2008 14:59
Lafarge to buy Orascom Cement for $12.8 bln link
Posted February 5, 2008 8:46 PM
Posted on February 5, 2008 20:46
Thanks to Oprah, Obama camp claims biggest crowd yet
Posted February 5, 2008 8:45 PM
Posted on February 5, 2008 20:45
Lafarge to buy Orascom Cement for $12.8 bln link
Posted February 4, 2008 6:44 PM
Posted on February 4, 2008 18:44
Thanks to Oprah, Obama camp claims biggest crowd yet
Posted February 4, 2008 6:43 PM
Posted on February 4, 2008 18:43
Thanks to Oprah, Obama camp claims biggest crowd yet
Posted February 3, 2008 10:04 PM
Posted on February 3, 2008 22:04
Lafarge to buy Orascom Cement for $12.8 bln link
Posted February 3, 2008 10:04 PM
Posted on February 3, 2008 22:04
Lafarge to buy Orascom Cement for $12.8 bln link
Posted February 2, 2008 10:59 PM
Posted on February 2, 2008 22:59
Thanks to Oprah, Obama camp claims biggest crowd yet
Posted February 2, 2008 10:58 PM
Posted on February 2, 2008 22:58
Lafarge to buy Orascom Cement for $12.8 bln link
Posted February 1, 2008 7:42 AM
Posted on February 1, 2008 07:42
Thanks to Oprah, Obama camp claims biggest crowd yet
Posted February 1, 2008 7:42 AM
Posted on February 1, 2008 07:42
Lafarge to buy Orascom Cement for $12.8 bln link
Posted January 31, 2008 7:25 AM
Posted on January 31, 2008 07:25
Thanks to Oprah, Obama camp claims biggest crowd yet
Posted January 31, 2008 7:25 AM
Posted on January 31, 2008 07:25
Lafarge to buy Orascom Cement for $12.8 bln link
Posted January 30, 2008 8:14 AM
Posted on January 30, 2008 08:14
Thanks to Oprah, Obama camp claims biggest crowd yet
Posted January 30, 2008 8:14 AM
Posted on January 30, 2008 08:14
Lafarge to buy Orascom Cement for $12.8 bln link
Posted January 29, 2008 9:51 AM
Posted on January 29, 2008 09:51
Thanks to Oprah, Obama camp claims biggest crowd yet
Posted January 29, 2008 9:51 AM
Posted on January 29, 2008 09:51
Lafarge to buy Orascom Cement for $12.8 bln link
Posted January 27, 2008 3:53 PM
Posted on January 27, 2008 15:53
Thanks to Oprah, Obama camp claims biggest crowd yet
Posted January 27, 2008 3:53 PM
Posted on January 27, 2008 15:53
Lafarge to buy Orascom Cement for $12.8 bln link
Posted January 26, 2008 12:51 PM
Posted on January 26, 2008 12:51
Thanks to Oprah, Obama camp claims biggest crowd yet
Posted January 26, 2008 12:51 PM
Posted on January 26, 2008 12:51
Lafarge to buy Orascom Cement for $12.8 bln link
Posted December 24, 2007 5:57 AM
Posted on December 24, 2007 05:57
Thanks to Oprah, Obama camp claims biggest crowd yet
Posted December 24, 2007 5:57 AM
Posted on December 24, 2007 05:57
Hello link
Posted November 15, 2007 3:55 AM
Posted on November 15, 2007 03:55
Good site!
Posted November 15, 2007 3:55 AM
Posted on November 15, 2007 03:55
Hello link
Posted October 12, 2007 12:13 PM
Posted on October 12, 2007 12:13
Good site!
Posted October 12, 2007 12:13 PM
Posted on October 12, 2007 12:13
Hello link
Posted October 10, 2007 1:58 PM
Posted on October 10, 2007 13:58
Good site!
Posted October 10, 2007 1:58 PM
Posted on October 10, 2007 13:58
Hello link
Posted October 6, 2007 6:39 AM
Posted on October 6, 2007 06:39
Good site!
Posted October 6, 2007 6:38 AM
Posted on October 6, 2007 06:38
Hello link
Posted October 5, 2007 4:08 AM
Posted on October 5, 2007 04:08
Good site!
Posted October 5, 2007 4:08 AM
Posted on October 5, 2007 04:08
Hello link
Posted October 3, 2007 11:33 AM
Posted on October 3, 2007 11:33
Good site!
Posted October 3, 2007 11:33 AM
Posted on October 3, 2007 11:33
Hello link
Posted October 1, 2007 9:10 PM
Posted on October 1, 2007 21:10
Good site!
Posted October 1, 2007 9:10 PM
Posted on October 1, 2007 21:10
Hello link
Posted September 29, 2007 4:30 PM
Posted on September 29, 2007 16:30
Good site!
Posted September 29, 2007 4:29 PM
Posted on September 29, 2007 16:29
Hello link
Posted September 28, 2007 4:43 PM
Posted on September 28, 2007 16:43
Good site!
Posted September 28, 2007 4:42 PM
Posted on September 28, 2007 16:42
Hello link
Posted September 27, 2007 4:15 PM
Posted on September 27, 2007 16:15
Good site!
Posted September 27, 2007 4:15 PM
Posted on September 27, 2007 16:15
Hello link
Posted September 27, 2007 4:14 PM
Posted on September 27, 2007 16:14
Good site!
Posted September 27, 2007 4:14 PM
Posted on September 27, 2007 16:14
Hello link
Posted September 27, 2007 1:23 PM
Posted on September 27, 2007 13:23
Good site!
Posted September 27, 2007 1:23 PM
Posted on September 27, 2007 13:23
Good site!
Posted September 27, 2007 7:34 AM
Posted on September 27, 2007 07:34
Hello link
Posted September 26, 2007 12:03 PM
Posted on September 26, 2007 12:03
Good site!
Posted September 26, 2007 12:03 PM
Posted on September 26, 2007 12:03
Hello link
Posted September 25, 2007 3:50 AM
Posted on September 25, 2007 03:50
Good site!
Posted September 25, 2007 3:50 AM
Posted on September 25, 2007 03:50
Hello link
Posted September 24, 2007 3:05 PM
Posted on September 24, 2007 15:05
Good site!
Posted September 24, 2007 3:05 PM
Posted on September 24, 2007 15:05
Hello link
Posted September 24, 2007 2:57 AM
Posted on September 24, 2007 02:57
Good site!
Posted September 24, 2007 2:57 AM
Posted on September 24, 2007 02:57
Hello link
Posted September 23, 2007 4:58 PM
Posted on September 23, 2007 16:58
Good site!
Posted September 23, 2007 4:58 PM
Posted on September 23, 2007 16:58
Hello link
Posted September 23, 2007 1:40 PM
Posted on September 23, 2007 13:40
Good site!
Posted September 23, 2007 1:40 PM
Posted on September 23, 2007 13:40
Good site!
Posted September 21, 2007 5:54 AM
Posted on September 21, 2007 05:54
Michael,
What ever happened to you? I used to like to check on what you were up to.
Posted September 18, 2007 11:08 PM
Posted on September 18, 2007 23:08
Dear sir, i ll like to meet you please that is all i have to say.you are doing a good job, love you.i need an invitation letter to come and see you one on one.
Posted September 8, 2007 3:51 PM
Posted on September 8, 2007 15:51
good site! zaebis
Posted August 5, 2007 7:26 PM
Posted on August 5, 2007 19:26
Very nice point of view! Respect!
Posted August 5, 2007 7:26 PM
Posted on August 5, 2007 19:26
good site! zaebis
Posted August 5, 2007 4:40 AM
Posted on August 5, 2007 04:40
Very nice point of view! Respect!
Posted August 5, 2007 4:40 AM
Posted on August 5, 2007 04:40
good site! zaebalis
Posted August 2, 2007 8:30 PM
Posted on August 2, 2007 20:30
Very nice point of view! Respect!
Posted August 2, 2007 8:30 PM
Posted on August 2, 2007 20:30
good site! govnodomeny
Posted August 2, 2007 4:27 AM
Posted on August 2, 2007 04:27
Very nice point of view! Respect!
Posted August 2, 2007 4:26 AM
Posted on August 2, 2007 04:26
good site! govnodomeny
Posted August 1, 2007 7:24 PM
Posted on August 1, 2007 19:24
Very nice point of view! Respect!
Posted August 1, 2007 7:23 PM
Posted on August 1, 2007 19:23
good site! babloisneeded
Posted July 31, 2007 7:27 AM
Posted on July 31, 2007 07:27
Very nice point of view! Respect!
Posted July 31, 2007 7:27 AM
Posted on July 31, 2007 07:27
good site! ilovethisgame
Posted July 30, 2007 7:40 PM
Posted on July 30, 2007 19:40
Very nice point of view! Respect!
Posted July 30, 2007 7:39 PM
Posted on July 30, 2007 19:39
good site! muchacha
Posted July 30, 2007 11:41 AM
Posted on July 30, 2007 11:41
Very nice point of view! Respect!
Posted July 30, 2007 11:41 AM
Posted on July 30, 2007 11:41
Jililah-
Thank you for your important comment. I hope to address it in a future post of my own, but let me be clear immediately that I am not a hater of Islam. As you so rightly said, the great hope of this moment is that the Muslim Ummah rediscovers within itself a socially-responsible Islam. The interesting question for Muslims and non-Muslims alike is how they will find universal values in a culturally and theologically appropriate manner.
Posted July 29, 2007 4:48 PM
Posted on July 29, 2007 16:48
Jilliah-
Thank you for your important comment. I hope to address it in a future post of my own, but let me be clear immediately that I am not a hater of Islam. As you so rightly said, the great hope of this moment is that the Muslim Ummah rediscovers within itself a socially-responsible Islam. The interesting question for Muslims and non-Muslims alike is how they will find universal values in a culturally and theologically appropriate manner.
Posted July 29, 2007 4:47 PM
Posted on July 29, 2007 16:47