A Muslim Reformation?
Posted by Phoenix Woman on March 4, 2008
Just as there are many different kinds of Christianity, so there are many different kinds of Islam. Much hangs on the delineation of the Koran and its accompanying Hadith. The Hadith are “sayings” attributed to the Prophet Mohammed, and as such are used to interpret the Koran.
Right now the Turkish government, the most secular of the Muslim nations, is performing a review of the Hadith to determine which are genuine, as well as to see how the Hadith can be viewed in a 21st-century context.
Turkey carries a lot of weight in the Near and Middle East. As this blog author notes, how this reinterpretation is received will depend on whether it is perceived as a legitimate reinterpretation or something forced down Islamic throats by an authoritarian government.
Stormcrow said
Yeah, this was up on Pat Lang’s blog recently, too. His take on this was pretty much the same as samaha1969’s. This could be huge. IF it takes off.
I really hope this does take off. I am in absolute agreement with the contention that it WILL NOT do so if it appears that any government is trying to ram this down people’s throats.
But once upon a time, Islam was a progressive religion, as such things are counted. It could be one again.
Phoenix Woman said
Exactly. We owe our knowledge of Greek and Roman literature, as well as our numbers system, to Islamic scholars. Just as the Baptists were at the forefront of the abolitionist movement.