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All Have a Right to Discuss Islam
Thursday, February 21, 2002
By Chandra Muzaffar
The New Straits Times

When a group insists that it has the exclusive right to interpret religion and, in the ultimate analysis, to shape the moral basis of society, it excludes everyone else from participating in the process of determining the destiny of a people. Such hegemonic thinking must lead inevitably to religious authoritarianism and even a religious dictatorship.

Unfortunately, an important segment of the so-called ulama community in Malaysia and elsewhere has chosen to sideline reformist ideas on Islam, especially since they are at odds with its own outlook and orientation.

In a sense, this attitude is deeply ingrained in the theological mindset. It is not widely known, for instance, that some of the outstanding philosophers of antiquity whose magnificent achievements in almost every field of intellectual endeavour brought so much glory and greatness to Muslim civilisation in the past were also often targeted and hounded by religious orthodoxy.

Though the issues and circumstances were different, orthodox ulama did not hesitate to denounce famous savants such as Al-Kindi (801873), Al-Razi (865-925), Ibn Sina (980-1037), Ibn Rushd (1126-1198) and Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406) as "unbelievers."

When Ibn Sina, for instance, "got into a religious argument with strict believers in the army, ... they ... called for his execution. Soldiers came to his house but not finding him, plundered it and then called on the emir to behead him."
(More: The New Straits Times News Source)
2002 © The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia).

Dan