Mankind – Is There Hope?

In Conclusion

If you are reading this page, I will assume (but will not take for granted), that you have read the whole book. If so, then I think you should congratulate yourself, as you know more about Islam than many Muslims.
.
This book is by no means a scholarly study of Islam, or even of “The Cow” surah, and it does not presume to make such a claim. It is I, an Unbeliever, expressing my reaction and interpretation, mostly to the text of “The Cow”, but also to a few other passages in the Quran and the Sira.
.
Each chapter could easily be expanded to a book larger than this one, but I believe that what I say here tells the story. If you are interested to learn more about Islam, I trust you will know what to do.
.
I am not going to end this work by warning you of the existential threat posed by Islamic extremists. I am not going to tell you how some groups with political Islam ideologies use terror and demography, funded with virtually unlimited financial resources, taking advantage of openness of western societies, persistently penetrate these societies with incompatible social and moral values, and with the declared intention of reducing those who object to Islamic values to a rank of second class citizens, persecuted and discriminated against.
.
No, I am not going to do any of that in this chapter. If you have eyes to see and you are a man or woman of heart, it should be very clear to you by now.
.
I want to conclude this book with an expression of hope for Islamic reform.
.
.
.

Islamic Reform

If the aim is to stop the activities of those who wish to impose Islamic values and domination on everyone else, and if it is to be achieved by peaceful means, then Islam must be reformed. And this is what I understand is being attempted by Islamic reformers: Making Islam harmless.
.
If they are successful, then none of Islam’s teachings would be interpreted as a declaration of war on the Unbelievers of every generation. I am no expert on the subject, but from my understanding, and for what it is worth – let me share with you my ideas of how Islamic reform may be achieved.
.
Shari’a law relies on interpretation of Quranic texts, in a way not dissimilar to the way Jewish Oral Law relies on biblical texts. But whereas Jewish jurisprudence enjoys a high degree of latitude in interpreting biblical texts, deriving its authority from the Bible itself, its Islamic counterpart is severely restricted by the requirement to interpret all texts narrowly and literally.
.
There are enough biblical verses that have not been abrogated in the Quran, and are therefore deemed Allah’s word, true by default, which may be used as licence for Islamic religious authorities to interpret the divine message in ways appropriate to their own generation.
.
The present book is not the place to go into the details of how it may be done. It could fill the pages of a few volumes. But the outcomes will be revolutionary: It could be the opening through which that ray of hope may shine.
.
The doctrine of Quran being the word of Allah should not be an obstacle. But since the words of the Quran were committed to paper by human hands, a fact disputed by none, it is possible that it may contain some human, not divine, errors.
.
In fact, this is the very thing that English translators of the Quran who are also Muslim religious scholars do: they insert explanatory phrases into the translated verses, which correct apparent errors and omissions in the text.
.
If Islamic religious scholars are permitted, using unabrogated biblical texts, to interpret certain Quranic verses metaphorically, it would render many problem verses (e.g. apes and pigs, sun setting in a pool of mud, devils and demons, the night’s journey) perfectly appropriate parables.
.
Also, in many cases, if you “park” a potentially harmful verse in the past, confine it to the formative period of Islam, and refrain from applying it to present generations, the difficulty is overcome.
.
.
.

No More Jihad?

Fighting in the way of Allah began as fighting to liberate Mecca and Arabia from the Pagans, who according to Muhammad, the religious reformer of Arabia, worshipped Allah incorrectly (for example by associating him with other gods). This task has been successfully completed in the 7th century CE.
.
If that is agreed on, then no more fighting in the way of Allah (Jihad) is required. The war has been won. Mission accomplished.
.
And the Islamic empire created after Muhammad’s death would be viewed as one of the great empires in the history of mankind, and not as a fulfilment of divine edict of Islamic world domination.
.
And lands acquired by the conquests of Muhammad’s successors would no longer be deemed holy soil desecrated by its present unbelieving occupiers, and Muslims would no longer be called upon to strive to liberate and purify these lands.
.
.
.

Mutual, Respectful Co-existence

If Islam passively applies a principle similar to that of the “Noahide Laws”, to those choose not to embrace it, and leave it at that, then freedom of choice would be respected. Islam would be able to co-exist with other belief systems in mutual, respectful acceptance.
.
Muslims would be able to enjoy their religious observance and celebrations without feeling the need to, or being urged to, despise those who choose not to join. Those who refuse to accept Islam will not be disadvantaged, and will not be subjected to any kind of punishment or retribution in this world.
.
Islamic reform cannot be achieved by Islamic reform activists. Their role is to create awareness and demand for reform, and to mobilise the voice of the moderate Muslims, who, we are told, are in the majority.
.
They can suggest a roadmap to reform, but the actual transformation must be carried out by the Islamic religious hierarchy, such as the top Sunni jurists at Al-Azhar Islamic university in Cairo.
.
Is it a realistic expectation? Do Islamic leaders and decision makers have the will to peacefully co-exist with other belief systems? I don’t really know.
.
This I know: when the elements of supremacy and domination over other belief systems are removed, Islam will be on the right path to becoming a peaceful religion.