Is there any chance for reformation?

[iamivy]

The Quran is believed by Muslims as the final testament, good grief does this mean that we better not expect any reformation?

 

[D'rok]

I'm no expert on the subject, but one serious stumbling block is the "closing of the gates if ijtihad". Ijtihad is independent legal reasoning based on the Quran and the Sunnah. Since around 900 CE or so, this is essentially forbidden - i.e., Islamic law is a settled thing and the only legitimate questions for Islamic jurists are those of application.

There are reformers out there trying to re-open the gates, but they have not been successful yet. Islam has room within its scriptures and traditions for reform/liberalization. If Islamic jurists re-acquire the power of independent legal reasoning, reform could happen. Likely, blood will be shed before this is allowed to happen.

 

[XBoxWarrior]

The Quran is believed by Muslims as the final testament, good grief does this mean that we better not expect any reformation?

Short answer......."NO".

Ain't gonna happen before I die.

 

[iamivy]

I'm no expert on the subject, but one serious stumbling block is the "closing of the gates if ijtihad". Ijtihad is independent legal reasoning based on the Quran and the Sunnah. Since around 900 CE or so, this is essentially forbidden - i.e., Islamic law is a settled thing and the only legitimate questions for Islamic jurists are those of application.

There are reformers out there trying to re-open the gates, but they have not been successful yet. Islam has room within its scriptures and traditions for reform/liberalization. If Islamic jurists re-acquire the power of independent legal reasoning, reform could happen. Likely, blood will be shed before this is allowed to happen.

interesting,thankyou I'll look up more about Ijtihad

Short answer......."NO".

Ain't gonna happen before I die.

You could well be right. It took several centuries for Christianity to reform, looks like we will have to bear with this for a long while. But those days we never had a refined legal system and human rights legislation and the rest of it. what excuse do these folks have other than the obvious that they are harbouring a mentality during the times of their crazy Prophet.

 

[D'rok]

Oops...I just noticed my typo. The anal-retentive bastard in me has to fix it. The phrase in my earlier post should be "closing of the gates of ijtihad".

 

[geni]

The Quran is believed by Muslims as the final testament, good grief does this mean that we better not expect any reformation?

Reformation was tried. It rusulted in socialist dictatorships that killed people. Muammar al-Gaddafi for example.

 

[PAC]

In her book, "Infidel", Ayaan Hirsi Ali makes the point that Christianity has
evolved allowing levels of disagreement, developed schisms, etc. She
makes the argument that there is no room in Islam for any of this. Therefore,
there is no hope for reform in Islam.

 

[geni]

In her book, "Infidel", Ayaan Hirsi Ali makes the point that Christianity has
evolved allowing levels of disagreement, developed schisms, etc. She
makes the argument that there is no room in Islam for any of this. Therefore,
there is no hope for reform in Islam.

There are many different forms of islam though. The reason you don't see many schisms per se is that there isn't enough of an organisation to schism from.

 

[PAC]

Perhaps "schism" left unintended connotations. I believe that Hirsi Ali was meaning within the Islamic custom in which she was raised. However, she was raised in several countries and experienced various forms of Islam.

I would recommend this book to anyone who would like one view of what it means to be raised in Islamic thought. It is a personal diary. It made me much more aware of what Islam can be for everyday people. Plus, she is an inspiring character.

 

[Beerina]

Memes can be modified by evolutionary pressures. Christianity labored under similar dictates, but got modified by the pressures of freedom as a new, much more successful meme.

This will take several generations, so no, most will not live to see it.