Question 4:

Modernity, ijtihad, and Islam

As-salamu alaykum sir, I have a question to ask you regarding reconciling modernity with Islam. Allah tells us in the Qur’an that the Muslims are those who say 'We hear and we obey'.For the past 1400 years, Muslims have relied on the Qur’an and the science of finding authentic hadith, as well as qiyas and ijtihad, to facilitate obedience to Allah. In the modern world however things are being changed a lot.I have heard some Muslims such as Irshad Manji (you may want to research her?) use the concept of ijtihad to argue that we can change the religion as we go along to fit modern cultural views. I have heard organisations and individuals argue for a 'revival' or ijtihad to fit modern needs. Imams such as Daaiyie Abdullah claim homosexual acts are not prohibited in Islam. People in the West are approaching Islam with an agenda to change it to fit their own culture (such as arguing homosexuality is not wrong) and the people in more 'conservative' cultures are doing the same (such as arguing women cannot have jobs or positions of leadership).In this climate, what does Allah really say? This religion is declining, as are all religions, and are those Muslims who truly want to obey Allah stopped with the chaotic noise of human agenda? What is the truth, when anyone can interpret the texts to twist it to their own desires? I am only a lay Muslim wishing to obey Allah, but how can I do so when everyone is saying different things and they all seem right?If my only intention is to obey Allah, but there is no guidance (yes, there is the Qur’an, but people interpret it how they want and confuse it) and Muslims end up following the wrong 'Islam', what will Allah do? Sometimes, I just feel like dying so I can meet Allah and know the truth! That's all I want. I would very much appreciate your comments regarding this. Jazakallah.


Answer:


I don’t have answers for all of the issues you have raised in your question. Therefore, I can only make a few comments, according to the best of my understanding.1. It is important for us to make a distinction between fundamental principles of Islam and those that are secondary or derivatives. The former is known as usul, while the latter is known as furu’. The former cannot be changed while the latter can be flexible and can be adapted based on ijtihad or creative exercise of reasoning, according to times and circumstances.2. The core of religion is developing consciousness of Allah and living an ethical and moral life based on one’s accountability before him. Once you focus on developing a spiritual focus in your life and deepen your intuitive faculty, you will be able to rid yourself of doubts and experience the sweetness of faith. Therefore, I would urge you to focus on developing your spiritual awareness and work on your own personal development rather than trying to change the world; you can only change yourself; once you do that, the world will be taken care of.3. Those who reform Islam by changing the principles or clearly established precepts of religion are tampering with the revelation. Those who clamor for declaring homosexuality as permissible are not different than those who argue for sanctioning fornication or adultery, etc. No one, no matter how argumentative he or she is allowed to interfere with the basic commandments and prohibitions. This is not ijtihad as Muslims know it. It is distortion pure and simple. Ijtihad is based on sound methodology and it is not everyone’s forte. It is left to the experts.Allah Almighty knows best.