Contemporary Islam: Analyzing the Need for Reformation - ASR208 Essay

This essay critically examines the question of whether Islam needs a reformation, drawing upon academic sources and research. The introduction provides context by highlighting differing views on the subject, and the discussion section delves into arguments both for and against reformation. It explores the need for reformation due to perceived incompatibility with modernity and the impact of historical interpretations. The essay addresses the five precepts of Islam that act as barriers to change, and the suppression of critical thinking. Conversely, it also presents arguments against reformation, suggesting that enlightenment, rather than reform, is needed. The conclusion summarizes the contrasting viewpoints and emphasizes the potential benefits of reformation. This essay, available on Desklib, offers a comprehensive analysis of the ongoing debate surrounding the future of Islam in the modern world.

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Running Head: CONTEMPORARY ISLAM 0
student name

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Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Discussion........................................................................................................................................3
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................6
References........................................................................................................................................7

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Introduction
There have been various studies and researches conducted, where the need for reformation for
Islam has been contradicted by various authors. The report will include the critical discussion
over a question that “Does Islam needs a Reformation?” the paradox and politics considering this
question would be discussed in the report further. Islam is a religion of Abrahamic monotheistic
that reflect that there is one god only and messenger of God is Muhammad. It has been
identified as the second largest religion in the world. Some of the people believe that there is the
need for the reformation of Islam as incompatibility with the modernity has been observed
(Robinson, 2017).

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Discussion
The two claims regarding the question of reformation of Islam includes the major problems or
reasons for the need of reformation is it admits the pre-eminence and universality of Western-
liberal morals – personified by rehabilitated Christianity above others. It is assumed that a
correlated historical way among Christianity and Islam. It avoids other problems and the
violence that could accompany that reformation of Christian. The interpretation considered by
Islam historically has been continuing to accept until now. Although it has been observed by
various people among this religion who wishes to bring some changes according to change in
time and modernity they are being restricted to do so by some high societal people like Mullahs
by believing that they are doing wrong according to the region and are trying to go against Islam.
Researchers consider the situation of Islam similar to that of Christians, where the Protestants
believed that they could only exist and sustain if violence is considered which was reformed and
now the Christianity has a new face as per the modernity. As per the modern society it has been
observed that Islam is not considered a religion of peace and the violence is being increased
around the world due to the historical beliefs of Islam. For instance, in Saudi Arabia synagogues
and churches are beheadings and outlawed are the legitimate way of punishing them. On the
other hand, in Iran homosexuals are hanged until death and considered a crime while stoning is
an acceptable offense or punishment. The fundamental problem observed was that most of law-
abiding and peaceful Muslims are ready to admit the scriptural warrant for intolerance, much
fewer to repudiate and violence entrenched in the religious texts of their own (Ali, 2015).
There have been five precepts identified for the center of Islam that has been responsible and acts
as a barrier for any adaption and historical change (Slavin, 2017). The harmfulness of those ideas

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was recognized. For instance, one is “Mohammed’s semi-divine status, along with the literalist
reading of the Koran,” as per this the belief is that the Koran is the actual words of God that are
Allah, which is a book that was shaped or written by humans. This book reflects the 7th-century
tribal values that should be separated from the cultural incidents of time and place of its birth.
Another precept was “supremacy of life after death,” which is the petition of martyrdom will
dwindle merely when Muslims dispense a larger significance to the rewards of this existence
than to those assured in the henceforth. The third precept was “Sharia, the vast body of religious
legislation.” According to this, Muslims must acquire to put the vigorous, developing laws
prepared by humans beyond those pieces of Shariah that are intolerant, violent, or anachronistic.
The fourth precept was “The right of individual Muslims to enforce Islamic law,” this reflects
that there is no place in the modern society for vigilantes, religious police, and clerics that are
politically empowered. The last precept is “The imperative to wage jihad or holy war,” this
included that Islam should be a religion of peace that is the imposition of the sword. The greatest
obstacle to bring the change or reformation within Islam would be its suppression of critical
thinking. It has been said that from the reformation of Islam, Muslims would be benefited and
also the west would have a massive stake in what way the efforts over Islams turned out
(Schirrmacher, 2017).
On the contrary, it has been said that there is no need for Islam to be reformed, instead it just
needs enlightenment. The Islamists are mostly being similar to the early Protestants. The one
who considers the analogy are keen-sighted the Reformation if consider later developments the
development of spiritual freedom and patience that concluded in the Enlightenment two eras
later. Reformation plays a limited and limited role in the development; it does not include the
intention of protestant leaders (Walid, 2018). It has been observed that the Islam has never had

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only one institution when compared to medieval church. Islamists are not working or reflecting
against and Aristotelian strain in Islam, instead they are countering in contradiction of the
Enlightenment modernisation of the West, as they believe it to be threat to culture of Islam.
From the discussion, it can be said that even if the contradicting researches says that there is no
need for reformation, they do believe in integrating enlightened the Islamic believes. However,
as per the researches, maximum views and beliefs were that there is a need for reformation of
Islam.

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Conclusion
From the discussion, it can be concluded that there were critical and contrasting believes
regarding the need of Islam reformation. The researches have been conducted which includes
the need of reformation for some reasons like increase in violence across the nation due to
historical believes of Islam in Koran. It has been observed that the interpretation considered by
Islam historically has been continuing to accept until now. They believe that the words or rule
written in Koran is words of god and they had to follow. This seems to be incompatible as per
the current world or modernize society. However, some believe that there is no need for
reformation, as it is already reform; only some enlightened is required. It can be said that the
reformation would be beneficial for Muslims and west as well and would reflect Islam as peace.

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References
Ali, A.H., 2015. Why Islam Needs a Reformation. Wall Street Journal, pp.C1-2.
Robinson, S., 2017. Heretic: Why Islam needs a reformation now [Book Review]. Salus Journal,
5(1), p.74.
Schirrmacher, T., 2017. The Reformation and the Challenge of Islam. The Reformation: Its Roots
and Its Legacy, p.158.
Slavin, M.O., 2017. Thoughts on the inner conflict within Islamic culture: Their existential
anxieties and ours. In International Forum of Psychoanalysis , 26(3), pp.160-67.
Walid, A., 2018. Does Islam Need a Reformation?’ Analyzing the Paradoxes and Politics behind
the Question. [Online] Available at:
https://www.soas.ac.uk/islamicstudies/events/seminars/21feb2018-does-islam-need-a-
reformation-analyzing-the-paradoxes-and-politics-behind-the-question.html.