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British Muslims Call for a Modernised Islam

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Published: Monday 11 January 2010

British Muslims Call for a Modernised Islam

Country: United Kingdom

For the last few decades the dominant voices within Islam have been those of conservatives, who believe that sharia (Islamic law) is divinely inspired and unchangeable. Only a few brave Muslim progressives have tried to interpret the Qur’an and other Muslim sources in ways suitable for a modern context. They have sought to promote a more liberal Islam, one that is compatible with Western values such as individual human rights, religious freedom and gender equality.

However, some mainstream Muslim leaders have recently challenged traditional views of Islam and certain aspects of sharia. They too have come out in support of a reformed Islam that can co-exist peacefully with other religions and worldviews in the modern Western world.

In 2008 a group of British Muslim academics and religious leaders began to meet in Cambridge to discuss what it means to live faithfully as a Muslim in Britain today. The group debated many issues, and published a report, Contextualising Islam in Britain (Cambridge: Centre of Islamic Studies, 2009), in October 2009. It is remarkable that in a number of key areas the report advocates the adapting of Islam for the secular, liberal democracy of 21st century Britain.

Conservative Muslims believe that living according to sharia (Islamic law) should be enforced by national law and the courts. The report denies this, and says that sharia should be a matter of personal conscience and persuasion. It states that Muslims are not obliged to impose the whole of sharia on Britain against the wishes of their non-Muslim neighbours. Sharia should be seen as a system of moral and spiritual education, whose basic goals have much in common with human rights declarations.

Classical Islam says that Islam can be practised, and even thrive, only within an Islamic state. But the report insists that the British model of secular democracy is legitimate for Muslims. In fact, says the report, the separation of religion from the state and the principle of nondiscrimination between religions guarantee freedom and equality for all and enable Muslims to practise Islam without interference in an atmosphere of respect, security and dignity.

Islam has usually drawn a sharp distinction between believers and nonbelievers. The report says that this is important only in religious matters, not in matters of social interaction and in seeking the common good of society. In these areas it is important to have friendly relationships with non-Muslims, treating them as equals, and to focus on what we all have in common.

Against conservative claims to the contrary, the report argues that Islam teaches the equality of all humans regardless of gender, and that it forbids forced marriages, domestic violence, female genital mutilation and honour killings. Instead of rejecting all criticism of their actions, Muslims should campaign against injustices and oppression inflicted by Muslims on other Muslims and on non-Muslims.

Conservative Islam advocates defensive jihad (fighting) as the appropriate way to oppose the oppression of Muslims. The report says that there are many other ways, such as lobbying, activism and writing, and in any case foreign conflicts cannot justify the use of violence in Britain. It adds, again in opposition to traditionalist views, that Islam is opposed to all forms of terrorism and to the killing of innocent people.

Islam has not normally distinguished between religious sin and crime that is properly punishable by the state. The report declares that this distinction must be drawn. Thus although Islam dislikes apostasy, it prohibits discrimination against apostates. (For more on this see British Muslim Group Accepts the Right to Convert from Islam) ) Similarly on homosexuality, the Qur’an forbids both the practice of homosexual acts and discrimination against homosexuals.

This statement reflects a strong and very encouraging commitment on the part of mainstream Muslim scholars and leaders in Britain to an adapted and modernised Islam.