Liberal Islam

Deviant Teachings In Malaysia
(AAD 3133)
6TH AND 9TH JULY 2021
LIBERAL ISLAM (L.I)
 Liberal Islam?
 Fundamental doctrine of Liberal Islam.
 Fatwa against Liberal Islam
Introduction
 In this modern era, the emergence of "Liberal Islam" is driven by pluralist groups in the
West, Middle-East and in the Malay World.
 Their orientation is to change or influence people’s "thinking" and "understanding."
Factors of emergence of L.I
 The world community is struggling with:

 radical, violent, religious-based militants
 Intellectual stagnant and cultural decadence and backwardness.
 Religious diversity and multi-racial traditions, that cause the difficulty to unite.
 The Liberal Islam groups wants to change the situation. Hence, up-to-date Islam is needed and
suggested. This Liberal Islam stream provides space for the spread of Religious Pluralism and
various free ideologies
Historical Background
 Liberalism began in the West, especially around the 18th and 19th centuries. With the born of
"Liberal Protestantism" led by Friedrich Schleiermacher in the late 18th century.
 Also liberal Judaism movement led by Moses Mindon Isshon (1729-1786) around the 19th
century.
 The religious conferences of the World Parliament of Religion in Chicago, U.S.A in 1893. They
wanted to overcome the problem of religious denial/rejection in the west.
 They emphasized the understanding of Religious Pluralism which in their view is capable of
bringing good to all mankind.
discuss the unification of three religions; Islam, Christianity and Judaism. It is expected that humans in the world will be safe and peaceful
 The figures who attended the conference were Rone Gnenon (Perennial Philosophy), Frithjof
Schuon, Willfred Cantwell Smith (religious unification), Hans Kung , John Hick and others.
 In the Muslim world, the Liberalist are , in Egypt: Rifaah Rafi al-Tahtawiy, Qasim Amin,
Nasr hamid Abu Zayd etc., in India; Sayyid Ahmad Khan, in France; Mohamed Arkoun and
others. In Indonesia, represents by the Liberal Islam Network (J.I.L) was established on 8
March 2001.Among the figures are Ulil Absar Abdalla, Luthfi As-Syaukani, Hamid Basyaib,
Dr.Siti Masdah Mulia and Nurcholis Madjij.
 In 1932, Christian liberalist delegate from France went to Al-Azhar university to discuss the
possibility of unification of three religions; Islam, Christianity and Judaism. It is expected
that humans in the world will be safe and peaceful.
 Their effort was ceased in 1936 due to world war II.
Definition of Liberal and Liberal Islam
 Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy (1996:218) : “A political ideology centred upon the

individual, thought of as possessing right against government including right of equality
of respect, freedom of expression and action, and freedom from religious and
ideological constraint.”
Cont.
 Liberal Islam advocates liberal solutions to the problems of religion and society,
namely, interpretations of Islam that have a special concern for democracy, women’s
rights and empowerment, freedom of thought, and other contemporary issues.
 Its adherents also forcefully assert that liberal Islam is authentic, not just merely a
western creation, and therefore genuinely reflects the true Islamic tradition.
 In addition, they claim that the ummah (the Muslim world) should think and act in terms
of adoption, reconciliation, and accommodation vis-à-vis the West to solve its
problem of continuing undevelopment
Objectives of Liberal Islam
 Liberal Islam Thought is aimed at achieving four main objectives:

 1) Strengthen the position of democracy through pluralism, inclusivism and humanism
 2) Developing religion on the basis of respect for religious differences and diversity.
 3) Spreading and introducing religion more openly and appropriately.
 4) Preventing the influence of the extremists religious views among the society (Lukman
Hakim 2008: 2)
To reach the objectives they advocate that:
 The room for ijtihad must be openned in all dimensions of Islam. The Liberal Islamist
group (especially in Indonesia) believes that ijtihad or rational thinking of Islamic texts is
a key principle that allows Islam to survive throughout the ages. The closure of the ijtihad
door means a threat to Islam. The Ijtihad must include muamalat (social interaction),
Ubudiyyat (ritual) and ilahiyat (theology).
 The quran must be interpreted based on religio-ethics. Reject the literal meaning of the
Quran.
 Truth is relative. The nature of truth is subjective.
 Defend the right of the minority and the oppressed. Minority includes minorities in
religion, ethnicity, race, gender, culture, politics and economy.
Cont.
 Everyone must be given the absolute freedom in choosing religion. The right to belief and
disbelief must be respected.
 Separating worldly and religious authority, religion and politics. Religious and political
power needs to be separated. The religious state (theocracy) must be opposed. To form a
healthy country these two need to be isolated. Religion is a source of aspiration and can
influence policy-making but does not have sacred prerogatives to determine a policy.
 Religion is a private matter. Public affairs should be held in consensus without having to
be bound by religion.
How they spread their ideology?
 In Indonesia they use various platforms:

 Publish books about religious pluralism.
 Collect articles written by the advocators of religious pluralism. They will also fight for
the writings to be published in regional newspapers every week.
 Talk show through Radio News.
 Publish booklet- discuss issues such as jihad, implementation of Islamic law, hijab from
the liberal Islam perspective.
 Establish Liberal Islam website- upload all info and articles from their perspective.
 Organize discourse and seminars.
Deviant teachings of L.I
 The Quran is not authentic.

 All religions are equally true.
 There is no Islamic law.
 Prohibition of marriage between Muslim women and non-Muslim men, is irrelevant.
 The Prophet's Hadith (s.a.w) is merely a historical record.
 The Prophet Muhammad is the only historical figure like the others.
 There is no need for religious authority.
 Religion is a personal affair.
 We need to distinguish between the customs and culture of a nation with Islam. We do not
have to follow the Arab.
 We shall not follow the practice of Islam in Madinah.
 Revelation does not cease.
 Good values can be found in all religions.
 The meaning of the verse Inna al-din 'ind allahi al-Islam; "The religion that God accepts is
Islam" is inaccurate/ wrong.
 Polygamy must be prohibited.
 Mahar can be paid by both husband and wife.
 The law of faraid must be reviewed and revised.
 Children out of wedlock should be given the right to inherit the property of his/her
biological father.
 Iddah must be observed by man too.
 One is free to belief or not to belief in any religion. And free to embrace of leave the
religion of Islam.
 One cannot say that we must observe the law of God when dealing with issues that
concern social or worldly affairs.
 Islamic law is merely a set of fundamental values.
 Islamic law that differentiates the status of Muslims and non-Muslims needs to be revised.
The danger of L.I ideology
 Humiliation against the Qur'an

 They want to eliminate the sharia law
 The ideology of Liberal Islam is contrary to the principle of aqidah Islam
 The ideology has created doubt and divide the Muslim ummah.
 The presence of Muslim Liberalists in the Muslim worlds has open the door of
opportunity to Zionists, Buddhists, Bahai, Sikhs and others to infiltrate
 The liberal Muslims gain moral and material support from various individuals or
organizations, especially from the Western World.
 Islam as 'al-din' (as a ways of life and as Divien religion) is being downgraded to be a
mere civil religion or personal religion.
 The "moderate" concept is not measured based on the Qur'an and al-Sunnah.
 Currently, non-Muslim communities in Malaysia are increasingly daring to express their
thoughts about Islam, including questioning the integrity of the National Fatwa Council
and the authority of the ulama.
 Sisters in Islam, are the supporters of Liberal Islam.
Fatwa
 http://www.muftiselangor.gov.my/images/pdf/koleksi_fatwa/2014/Sel.p.u.28_fatwa_pemi
kiran_liberalisme_dan_pluralisme_agama.pdf
 http://www.muftins.gov.my/index.php/arkib2/himpunan-fatwa/171-keputusan-mesyuarat-f
atwa/713-aliran-pemikiran-liberal-hukum-dan-implikasinya-kepada-islam
Conclusion
 Liberal Islam is a "new disease" for Muslims. This understanding propagates the idea of
absolute freedom.
 Everyone regardless of the background of knowledge and education can interpret Islam.
Interpretation does not belong to a particular class such as the ulamak.
 Pluralism also brings the idea of all religions to be the same. Heaven does not belong to
Muslims only.
 These insights have been and are developing in Indonesia and are contagious in
Malaysian society

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Liberal Islam

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Deviant Teachings In Malaysia

 The world community is struggling with:

 Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy (1996:218) : “A political ideology centred upon the

 Liberal Islam Thought is aimed at achieving four main objectives:

 In Indonesia they use various platforms:

 The Quran is not authentic.

 Humiliation against the Qur'an

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