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Here are some questions I want to ask practitioners and students of Islam. Not armchair commentators but scholars, servants and friends of the faith...
I feel that Islam has been largely neglected and ignored in the West. I know many non-Buddhists and non-Hindus who've read Buddhist and Hindu scriptures; many non-Christians who've read Biblical texts. I don't know many non-Muslims who've read much of the Qur'an, or much interpretation of the Sunnah, or who really know how these things are interpreted in mainstream Islam.
The balance of political and economic power is shifting as nations develop and with it, I think that the dominant historical, religious and humanitarian narratives will shift too. Where the narratives found in the West have largely been Christian-centric, I think that is changing and has been for some time. I'm interested in how it might change in future and what role an emerging Muslim narrative may play in that.
- Islam has been accused of looking backwards, of failing to adapt to a changing world. Do you think that's true?
- Inasmuch as Islam can or should change, how do you see it changing?
- Where are the forces for change pushing Islam; what are the 'pull' forces and how do they communicate?
- How do you imagine that the outcome will be decided?
- In the light of all that, how do you think that Islam will contribute to a changing Western narrative?
I feel that Islam has been largely neglected and ignored in the West. I know many non-Buddhists and non-Hindus who've read Buddhist and Hindu scriptures; many non-Christians who've read Biblical texts. I don't know many non-Muslims who've read much of the Qur'an, or much interpretation of the Sunnah, or who really know how these things are interpreted in mainstream Islam.
The balance of political and economic power is shifting as nations develop and with it, I think that the dominant historical, religious and humanitarian narratives will shift too. Where the narratives found in the West have largely been Christian-centric, I think that is changing and has been for some time. I'm interested in how it might change in future and what role an emerging Muslim narrative may play in that.
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