EDITORIAL: Dialogue on the Muslim faith
Published: Monday, October 11, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
`You reach a certain point where it's not tenable anymore'
All 19 of the Sept. 11 mass murderers were Muslims -- members of a radical Islamist sect. So it was inevitable their coordinated terror attacks would draw attention to their faith.
Much of that attention was unwelcome, and American Muslims made a plea for understanding.
Understanding is a worthy goal, but there were some things non-Muslim Americans had trouble understanding, even if they came to the subject with open minds.
Surely the vast majority of American Muslims, they assumed, would have no trouble saying, "The killings of defenseless civilians -- as on Sept. 11 -- was not an appropriate expression of the Muslim faith. Those who did that were bad Muslims, or no Muslims at all. They and their actions should be condemned. They disgrace our faith."
But many Muslims insisted on saying something very different: "It's not my place to say that," many replied. "Each Muslim must decide for himself the right way to serve the faith."
Christianity and Judaism have changed and adapted over the centuries. Most of the adherents of those faiths assume a faith can cling to underlying truths, but need not be locked into 1,200-year-old edicts when it comes to dress, grooming, the treatment of unbelievers or the proper role of women.
Now, a similar reform movement seems to be awakening among American Muslims.
Ahmed Nassef, 38, a former marketing consultant and progressive activist who grew up in California, created the Web site muslimwakeup.com with a friend about two years ago, looking for like-minded Muslims.
The site openly criticizes major U.S. Muslim organizations for being too conservative. It hosts discussion boards where Muslims debate the future of their religion. It also includes many provocative articles on topics such as Muslim women's sexuality, while running a "Hug a Jew" feature that profiles progressive Jews with photos of them embracing a Muslim.
Muslim activists from overseas who cannot get their work published in their own countries often ask Nassef to post their writings on his Web site.
Muslimwakeup.com has quickly built a readership, The Associated Press reports. Mr. Nassef reports the site reached nearly 2.8 million hits last month.
Progressive Muslim Meetup chapters grew from the site and now draw about 750 people for monthly gatherings nationwide, he says.
And, on or about Nov. 15 -- when the holy month of Ramadan is expected to end -- a group of mostly young Muslims plans to launch the Progressive Muslim Union of North America in New York.
Progressives believe women should have a broader role in mosques; they back gay rights, and they believe Muslims should borrow from traditions as varied as Buddhism and the U.S. civil rights movement to reshape Islam for modern times.
"When you've been taught ever since you can remember that Islam is a certain thing, especially as women ... you reach a certain point where it's not tenable anymore," Sarah Eltantawi, 28, one of four founders of the Progressive Union, told AP. "People need to feel that there is an alternative Islamic space that has some legitimacy that they can turn to."
Many conservative Muslims (and even conservative non-Muslims) will doubtless consider these positions objectionable -- even heretical. They may (many doubtless will) embrace them, condemn them, or shun them as they see fit.
But the dialogue -- and especially the fact that is has sprung from within the faith itself -- is a welcome development.
Posted on October 12, 2004 08:49 AM
