Liberal Islam vs Conservative Islam
Abdul Rahman Abdul Talib

Ever since the Sept 11 incident, the debate about Islam has suddenly taken its momentum. We find Muslims divided into different schools of opinion. All of a sudden calls have been made for Muslims to interpret Islam in a liberal way. This is made in the name of progress and advancement.

Concerns were also aired due to the rise of Islamic movements especially after the Sept 11. It is perceived that Islamic movements are getting sympathy and support from the mainstream Muslims all over the world. Salman Rusdhie has even called upon the moderate Muslims to let the whole world hear their voice in response to the sudden change of opinion by Muslims.

The bombing of Afghanistan has really shown us how weak the so-called moderate or liberal Muslims are in terms of their mass support base. It seems that their so called "support" for the merciless bombing of Afghanistan is only echoed by a small minority among Muslims. For example, the demonstration held at the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur recently were mostly attended by middle class Muslims, the class that the liberals have actually hoped to get their support from.

The embrace of the so call "conservative Islam" by the middle class is actually scaring the ruling party. The middle class is what keeps the government running and their support is more than crucial.

It is out of these developments, that voices appealing to the middle class to interpret Islam from a liberal perspective suddenly appear. Voices from individuals like Farish Nor and Zainah Anwar or from organizations like Sisters In Islam have repeatedly called upon Muslims in Malaysia to interpret Islam liberally and progressively.

Farish Nor, for one, has actually condemned the traditionalist ulamas in their interpretation of Islam; asking the Muslims ummah instead to take the role of interpreting Islam. He argues that the ulama or scholars are conservative and contribute to the stagnation of the Muslim ummah.

There is however the question of methodology. While the liberal Muslims support liberalism, the ulama on the other hand seems to stick to their methodology in understanding Islam. The liberals however, fail to show us any form of methodology that they adopt in interpreting the Quran.

The ulama has remained faithful to the methodology which originated from the time of the Prophet SAW and had been refined for a period of 1400 years, they argue. The ulama further argue that if there was any weaknesses in the methodologies used by them then it must be countered with strong and factual arguments. They say that over the period of 1400 years, the process of refining the methodology through scholarly discourse, debates, open discussions and through a very important process that is literature.

Over the period 1400 years, authoritative books like Kitab Al Umm by Imam Asy Syafiee, Kitab Al Mughni by Imam Ahmad, Kitab Al Muhallah by Ibnu Hazm and many more are examples of literature being written by previous scholars arguing the methodology of understanding the Quran. Never was an opinion being passed in the name of Islam without proper argument and proof in the history of the 1400 years of discourse .

On the other hand, the ulama questions the liberals' lack of proof and argument. Their main contention with the liberals can be summed up in two points:

1) The lack of reference for the methodologies used by the liberalists in their interpretation of Islam. Where is their literature, their model of methodologies etc. As oppose to the ulama which rely of 1400 years worth of written work and intellectual discourse, the abundance of arguments and the non-stop appearance of literature flooding the market all of the time.

2) The lack of any significant argument proving that methodologies deployed by the ulama have actually erred and contributed to the stagnation of the Muslim ummah. Where is the written proof? Most arguments are mere rhetoric; unsubstantiated and unfounded.

The issue of progress has also been addressed by the ulama. Throughout the rule of Islam in the span of 1400 years, the ulama have actually been given major roles in the administration of various Islamic governments.

While they were actually holding these important positions, all of these governments has never failed to show signs of greatness and success. For example, in the Al Moravid era of Muslim Spain in the early 1000 was actually started by an ulama named Ibnu Yassin. It is confirmed by western historians that his era was considered as the finest in the history of Muslim Spain. One of the major achievements of this dynasty was that for 100 years the whole country was actually free from any form of taxes on it's people. The government was actually able to rule effectively without the need to collect taxes from the people.

The ulama again argue that their so-called conservativism has no connection with the stagnation of the Muslim ummah. The current Muslim ummah in the world is stagnant and they are all ruled by oppressive and corrupted secular/liberal regimes.

In actual fact the return of Muslims to the rule of ulama and clerics are fueled by the failure of their secular / liberal regime to provide them with the promise of advancement and progress that they have been promised to for so many decades. The Muslims ummah after the fall of Ottoman empire answered the call of Kemal Attaturk to reject political Islam in the name of progress and development. Islam was perceived as a stumbling block to success and greatness.

But after more than 70 years after the call of Kemal Attaturk, the Muslim ummah are still living in the gutter of their former western colonial masters. Even Turkey which was once the most feared nation of Europe is now living in the doorsteps of Europe; surviving on scraps thrown by the western powers.

In conclusion, despite the claim of the liberals, it is still unclear as to what is the actual basis for their interpretation of Islam. That area is still blurred except for the point that the liberalists would welcome any form of western ideas into Islam and those resisting the western interpretation is considered as conservative and stagnant.

As for their call for progress and rejection of conservative Islam to advance, such a call is outdated and proven to be a lie by history. The liberals need to increase their knowledge in history so as to avoid further embarrassment.