[Dean's World] Ali Eteraz: Is Orthodox Islam Compatible With Liberal Democracy?

[notify at powerblogs.com]

Posted by Ali Eteraz:
Is Orthodox Islam Compatible With Liberal Democracy?
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1185598594.shtml


   Yes. So argues a paper by Islamic Lawyer Dr. Fadel entitled, The
   Theological and Ethical Roots of Public Reason in Islamic Law,
   [1]summarized by Salahudin.

   In other words, Muslims can affirm living within liberal democracy
   without sacrificing their spiritual principles or orthodox Islamic
   Law. Normally people think that for a Muslim to live in a liberal
   democracy means that he/she has to change orthodox Islam, or become
   "less Muslim." [2]As Salahudin's summary says:

     His article argues that the doctrine of liberalism as enshrined in
     the concepts of democracy and pluralism, is compatible with the
     basic Islamic axioms and therefore a devout Muslim can live in a
     society with such a framework. (emphasis added).

   Remember, when reading the piece it does not provide how Muslims can
   change theocracies into liberal democracies; it argues how being a
   Muslim in a liberal democracy is compatible with orthodox Islamic
   sources. Ghazali, the fount of orthodox Islamic learning, and 'Ashari
   theology, the heart of orthodox Islam, are both revealed to have
   spaces within them to make them consistent with liberal democracy.

   I agree with Salahudin, the best part of the paper is when Fadel goes
   into the old orthodox sources and subjects them to a critical
   analysis. By the way, Salahudin considers himself an "apostate."

References

   1. http://towelianism.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/liberalism-and-islamic-law/
   2. http://towelianism.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/liberalism-and-islamic-law/