Islam is the last and final message as revealed religion that fosters love, peace, generosity, helping the weak and poor, equality and tolerance; then how it won’t be compatible with the modern notion of democracy, human rights and free speech. It is the so called interpreters of Islam through their own vested political and economical interest made the practices and teaching of Islam as tough. God Himself expresses in Quran, “And there is no force in the practice of faith, because God wants ease for you”; then how would the notions and practices of Islam is hard to follow.
Islam teaches its followers to be dynamic and live accordance to the need of the time, then it is immature to wish the Islam of the past as golden era; on the contrary it is the religion of present and also the religion of future because it teaches it followers to think through and seek advancement every where, discover the nature hence you would feel that you have got to discover and know thy self. Islam inspire the use of intellect and those who simple don’t questions Islam questions them by asking LA TAFAQROON- Why don’t you think?
It is also surprising fact that on the one hand many modern thinker of West are critical about Islam religion being intolerant and nurture terrorism etc, and on the another Islam religion is most read and embraced by the people from west because it harmonizes with human mind, the needs of today, it is compatible with present time. But all the ugly image of Islam as traditional religion that terrorism in the world, preaches autocracy of thoughts and interpretation where the Ulmas despite non qualified in Islamic Studies and concept of modernity present their confined and final interpretation to be accepted by all is certainly an inappropriate and unacceptable act which is commonly in practice. In their view they are guardian of religion and emperor of theology to be interpreted as per their wish.
These and many other problems arise when we shut the doors of IJTEHAD, the thinking process to seek solutions to problems, if Muslims wish to regain the golden period of Islam then we need to broaden our horizons where questionings, inquiry, critical and independent thinking will become our instruments to navigate our lives.
The great Muslim Leader His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan presented the guiding principles of Islam require reconciling with modernity:
“The problem is that the largest segments of all societies in the developing world and the developed world are unaware of the wealth of global cultural resources, and therefore the need to preserve the precious value of pluralism in their own and in other societies. The inability of human society to recognize pluralism as a fundamental value constitutes a real handicap for its development and a serious danger for our future. We cold serve the cause of pluralism simply through the conduct of tolerance, openness and understanding towards others people, cultures, social structures, values and faiths”
