If in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria, the practice of Islamic hard-Irshad Manji calls it "desert Islam"-still dominate because of his collaboration with tribalism, sociologically, it's understandable though not allowed to continue. But how could it successfully exported to Europe and North America? What about Southeast Asia?
That fact is not particularly new but it is quite astonishing. In Toronto, Canada, Manji watch. He gasped: "I feel sick. Whatever the culture in place of the Muslims live, whether rural culture and digital culture, and whatever the generation, ... Islam emerged as a tribal religion is alarming. We do need reform. Really! "(P. 74).
Manji rate, the development of Islam today is not like a plane flying into the safe zone of tolerance and human rights. Islam has been hijacked plane! Now he is flying in the opposite direction. Who hijacked? According to Manji, petrodollars actually fund a successful campaign for Islamic hue of the desert to be applied in many regions of the Muslim lands.
The project was successful in Afghanistan, Sudan, and Pakistan. Manji also worry that the current penetrated Southeast Asia. "Ignored local cultures in areas such as Indonesia and Malaysia, because it was considered not sufficiently Islamic (meaning, not just Arabs)," said Manji. For Manji, "they are far from the desert in general does not determine the direction of Islam today. Arab Saudilah decisive "(p. 227).
Manji may be too generalized and less accurate in this matter. But even if less accurate, it was not why mengaggap it as a warning bell. That is why, relevant to question what the middle class in every Muslim country in stemming the global epidemic of this type of Islam.
In Pakistan, 'most of the middle class let themselves go sink into the stream of violent fundamentalism "(p. 202). They spread a red carpet to get rid of extremism as he outlined the founder of Islam tolerant of their country, Ali Jinnah. The results and the victims were real.
Hence, Manji can not believe it. How could a non-Arab Muslims that 87% should continue and make themselves inferior satellite of the Arab-Islamic style of which 13% of the total population of the Muslim world? In Indonesia, the irony of it is now apparent from the attitude of the Indonesian Ulema Council, and many Islamic groups who are so concerned about the fatwa Arabia and the countries of the OIC in the case of Ahmadiyah.
And, if straightforward following the preamble Arabia, will a lot of things are forbidden and banned in Indonesia. "The Shiite group in the official Wahhabi doctrine, legitimate to cut off because it is considered as the fruit of the Jewish conspiracy" (p. 233). Is mass organizations hardline Islamist can live freely in Indonesia if we consistently trace Arabia and other Arab countries?
To that end, Indonesia should be proud Muslims with Islamic style colorful us, as he expressed this attitude: Stop dictate to us about "true Islam", Sheikh! This is a democracy; no longer teach us how to treat Ahmadis!
Manji's view about the reform of Islam is quite unique though somewhat sloganistis. According to him, "Reform is not to tell the Muslim laity about what not to think about. Reform is evocative one million followers of Islam are smart to think "(p. 83). That's what he expected of Muslims today.
Ability and skill in asking critical questions about Islam that is the main force and charm of this book. In the face of critical questions Manji, review, reviews about Islam from Muslim figures will appear enlightened even apologetic, ridiculous, and unfounded.
The questions were brilliant memoir Manji supported who refuse to be "religious robots" early on. From teenage years, he has honed to think critically. He was amazed to ijtihad, independent thinking in the Islamic ethos. He describe that concept more practical manner, away from the glaze theory. For example in the form of advice women's economic empowerment.