I mean, how many Islamic dudes do you get writing for the L.A. Times who say things like:
One can appreciate the Koran’s inherent worth, as I do, while recognizing that it contains ambiguities, inconsistencies, outright contradictions — and the possibility of human editing. This is not simply a reform-minded Muslim speaking. This is Islamic tradition talking.
For centuries, philosophers of Islam have been telling the story of the "Satanic Verses." The Prophet Muhammad accepted them as authentic entries into the Koran. Later, he realized they deify heathen idols rather than God. So he belatedly rejected the verses, blaming them on a trick played by Satan. Which implies that the Prophet edited the Koran.
Let’s push this point further. Because pious Muslims emulate Muhammad’s life, those who compiled the Koran’s verses after his death might have followed his example of editing along the way. The compilers were, after all, only human — as human as Muhammad himself.
Moreover, they collected the Koran’s verses from sundry surfaces such as bones, stones and bark. How did the passages get there? According to Islamic lore, the Prophet, an illiterate trader, couldn’t personally record them. His companions served as scribes, often writing from memory. Given so much human involvement, isn’t it possible that errors infiltrated the "authoritative" Koran?
In asking this question, I’m neither impugning the allegorical wisdom of the Koran nor inviting another fatwa on my life [EARTH TO THOUGHTFUL DUDE: Actually, you are inviting "another" fatwa against your life, but more power to you]. I’m saying that Muslims have to get comfortable asking such questions — and not merely whispering them — if we’re going to avoid a further desecration of human life. Riots in Afghanistan have already resulted in at least 14 deaths. Aid workers have been attacked; their offices burned. How does this benefit the cause of dignity — for anyone?
What this gentleman points out is all true, and all part of Islamic tradition, but it is deliberately neglected. It’s surprising to find a Muslim willing to take on this subject with such frankness in such a major newspaper–even here in America.
The guy’s got moxie!
Actually, Irshad Manji is a woman. 🙂
-“I thought you were a guy.”
-“Most guys do.”
I don’t like the argument. The fact is that to Muslim’s the Koran is the revealed Word. If they’re going to discard that, then they best start looking for another religion. Not that I think they shouldn’t, it just isn’t a justifiable Muslim view. It’s a Muslim heretic’s view.
Irshad Manji is from Toronto. She is an active lesbian with purple spiked hair and is not taken seriously at all by any of the muslims we should be worried about. For them, she is a flaming heretic and only confirms everything they believe is wrong with the West and western influence. She’s on TV a lot here and actively tries to promote gay “marriage” and gay “culture”. But still I agree, more power to her.
From what I understand she has received plenty of death threats.
She has a website:
http://www.muslim-refusenik.com
Nick, is Manji’s view here any different from “redactor” theory still currently popular in Biblical scholarship? I don’t know as much (read: anything) about Koran scholaship as I do about Biblical scolarship – & I really don’t agree with the redactor theories – but it seems to me she could be making the same redactor-type of arguement for the Koran, albeit not in so many words.
Still, as you point out, I’m not sure Muslims would take to such a theory very . . . positively.
“For them, she is a flaming heretic and only confirms everything they believe is wrong with the West and western influence.”
Hey, that goes for me, too. Because she really does embody everything that is wrong with the west she makes a terrible apologist for western thought.
Don’t get too excited about her dissecting the Qur’an. I’m sure she would be happy to trash the Bible as well. I would say to her, be a Muslim, or don’t be a Muslim, but don’t insist on being both at the same time.
That’s the problem though, she’s preaching to the wrong choir. Any moderates are going to be as turned off as Islamic conservatives. Take a look at her text, she allows no room for inspiration or guidance. She’s arguing *for* a poor treatment of the Qur’an. An orthodox Biblical redactionist is going to argue that the editors were inspired to create the source texts. She’s not.
I can see why very conservative Muslim’s would send her death threats. I also strongly disagree with her as a spokesperson for the West. A better argument would be to point out why the US would find flushing Qur’an down the toilet a silly form of torture and why, if it was done at all, it should be handled on the individual level rather than blowing starting a war against a country the Islamic world doesn’t understand.
Yeah, very good points, fellas. Thanks.
She didn’t even go to the place that Muslims HATE to go: evidence that some of the Qur’an came from before Muhammad. That would be a worse admission (to Muslims) than redaction would be – remember, Muslims believe in verbal inspiration.
WoW!So u wont even post my comment?
Well!So you non believers are taking the words of a kafir(it means, “someone who knows the truth but denies it” and nothing else) by heart without any proof or anything!just because she had a muslim name and she something against Islam!Earth to your stupidity!Can I ask you a ‘simple’ question?Where the hell is proof?Where are the”ambiguities, inconsistencies, outright contradictions “??!A single clear cut error in Quran, just mail me and I promise I will shut my big mouth.
‘Satanic Verse’ was given by another Hypocrite, Salman Rushide, who also is a muslim by name.Surely miss, you dont call him Islamic Philospher?Your mind is FINE?I hope so.
Another BIG joke.Quran was originally “actually in stones and barks and what not…….”but tell me, why didnt anyone else found it?What happened to these writings after Prophet put them in Quran?I mean they arn not found these days,(exeption of course in misses day dream), or are they?And what about the scientific facts found in Quran today?Surely, normal human couldnt have guessed these facts long ago??!And how did that aid prophet?He lived in poverty, even when he conquered Mecca, he choose to live a poor life!!
I dont blame you christian.Someone by muslim name wrote this article and you are highlighting it.But is that right??At least you should look for proof.Not like Jimmy”What this gentleman points out is all true, and all part of Islamic tradition, but it is deliberately neglected.”Who need such Prejudice?Not me, dude.
Brief History of Compilation of the Qur’an
Adapted from an article in Perspectives, Vol 3, No. 4, Aug/Sept 1997
———————————————————— ——
During the life of the Prophet (saas) (570-632 CE)
-The Prophet (peace & blessings of Allah be upon him) used to recite the Qur’an before angel Jibreel (Gabriel) once every Ramadan, but he recited it twice (in the same order we have today) in the last Ramadan before his death. Jibreel also taught the Prophet ( Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) the seven modes of recitation.
-Each verse received was recited by the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and its location relative to other verses and surahs was identified by him.
-The verses were written by scribes, selected by the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), on any suitable object – the leaves of trees, pieces of wood, parchment or leather, flat stones, and shoulder blades. Scribes included Ali Ibn Abi Talib, Mu’awiyah Ibn Abi Sufyan, Ubey Ibn Ka’ab, Zayed Ibn Thabit.
-Some of the companions wrote the Qur’an for their own use.
-Several hundred companions memorized the Qur’an by heart.