PROPOSALS FOR THE
REFORM OF ISLAM
Is it possible? Can we
imagine a sort of Vatican Council II (or a Protestant reform) for Islam, for
Muslims, at least for the Islam of France?
It is true that I am
involved, whereas I am not Muslim and rather agnostic.
For me, a reform of Islam
in the modern world is important for two reasons:
1) the evolution of the
world at the level of social, human rights (difficult to live ignoring the
advances of the rest of the world). Helping to ensure that Muslim countries do
not lose the trail of modernity and that they do not decline intellectually,
particularly in the production of knowledge, particularly scientific knowledge.
2) to live together,
already in Western countries (so that there will no longer be rejection or
mistrust of Muslims).
Rather than the themes
discussed by the UOIF at Le Bourget, here are some ideas, which come to mind,
that would be examined by this conference or council:
1) the abolition of the
death penalty and any punishment for the offense of blasphemy (it is better to
put strong arguments against critics of Islam than threats of death and
invective) (rather conversion by reason than by the fear).
2) the suppression of the
discriminatory status of dhimmi (for all non-Muslims),
3) Freedom of religion
and power to change it (if someone wants to leave Islam, it is because Islam
did not do what it took to make one of its followers happy).
4) the possibility of
accepting the fallibility of Muhammad (that one ceases to see him as a
beautiful model). For example, accept that he may have weaknesses, for example,
against the so-called "weak" sex. Avoid any blindness in the field.
5) Strict equality, at
the level of rights, of women and men.
6) Avoid any animal
suffering, it is better to stun an animal than to slaughter it,
7) be able to diversify
protein sources, and accept pork consumption when appropriate in certain
regions (This point 7 is less important).
I know that these
proposals seem enormous, revolutionary, even "heretical" for a
Muslim, .... But in fact, they come from common sense, if Muslims do not want a
long decline of their civilization, Scientific and moral development of the
rest of the world.
Do not forget that what
could fit the context of the time may become inadequate in today's modern
world. Always put verses and hadiths in context.
Thank you for reading and [for Muslims] to criticize my ideas and do not hesitate to blame me for my naïveté, if need be.