format_quote Originally Posted by
Futuwwa
If they were selfish people following their whims and desires, they'd take the easy way out and simply ditch Islam altogether and embrace the secular, socially liberal mainstream society. There's no shortage of born Muslims who have become lukewarm at best, renouced their religion at worst, and done that. They'd fit right in and disappear into the crowd.
Muslims can also follow their whims and desires for shaytaan can come to anyone. It doesn't mean that if a Muslim claims to remain a Muslim, that he/she is not following his/her whims and desires. Muslims can convince themselves they are doing something noble and righteous, even if it in blatant opposition to Allah and His Messenger :saws:.
format_quote Originally Posted by
Futuwwa
These people feel rejected and unwelcome by the Muslim mainstream, but still they won't let go of Islam but keep on struggling. That's taqwa.
No it isn't. Being unwelcome is merely a guise. Let's assume that that's all it is, that they're unwelcome elsewhere. If that was the case they'd get their own premises/room, and have all the men in the rows at the front, the women in the rows behind, and the male imam leading. But they're not doing that. Their agenda, as per their own website, is gender "justice", and to reform Islam, amongst other things.
They say in their own words that they stand for the exact opposite of most mosques, for gender "justice" (Allah and His prophet :saws: having taught us gender injustice astaghfirullah), for the "reform" of Islam, and "democratisation" of the Qur'an.
The fact that we stand for the exact opposite of the mosques I have known
And it does not conduct salaah in languages that only one culture can understand.
I wanted to find a non-Traditional (and hence non-dogmatic) space to meet my needs for spirituality
This democratisation of Quran reading would facilitate the reform of Islam.
[and to be] be able to worship with him in a mixed prayer space
http://www.inclusivemosqueinitiative.org/faq.htm
format_quote Originally Posted by
Futuwwa
They may be misguided, but it's better to be an imperfect and misguided Muslim than one not at all.
There's a difference between being imperfect, and between blatantly opposing Allah and His messenger :saws: legislation, and seeking to change/reform the faith which Allah perfected for us, and to "democratise" His word.
If you are a non-Muslim, everybody knows you are, but when you try to change Islam from "within", and portray it as the right path, and misguide others towards it, that seems worse.
O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.
Have you not seen those who claim to have believed in what was revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you? They wish to refer legislation to Taghut, while they were commanded to reject it; and Satan wishes to lead them far astray.
And when it is said to them, "Come to what Allah has revealed and to the Messenger," you see the hypocrites turning away from you in aversion.
So how [will it be] when disaster strikes them because of what their hands have put forth and then they come to you swearing by Allah ,
"We intended nothing but good conduct and accommodation."
These are they of whom Allah knows what is in their hearts; therefore turn aside from them and admonish them, and speak to them an effective word to reach their innerselves. (4:59-63)
Say: Shall We inform you who will be the greatest losers by their works? Those whose effort goes astray in the life of the world, and yet they reckon that they do good work. (18:103-104)
Then We put you, [O Muhammad], on an ordained way concerning the matter [of religion]; so follow it and do not follow the inclinations of those who do not know. (45:15)
We have an ordained way in Islam and whoever seeks to change that is going far astray, regardless of how "good" the intention.
May Allah guide them back to the right path, ameen, and may He save them from misguiding and misleading others, ameen.