Muslim Heretics Conference - Topics

Topics

The conference had panels on several topics, including critical looks at Sharia and related concerns, ways of Islamic reformation, the role and position of Hadith and Sunnah, the absence of democracy in many Muslim countries and how Islam views Democracy, and women's issues. The panels were headed by 3 or 4 participants:

The Future of Shari`a: This panel examined such questions as: What is the nature of Shari`a, and how did it evolve in historical context? Can Shari`a be divine? Whose understanding of Shari`a and to what ends? Can Shari`a principles be codified as law enforced by the state? What should be the role of Shari`a in present Islamic societies and communities? Participants were: professor Abdullahi A. An-Na`im, Alia Hogben who is the Executive Director of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women and Iftikhar Ahmed Mehar who is an independent scholar, author and advocate on Islamic issues in the USA.

Critical Thinking in Islam: Vigilant critical thinking is necessary, they say, if Muslims are to get to the root of our problems and develop reasonable solutions to reform our current corrupt system. The panel discussed ways of critical thinking to explore the best way for an Islamic reform. Participants were: professor Edip Yuksel who is a known activist in Islamic reform and author of a Quran translation, bestselling author and activist Irshad Manji who created several projects on Itjihad, Islamic right for free interpretation, and also has produced a documentaire about Islamic reform at PBS, professor Richard Voss who has engaged and written on Quranic studies and Arnold Mol, a convert from Holland who has written articles on Quranic subjects.

Hadith and Sunna a critical evaluation: What are Hadith and Sunna, what have they played in the definition and understanding of what Islam is and what it means to be Muslim? A objective critical analysis of the early sources. Participants were: professor shaykh Ahmed Subhy Mansour from al-Azhar university in Cairo now living in the USA, author and scholar of Islam with expertise in Islamic history, culture, theology, and politics and professor Aisha Y. Musa, author of “Hadith as Scripture: Discussions on the Authority of Prophetic Traditions in Islam”.

Islam and Democracy: Intolerance for vain and tolerance for tyranny and oppression. Why there is no democratic Muslim country? Does Islam have a problem with democracy and freedom? Participants were: author Sandra Mackey, an award winning and highly regarded expert on Middle Eastern culture and politics, Dr. Ali Behzadnia who is a socio-political activist and founder of several Islamic organisations and again professor Edip Yuksel.

Women’s issues: Since gender inequality is not unique to Islam and Muslims, what in particular are the issues that need to be addressed because they are labeled “Islamic”? What can Muslim women and men do and what are Muslim women and men doing to promote and sustain gender equality in the context of Muslim minorities, like North America? Participants were: professor Amina Wadud author of many books including Qur'an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman’s Perspective, Melissa Robinson an activist and writer who has co-founded the American Islamic Fellowship (AIF) and has been actively working to promote interfaith efforts, social justice, and reform in mosques and Islamic communities, author Melody Moezzi who has a regular column in Muslim Girl Magazine and also has written the book War on Error: Real Stories of American Muslims.

Each panelist gave their opinion on the subjects discussed and then the audience could engage with questions and arguments.

The topics were discussed from Saturday morning till evening and on Sunday morning. On Friday evening, the first day of the conference, the award-winning Egyptian documentaire Salata Baladi, which means 'mixed salade' was shown. The movie was made by Nadia Kamel who the personal history of the filmmaker’s grandmother, Mary, as told to her grandson, Nabeel. Like many Egyptians born at the end of a century filled with multiple waves of immigration, religious conversions, and mixed marriages, Nabeel is a mix of Egyptian, Italian, Palestinian, and Lebanese identities, with some Russian, Caucasian, Turkish, and Spanish inherited from Muslim, Christian and Jewish ancestors.