Does Islam Need A Reformation?

Some are trying to understand Islam from the perspective of the history of Christianity. To answer Thom Hartmann's question: No, Islam does not need a Reformation. But some Muslims do, notes Hesham A. Hassaballa.


One day recently, I heard progressive radio host Thom Hartmann speak about whether Islam needs a "reformation" similar to that in Judaism or Christianity. It happened in the wake of the pirate attacks on American ships in the Indian Ocean, and the implication that al-Qaeda was behind the pirates (a dubious claim). In fact, Hartmann had been posited this question to a number of Muslim callers on his show during those days: "Is it time for a reformation in Islam?"

It does seem to me that given the often terrible news about Islam, it is understandable why this question would be raised in the first place. When people see constant references to vicious barbarity: beheadings, suicide bombings, public flogging, "honor killing" -- all done explicitly in the name of Islam -- it is only natural to wonder whether Islam itself is the problem. Yet, as tempting as it is to apply the Christian experience as analogy, it is a flawed premise.

The Protestant Reformation was a movement during the 16th and 17th centuries to reform the Catholic Church. It sought to change various beliefs and practices that were fundamental to the Church at the time, such as purgatory, particular judgment (the judgment of a soul immediately after death), devotion to Mary, devotion to the saints, most of the sacraments, mandatory celibacy, and the authority of the Pope. Of course, in Great Britain, the divorce of the Church of England from Rome was performed by Henry VIII, after he was denied an annulment from his wife by Pope Clement VII. Even in this case, it was a new church started in reaction to ‘wrong’ beliefs in the Roman Catholic Church.

That is the problem in trying to understand Islam from the perspective of the history of Christianity. There is no such corollary in Islam: The barbarity that is done in the name of Islam is a deviation from fundamental beliefs, principles, and traditions of Islam. Extremism in the name of Islam is nothing new to the faith: It began soon after the death of the Prophet Muhammad with the Kharijites, who ended up killing the fourth Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib. After the Kharijites came the Hashasheen, or "Assassins," who were Islam's first "suicide terrorists." They terrorized the Muslim populace for decades. And in contemporary times, we have the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

Yet, throughout Islam's history, these extremists have always been a tiny fringe minority who follow clearly heretical belief systems and are always rejected by the overwhelming majority of Muslims. The Islamic mainstream has always endured and won out against the extremists. Today, there are some people who want the world to think that the Muslim extremists are somehow the "mainstream." Yet, only a criminal mind could cite the Qur'an to justify the murder of innocent people having lunch at Sbarro's, or worshipping at a mosque on Friday, or buying fruit at the market. Just because a terrorist says "the Qur'an says so" does not make it the truth any more than it does if a terrorist used verses from the Bible.

Let us take suicide terrorism as an example. Everything about it violates Islam and its principles. The Qur'an says: "And do not take a life that God has made sacred, except for just cause" (17:33). In no way, shape, or form could the taking of innocent life be considered "just cause." Moreover, as in Jewish and Christian scriptures and traditions, suicide is a grave sin:

"And spend for the sake of God, and do not invest in ruin by your own hands. And do good, for God loves those who do good" (2:195).

"And do not kill yourselves, for God has been merciful to you" (4:29).

Thus, the crime of suicide is clearly a deviation from Islamic faith and practice -- therefore, rejected by the vast majority of Muslims.

If Islam needed a "reformation," that would mean that suicide terrorism against "non-believers" is part of Islamic belief and needs to be "expunged" in the interest of bringing Islam into the 21st century. But, the truth is suicide terrorism has never been part of Islamic belief; it has always been an ugly deviation.

This does not mean, in any way, shape, or form, that a good number of Muslims are not in need of reformation. On the contrary, there needs to be a wholesale reformation of Muslims on a number of fronts. But whenever we see Muslims acting like barbarians, they are betraying the principles of Islam, they are violating the letter and spirit of the faith.

If every Muslim everywhere had kept to the principles of Islam, there would be no suicide terrorism; there would be no beheading of people in front of a banner saying "There is no God but God, and Muhammad is His Messenger"; there would be no "honor killing." Sadly, however, these things do happen, and it is because some few Muslims have strayed from the straight and narrow path of Islam -- or are faithlessly using the religion in an abominable way.

So, to answer Thom Hartmann's question: No, Islam does not need a Reformation. But some Muslims do.

Hesham A. Hassaballa is a physician and writer living in Chicago. He is co-author of The Beliefnet Guide to Islam (Doubleday).