The Prophet talked about "universal brotherhood": he did not say brotherhood of Muslims, but just universal brotherhood among humans. Anything else came as a result of economical and political conflicts - in the 7th century and now.
Liana Sammartino, Point Roberts, Washington As I read this article, I couldn't help wondering if Rushdie would have had a greater impact if he had been able to generalise his message for all religions, not merely Islam. A reform is needed, I believe, in all faiths where the 21st century preacher still says, "My religion is greater than yours", thus indirectly inciting rivalry rather than cohesion between the different faiths of the world. A reform is also needed in all countries where one religion gets greater prominence and enjoys state sponsorship. This is against the spirit of equal rights for all citizens within a democratic country. These state-driven differences in the sponsorship of religion breed discontent. Until the UK endorses equal state support for all faiths, and until all preachers of major faiths operating within the UK declare their respect for "sister" faiths to their congregations and endorse the view that God is attainable through a multiplicity of routes and not just the one which (s)he supports, the wider non-Muslim community cannot be absolved of the blame of creating the cracks of hatred within society. Somnath Mukhopadhyay, Dundee
Mr Rushdie should now take a lead and start the process of reformation. He should set out where Islam has gone wrong, and how it can be corrected. There have been many articles and many pronouncements about the need to reform. But merely writing an article does not even begin to solve the problem. Unless Mr Rushdie takes the next step, one will wonder if he has written merely to establish his liberal credentials, or whether he is sincere in what he has written. Ashok Chowgule, Mombai, India
I profoundly disagree with Mr. Rushdie. There is no doubt that the events of July 7 in London were tragic and evil, and there is no defence or excuse for the murder of innocent civilians, whether that occurs in London, Madrid, New York or Baghdad. The basic tenets of Islam, which Mr Rushdie clearly feels are outdated and require updating for a modern world, condemn the actions of the July 7 as unjust. So what exactly does Mr. Rushdie wish to reform? A religion which preaches peace and tolerance, and has upheld these principles throughout history? Or perhaps a religion that encourages justice and equality for all mankind, regardless of race or language? There is no doubt that Muslims need to reform, but the only route to achieve this is through a greater understanding of Islam. As Muslims we believe that Islam is as perfect today as it was when revealed 1,400 years ago. Whenever any injustice or oppression occur, and Muslims remain silent, the principles of Islam have been abandoned – perhaps it is these principles that Mr Rushdie wishes us to reinterpret? Rahman Najib, Oxford
As Yusuf Islam [formerly known as Cat Stevens] said in an article published last week in a broadsheet newspaper, "the problem is not too much religion; but the fact that there is too little of it around". The problem is not with Islam but with a fraction of Muslims, lost amid two worlds, experiencing inner turmoil and disenfranchisement. The only cure for this is not less but in fact more Islam. Islam teaches us that no action based on anger, frustration, insecurity or rebellion amounts to anything before God. The answer therefore, is not "reform Islam" but reform our youth through Islam. Muhsin Yazici, London
Salman Rushdie's call for a reformation of Islam is a matter for Muslims to decide. Ben Hussein of Saudi Arabia, in his comments on the article, insists that there is no 'modern' or 'traditional Islam', only Islam, and that Europe does not have a long-standing tradition of plurality. Plurality comes with peace and with the acceptance of other cultures and religions, allowing people the freedoms to choose how they celebrate their faith. I was in Saudi Arabia recently, but could find no Christian church in which to celebrate mine. Perhaps "modern" Islam would be one that would allow me to do so what 'traditional' Islam does not. John Barnfather, Soudan, France
The problem is not with Islam but with some Muslims, lost amid two worlds. When I watched these predominantly young people on TV trying to explain their ways, what I saw was egocentrism, insecurity, and a quest for self-worth. The spokespersons were enjoying the limelight, relishing the opportunity to speak into a microphone. This is not the behaviour of sincerely devoted people of God. And their followers - a group of angry youths, mesmerised by the charisma of their spokesperson and his rebellious spirit. They find comfort in the message that there is no more need to balance two cultures, no more need to integrate, no more need to feel guilty; attack and go to heaven. This is not religion, this is definitely not Islam. This is anger, frustration, insecurity and rebellion. Islam teaches us that no action based on any of these emotions amounts to anything before God. The answer therefore, is not “reform Islam” but reform our youth through Islam. Muhsin Yazici, London
Islam is in deep crisis. I fully support Mr Rushdie about reform in Islam and its adaptation to the new realities of the world. Unfortunately he has a very bad image with conservative Muslims because of The Satanic Verses. However, he has a lot of supporters among seculars and reformists who believe that without reforms Islam will not be able to resist the western cultural challenges in an age of globalisation. Secular Islamic and non-Islamic western and eastern scholars and politicians should work together to modernise Islam to meet the realities of our time. Dialogue between cultures is the better than confrontation. Mr Rushdie is right when he suggest change in Islam to meet today's realities, but he doesn't show how this could be done. Haroon Amirzada (former lecturer Kabul University), London
It is interesting that one contributor to this forum talks of how Islam "in its purest form" is peaceful, and yet time and again we hear of edicts in the Koran to kill infidels and apostates. What is "purest" Islam? For that matter, what is "purest" Christianity or Judaism, when there are so many conflicting parts of the holy books, and so many atrocities committed, especially in the Old Testament, allegedly in the name of God? As far as I know, no major conflict or atrocity has been committed in the name of atheism. The government has announced more Islamic schools, and continues to allow religious schools of all hues. This is the start of sectarianism. We see it in Northern Ireland. Do we want it to flourish here, with communities remaining forever apart, ghettoised, alienated and resentful of one another? If we start with the schools we take a step towards a solution. We ensure that religion is taught about, and not taught as such (not preached, in other words). Andy Armitage, Hebron, Carmarthenshire
What Mr. Rushdie expresses in his excellent essay is a critique of fundamentalism. It doesn't matter what religion one refers to, it is fundamentalism that is the greatest danger to civilised society. We in America are faced with an anti-democratic, un-American movement of old testament fundamentalist, literalist thinking. This is very dangerous. I appreciate Mr. Rushdie "shining the light" on certain facets of the Islamic community, but his thoughts are equally appropriate for the fundamentalist "Christian" community. Michael Wynn, Corvallis, Oregon
It is not Islam that needs a Reformation or Enlightenment; it is Muslims themselves. Muslims need to start questioning the tenents of their faith, not as a means to change Islam, but as a means to strengthen their belief, and to remove the ignorance that is exploited by extremists to recruit the young into espousing terrorist beliefs, based on the incorrect interpretation of Islamic history and sacred texts. Muslims believe that the Quran is the perfect word of God, but this does not preclude them questioning, not its validity or veracity, but the wisdom behind its commandments, the context under which verses were revealed and the reasoning behind the stated rules. Muslims need to end the hypocrisy that many of them live, ie, refusing to integrate (not to be confused with compromising or rejecting their own faith) into their host societies, as though such integration would somehow "corrupt" them. Muslims need to demand that only the most highly educated people become their religious leaders ( imams), and not just any Tom, Dick or Harry, as is the case now. Undoubtedly there is an anti-muslim bias in the world today, with the invasion of Iraq, the hypocrisy towards Iran and its nuclear program, massacres in the former Yugoslavia, villification in the right wing press of the Prophet Muhammed and racial profiling of Arab-Americans in the USA all serving as examples, but this does not excuse the apathy that the Muslim community is currently in, delegating its representation to a handful of inarticulate spokesmen, all living in the middle ages, who espouse a version of Islam far removed from the original, dynamic way of life as exemplified by the way of the Prophet. Tarek Arab, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
A reformation is about critical thinking; about deciding for yourself what is wrong or right. And yes, such individualism can lead to social malaise, because people will often make the wrong decisions. Liberated women may choose to sleep around; scientists may create the nuclear bomb; children may be disrespectful of their parents. The freedom to question authority, a Reformation, is not free of charge. The only relevant question is whether we think we are old enough to pay the price. Rushdie thinks we are. Inna Tysoe, Sacramento, California
Javed Ali: in my opinion, Salman suggests that we question the traditionalist and jihadi interpretations of the Koranic text, brush aside the dust and grime that mask the central pillar of faith, and shine the light of public attention through discourse and debate to see the pillar through our own eyes, perhaps for the first time. Also, blaming the West for manufacturing Muslim terrorists amongst us seems a bit like the pot calling the kettle names. We’re better than that. And we don’t need to look West to see the right way either – they’re stumbling around in the darkness of the Kansas woods as we speak. We just need another objective look at our faith. Can someone open the windows please? We need a little light in here. Gulrez Shah, Austin, Texas
