I wasn’t very happy with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi’s remarks to the World Council of Churches, and it turns out Muslim leaders in Malaysia weren’t either — for very different reasons. From Straits Times, with thanks to Nicolei:
The Prime Minister, who has an Islamic Studies degree, called for Muslims to keep in mind contemporary conditions in relation to the relevance of fatwa handed down hundreds of years ago.
‘We are not saying that such fatwa are wrong. They were correct during their era…But whether it is correct or not at the present time, this we should consider,’ he said, without making direct reference to the fatwa and opinions of religious scholars here.
Yesterday, he elaborated on the theme, saying that review was important in view of the challenges posed by advances in science and medicine.
A 60-page document outlining just what Islam Hadhari is will be launched this month, but PAS leaders have already stepped up their attacks against the Prime Minister’s credentials as a Muslim leader, with some declaring the progressive philosophy ‘a new religion that is no longer Islam’.
Islam Hadhari has been translated as ‘Civilisational’ and ‘Progressive’ Islam. It has been described as an attempt to adapt Islamic doctrine to modern life and to encourage Muslims to be moderate and to seek knowledge. …
Datuk Seri Abdullah’s critics blasted him earlier this week for speaking at a conference of the World Council of Churches. ‘In Islam, the true religion of God is Islam and to officiate at such a function is an acknowledgement that other religions are equal to Islam,’ said PAS deputy spiritual chief Idris Omar.