Why a Liberal Forum like New Age Islam Is a Must for All Muslims

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 31 October 2024 Some indoctrinated and fanatic Muslims may be under the impression that the editor and Publisher of New Age Islam (NAI), Mr. Sultan Shahin is a closet atheist who encourages all non-believers and ex-Muslims on this site to express their views candidly. But they should read Mr Ashok Sharma's comment. He's full of praise for the NAI for doing a great service to the beleaguered minorities who're at the receiving end. Naipaul and Rushdie kept reiterating that Islam's obscurantism and extreme fanaticism didn't come from its clerics and village mullahs; it actually came from the 'educated' and ' English-speaking' bigots and got entrenched by the rigidity of those who've mortgaged their rationality. To quote Shakeel Badayuni, "Mujhe khauf aatish-e-gul se hai/ Ye kahin chaman ko jala na de" (I'm rather scared of the fire of a flower that might burn the whole garden). NAI has been trying to inculcate reason by allowing counterviews like, "Religion is a mass hysteria indoctrinated in the childhood by brainwashing" (refer to Mr Ashok Sharma's latest comment) or Mr Ghulam Mohiyuddin's concern that it's bizarre when educated people indulge in such religious nonsense and say like Zakir Naik and one more all-knowing zealot that the Quran is preserved in Lauh-e-mahfooz or Vedas are uncreated. Here lies the dangerous and most debilitating influence of religion that eclipses the collective wisdom of humans. NAI's editor has been trying to disabuse Muslims of this religiously enslaved mindset. Truth is always persecuted by the detractors and those who've vested interests. Since religions and spirituality are industries today and god is the biggest deception, it's time for humans to realise that the greatest faith is humanity and the most potent god is our conscience. This site is making the deluded Muslims see at least a semblance of sense and prudence. One has to be intrepid to proclaim the truth. The Editor of this site is fearless without being an atheist. Today, the problem with all Muslims and the followers of different faiths is that they resent alternative viewpoints. Despite being a Muslim, Mr Shahin allows and welcomes a host of different and dissenting views which's a rarity in these precarious times. Yours truly has to write under pseudonyms for many portals and publications when he writes something incendiary and religiously volatile. But here on this site, he writes without hiding his identity. Only the unvarnished truth and complete fearlessness can save the world from slipping into an abyss of fanaticism and violence. Stick to your man-made faith. Continue to believe in a concocted god. But at the same time, retain your intrinsic goodness and don't hate a person just because he's an atheist or a perceived atheist. That's the message on the occasion of jashn-e-charaghaan (festival of lights, Deepavali). Happy Diwali to all, even to those who leave no stone unturned to run me down! I extend my wishes to them as well. Lastly, I ain't a mouthpiece of NAI. I call a spade, a spade and admire or admonish without an iota of prejudice whatsoever. Cheers! ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. ------------ URL: https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/liberal-new-age-islam-muslims/d/133592 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism