Superstition has poisoned the contemporary Muslim conscience
What more can we say about the malaise of the Muslims, their crises and their shortcomings, their inability to meet the challenges of the day ? Islam today is in disrepute ; Muslims are under attack daily for the violence carried out in their name, for the discrimination against women and “non-Muslims” that some claim to justify in their teaching and preaching. From within, Muslims themselves are the sharpest critics of their deficiencies and failings : they complain about their scholars, their leaders, their internal divisions, of the sad state of Muslim majority societies where education is a disaster, social justice a mirage and political systems dens of corruption. From outside and from within, the verdict is inescapable : the crisis is deep ; doubts have undermined confidence and conscience. It has happened in silence, or accompanied by complaints, fears, suffering, frustration and tears. How can we escape the prison of pretense, of posturing, of constant whining or sterile criticism ? Is there a way for us to become constructively self-critical, to gain confidence and freedom ? What path will lead us to peace ?