Date: Saturday, 25
th May 2019
Time: 5.00PM – 7.00PM
Venue: Spices, Concorde Hotel, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur
Speaker:
Professor Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na‘im
Discussants:
Prof, Dr Hunud Abia Kadouf, Kulliyyah of Laws, International Islamic University Malaysia
Prof. Dr Waleed Fekry Faris, International Islamic University Malaysia
Emeritus Prof. Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi, Faculty of Law, University of Malaya
Moderator:
Dato’ Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa
Book Launch of:
“
Ke Arah Reformasi Islam: Kebebasan Sivil, Hak Asasi dan Undang-Undang Antarabangsa” by YB Saari Sungib. A translation of
Towards an Islamic Reformation: Civil Liberties, Human Rights and International Law by Professor Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na‘im
Organized by:
Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF), Academic Staff Association (ASA) IIUM & G25
Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/forum-on-is-reforming-islam-deforming-islam-book-launch-tickets-61979292733
There were arguments that Islamic reform is unnecessary since Islam is perfect as it is and does not constitute a system of religious hierarchy as is the case of Christianity. Hence there is no need for a Martin Luther in Islam that would reform this religion. Moreover, such attempts could give rise to individuals like Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab, the founder of Wahhabi movement in the Saudi Arabia in the 18
th Century or even Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi of the current ISIS. One wonders what were the reasons behind such assertions? Was it because in Islam there is no singular religious authorities that monopolises the correct interpretation of Islam? Or was it because of the strict adherence to the Islamic tradition that leads to the outright rejection of any change? Or was it driven by competing conservative ideology that considers reform a threat to long-established religious authority?
