I realised that the idea of enforcing sharia is not consistent with Islam as it's been practised from the beginning. In other words, Islam has always been secular, and I had been totally ignorant of the fact.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes that the practice of Islam has been secular historically, contradicting the notion of enforcing strict sharia law.
Maajid Nawaz highlights a critical observation about the nature of Islam, suggesting that the religion has been interpreted and practiced in a secular manner throughout history. His realization points to the inconsistency of contemporary movements that seek to enforce sharia law, challenging the perception of Islam as necessarily tied to rigid legalistic frameworks and advocating for a more nuanced understanding that honors the religion's historical context.
In practice
In a discussion about the interpretation of religious laws, this quote can highlight different perspectives on secularism in Islam.
I had a mind inquiring enough to question world events, as well as the passion fostered by my background to care, but I lacked the emotional maturity to process these things. That made me ripe for Islamist recruitment. Into this ferment came my recruiter, himself straight out of a London medical college.
After much soul searching I was able to renounce my past Islamist ideology, challenging everything I was once prepared to die for.
And the pain is too much it's too much it's too much and my hands are on my head and I'm rearing back and my mouth is open in a never-ending wordless wail of all the blackness that's inside me. And i fall back into it.
If the work of our sanctification presents us with difficulties that appear insurmountable, it is because we do not look at it in the right way. In reality, holiness consists in one thing alone, namely, fidelity to God's plan. And this fidelity is equally within everyone's capacity in both its active and passive exercise.
My pessimism extends to the point of even suspecting the sincerity of other pessimists.
I think the 'Terminator' idea is a reasonable one - that is that one day the Internet becomes self-aware and simply says that humans are in the way. After all, if you meet an ant hill and you're making a 10-lane super highway, you just pave over the ants. It's not that you don't like the ants, it's not that you hate ants; they are just in the way.
Adam hid in the Garden of Eden. Moses tried to substitute his brother. Jonah jumped a boat and was swallowed by a whale...Man likes to run from God. It's a tradition.
The single clenched fist lifted and ready, Or the open asking hand held out and waiting. Choose: For we meet by one or the other.
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