Liberal Islam vs Conservative Islam: Two Wrongs Don't Make it Right

In a world of differences in almost everything imaginable, the last thing the world needs is another categorization of people that can lead to division and strife instead of tolerance and unity. Muslims are not immune to division as clearly manifested in the sectarian, ethnic, social, and political problems that are currently plaguing the Muslim world. In light of the religious and social pressures faced by Muslims living in both the West and predominantly Muslim countries, a growing number of Muslims are being more open about their socio-philosophical orientations.

Today, the socio-philosophical labeling of Muslims is becoming more commonplace as many Muslims feel the need to place themselves in camps of liberal (a.k.a. "progressive") or conservative (a.k.a. "fundamentalist"), regardless of what sect or school of thought (or lack thereof) they belong to. Whatever the reasoning behind this is, there seems to be a polarizing effect not on just Muslim unity but on how Muslims understand and apply Islam.

While Muslims and their understanding and application of Islam are not monolithic, the Islamic core creed (`aqeedah) is. Despite the differences in the various branches of Islamic belief and the elaboration of its doctrine amongst the different sects and schools of thought, there are no disagreements in the `aqeedah. The belief and declaration of faith (shahaadah) that there is only one God and Muhammad is His final and last messenger and prophet is the foundation for every sect and school of thought in Islam. None of them disagree on this and any person, sect or movement that does would be viewed as heretical by both the consensus of Sunni and Shiite scholars. Although ikhtilaaf (difference of opinion) is one the hallmarks of Islamic jurisprudence, it still must fall in line with the parameters set by `aqeedah.

Although there is no evidence that any Muslim during the time of the Prophet Muhammad ever categorized themselves or others by these socio-philosophical orientations, some would argue that during the same time, no one identified themselves as Sunni or Shiite and therefore it is not against Islam to call oneself or others by these socio-philosophical labels. But there is a clear distinction between adhering to a school of thought (madhhab) or sect and adopting a philosophy that is not based on any Islamic criterion. To identify yourself in accordance to the teachings of a sect or school of thought is based on an understanding of Islam that uses sources directly from the `aqeedah and jurisprudence (fiqh), while a socio-philosophical orientation is a categorization that uses secular criteria to identify people who fit in a particular group.

What makes a Muslim a conservative, liberal, fundamentalist or progressive? Nothing from Islam that is for sure. This is because if Islam recognized these socio-philosophical orientations as part of its belief system, such criteria that would identify a Muslim as such would be found in the Koran and Hadith (recorded sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad). The Koran and Hadith do not mention conservatism, liberalism, fundamentalism, progressivism or their adherents and any attempt to include such beliefs in Islam would be considered a bid`ah or innovation within the Islamic religion, something that Islam does not permit. Islamic belief makes it clear that Islam was completed and perfected during the time of the Prophet Muhammad and nothing can be added to its belief system -- such categorization of Muslims and Islam as liberal or conservative would be a bid`ah.

Views on what exactly is a liberal or conservative Muslim vary slightly but there is a consensus on what are the key characteristics that divide conservative and liberal Muslim. Generally speaking, a liberal Muslim is one who does not practice Islam [enough or at all] and/or is Westernized or secularized to the point where he or she adopts the values and lifestyle that predominantly reflect Western and secular beliefs. Others will argue that liberal Muslims are not necessarily always secular or Westernized but rather they adhere to a more "modern and progressive" understanding and application of Islam. Conversely, a conservative Muslim appears to resist the "temptation" to assimilate or adopt the Western and secular values and lifestyle and is regarded as being more "fundamentalist" or rigid in their understanding and application of Islam, even to the point where many of them dress in traditional and cultural clothing in order to "not imitate the non-Muslims in appearance".

In the framework of Islamic belief (regardless of sect), there is only Islamic Islam. If there were such a thing as "fundamentalist Islam", it would be based solely on the fundamentals of Islam and not extremism; today, extremists are routinely viewed as "fundamentalists" by members of the media, politicians, columnists and laypeople. "Conservative Islam" is no more "puritanical" or "fundamentalist" than "liberal Islam" because neither version of Islam is based solely on Islamic principles. A progressive Muslim is not progressive according to Islam unless his "progressive views" fall in line with Islam, not any other criteria or belief system. Moreover, a person that is "progressing" would be acquiring more knowledge of Islam and implementing its teaches in his or her life. An openly-sinning Muslim is just that, an openly sinning Muslim and an openly-practicing Muslim is just that, an openly-practicing Muslim. This is because Islam itself defines what and is not Islam and not any social, anthropological, political or philosophical viewpoint. While there are concepts in Islam can be seen liberal or conservative, Islam is not based on liberalism or conservatism.

While sectarian and socio-philosophical/political labeling have been key factors in division and conflict, the sanctioned labeling and categorizing of Muslims in Islam have not caused such strife. Since a Muslim is one who believes in the the `aqeedah and all that is contained and ordained therein, he or she is identified on the level of piety and this identification is more for God to ultimately decide rather than people alone. For example, a mu'min (believer) is one who completely submitted to the will of God and has faith firmly established in his or her heart while a faasiq (sinner) openly and flagrantly sins and violates Islamic law; both types of Muslims have existed side by side in relative harmony since the beginning of Islam.

What good has labeling oneself liberal or conservative done? Just like sectarianism, it has become a divisive factor instead of a unifying one in the Muslim community. It has lead to further labeling and categorizing of each other in ways where Muslims have even regarded the opposing camp as deviants or even non-Muslims. Nothing in Islam forces or even allows its adherents to label one another as conservative or liberal; it is completely unnecessary to do so and nothing beneficial has come out of it as proven throughout history.

Liberal or Conservative Islam should be seen as not an approach to understanding or implementing Islam but instead an attempt to justify a controversial belief or action. Both liberal and conservative are extremes and Islam is not about extremism but balance.

The problem with the Muslim community is not the lack of differences of opinion on certain matters in Islam but the lack of understanding that these differences of opinion should be a blessing and not a curse. Diversity should be a blessing and not a curse and as long as Muslims agree that it is Islam, not liberalism or conservatism that defines what is and is not Islam.