.... He has never to my knowledge made a single concrete suggestion (intellectual theoretical or social/political practical) that would involve Muslims actually taking any creative inspiration from outside Islam at all. All his “reformist” notions are entirely within the Islamic tradition of arguing solely from Islamic tradition (even if a problem is created by pressure from outside, the “solution” must admit of being couched in terms of authentic Islam).
What he demands is exclusively the other way, i.e. simply that Western traditions be adjusted to accommodate an (actually encapsulated) Islam, including acceptance of the claim that Islam is somehow an integral contributor to Western traditions and must be recognised as having a huge amount to contribute to them here and now.
Any Western failure to make the adjustment, acceptance and recognition is proof of misunderstanding of Islam and victimisation of Muslims. Islam has nothing to learn from the West, but the West must learn from Islam. [Harry’s Place] Read more
