In Heretic Ayaan Hirsi Ali argues that Islam is in need of reform in five key areas:
1. Muhammad’s semi-divine status, along with the literalist reading of the Quran.
2. The supremacy of life after death.
3. Shariah, the vast body of religious legislation.
4. The right of individual Muslims to enforce Islamic law.
5. The imperative to wage jihad, or holy war. (p. 24, although I’ve used the summary headings quoted here)
Muslims can be divided into three subtypes: ‘Medina Muslims’ (jihadists) ‘Mecca Muslims’ (Muslims who follow orthodox Islam but don’t practice violence) and ‘Modifying Muslims’, those who press for reform (pp. 15-18).
I share Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s impatience with those who claim that the 9/11 attacks, the crimes of ISIS, and countless other such atrocities have nothing to do with Islam. She is right to find Obama’s emphasis in a 2012 speech perverse: [Harry’s Place] Read more
