There are a small group of ‘Muslims’ who have become fully intellectually colonialised and are so awed by Western civilisation, that they have embraced the Western ideology of Liberalism (Secularism, Democracy, Nationalism & Individualism) mind body and soul. Liberalism, known euphemistically as ‘Freedom’ or ‘Liberty’ is a materialistic ideology that puts the ‘individual’ above all other considerations, society, family and God. The new converts to Liberalism from the Muslim community are Liberal ‘Muslims’, but they are also known as Modernists – owing to the fact that they follow whatever is currently in fashion in the world [i.e. modern], even if it is based upon ignorant materialism.

“Is it then the judgment of ignorance that they desire? And who is better than Allah to judge for a people who are sure?” [Quran 5:50]

Unfortunately, so tied down to the Muslim community are they, that instead of leaving or apostating from Islam to pursue their desires as non-Muslims, they choose to remain amongst Muslims, and get Muslims to follow along with them.

‘They [the Hypocrites] wish that you reject (Faith), and thus that you all become equal (like them). So, take not Auliya (protectors or friends) from them’ [Quran 4:89]

In order to twist Islam into a secular and Liberal mold, Modernists usually use strategies like ‘interpreting’ clear texts of the Quran that go against Liberalism, as either non-literal (allegorical) in meaning, abrogated by the ‘modern age’ or only valid for the exact ‘context’ they were revealed in (i.e. now expired).

Modernists then affirm and claim that their interpretations of the Quran are ‘definite’ and ‘certain’, which claim meanings that conveniently agrees with Liberalism – despite the fact that the verses they use are usually being open to interpretation and completely unrelated. They then reject large swathes of hadith that disagree with Liberal values (being their guiding usool [criteria]), and desperately find any hadith they can that can be ‘re-interpreted’ to fit their desired goals, no matter how convoluted their reasoning, and no matter how weak, unrelated, obscure or fabricated the hadith is.

‘He it is Who has sent down to thee the Book: In it are verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning); they are the foundation of the Book: others are allegorical. But those in whose hearts is perversity follow the part thereof that is allegorical, seeking discord, and searching for its hidden meanings, but no one knows its hidden meanings except Allah’ [Quran 3:7]

From this process, Modernists justify women wearing bikinis, same-sex marriage being halal, the hijab being optional – even dis-likable, women and men having identical inheritance and gender roles, a sharia government is called ‘unislamic’, but a secular one is called ‘Islamic’ by them. They claim the Hudud (penal) laws have ‘expired’, or even were ‘misunderstood’ for 1,400 years! Until of course, Liberalism came along to ‘guide’ us to a more ‘enlightened’ Liberal penal code.

‘The hypocrites, both men and women, are all the same. They order what is wrong and forbid what is right’ [Qur’an 9:67]

Understandably, Muslims respond by declaring Modernist beliefs to be not Islamic, and clear kufr (rejection of truth). The arguments and ideas of Modernists are rejected by Muslims, as not from Islam, and if it weren’t for the possibility of ignorance in this current declined state of the Muslim world – the Modernists themselves would rightly deserve to be denounced as outside the fold of Islam.

In response, the Liberal ‘Muslims’ claim that they are Muslims, because they testify to one God, and ‘all’ that is revealed in the Quran [except the political laws of course]. Modernists respond with feigned outrage that their ideas have not been respected under the Islamic right for difference of opinion. Modernists argue that no one can condemn a Muslim out of the fold of Islam for their or actions, nor their mere ‘difference of opinion’.

“There are some people who Say: ‘We believe in Allah and in the Last Day,’ but they are not really believers. They seek to deceive Allah and those who believe, but they only deceive themselves without noticing. There is a disease in their hearts, and Allah increases their disease, they will have a painful retribution for what they have denied. And when it is said to them, “Do not cause corruption on the earth,” they say, “We are but reformers.” Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they perceive [it] not. And when it is said to them, “Believe as the people have believed,” they say, “Should we believe as the foolish have believed?” Unquestionably, it is they who are the foolish, but they know [it] not. And when they meet those who believe, they say, “We believe”; but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say, “Indeed, we are with you; we were only mockers.”  (Qur’an 2:8-14)

Of course, when an act of Terrorism is committed against the West by a wayward ‘Muslim’ [Terrorism meaning an act that deliberately targets civilians] – the Liberal ‘Muslims’ rush to condemn the individual as acting against the teachings of Islam, and even declare the individual as not a Muslim!

This is despite the fact that Terrorists too claim they have a valid Islamic opinion, and that it should be respected under the Islamic right of difference of opinion. The Terrorists argue that no one can condemn a Muslim out of the fold of Islam for their actions, nor their mere ‘difference of opinion’. In response, Terrorists call those Liberal ‘Muslims’ traitors and apostates.

The truth of the matter is, that both the Liberal ‘Muslims’, and the Terrorist ‘Muslims’ are both Modernists – each using the ideology or methodology borne of some current fashion in the world. In the end, the only truth in their judgements, is their judgements of eachother.

‘They swear by Allah that they said nothing (bad), but really they said the word of disbelief, and they disbelieved after accepting Islam’ [Quran 9:74]