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Are There Liberal Sects of Islam?

08 September, 2016
Q Are there some "liberal" sects of Islam? Is it possible to be a Muslim without interpreting every word of the Quran literally? Is it possible to be a good Muslim without following everything the Quran says? For example, I have no problem with homosexuals, but the Quran does. So can you be friends with a homosexual and still be a Muslim?

Answer

Salam Dear Brother,

Thank you for your question and for contacting Ask About Islam.

Islam means a commitment to live in peace through submission to the Will of God. Accordingly, it is a commitment to live according to the commandments of the Quran as interpreted by His messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him), as our scholars have gathered from hadith collections.

Submission to the Will of God means doing that which Allah commands us to do and refraining from that which Allah forbids. If we disregard Allah’s commandments we are not living by Islam but according to our desires. No one can change the definition of Islam and accept disobedience of Allah’s commandments as an option.

As for homosexuality, Allah has condemned the life style of the people of Prophet Lot (Lut in Arabic) in the Quran. This was so much so that He destroyed them. It was a consensus of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad that homosexuality was like adultery and they should receive the same punishment.

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Regarding friendship with those who flaunt Allah’s commandments, it is a serious matter. If you get close to them to convey the message of Islam and warn them about their accountability to Allah for their ill deeds, it is good. But if you just want to be friendly, it falls under Fahisha meaning condoning a sin and participation in it.

The limits of liberalism are the limits of interpretation of the Quran and sunnah, according to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Completely disregarding commandments of the Quran and teachings of the Prophet takes one out of Islam. On the other hand excessively rigid interpretation causes undue hardship for people and it should be avoided.

For example what is halal (lawful) meat for eating are cow and sheep and animals of the same family. These are allowed to be slaughtered and eaten. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) prescribed a method of slaughter.

If someone says that the flesh of swine (ham, pork, etc.) is also allowed because in our time they are raised in a healthy manner and carry no diseases – this would not be an acceptable liberalism. On the other hand, some people are only familiar with one religious edict on a matter, when in fact the matter has many rulings from different scholars.

Some of the extreme members of this group even label as disbelievers those who do not follow the same fatwa or religious ruling that they follow. This is actually excessively harsh bordering on being a renegade.

Yes, we have groups who have essentially deleted Quranic laws from their lives, thereby, they have removed themselves from Islam. On the opposite end, others have interpreted so harshly that they call everyone who disagrees with their harsh interpretations as kafir or disbeliever or rejecters of Islam. Such people have been called Khawarij or renegades.  

Real Islam is the middle path not at the extremes. At this time it is not wise for me to give a list of such groups because my concern is not to cause dissension but to reform people.

I hope that this answers your question.

Salam and please keep in touch.