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Who Killed Liberal Islam?
Provocative, insightful, and passionately argued, this book attempts to bring some perspective
to an increasingly polarized debate on the crisis of liberalism among Indian Muslims. It raises
some profound issues at the heart of the crisis fuelled on the one hand by the growing influence
of Wahhabism on Indian Islam—and on the other, by the rise of aggressive right-wing Hindu
nationalism which has alienated even moderate Muslims.
The book takes head-on the fundamental question: Is liberalism and Islam compatible or mutually
exclusive? In doing so, it examines the way Islam is being preached and practiced both in India and
abroad, to find answers to such niggling questions as: Who is a ‘good Muslim’? What constitutes
the Muslim identity? Why do Muslims across the world remain silent instead of raising their voice
for reform of regressive practices such as stoning?
The decline of liberal Islam in India, it argues, flows from the wider crisis in Islam globally.
Upholding the syncretic ‘Ganga-Jamni tehzeeb’ that characterized Indian Islam, it tries to bring
back the emphasis on liberal values of acceptance and inclusivity. It also dissuades secularists against
trying to push through sweeping reforms in India before the community is ready for it, warning
of a possible hardline backlash as in Turkey and Iran.
Who Killed Liberal Islam? offers a much-needed corrective to the self-serving narratives on both
sides of a divisive debate, and seeks to help concentrate minds on finding a way through the crisis.
to an increasingly polarized debate on the crisis of liberalism among Indian Muslims. It raises
some profound issues at the heart of the crisis fuelled on the one hand by the growing influence
of Wahhabism on Indian Islam—and on the other, by the rise of aggressive right-wing Hindu
nationalism which has alienated even moderate Muslims.
The book takes head-on the fundamental question: Is liberalism and Islam compatible or mutually
exclusive? In doing so, it examines the way Islam is being preached and practiced both in India and
abroad, to find answers to such niggling questions as: Who is a ‘good Muslim’? What constitutes
the Muslim identity? Why do Muslims across the world remain silent instead of raising their voice
for reform of regressive practices such as stoning?
The decline of liberal Islam in India, it argues, flows from the wider crisis in Islam globally.
Upholding the syncretic ‘Ganga-Jamni tehzeeb’ that characterized Indian Islam, it tries to bring
back the emphasis on liberal values of acceptance and inclusivity. It also dissuades secularists against
trying to push through sweeping reforms in India before the community is ready for it, warning
of a possible hardline backlash as in Turkey and Iran.
Who Killed Liberal Islam? offers a much-needed corrective to the self-serving narratives on both
sides of a divisive debate, and seeks to help concentrate minds on finding a way through the crisis.
172 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 22, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 10, 2019
There is a misconception that you can't be a liberal and a Muslim at the same time. The book Who Killed Liberal Islam by Hasan Surror takes this question head-on. In doing so it examines the Islam practised in India and abroad. It discusses the causes of decline of liberal Islam in India.
The following lines from the book will serve as eye openers.
'Sharia is the biggest obstacle to change,' according to historian S. Irfan Habib. This despite the fact that the Quran is only one of its four sources along with Qiyas (human reasoning), Ijma (consensus) and Sunnah (sayings of the Prophet), most of which were written some 200 years after the Prophet's death and many having no authenticity. A number of practices justified in the name of Sharia, have no Quranic sanctions.
Today when the patriotism of every Indian Muslim is put to test, the following observations of the author are timely.
It is often forgotten or wilfully overlooked that a majority of Muslims chose to stay back in India in a massive thumbs-down to the idea of a Muslim homeland. We are the inheritors of their values. Faced with a choice between an exclusionist Muslim nationalism on one hand, and inclusive secularism on the other, they had no doubt what was the right thing to do.
The author says that India has a long history of liberal Muslim reformers who were also deeply religious and often used religion to sell their reforms. He cites the examples of Sir Syed Ahmed, Zakir Husain and Abul Kalam Azad.
This is a book of great scholarly work. It is a well researched commentary replete with real life examples. Every person should read this book for this book is a small attempt to bring peace in today's strained world.
The following lines from the book will serve as eye openers.
'Sharia is the biggest obstacle to change,' according to historian S. Irfan Habib. This despite the fact that the Quran is only one of its four sources along with Qiyas (human reasoning), Ijma (consensus) and Sunnah (sayings of the Prophet), most of which were written some 200 years after the Prophet's death and many having no authenticity. A number of practices justified in the name of Sharia, have no Quranic sanctions.
Today when the patriotism of every Indian Muslim is put to test, the following observations of the author are timely.
It is often forgotten or wilfully overlooked that a majority of Muslims chose to stay back in India in a massive thumbs-down to the idea of a Muslim homeland. We are the inheritors of their values. Faced with a choice between an exclusionist Muslim nationalism on one hand, and inclusive secularism on the other, they had no doubt what was the right thing to do.
The author says that India has a long history of liberal Muslim reformers who were also deeply religious and often used religion to sell their reforms. He cites the examples of Sir Syed Ahmed, Zakir Husain and Abul Kalam Azad.
This is a book of great scholarly work. It is a well researched commentary replete with real life examples. Every person should read this book for this book is a small attempt to bring peace in today's strained world.
November 1, 2019
Known to be one of the strictest religions in the world, Islam advocates Sharia- an Islamic canonical law that governs not only the religious rituals but also the day-to-day life activities. Because of this, it is believed that liberalism and Islam cannot coexist. ‘Who Killed Liberal Islam?’ explores the pathos associated with the conflict between the religion and the liberating mindsets. Hasan Suroor further goes on to explain why liberal Islam is not feasible.
With the help of real-life examples and in-depth research, the author probes the ideology of the left-wing Muslims who have alienated themselves from the customs and regulations of Islam but still prefer to call themselves Muslims- Liberal Muslims.
Read the complete review here: https://aliveshadow.com/category-book...
With the help of real-life examples and in-depth research, the author probes the ideology of the left-wing Muslims who have alienated themselves from the customs and regulations of Islam but still prefer to call themselves Muslims- Liberal Muslims.
Read the complete review here: https://aliveshadow.com/category-book...
May 18, 2021
The book after a while feels repetitive, and it seems like the same point is being dragged. There are a few good things in the book, as it doesn't hesitate in calling out clergy and its opposition- the left/liberal atheists from Muslim fold as phrased by the author.
However, the book fails to acknowledge the cultural link of leftist/liberal Muslims, and rather take a condenscending tone towards them, it doesn't empathize this group's reason to be distant from religion. The book overwhelmingly expects the moderates to bring in reforms, and it doesn't sound realistic without the alliance of leftists/liberals. The book seemed interesting in the last part and had some interesting facts related to prominent Indian Muslims, which compelled me to give an extra star.
However, the book fails to acknowledge the cultural link of leftist/liberal Muslims, and rather take a condenscending tone towards them, it doesn't empathize this group's reason to be distant from religion. The book overwhelmingly expects the moderates to bring in reforms, and it doesn't sound realistic without the alliance of leftists/liberals. The book seemed interesting in the last part and had some interesting facts related to prominent Indian Muslims, which compelled me to give an extra star.
February 9, 2020
It provides a wide narrative of how intellectual forces were defeated by populist forces and the rise of extremism in india
September 6, 2023
This book is garbage.
Now that I made that clear, let me explain why. I purchased this book because at the back cover the author asked a very interesting hypothetical question :
"Imagine that by an unlikely quirk of fate, Indian Muslims find themselves stranded on an island with no prospect of being rescued. Faced with the task of building a new community from scratch, what kind of society will they seek to build? A liberal and secular one? Or one shaped by the idea of Muslim 'identity'? And if they were to stumble upon some non-Muslim native settlers, how would they treat them? As equal partners in building a diverse community? Or as infidels?"
Interesting question that I thought was accompanied with interesting writing but boy oh boy, what a hot mess this is.
First off, I agree that Islam needs reformation. If Muslims no longer want to be seen as backward and poor by the rest of the world, they need to respect liberal values e.g. freedom of speech and woman emancipation. I agree with the writer that Indian Muslims should stop living with victimhood mentality and start balancing success in hereafter with successes in the world they are living now.
But he went on and on and on with the same point, I felt like I was being forced-fed desert sand. The suffering never ends.
And although on the front cover the name Hasan Suroor appear as the writer, the book actually consists of two parts with Part II consists of 9 articles from 9 different Muslim figures that collectively runs for 40 pages and Appendix that includes 3 articles from Muslim figures. These so-called thinkers didn't add anything new to his point so I don't know what's the bloody point for inclusion?
Whereas serious non-fictions have Bibliography section with 200-700 books and scholarly articles they referred to, this garbage only has Recommended Reading section with 16 titles on it.
Why write book when you are a lazy researcher?
⭐
Read from Aug 31 - Sep 6
Now that I made that clear, let me explain why. I purchased this book because at the back cover the author asked a very interesting hypothetical question :
"Imagine that by an unlikely quirk of fate, Indian Muslims find themselves stranded on an island with no prospect of being rescued. Faced with the task of building a new community from scratch, what kind of society will they seek to build? A liberal and secular one? Or one shaped by the idea of Muslim 'identity'? And if they were to stumble upon some non-Muslim native settlers, how would they treat them? As equal partners in building a diverse community? Or as infidels?"
Interesting question that I thought was accompanied with interesting writing but boy oh boy, what a hot mess this is.
First off, I agree that Islam needs reformation. If Muslims no longer want to be seen as backward and poor by the rest of the world, they need to respect liberal values e.g. freedom of speech and woman emancipation. I agree with the writer that Indian Muslims should stop living with victimhood mentality and start balancing success in hereafter with successes in the world they are living now.
But he went on and on and on with the same point, I felt like I was being forced-fed desert sand. The suffering never ends.
And although on the front cover the name Hasan Suroor appear as the writer, the book actually consists of two parts with Part II consists of 9 articles from 9 different Muslim figures that collectively runs for 40 pages and Appendix that includes 3 articles from Muslim figures. These so-called thinkers didn't add anything new to his point so I don't know what's the bloody point for inclusion?
Whereas serious non-fictions have Bibliography section with 200-700 books and scholarly articles they referred to, this garbage only has Recommended Reading section with 16 titles on it.
Why write book when you are a lazy researcher?
⭐
Read from Aug 31 - Sep 6
December 1, 2022
An admirable effort.
August 16, 2025
Would have loved the more in depth analysis but nevertheless a good read
June 30, 2022
Repetitive!! Extremely repetitive! And to make up for this the author depends on the articles of other Muslim scholars who themselves are repetitive and have nothing new to say.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews