What Dr. Rashad Khalifa got right

 

What Dr. Khalifa got right

The research conducted here has led the author to negative conclusions about the claims of the late Dr. Rashad Khalifa. It is easy to write something critical and boring to write something reiterating what we agree on. So it would be wrong to conclude that the number of articles I plan to write on Dr. Khalfia that paint a not so bright picture is proof of a “unanimous”(to use Khalifa speak) negativity. There could be much good in the doctor’s understanding of Islam that I agree with, but simply left it unsaid. In fact, Dr. Khalifa would agree with me on this as he once taught this principle : a law doesn’t exist unless it can be broken. Dr. Khlaifa was trying to prove the mathematical “system” which protects the Qur’an. He later said something on similar lines to explain how God renews revelation by clarifying theological errors but not reiterating what is in agreement. The later argument was used to justify why some Islamic practices (which Dr Khalifa) which were not in Qur’an were still justified as Islamic praxis, because they were correctly handed down from Prophet Abraham, pbuh.

The reminder above of Dr. Khalifa’s principals are here for the benefit of Submitters who may accuse me of being unbalanced or harsh. However, do I want to use this space to talk about what I agree with and like about the doctor’s ideas. I am not trying to say things just to please the doctor’s followers because I really do believe there is some good in studying his thought.

Religion is about God.

The emphasis on God by Dr. Khalifa is the most important thing to mention when to ideas I agree with. Dr. Khalifa was correct to emphasize that religious practices are strictly for God. Dr. Khalifa argued that Muslims have placed too much emphasis on personalities like Muhammad, his companions and family to the point of idolatry. I do not agree with Dr. Khalifa’s characterization of orthodox Islam as idolatry and find it extreme. I also think his attempts to reform Islam in this regard created more problems. However, if we are to have an honest discussion then we need to see the reality that people place to much emphasis on personalities other than God.

The Qur’an: The Final Testament.

In the first place I must admit that I enjoyed the Qur’an translation produced by Dr. Khalifa. The translation is a highly readable one. Dr. Khalifa attempted to translate the Qur’an into plain English for the benefit of common people. I am aware of extensive problems with Dr. Khalifa’s translation of the Qur’an that are pointed out by many people. Dr. Khalifa certainly put his own ideas into the ‘final testament’ and mistranslated with serious errors. He also used bad English and there was evidently poor editing throughout the Qur’an, appendixes and the newsletters. The removal of two verses from Surah Taubah is of course a crime that gives a bad taste for me and others. While I cannot overlook these problems, I can still appreciate The Final Testament in general. Dr. Khalifa produced the translation in a time when few English translations in modern English existed. In the 1980s the popular translations were still written in archaic English mimicking the Kings James Bible. Muhamamd Asad’s translation is much appreciated by me but it was not translated into English until after Dr. Khalifa’s death. Prior to that Asad’s commentary was in German. Dr. Khalifa filled something of a void. Dr. Khalifa is gifted in writing a commanding style that may help some readers understand that the purpose of the Qur’an is to have God speak directly to the listener. This gift is recognized by even enemies of Dr. Khalifa. In the past, Osama Abdullah of a popular Islamic apologist website (answering-christianity.com) admitted the good style of Dr. Khaifa’s translation despite referring to him as a “dajjal.” I obviously do not believe Dr. Khalifa’s translation was inspired by God or “authorized” in anyway but it still has it’s value.

The Concept of Religion: Submission to God.

Dr. Rashad Khalifa was correct in referring to Islam as “submission” to God. While many of the Qur’an translations did point this important fact out, they still managed to misinterpret it or not emphasize the important thereof. Muhammad Asad may have been the first European to discuss the true meaning of “islam.” Unfortunately, the world of Islam managed to not appreciate the message and instead treat Islam in a very overly dogmatic way. Dr. Khalifa was correct to emphasize that Islam is a verb; Submission is something you do, regardless of what you specifically think about a certain theological point, historical issue, religious law. The simplicity of Islam being lost through complicated religious debates is something I agree with. When the Qur’an says No other religion will be accepted other than “islam”; this does not mean God is expecting a believer to hold to hold the correct madhab and creed as modern preachers claim. The Qur’an is saying that one must “submit to God” in an active sense with all that entails.  Of course I am giving a very brief summary of what I have to say on the issue

The obligatory Pilgrimage.

Dr. Khalifa was the first person ( that I am aware of) who argued that the time span of the Hajj is four months, and not limited to ten days as orthodox Islam says. Dr. Khalifa pointed out that the Qur’an says “These are the months of the Hajj” If the Qur’an uses the word months in plural fashion to indicate multiple months then that is the time frame for the Hajj. Today the Hajj is a big ugly mess. People are forced to spend thousands of dollars to take a trip to Mecca and give their hard earned money to crooks. By making everyone go to Mecca in a 10 day time frame, the Islamic authorities are encouraging all kinds of corruption and bad behavior. How many times do we have to listen to the stories of innocent people dying from being pushed over in mass? Why do the weak, the sick and old have to walk longer distances ,further way around the Cube, while the strong get to run around like wild hogs close by? If the Muslim world pondered this fact from the Qur’an this would lead to a great reform that would allow for the safety of thousands of believers. I have not taken a firm position on Dr. Khalifa's position on the time frame for the hajj but am open-minded more due to the corruption of so-called islamic clerics,mulvis in cheating people out of hard earned money and contributing to misery of the mass of believers.

Having said all that, I don’t agree with all of Dr. Khalifa’s understanding of the Hajj. I do not believe visiting the Prophet’s tomb is shirk for example. I also question why Dr. Khalifa claimed the stoning of the devil was part of Islamic practice when it is not mentioned in the Qur’an? This is not to say I disagree with the practice but Khalifa's own methodology does call into play the inconsistency of his other ideas.

The hadith problem

I am now entering the territory where I agree less with Rashad than before. Dr. Khalifa and the rest of the Qur’an-only movement are right about the sentiments against hadith. Dr. Khalifa’s points about hadith contradicting the Qur’an being problematic are well on target. When something contradicts reason and our fitrah we then have a duty to ponder the Qur’an and seek knowledge from Allah for the issue. Killing apostates, stoning idolaters, de-humanizing of women, OCD behaviors pushed as “sunnah” do not have a basis in the Qur’anThe traditional apologetics to justify, at least those specific hadiths in question, are also problematic. However, Rashad Khalifa’s attempt to deny all hadith as a religious source of knowledge is also problematic. Many people from the Quran-only movement do not hold Dr. Khalifa as a “messenger” or agree with the “2 false” verse theory or the 19 Code but they still take Dr. Khalifa’s theological hadith denial position. For now I will say that there is a different way to attack the hadith problem and Dr. Khalifa’s views are too incoherent to be employed effectively.

Sectarianism

Dr. Khalifa pointed out the danger of sectarianism in the second issue of his Muslim Perspective and many other issues. The divisions in islam among the 72 sects have done much to damage the unity of the ummah. Dr. Khalifa’s emphasis on the Quran and defining islam as it’s original verbal meaning are important ways to end sectarian strife. Unfortunately the buck stops here. Dr. Khalifa did not understand sectarianism completely and Rashad’s emphasis on his own claims and the fanatical-incoherent theological puritianism made the problem worse. Dr. Khalifa’s views effectively destroyed any argument he could have against sectarianism.

The intellectual stagnation of the Muslim World.

Dr. Khalifa also pointed out the stagnation of thinking in the Muslim world pretty well. Dr. Khalifa’s writing on this is laos found in the second issue of the Muslim Perspectives. Of course Dr. Khalifa was not a pioneer in the discussion as others led the way 100 years before him. It does not take an intellectual to se that there is a stagnation of thinking in the world where Dr. Khalifa grew up. But Dr. Khalifa will be remembered as a “mujadid” or a reformer as some of his followers wanted. While Dr. Khalifa’s sentiments are correct there is not much he has to offer the world in my view. Dr. Khalifa’s writings are not reflective of great thinking and of critical scholarship needed to tackle the problems Muslim face. In the end Dr. Khalifa’s call for reforms will fall on death’s ears as he accomplished was establishing a small sect on the fringes of the islamci world.