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Islam without Extremes: A Muslim Case for Liberty

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Among the central questions of our time is whether or not democracy -- or, in the larger sense, free societies -- are possible for non-Western cultures. Here in America, many ask if our understanding of "liberty" will translate to other, non-western cultures that do not share our Judeo-Christian legacy.

This question is all the more important now, as we observe the fallout from the Arab Spring of 2011. It is not rare to hear someone ask if there is something inherently authoritarian in Islam. Is democracy even worth trying? Should we be concerned, for example, that an Islamist regime will be elected in Egypt, replacing one kind of authoritarianism with another?

This excellent book by Mustafa Akyol, apparently written before the Arab Spring, speaks to these questions. It is an useful aide to those of us trying to understand these exciting and challenging times.

Akyol first traces the history of Islam, a survey which alone is incredibly helpful to this American reader.

Next Akyol points to a problem that should not surprise western Christians or western readers at large: the confusion of tradition/culture with scripture. By separating these two things, he argues, we can see seeds of liberalism within the scripture. Sharia -- which many fear and some for good reason -- is not scripture, and, Akyol reminds us, is written by men. Therefore it can be amended by men.

With such bold statements, one wonders if Akyol is nailing theses to doors. Only he is, apparently, not the first to do so. Others have come before him and, he says, it is worth taking a look at their work... as well as at the historical events that crushed it.

Finally looking to his home country, Akyol reports exciting news from Turkey. Thriving new economies, new (and old) means of public and private expression, discussions of freedom of religion. All these Turkish experiences, and others, give us means for optimism for the people of the so-called Middle East.

Key to it, Akyol argues, is not to throw away a "backward" religion but instead to embrace it. In fact, Akyol argues, stripping away the religion in Turkey -- just as others have imposed it elsewhere -- has been tried and resulted in disaster. Instead, a marriage of a secular (not "secularist") state and a free people is the recipe for not just the success of the state, the economy, and the nation but also for the faithful and free hearts of the people.

I have recommended this book, already, to many. The subject matter is interesting, as I have said, but in addition, Akyol somehow makes this rather intimidating topic into an enjoyable read. This makes Islam Without Extremes: A Muslim Case for Liberty a unique and important work.

I was looking forward for Mustafa Akyol's new book since I had seen his Tedtalk. [...] Definetly it was well worth the wait.

I think this book is not only important to clear up the minds from Islamophobia but also inspiring for muslim world and societies struggling for their freedom and seeking new ways to shape their future with the Arab Spring. Both muslims and nonmuslims would gain a dinamic, inspiring and convincing new perspective from this reading.

Also his command of English as a non native speaker is incredible. Akyol expresses his arguments with an extensive but still quite easy reading way.

Thanks and congratulations Akyol both as an author and as being an idealist intellectual seeking the truth!

Mustafa Akyol is a columnist for Hürriyet Daily News and Star. He has also written for Foreign Affairs, Newsweek, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, International Herald Tribune among others ([...]). His book starts out with his account of childhood years. He recounts his eye-opening visit to the Mamak Prison to see his father, who had been imprisoned after the September 12, 1980 military coup, which catapults him to the question of authoritarianism in a secular democracy like Turkey, as well as most Islamic states. His thesis is that Islam and liberalism can co-exist and when that happens, Islamic civilization is at its peak. He retraces the history of Islam with the explanation that, after a brief period of liberalism, it was the authoritarian zeal of the Umayyad rulers who sided with the Traditionalists that brought an end to the dominance of the People of Reason in Islamic civilization. He retells the history of the Ottoman Empire, highlighting the achievements of Islamic culture as it correlated with liberalism. He concludes by presenting late 20th, early 21st century Turkey as a model which synthesizes liberalism and Islam.
I do not share the same optimism about the synthesis of liberalism and Islam in Turkey. Unfortunately, liberalism is very vulnerable to radicalism and today's so-called mildly Islamic government might easily transform into a radical authoritarian rule once it has gained enough power. However, the book is a good read on how one would wish the state of affairs in Turkey might turn out.

I am in the middle of the book right now - but I had to share this.

This is way better than 'Destiny Disrupted'.

Must read for all Muslims !

Promise to come back and update this review after I complete the book....

OK, finished the book and as promised have come back to update my review.

Although 'Destiny Disrupted' is a much detailed account of Islamic history, Akyol's account provides a historical perspective on what led to Islam's decline, stagnation and ultimately extremism and despotism.

I strongly suggest all Muslims to read this to better understand themselves, their roots and traditions they take for granted.

And for someone curious about where extremism took its ugly roots in Islam, this book provides a detailed explanation.
Further, it dares to provide a solution to the problem of extremism.

A few years back I sat in an Istanbul cafe with Mustafa Akyol while he shared with me a book he was working on about new perspectives on Islam and freedom. I knew this book would be one of the most profound books of our time. I have not been disappointed!

He combines his understanding of Islam as taught to him throughout his life and years of careful personal study with his vision of a world that gives new meaning and insight to Islam, the faith he practices. He knows in his heart Islam is not the religion touted indiscriminately so often in western media, so he writes to change the world through a new comprehension of Islam and a world free to practice liberty in every sense of the word.

As a scholar and an articulate writer of his time, Mustafa Akyol brings new questions and light to a misunderstood religion--a religion practiced by more than 1.5 billion people around the world.

If Islam, a window to liberty for all, and its usefulness in a new world order is a subject that arouses your curiosity, don't miss this enlightening discourse on the faith that has piqued the world's interest since 9/11. Celebrate this book with your children, students, parishioners and organizations to find an uplifting message and create understanding dialogue for our new times.

It is challenging to write a book based on religion and history with a convincing case relevant to modern time. I think the Turkish Journalist Mustafa Akyol has successfully met this challenge and present an exceedingly compelling and convincing case for Liberal Islam.
I loved the way he described Abu Hanifa the pioneer of the juristic side of the rationalist school, the Mutazilite philosophy and the war of ideas between the Traditionalists and Rationalists throughout the history of Islam.
Akyol highlighted the link between economic prosperity and freedom of religious ideas, illustrating how the School of Tradition cut off the young Islamic community from the economic mainstream. By isolating Muslims from doing trade with nonbelievers, it severly affects every aspect of life from economy to art, language, science and many resources.
He also addresses a particularly tricky issue; "the rise of hadith" and the theory of abrogation in what is described as the "Post Quar'anic ideology". In fact, if anyone wants a medical diagnosis of what went wrong in Islam, then look within some aspects of this ideology, for example, the distaste of some toward "innovation".
Throughout the book, Akyol incorporates lessons from Turkey (Both Ottomans & kemalist). Akyol described the Ottoman Empire as a pluralist state (a description that I struggle to agree with). Yes, the state was tolerant to non-Muslims, but reforms and modernization only took place in the later period of the Ottoman rule. During the early period, the empire was strong and powerful but many of its subject particularly non-Turks were oppressed and lost their national identity without gaining equal rights. Sadly, the process of modernization came a bit late; the seeds of hatred and separatism were already planted in the heart and mind of many Ottomans subjects.
Akyol rightly rejects authoritarian regimes, even in its mild form. The attempt to push religion out of Muslim minds was proven counterproductive, and it failed drastically both in Turkey and Iran. However, Akyol clearly illustrate how the various rulers throughout Islamic history (as early as Umayyads & Abbasids) manipulated religion for their political needs. This basic historical fact should justify a degree of secularism provide it "allows freedom of religion not freedom from religion".
The book also illustrates how kemalism nationalism has helped to destroy the religious identity in Turkey. However, a complete lack of national identity can also be counter-productive. Arab states lost their national identity under Ottomans rule, and they paid a hefty price following the collapse of the empire. The Arabs painfully had to watch colonial powers carving their lands to create new nations (even artificial ones), which had an immense knock on effect that still valid in modern days. It opened the door for nationalist, socialist dictatorship and religious extremism to fell the gap. Nationalism, as well as, secularism (in small doses) are not incompatible with Islam and can be accepted in a free liberal Islamic democratic society.
The last two chapters "freedom to sin" and "freedom from Islam" are simply delightful. Akyol clearly highlighted the clear distinction in Sharia between the rights of God and the right of people. Also, how the earthly punishment for apostasy is not Qur'anic but post Qur'anic.
His statement " Replacing the fear of God with the fear of state or community could only be an obstacle to heart felt piety" reflect the style and the message of the whole book.
I guess the question is, how to convinces the masses to embrace liberal Islam? How to protect the rationalist school of thoughts from the overzealous of some? How to prevent past mistakes and secure a better future for Muslims? Muslims need to reflect on their past and present and come with answers to these questions. The Arab-spring provides a golden opportunity for Muslims to move on from the shadow of extremism and embark on the road of rationalism as the way for a better future.

Islam without Extremes: A Muslim Case for Liberty

I saw him on TED.com. Read the book. WOW. I am a religion minor and i thought this was on par with some of my classes. great quality. a little bias and was pushing an idea. but everything was backed up, researched and presented well. this is not just a rhetoric vomit, this is well thought out smart discussion of the history and meaning of islam.

In this new work, the Turkish journalist Mustafa Akyol delineates his two great loves-that of his faith, Islam, and that of human liberty-and then proceeds to explain from the perspective of history how these two can, and should, coexist together. Although avoiding the label of "scholar," Akyol writes with a precision and attention to fact most scholars would envy while maintaining a straightforward and accessible style the average reader can readily comprehend.

He begins with a historical and theological overview of the development of Islam over the centuries, discussing the internal doctrinal struggles-such as the Traditionists versus the Rationalists-and the influx of external events-such as the mighty Mongol invasion-that would eventually shape its outcome. He continues to trace how the Ottoman Empire reinstituted certain freedoms inherent in the faith from its beginning and imported others from the West, both intellectual and political, until its collapse following World War I. He then focuses on the practice of Islam in Turkey today and how its evolving religiously liberal attitude can serve as a model to the contemporary Muslim world. Finally, he offers a vision for the future that suggests a means of dispelling the more radical forms of Islam in favor of peaceful accommodation that includes such seemingly controversial headings as "Freedom from the State," "Freedom to Sin," and "Freedom from Islam."

Throughout, Akyol's touchstone is the Qur'an, and he warns of the danger inherent in overreliance on other sources such as the Hadiths. He emphasizes how various Middle Eastern cultures over time infused elements of their own into the faith, creating the more violent and repressive sects, elements the Prophet (PBUH) himself would never have condoned. Modern readers may find it surprising that during early Islam's so-called "golden age," many Christians were drawn to the intellectual freedom and progressive scholarly attributes of Islam and became more or less Muslim "wannabes." Some obscure but fascinating terms and movements are introduced, such as the "postponers" who attempted to find a middle ground between the early warring factions. And some concepts that carry questionable connotations in the West today are seen within their historical context as an advancement and a force for fairness and liberation such as the advent of Shariah law.

In summary, Islam without Extremes offers both non-Muslims and Muslims alike a detailed examination of the faith that both groups are bound to find stimulating, educational and thought-provoking. And it's done so in a spirit of enthusiasm and hope. I count myself fortunate to have met Mr. Akyol many years ago and to have followed his writing and journalistic career which has culminated in this superb offering. It is without question that I would recommend this book to any and all readers curious to learn more about the Islamic faith and its history as described through a lens of liberty.

In order for Islam to enter the twenty first century it must undergo a reformation. Christianity and Judaism have both passed through the phase and become better because of it. This book adds to the growing number of voices calling for change. Their message must be heard.

I just finished reding Mustafa Akyol's ISLAM WITHOUT EXTREMS for the second time. Hi was kind enough to sent his Ms. to me for comments some time ago. It was wxcellent then, it is excellent now. The book shows very clearly his dominance on Muslim theology and equal dominance on political Islam. His approach is very balanced and his conclusions (and suggestions)are very humanistic. His style is seemless, arguments logical and balaced. All in all the book is not only timely but also has the qualities that will withstand the passage of time. I would not be surprised if it becames a classic.