The Future of Islam
John L. Esposito, Oxford University Press: New York, 2008, ISBN: 978019516521, pp.256, price $24.95

by Farooq Hasan*


               
Esposito, one of the leading American scholars on Islam in his book “The Future of Islam” discusses in detail the issues relating to what may be termed as socio-political aspects of Islam. He tries to trace the origins of phenomena of global jihad which has left a huge impact on local cultures of many Muslim countries around the world. The book also attempts to create a link between the past, present and future of Islam. 

Esposito begins the discussion by bringing into focus the relationship between Muslims and the West. Exploring the prejudiced attitude of the American Media towards the Muslims, he asks why didn’t the media mention 358 Muslim employees who died in the attack on the World Trade Centre? He also raises the question whether America was waging a war against some terrorist elements who happened to be Muslims or against Islam as a religion? In the book under review he also explains the key reasons behind “Islamophobia”. Esposito comments on how Islam was separated from Abrahamic religions (Judaism and Christianity). After the Second World War, a Judeo-Christian tradition was formed with the premise that both religions believe in monotheism, God’s prophets and His revelation (the old Testament and the Hebrew Bible) but Islam with the same beliefs was nowhere to be seen. All three religions equally acknowledge peace. An interesting line of argument which one finds in this debate relates to the point that the followers of Islam, Judaism and Christianity greet one another by saying Salam, Shalon and making the signs of peace; then why Islam (revealed, missionary, monotheistic and one of the Abrahamic religions) is being placed alongside Hinduism (non-revealed, non missionary, polytheistic religion) and Buddhism (non revealed, non Abrahamic religion) respectively. 
The author expounding the causes of a rather an uncomfortable relationship between Muslims and  people in the West argues that the West believes that Islamic extremism is evil- the source of terrorism and suicide bombings while the Muslim world sees America as the  root of the problem and not as a solution. Further advancing this line of reasoning he seeks to find an answer to the very relevant question i-e., is there a cure to this problem of hate between the Muslim world and the West? In his opinion the conflict lies somewhere in the perception of the two peoples regarding their value systems. In this regard, he refers to President Reagan who suggested “a brand of American Fundamentalism, a return to the American values that would give back America its success, power and wealth.” Whereas, Muslim revivalist  movements in the present scenario want Muslims to revive their  heritage, culture and values which ultimately has resulted in the birth of Jihad. Moreover, the writer raises the question which is food for thought for both the Muslims and the Western world “Should we (West) give attention to the faith of the mainstream majority of Muslims or to the theologies of hate from the terrorist minority? 
Esposito explains chronologically and clearly the birth and growth of Jihad and justified use of suicide bombings in the world and the dilemmas in the fatwas given by the radical organizations behind these Jihadi movements. He explains how this ideology of Jihad grew stronger with the teachings of Sayyid Qutub of the Muslim Brotherhood, Abdullah-al-Azzam, Osama bin Laden of Saudi Arabia with the result that many middle-class educated men among the Muslims throughout the world impressed by these fatwas came to believe that U.S citizens and their allies must be killed by any means available including suicide bombing. The problem in the contradiction of the fatwa on suicide bombing by ulema of different schools of thought is due to the lack of a centralized authority. But the same lack of central religious authority is the problem with Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism.
For people in the Islamic and Western world who have scanty information about Muslim reformers in the past and present, Esposito explains in detail the philosophies of the Muslim reformers in the past and present,  like Iqbal, Jamaluddin Afghani, Muhammad Abduh, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan who desired a re-interpretation of Islam as a religion of reason and progress. Modern  reformers today like Tariq Ramadan and Amr Khalid who have been in the Annual list of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people  do not romanticize the Islamic past, rather, they think it necessary to reframe  Islamic models in order to make them appropriate to the changing times and changing political and economic systems. Qardawi emphasizes the need not to see the world in just black and white but also to view it in the shades of grey. Ceric believes in religious pluralism and a society which is multicultural, multireligious and multinational. After discussing the various philosophies of the reformers, Esposito talks about integration versus isolation of Muslims in the Western world. Winter, Ramadan and Ceric are definitely in favour of synthesizing European or American Muslim identities on the basis of common values. 
The author then goes on to describe the role and philosophies of the female reformers in the present global scenario. Similar reformatory movements, he argues rather on a smaller scale  are being carried out by female Islamic scholars who seem to be making an attempt to interpret Islam in order to strengthen their rights as women on a permanent basis. Organizations like, “Women Living under Muslim Laws” Geneva and “Sisters in Islam” (Malaysia) are quite prominent nationally and internationally.  Dr. Heba Raouf, an Egyptian reformer, teaches the neglected role of Muslim women in Islamic history. Amina Wadud shares her belief that re-reading of the Qur’an should be done with the purpose of the changing needs of women today. 
In the end, Esposito talks about the need of globalized modern Muslim preachers like “Billy Grahams” who are able to connect with millions of people by radio, television, audio-cassettes, video-cassettes, and computer screens. Yosuf Qardawi, Tariq Ramadan, and Amr Khalid and Abdullah Gymnastiar, moving away from the tradition of  a centralization of religious authority when it comes to preaching  believes that  Muslims  on their own with their faith, pride and identity can also lead spiritual lives while managing at the same time everyday life problems.
The writer also voices his concerns regarding the fact that how Muslims all over the world are being affected by American intervention, invasion and domination and argues that attacks on civilians are not justified. The religious values and world views of extremists can have devastating consequences in the volatile world of today. The only solution is a world with religious pluralism and inter-faith dialogue and promoting core values of Islam- compassion, mutual respect, acceptance and freedom of religion.
In conclusion, he asks how Muslims should live in a rapidly changing world with moderate reformers facing many hindrances, dictatorial regimes seeing all reform as a danger to their authority, the extremists believing that they have God-given authority to force Islam on the world. Therefore, the writer believes that perhaps the real dilemma of the Muslim world lies in   a choice between authoritarianism and pluralism. The West needs to critically analyze itself whether its societies, which are multicultural and multi-lingual practice pluralism or not. Pluralism means mutual respect from both sides, Muslim and non-Muslims. Islam and Christianity are the largest and the fastest growing religions in the world. The future of Islam  is somehow related to the future of the world and all this becomes quite significant in the context of globalization. The world especially America should try to engage in dialogue with the moderate Muslim scholars.
Esposito manages to remain unprejudiced in his approach and opinions to Judeo-Christian Islamic conflicts especially terrorism. He explains convincingly the causes and results of extremism, terrorism, global Jihad and how religions can solve these issues. The text is quite coherent with one chapter leading to the other in a logical way. Esposito’s knowledge and research on Islam, and Islam and Christian reformers is exhaustive and eye opening in every way that makes it a highly recommended book.  Indeed Esposito is honest in his approach to bridge the gap between Muslim and Western societies but with that observation it may be added here that one thing missing in the book is a comprehensive problem -resolution oriented strategy something that is likely to benefit both  the Muslim and the Western world. 
*Reviewer: Assistant Professor, Department of Humanities, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan. Email: drfarooq68@yahoo.com