Reopening Muslim Minds: A Return to Reason, Freedom, and Tolerance

On March 29, 2021 the CMES and OU Dept. of Political Science co-hosted a lecture with Mustafa Akyol, Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute. Moderator: Allen Hertzke, David Ross Boyd Professor of Political Science.
Mustafa Akyol is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, where he focuses on the intersection of public policy, Islam, and modernity. Since 2013, he has also been a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times. He is the author of Reopening Muslim Minds: A Return to Reason, Freedom, and Tolerance (2021), The Islamic Jesus: How the King of the Jews Became a Prophet of the Muslims (2017), and Islam without Extremes: A Muslim Case for Liberty (2011).

[@diahiskandarbinmohamadjani7674]

Great conversations! Looking forward to buy Mr Akyol's latest book (.....a Malaysian here).

[@mohsinafzaal7159]

Very impressive Mr Akyol……❤️

[@MDVaashir]

We need to reinterpret the Quran and Hadiths, to make them compatible with modernity & Humanity. Specially words like Kafir, Riba etc Kafir should be reinterpreted from Non-Muslims to Jinns who follow Satan. Riba should be reinterpreted to 'Sex against money' or prostitution.

[@ReX0r]

@1:26:00 What is the book about Al-Ghazali's arguments about clandestine apostasy that is recommended? I couldn't make out the author's name.

[@DZeuf]

Omid Safi The Politics of Knowledge in Premodern Islam (Negotiating Ideology and Religious Inquiry)

[@martinsdavid1238]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWbSoaqvfal2ba8

[@abukareem6511]

Haven't watched so no idea what is discussed but wow at the title "Reopening muslim minds". The nerve of that moral superiority. In other words, "Hey lets talk, let me open your closed mind. I am your liberal post modernist superior. Now listen and learn". Ok yeah I'm hitting play right now.

[@martinsdavid1238]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWbSoaqvfal2ba8

[@muhammadm4582]

There is no such thing as pious liberal muslim.

[@eljumaidilbinahmad2464]

100% correct!

[@eljumaidilbinahmad2464]

@@martindavid9761 [PART 1] Mr.Martin David, some of the “problems” that you raised here have been already answered in my previous reply to you. Here, again, I am trying to categorize your “problems” into different parts and followed by my answers to each of your so-called “problems” as numbered below; [1]“Please allow me to elaborate: You mentioned that Jesus was not born on December 25th. I believe that you were trying to make a point, or you were trying to show me the fault in my faith. Please, Let me educate you about the subject: Thank you, nothing is new about the date of Jesus's birthdate. Foremost, I speak several languages, I love History, Culture, Sociology, Philosophy, Theology, Politics, Sports, and Traveling around the world. The majority of Christians, don't care about the correct date of Jesus's exact date of birth.” [2]“ In early Christianity, many Christian denominations struggled with who was right and who was wrong. And, since Christianity was founded on love and peace, or without forcing an individual to submit or get killed to follow one-way thinking, they allowed each Christian denomination to choose the right date to celebrate. For example, The Roman Catholics, chose the 25th of December, because, during their Roman Empire, they had celebrated the 25th as the day of the Sun, therefore, when they adopted Christianity, and since they were in the upper hands, and more powerful, they said, the Roman Christians, will celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December.” [3]“ Then there was the original Assyrian Church of the East, which celebrated on the 7th of January. This Church was founded in the early days of Jesus, that was when he was alive, and they spread Christianity after his crucifixion to the entire Middle East, that was before the birth of Islam and after it too. They spread Christianity to India, China, and some parts of Europe too.” [4]“ Since Jesus spoke the Aramaic language, and the Assyrian people spoke the same language that Jesus spoke, their church population spread very fast around the world, and at the time, all the Assyrian Churches around the world celebrated Christmas on the 7th of January, that is until this century, where most of the Assyrian Churches, now, they celebrate on the 25th of December, and one of their churches only still celebrate on the 7th of January.” My answer to all the above statements: it is your problem! [5]“ Then there are the Armenian nations and the Ethiopian nation, and the Coptic of Egypt, all Christians from the early days of Christianity. They celebrate on the 6th of January, Then there are the Greeks, some celebrate like the Assyrians on the 7th and some celebrate on the 25th, like the Roman Catholics. As you noticed, in Christianity there is now a sword to cut your neck or to force you in, demanding either you get killed or you have to follow my way. It is a peaceful religion. In the meantime, what makes it different if you can remember the exact birthdate, that is as long as you remember the person and celebrate in his/her memories. I'm a good example, I don't know the exact day or month of my birthday, due to our family circumstances back home. Still, my family and I celebrate one day that is chosen for me as my birthday.” My answer: it is your problem. [6]“As a matter of fact, over 7 million Iraqi birthdays were recorded on 7/1, again because of the country's circumstances at the time. I don't see that any of us have any problem with celebrating our birthday one way or another.” My answer: it is your problem. [7]“ So, my question is, why are you trying to make a point of Jesus's birthday, whether it is on the 6th, 7th, or 25th? What difference it makes to those that believe in him and in his peaceful message.” My answer: to me, it still matters most since the 25th of December is the birthday of the pagan god. So, why do you Christians celebrate the pagan’s God not your Jesus? I think it is logical that when you said you love Jesus, show it with your action and follow Jesus and his teaching strictly and not the pagan’s god! The logical aspect is also very important because it defines your character as Christian and it affirms your faith in your real god - Jesus! [8]“If the Muslims believe in Mohamad that he is their prophet, do you think that it will make it any different if a Christian like me, writes and say, DO YOU KNOW THAT YOUR PROPHET MOHAMMAD'S NAME WHEN HE WAS BORN WAS NOT MOHAMMAD?”My statement is correct, your prophet Mohammad at birth, his name was not Mohammad, it was given to him later in life. So, do you think for my saying this, will make any difference to any faithful Muslim? For sure not. Not at all. Just like when you wrote to me saying, DO YOU KNOW THAT 25TH OF DECEMBER WAS NOT JESUS’ BIRTHDAY? We say, so what? Do you think that if I write in saying, you know when Mohammad got married for the first time, he was married in the Christian Church, by his wife's cousin? Waraga Ibin Nofel? Do you think that my statement will change any faithful Muslims to leave the Islamic faith? I don't think so.” My answer: so, what is Muhammad’s name at birth? What if Muhammad is not his name? There is no mention of Muhammad’s marriage in the Christian Church. I am sorry for my ignorance. But, even, if you are right about Muhammad’s name, it is his family’s right to name or not to name him as “Muhammad.” His other famous name during and before birth was “Ahmad,” and Ahmad could also mean Muhammad. Maybe you are right when Muhammad’s marriage took place in Christian Church, it doesn’t matter at all as long as the Church is free from “haram” things like alcohol and no pork being served, it’s still okay. During those days Waraqa Ibn Naufal was a pious man and he didn’t rear pigs nor drink alcoholic drinks. There was no report that Waraqa Ibn Naufal was a drunkard man. There was one special occasion when Muhammad[p.b.u.h.]was about to perform salah/prayer, he even made his Wudhu’ using one of the Jews’ jars sources of water! [9]“Also, you mentioned, if I can read the Quran in Arabic. I have answered you many times, yes, I do, I'm educated at the Iraqi schooling. I'm very verse in the Arabic languages and in the classic Quranic writing too. My question for you is. Are you versed or knowledgeable in the Quranic Arabic language, and have you read it in Arabic or did someone translate for you? Or, did you read it in your own language? Please let me know if you are good at the Arabic language or not.”

[@eljumaidilbinahmad2464]

@@martindavid9761 [PART 2] My answer: No, I am not, so I WANT TO LEARN FROM YOU! PLEASE EDUCATE ME. But, first, let me ask you. When you know Arabic so well since it is like your mother-tongue language because as you said you’ve been schooled in Arabic, then why can’t you understand the “clear” and “simple” verses of the Qur’an that are so many that also say good things and very humanistic in nature; spread peace for the betterment of all humanity just like Surah Ali-Imran verse 32 that says “whoever kills a human being, it shall be as though he had killed all mankind; that whoever saves a human life, it shall be as though he had saved the life of all mankind”?! Since you know Arabic so well, can’t you understand such a strong verse? If you understand why you neglected it? Why can’t you find such great things like cosmology, oceanography, embryology, and other things which are only been discovered by science quite recently, but have already been mentioned in the Qur’an since 1400 years ago, but not mentioned in the Bible, and you as Arabic languagescholar, NOT EVEN MENTION THEM IN YOUR ARGUMENT[IF YOU ARE TRUTHFUL?! SO, YOU ARE NOT TRUTHFUL. That is why I doubt your sincerity. [10]“Your question to me is to read the Quran and decide for me, if the Islamic faith is a good and peaceful faith or not. The answer. Yes, I have, many times.” My answer: Your Arabic is powerful then why can’t you see the “reality” of the Qur’an and all that you can see is only “evil.” in it? Can’t you see that there are more than 850 times the word “knowledge” and more than 130 times the word “thinking” appeared in the Qur’an? Just how many times are both these important words mentioned in your Bible? Is your Bible complete or incomplete? If complete then no mention, if incomplete then it is not the word of god, but the word of a human being or satan! Is any verse in your Bible carry “supernatural quality” or Miracle? Why I ask you is because Christians love miracles so much! IF OTHER HIGHLY EDUCATED CHRISTIAN PEOPLE CAN SEE ALMOST ALL THE GOOD THINGS IN THE QUR’AN AND YOU, AS A SCHOLAR OF ARABIC LANGUAGE CANNOT SEE, IT MEANS, YOU ARE BRAIN-DEAD KIND OF CREATURE OR OTHERWISE YOU ARE VERY VERY VERY BIASED person. [11]“ My conclusion of the Islamic faith, I believe that is not a very peaceful faith, and it is all about sex on earth, invading and taking the spoils and having more sex with the captured, and having the right to kill, as long as you kill in the name of God, Allah. Killing on earth and in the name of God is ok by your Muslim faith.” My answer: which verse of the Qur’an that killing on earth and in the name of God is “ok” or permitted? Since you said that you are exposed to reading diverse disciplines, but, I think if your scholarship is not the lowest, then you must be biased! Because you have been deluded by your “hatred” and “wild belief.” As the answer to your killing accusation, I want you to refer to the Qur’an, Surah Ali-Imran: Verse 32. Now, your arguments about the killing were not only answered, but once again null and void! As for your accusations about “sex,” what do you really mean? Illicit sex? Lesbian sex? Homosexual? Free sex? Incest sex? Sex with animals? Almost all kinds of sexual activities and sexual orientations are done and the majority are practiced by Christian people from Christian countries. Or maybe by atheists? But if they are atheists, those atheists are the majority of them are coming from the descendant of Judeo-Christian backgrounds. They are the main exporters of pornography. So far I know there are no sex videos and pornography created by Iraqi people[whether Muslims or Christians!] and exported from Iraq country. If Iraq is your former country, as Iraqi, please tell me if you have one Iraqi sex video. I want to buy it from you. When you watch some videos on this KZbin regarding abandoned houses almost all around the globe, the Christians’ houses, homes, mansions, and even castles are full of idols, sex objects, and bottles of alcohol. Unless you are biased and blind, then you cannot see them. So, this is again a wild accusation from a person with a biased double-standard mind, like you! As I already clarified, adultery in Islam is one of the greatest sins! I don’t mean to say that Muslims never commit adultery, but, the percentage, when compared to Christians, is very very small and very very low! When we compare Saudi Arabia with the United States of America, which do you think has the highest rate of crime and pornography? Do you think Iraq has the highest? In some parts of Europe and Western countries, Christians having sex in open places like mall, garden, cars, lift, and other open places are quite common and already become the culture that shapes the Christian new civilization in the post-modern world. And yet you said Islam or the Muslims having more sex or more killing. Don’t you forget that it is the Christians who killed millions of Red Indians in America? Don’t you forget that the Christians killed millions of Asians such as the Indonesians, the Malaysians, the Chinese and the Vietnamese, the Burmese, the Philipinos, the Hindus in India, and the Africans as well as the Arabs[and even killed the Jews!]? If your scholarship is without question since you have been reading thousands and thousands of books with different disciplines, then you must be biased if not blind to see how Christianity shaped the world with the SWORD! Other sources that tell us about Christian sexual abuses can access on Google. Please go and check them. Do you dare? In conclusion, it is the Christians, not the Muslims who are crazy about sex and committed a lot of adultery cases, but Christians blame it on Muslims. I remember When Jimmy Swaggart debated with Ahmed Deedat, Swaggart boasted about “shooting” one lady[that is “shooting” only his wife’s v-gina]in his whole life rather than having 4 wives. But, in the end, Swaggart ended up his career when he was engaged with many prostitutes in his sex scandal. The same thing with his friend Baker who did the similar thing as Swaggart did. So, Christians mostly are pretentious and are experts in deception, lies, and falsehood! [12]“ And, you were in believing that there is a prostitution place for the Muslims in heaven for those that die in the name of Allah.”

[@eljumaidilbinahmad2464]

@@martindavid9761 [PART 3] My answer: which Quranic verse says or allows “prostitution” for the Muslims in heaven? Prove it. If you can’t prove it, then you are a “liar”! [13]“ What kind of sick mind a person could have, to believe that God the Almighty, has prepared a special place for Muslims to have sex with 72 Virgins and if that was not enough, to have sex with children boys too.” My answer: I think I already answered the 72 virgins and this case is closed! Please read my previous reply to you. But I want to ask you. Which Muslims have sex with children boys? Not the Muslims, but almost all cases are done by Christians[or happened!]in many Christian countries particularly in some parts of Europe or in the West! Even sex with both children boys and girls happened in the Churches, the so-called house of God! Who do you think are the exporters of pornography, Muslim countries or Christian countries? =The Christian countries! Who practices lesbian, LGBT, and homosexuality; Christians or Muslims? =The Christians! Now let me help you to find other sources that tell us about Christian sexual abuses which you can access on Google; [1] Catholic church Sexual Abuse cases - Wikipedia [2] Catholic church child abuse scandal - BBC News [3] French church abuse: 216,000 children were victims of Clergy [4] The global scare of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church [5] Child Abuse in the Church - Bolt Burdon Kemp [6] Child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church - CRIN [7] ...and many more that you can find on Google!!! In most Christian countries, it is an issue when parents try to name their children as beneficiaries, and to which children will be named to take over their wealth and property as their legacy. These parents are having problems finding their “real beneficiary,”[their biological children!] and you know why? They don’t know the biological parents of their children. So, they need a DNA test![Please, don’t pretend you don’t know this, okay?]. I know, these all are “nothing” to you! Because it is the Christian tradition, and culture and even shaped your Christian civilization that you as a Christian already “accustomed” to adultery and the “free sex,”[and if not you!], again, this is the Western-Judeo-Christian culture! And you, as Iraqi Christian[?]cannot deny it. [14]“ So to answer your question, I have read many other beliefs on this earth, I found the Christian Bible to be teaching the most peaceful life and avoiding killing, regardless of the reason, killing is forbidden in Christianity.” My answer: Congratulations! But you are totally wrong. Christianity, there are many killings not only during ancient Christianity, but both happened in the Medieval era and post-modern society. Or maybe you forgot to read your whole Bible or you missed out on some important points that some scholars also mentioned about the verses in the Bible that tell us about killing and murder and war in Christianity? If not then let me tell you, it is the Judeo-Christian civilization that is responsible for the birth of atheism, liberalism, fascism, communism, etc., which had created and invented“wars” and put the whole world into a chaotic situation. There is no “ism” in Islam, but, only Islam, a pure monotheistic religion! [15]“ I'm sure that someone will give me an example, then why did America go to war and kill people? My answer is, America is a country, not a faith the faith said no killing, so, if a country wants to rage wars, that is their problem, have nothing to do with Christianity.” My answer: Your logic is childish. If that is your case, I can also say that the Ottoman Turk's conquests in parts of Christian countries also have nothing to do with Islam. That’s why I told you that if you really want the truth about religion, do not look at the people, but READ and look at their scriptures with a pure heart! And you neglect this and yet you boasted to say, “I have read many other beliefs on this earth, I found the Christian Bible to be teaching the most peaceful life and avoiding killing,” but you are proven wrong! [16]“ You can compare faith to faith, Christianity to Islam, their difference in peace and love is like the distance between heaven and earth.” My answer: please be specific! Peace and love are different things and are subjective. Islam means peace. If Islam is not a peaceful religion, for almost 800 years Islam ruled Spain and part of Europe, there won’t be Christians today. There won’t be Iraqi Christians like you. There won’t be any Egyptian Christians. When Islam entered South East Asian countries, not a single bullet was fired toward the Cambodians, Malaysians, Indonesians, Bruneians, Singaporeans, and Philipinos. Compared to Spanish Christians and the Portuguese, the Christians slaughtered both the Jews and Muslims. Can’t you see, more than 4 million Muslims died during the period of the inquisition?[To remind you in case you don’t know, there is even one Church in Spain/Portugal the whole structure was built with Muslims’ bones and skeletons!]. Millions of South East Asians were slaughtered with Spanish swords, Portuguese swords, French swords, British swords, and Dutch swords. In the modern world, modern history has noted when your adopted country - the USA, has been engaged directly or indirectly creating war and problems and oppressed almost whole countries in the world. I am not saying this. Even American world-class professors such as the caliber of Noam Chomsky, Jeffrey Sachs, and Mearsheimer,[just to name a few]also say that. And yet you say Christianity is a peaceful and loving religion? Means, you didn’t read your Bible! You told me that you read the Qur’an a number of times, but why don’t you know that the Qur’an[21:107]also said to Muhammad, “We sent you not, but as a mercy for all creatures.”Why can’t you see this ayat/verse “A Mercy For All Creature,” when you said you read the Qur’an a number of times? Are you blind? Or you must be double-standard!? So, your arguments about peace and love about your religion[Christianity!]are weak, null, and void! [17]“ And if someone wants to compare America to Turkey when the Ottoman Empire was a Muslim nation that slaughtered millions of people, or when Islam was expanding and killing and forcing people to convert or be killed.”

[@eljumaidilbinahmad2464]

@@martindavid9761 [PART 4] My answer: If you compare America and Turkey, you must also include the period of inquisitions of the Spanish as I mentioned earlier. You also didn’t mention the British Empire which killed more than 100 million people[including your Iraqi countrymen]and other people around the globe. If you don’t, then, means you are biased and double-standard. Because history already noted that. Perhaps KZbin invites you to see their video entitled, “The Complete Bloody History of the Catholic Inquisition: Secret Files: Absolutely History,” source: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHnadHupf857kNE. [18]“ So if you want to compare Mohammad to Jesus, we can do another paper of comparison, see which of them is a Holly man or an Evil man. Would you like us to do the comparison?” My answer: Christianity and Christians have no right and no authority at all to take Jesus as a comparison. Because even the Bible says nothing about Jesus. The “real” Jesus[Nabi Isa, A.S.]has a very meaningful place as one of the greatest Islam prophets. We are not here to compare. But, who are you and what is your “authority” to compare? For example, your Christian friend Michael H. Hart placed Muhammad as the No.1 most influential man in humankind's history. Jesus is only 3rd behind Paul. Who are you when compared to Michael H. Hart who did his thorough research about the most influential man in human history? Micheal H. Hart is a Jewish American astrophysicist, author, amateur historian, researcher, and white separatist/white nationalist. His first and most famous book, The 100- A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History, was published in 1978 and has sold more than half a million copies in 15 languages. Again, who are you when compared to people like the caliber of Leo Tolstoy, Lamartine, Thomas Carlyle, and other Western and Eastern great thinkers who I mentioned earlier? [19]“ The other thing, I requested you to read the bible in your language, because the bible has been translated to every language of the world because it was meant for the people of earth to read it, and to understand it.” My answer: I don’t have to. Because the Bible is proven not the word of God. First, it failed the “Falsification Test,” as Dr.Zakir Naik has proven. Second, it is full of contradictions, discrepancies, and concoctions. Professor Dr.Bart Ehrman has proven it. Third, it contains many “unscientific facts.” Dr.Zakir Naik has proven it during his debate with Dr.William Campbells. Fourth, it has no “spiritual quality” because it is not the word of God! As proof, many Christian pastors drank poison to prove that if you believe in Jesus and the Bible’s miracles you won’t die, but all of them died miserably. [20]“ Unlike the Quran, it's forbidden NOT to be translated into any other language, it must be read in the Arabic language only as if the book was made only for the Arab people. What about all the people of the world, shouldn't a book that came from heaven, as you claim, be a book that all nations of the world could read it, easily and freely?” My answer: I AM NOT HERE TO OFFEND YOU. But I am not a snake tongue-man! I am the kind of man who likes to say “yes to yes and no to no.”You are not only wrong but a liar! Why? The Qur’an has been translated into English, Spanish, Malay, and Chinese. So, either you are lying or you didn’t read extensively and that is why you didn’t get the full picture of each Quranic verse that lead to all your arguments which are just biased and double-standard! [21]“ Don't you see that there is a problem with your faith? Thank you. Martin David.” My answer: Who are you when compared to all those Great Minds of the West and East [who I mentioned earlier!]who are mostly intelligent, VERY EXPOSED AND VERY SUCCESSFUL, cultured, and educated Christians who studied and analyzed the whole Qur’an thoroughly throughout their entire life and ended up saying good things about my faith [Islam] and the prophet of Islam - Muhammad? Are those Western and Eastern Christian scholars and the 1.9 billion Muslims and the thousands of new converts with diverse backgrounds around the globe really stupid and you are more intelligent than them? Are they bribed? Which Muslim bribed them? The Qur’an as the word of God has no problem at all. It is the answer to your alcoholism, pornography, adultery, killing, interest rate[riba’], etc. Please be careful that the most dangerous thing is when you think you are so sure you are right while in fact, you are not! For example, you said Islam is having problems, but in fact, Islam is solving all human problems! Unfortunately, you cannot see it not because you cannot see, but because your heart is blinded by hatred and jealousy. [Please see the Quranic verses that best referred to this hatred and jealousy of Christians which I posted to you earlier]. There is a saying that when hatred blinds the mind, truth disappears! That is why, in England for example, Christianity is only 46% and Islam surged to 44%. Most Christians left Christianity and they only have two obvious options whether to become atheists or convert to Islam. I think AS PROVEN by MY ANSWERS TO YOUR ABOVE-MENTIONED QUESTIONS, it is you who are having problems, but, you say other people are having problems, the Qur’an is having problems, and Islam is having problems. That is your Christian apologetic’s mentality. You can never be honest! İmam As- Shafi'i said; "If I were to argue with one thousand knowledgeable people, I would surely win the argument. But if I were to argue with one fool[untruthful person!?], I would lose the argument." So I don’t debate with a fool for anything. It is not worth debating. NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU ARE RIGHT, IT IS THE FOOL WHO WILL WIN, BECAUSE THE FOOL ALWAYS AIMS FOR THE WIN AND NOT THE TRUTH. You are hiding the truth, but other truthful Christians tell us the truth, please refer to the title, “The Complete Bloody History of the Catholic Inquisition: Secret Files: Absolutely History,” and the source: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHnadHupf857kNE. Because we can’t speak the truth to an untruthful person like you. Because you are just like this Catholic Inquisition which was hidden for over 600 years by the Catholic Orthodoxy around the world. Please be “fair” to yourself for your own good and think about that, okay? To prove to you that YOU ARE WRONG AND BIASED ABOUT YOUR ASSUMPTIONS, my faith, that is Islam, according to Western and Christian sources, is now the fastest-growing religion in the world? For one example of these sources, please see the title “Unstoppable Rise of Islam in Unexpected Places,” source: youtube.com/watch?=5KGgllyG8Jl Thank you. Have a nice day!