Exposing Islam

Contemporary Islam: A Clash Between Tradition and Modernity

Islam’s Struggle with Itself: Faith, Politics, and the Crisis of Coherence

Contemporary Islam: A Clash Between Tradition and Modernity

Contemporary Islam is often presented as a faith struggling to reconcile its sacred traditions with the demands of the modern world. From the rise of political Islam and the Iranian Revolution to the militant surge of Salafi-Jihadi groups and the legal complexities of Sharia in modern nation-states, the 20th and 21st centuries have exposed a deep ideological divide within the Muslim world. But beneath the surface, a more troubling reality emerges: contemporary Islam is not merely adapting to modernity — it is trapped in a battle between irreconcilable contradictions, where claims of divine guidance clash with historical realities, human rights, and the principles of rational governance.

This analysis will critically examine the major currents of contemporary Islam, exposing their inherent contradictions, their selective use of sacred texts, and the dangers they pose to both Muslims and the wider world.

1. Islamic Revivalism: A Return to the Past or a Quest for Power?

The Muslim Brotherhood: Political Islam Disguised as Religious Reform

Founded by Hassan al-Banna in 1928, Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood (Ikhwan al-Muslimun) claimed to be a spiritual revival movement, but in reality, it was always a political project.
Stated Mission: To establish an Islamic state governed by Sharia (Islamic law) in all aspects of life — personal, social, political, and economic.
Core Contradiction: While presenting itself as a peaceful, educational movement, the Brotherhood has repeatedly engaged in political violence, assassination plots, and subversion in multiple countries.
The Sayyid Qutb Factor: Sayyid Qutb, the Brotherhood’s most influential ideologue, radicalized the movement with his doctrine of Jahiliyyah (Ignorance) — declaring that any society not governed by Sharia is in a state of ignorance and must be opposed.
- This doctrine legitimized violent revolution against secular or un-Islamic regimes.
- Qutb’s "Milestones" became a manifesto for extremist groups, including Al-Qaeda.

A Political Cult Masquerading as Religion

The Brotherhood uses religious rhetoric as a tool for political power, not spiritual transformation.
It selectively quotes the Quran (Surah 5:44) to declare secular rulers as disbelievers, yet ignores Quranic principles of justice and accountability.
The Brotherhood’s calls for Sharia are vague, avoiding the details of brutal hudud punishments, discrimination against non-Muslims, and gender inequality embedded in classical Sharia.

2. The Iranian Revolution: A Theocracy Built on Hypocrisy

Ayatollah Khomeini and the Rise of Shia Political Islam

In 1979, the Iranian Revolution replaced the secular Pahlavi monarchy with a theocratic state under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, based on his doctrine of Wilayat al-Faqih (Guardianship of the Jurist).
Core Contradiction: Khomeini claimed to restore the rule of Islamic law, but in practice, his regime became a brutal dictatorship:
- Political opponents were executed without due process.
- Freedom of expression was crushed.
- Women were forced into strict dress codes, and dissent was treated as apostasy.

The Myth of Anti-Imperialism

The Iranian regime brands itself as a defender of the oppressed (mustaḍʿafīn), yet it actively oppresses its own citizens:
- Suppression of Sunni Muslims, Baha’is, and secular dissidents.
- Crackdowns on women’s rights activists.
- Violent suppression of protests (e.g., 2009 Green Movement, 2022-2023 Mahsa Amini protests).

Wilayat al-Faqih: A Divine Dictatorship?

Khomeini’s doctrine is a direct violation of the principles of Twelver Shia Islam, which traditionally rejects the legitimacy of any ruler until the return of the hidden Imam (the Twelfth Imam).
The Quranic verse used to justify this doctrine (Surah 33:6) is twisted to give absolute power to a religious elite, effectively creating a clerical dictatorship.

3. Salafi-Jihadi Movements: A Theology of Terror

From Wahhabism to Global Jihad

Salafi-Jihadi groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS claim to follow the pure teachings of early Islam (Salafism) but are actually rooted in the extremist ideology of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab:
- This ideology is built on Takfir (excommunication) — declaring other Muslims as disbelievers.
- It reduces Islam to a rigid, violent ideology that demands total submission or death.

The Contradictions of Jihadism

These groups claim to restore the Caliphate, but their “Caliphate” is a reign of terror, characterized by:
- Mass killings of civilians, including Muslims.
- Destruction of cultural heritage sites.
- Brutal punishment of dissenters, minorities, and women.
They selectively quote Quranic verses (Surah 60:4) to justify violence, while ignoring verses on mercy, justice, and protection of non-combatants.

A Religion of Blood and Fire

Salafi-Jihadi groups have killed far more Muslims than non-Muslims.
Their doctrine of Loyalty and Disavowal (al-Wala' wa-l-Bara') is a recipe for endless conflict, creating enemies everywhere, including within the Muslim world.

4. Islamic Law in Modern Nation-States: A Legal Nightmare

The Problem of Sharia: Injustice Codified as Divine Law

In states like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, Sharia is implemented in various forms, but this “divine law” is riddled with moral and legal contradictions:
- Blasphemy Laws: Executing those who “insult” Islam — a direct violation of freedom of speech.
- Apostasy Laws: Death for those who leave Islam, denying freedom of conscience.
- Hudud Punishments: Amputation for theft, stoning for adultery, flogging for alcohol consumption — punishments that violate basic human rights.
Sharia is not a single divine code, but a human interpretation of medieval jurisprudence:
- Four Sunni schools of law (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali) differ significantly.
- Shia law (Ja’fari) also differs, highlighting the human nature of Islamic law.

Contradiction with Human Rights

Sharia law directly contradicts international human rights standards:
- Women are treated as legally inferior (Surah 4:34, Surah 2:282).
- Non-Muslims are subject to discrimination under the dhimmi system.
- Freedom of religion is denied — apostates are executed.

5. Modern Tensions: The Battle for the Soul of Islam

Freedom of Speech vs. Blasphemy Laws

Islam’s insistence on criminalizing blasphemy is a direct threat to freedom of speech:
- The Charlie Hebdo massacre, the assassination of Salman Taseer, and countless other incidents show that criticism of Islam can be a death sentence.
The Quran itself is used to justify these laws (Surah 33:57), yet other verses advocate for patience in the face of insults (Surah 41:34).

Gender and Reform: The Inescapable Inequality

Women are systematically disadvantaged:
- Inheritance laws grant them half the share of a man (Surah 4:11).
- Their testimony is worth half of a man’s in court (Surah 2:282).
- Islamic dress codes are enforced through coercion, not choice.

Religious Pluralism: A Contradiction in Terms

Islam claims to respect Jews and Christians as “People of the Book,” yet:
- They are reduced to second-class citizens under the dhimmi system.
- Surah 3:85 declares Islam as the only acceptable religion.
- Non-Muslims must pay the jizya (a humiliating tax) under Islamic rule.

6. Conclusion: Contemporary Islam’s War Within

Contemporary Islam is not evolving — it is at war with itself. The competing visions of Islam — peaceful reformists, militant jihadists, theocratic regimes, and secular Muslims — cannot be reconciled because they are all built on the same contradictory foundation:

A claim to divine truth that is applied selectively.
A call for justice that is contradicted by discriminatory laws.
A demand for freedom that is denied to dissenters.

A Challenge to Muslims: Will You Choose Truth Over Tradition?

Contemporary Islam cannot move forward until it confronts the contradictions at its core. Will Muslims continue to defend a brutal, medieval law code as divine? Will they continue to justify violence in the name of faith?

The choice is clear: Reform or remain trapped in a prison of self-contradiction.