Dow Jones’s Reviews > No God But God: The Origins, Evolution and Future of Islam > Status Update

I thought Chapter 10 had a perfect closing paragraph, so 11’s total summation of the future of Islam is about the Internet and how reformation now is in its infancy again, but still cyclical like older religions. I love the part about online forums, fatwas, and how if one doesn’t like one fatwa, they can post elsewhere until they get the result they were seeking. Hilarious and may have dangerous consequences.

Bringing Islam into modernity has been a struggle not only due to extremist sects but from within as well as young Muslims no longer seek advice from the elderly, scholarly Ummlah(?) clerics. The Internet age and globalization is a natural cause for the “Islamic Reformation”, not unlike the other major religions.

What an incredible history of Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Really interesting to see fundamentalism rise, fall, rise w/ new inspired learners hip, get assassinated again, then be backed by Britain in WWI and 90s by US to overthrow Ottoman Empire and Soviets only to then have the tables turned against the hands that feed (&thieve). Power and money have corrupted everything in human history.

It’s tricky to follow the succession of imams, ayatollahs, and varying branches of Shiites. The Khomeini part at the end of the chapter was great as it called out Russian/British-backed involvement that went awry leading the the CIA installation of Pahlavi that was also a disaster, so Iranians needed a new leader from their own revolution. Of course, he destroyed everyone’s conception of Islam within & abroad.

The point is made at the end of the chapter that Shariah law isn’t divine at all as it’s man-made and a lot of the differing opinions based on school of thought come from centuries of varying cultural and social conflicts and to take either extreme side of Traditionalism or Rationalism doesn’t make any sense, especially when taking modernity into account.

The Shariah laws, Sunna, analogies, and juridical consensuses are explained. I want to know more about how they came about and trace the telephone lineage of Sunna. I hope the most impactful are genuine and not altered for political gain. The Traditionalist and Rationalist schools of thought are well-explained and a good back and forth of what each believes.

The Five Pillars are explained in brief overview. I’m confused as Aslan says the next time you wear sanctified garb like the Hajj pilgrimage is when it’s your burial shroud. That must just mean if you only go once, right? Everyone must wear white cloth every time. So maybe more accurate to say only two purposes being to start the journey and at life’s end.

After Muhammad’s death, it was chaos deciding who & what comes next to continue. It’s like a drama w/ murder (plots), hostile takeovers, family feuds, wars, & bloodshed. I appreciate the breakdown of groups like Sunni and Shia being politically motivated. Such an interesting lineage of Caliphs & their successes, failures, and ultimate disintegration. History and context are so important.

Great explanation of Islam being aligned with Judaism & Christianity and holding people accountable for being & leading others astray from the true path and message of God. Medinan Jews who died in battle weren’t really actual Jews, just followers w/ scattered knowledge & no real practices. Muhammad lost a ton of soldiers but could eventually take Mecca w/ sheer numbers, destroy Ka`ba idols, & establish a new home.

I really love the end of this chapter discussing the hijab and women’s rights in Islam. The Hadith system is polluted w/ hearsay & I like the 2 paths brackets many lies fall into. Obvious abuse of power & unfortunate that such falsehoods could have “merit” for centuries uncontested. Same for all religions obvi as context surrounding revelations is most important. This book is excellent so far!