By Parvez Ahmed, Professor, University of North Florida
Posted: 06/30/2015 1:21 pm EDT | Updated: 06/30/2015 1:59 pm EDT
Egyptian writer Mona Eltahawy in a New York Times article recounted her 2005 encounter with Mohammed Akef, the then spiritual leader of Muslim Brotherhood. When she suggested to Akef that the verses in the Quran regarding women’s dress have several interpretations, Akef replied, “… There are no different interpretations. There is just one interpretation.”
A 2012 Pew survey indicated that nearly 6 out of 10 Muslims believe that, “there is only one true way to interpret the teachings,” of Islam, ranging from a high of 78 percent in Egypt to a low of 34 percent in Morocco. Do such attitudes reflect the core values of the Quran and the historical diversity among Muslims?
The 2012 Pew survey (“The World’s Muslims: Unity and Diversity”), which was conducted in 39 countries covering nearly 67 percent of the world’s Muslim population, showed strong consensus among Muslims regarding devotional practices.
Follow Parvez Ahmed @parvezahmed, he is the former Fulbright Scholar and current Professor of Finance at the University of North Florida. Frequent commentator on Islam and the American Muslim experience.
Discover, Explore and Learn more via Pluralism in Islam — Between Scripture and Praxis | Parvez Ahmed
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