(Irshad Manji: Liberal Islamic Figure in Malaysia)

Lectures group:
TAA3 (Semester 7)
Prepared by:
No. Name Matric number
1. Auni Nur Farahin Bt Aripai 1141222
2. Azreena bt Mislan@Mishadi 1141226
3. Siti Najihah Bt Mohd Badri 1141217
4. Masniza Husna Bt Samsulkamal 1141238
5. Nurul Khalidah Bt Mohd Danial 1141245
 CONTENT PAGES

CONTENT PAGES

INTRODUCTION 3

BIOGRAPHY 4-5

THE THINKING AND THOUGHT LIBERALISM OF IRSYAD 6-7

MANJI

CONTRIBUTIONS... 8-9

AWARDS 10

IRSHAD MANJI ISSUES TOWARD ISLAM... 11

CONCLUSION.. 12

REFERENCES 13

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INTRODUCTION

Liberalism is a social scientific theory of international relations, one that seeks to explain what
states do, not what they should do. Since Machiavelli advanced his celebrated distinction
between "the effective truth of things" and the imaginary republics and monarchies that have
never been seen or have been known to exist," Realist critics have obstinatelymaintained that
such a Liberal theory in impossible. They have typically presented Liberal claim not as realistic
generalizations about human behavior, but as normative ideals of peace and cooperation, which
they label "idealist", "legalist", "moralist", "reductionist", or "utopian". (John, 1951)

Other than that, liberalism is also known as a political philosophy or worlview founded
on ideas of liberty and equality. Liberal espouse a wide array of views depending on their
understanding of these principles, but generally they support odeas and programmes sech
freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, free markets, civil rights,
democratic societies, secular government, gender equality and international
cooperation.(Kathleen, 2003)

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BIOGRAPHY

Irshad Manji was born on 1968 at near Kampala, Uganda. Manji was graduate at The University
of British Columbia, Winner of Governor-General's Medal for Top Achievement in the
Humanities. Manji is a Muslim Canadian author, educator, and advocate of a reformist
interpretation of Islam. Manji is also a well-known critic of traditional mainstream Islam,
described by Clifford Krauss on 4 October 2003 in The New York Times as "Osama bin Laden's
worst nightmare". Manji also founder of the Moral Courage Project.(Krauss et.al, 2003)

Besides that, Irsyad Manji also won a few awards, such as Awards Honorary Doctorate,
University of Puget Sound, Honorary Doctorate, Bishop's University, World Economic Forum,
"Young Global Leader", and New York Society for Ethical Culture's Ethical Humanist Award.

Manji is the founder of several educational project to help young people, who are our
new leaders, discover their values and their courage and themselves. Two of the projects are
Project Ijtihad and the Moral Courage Project. Ijtihad "effort, physical or mental, expended in a
particular activity is also an Islamic legal term referring to independent reasoning or the thorough
exertion of a jurist's mental faculty in finding a solution to a legal question."Manji's Project
Ijtihad is a charitable organization that has innovated a 24/7 service to advise people, especially
young Muslims, who are struggling with faith. Advice from the "Guidance Team" of Project
Ijtihad, is free of charge and available in multiple languages.Manji also founded the Moral
Courage Project at Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York
University, a course offering that aims to teach young leaders "to make values-driven decisions
for the sake of their integrity -- professional and personal". In April 2013 Moral Courage TV (on
YouTube), was launched by Manji and professor/activist Cornel West. Cornel West spoke of
Manji's work as a "powerful force for good". As of 2015, Manji is developing "the West Coast
presence of Moral Courage at University of Southern California, Annenberg Center for
Communication.(John, 2014)

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 Manji has produced a PBS documentary in the America at a Crossroads series titled
"Faith Without Fear", chronicling her personal attempt to "reconcile her faith in Allah with her
love of freedom". The documentary was nominated for a 2008 Emmy Award.

As a journalist, her articles have appeared in many publications, and she has addressed
audiences ranging from Amnesty International, to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police where
Chris Powers, Royal Canadian Mounted Police said her presentation was awesome.

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THE THINKING AND THOUGHT LIBERALISM OF IRSYAD MANJI

1- Based on Manji's book, Allah, Liberty and Love was released in June 2011 in the US,
Canada and other countries. On Manji's website, the book is described: "Allah, Liberty and
Love shows all of us how to reconcile faith and freedom in a world seething with repressive
dogmas. Manjis key teaching is "moral courage," the willingness to speak up when
everyone else wants to shut you up.
2- Based on the interview by John Glassie (portions in The New York Times Magazine,
December 2003), when given the question about what are her opinion regarding issues
homosexuality Homosexuality is not permitted in Islam. How do you reconcile your
homosexuality with your faith? she said that I accept the possibility that my sexual
orientation might be a sin. But only my creator can make that judgement. But here's a
question: The Koran says that everything God made is, quote, excellent, and that nothing
God has made is, quote, in vain. If the creator did not wish to create me, a lesbian, then why
didn't he create somebody else in my place? And given how explicit the Koran is that God
has deliberately designed the world's breathtaking multiplicity, I wonder how my critics can
justify their utter condemnation of homosexuality.
3- Others question was asked about the wearing of veil or hijab. Her answered, hijab, chador
or veiling are obligations only for Prophet Muhammad's wives. I'm not one of them. To meet
the Koranic requirement for dressing modestly, I could wear a turtleneck and baseball cap.
In fact, a ball cap is precisely what I wore when interviewing the political leader of Islamic
Jihad in Gaza recently. Yes, many Muslim women believe that covering themselves is an
exercise in spiritual submission; it's more an act of cultural capitulation -- capitulation, that
is, to Arab culture.
4- She believes that Muslims need to rely much more on their own Islamic tradition of Ijtihad
or independent reasoning, and completely rethink their attitudes to the West. She offers a
practical vision of how Islam can undergo a reformation that empowers women, promotes

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 respect for religious minorities, and fosters a competition of ideas. Her vision revives
"ijtihad," Islam's lost tradition of independent thinking.
5- Based on article freemalaysiatoday.com, Jakim: Buku Irshad Manji anjur pluralisme agama
on 4th June 2012 by K Pragalath had mention Manji claims that the word Allah is an Arabic
translation that means God. This means that the word Allah is not a special noun referring to
a particular god but anything that is made god will be translated Allah in Arabic.

6- Freedom of apostasy

The book Allah, Liberty and Love produced by Manji was also banned as Manji tried to reform
the Islamic sharia in the name of freedom of religion including apostasy freedom.

"For Manji, individual freedom is an integrity that needs to be maintained. No freedom means no
integrity or sincerity and honesty. It has made him the ultimate goal in self-devotion to God.

Manji's thinking is inclined to humanism and rationalism because finally the matter to be
affirmed or devoted is the human mind itself while Allah SWT has lowered the Qur'an and His
Messenger as a human guide in managing the freedom of lust and his mind.

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CONTRIBUTIONS

Irshad Manji, is a Muslim who likes to think. But he thinks without proper guidance and
interpreting the Qur'an according to his own thoughts, misinterpreting and dispute the truth of the
Qur'anic verses.

Here Irshad Manji has produced several books. Among the books she has written is Risking
Utopia: On the Edge of New Democracy, The Trouble with Islam: A Wake-up Call For Honesty
and Change, The Trouble With Islam Today: A Muslim's Call for Reform in Her Faith, Liberty
and Love: The Courage to Reconcile Faith and Freedom.

There are also several issues in her work "The Trouble with Islam Today", her writings are
misleading and misleading of Islamic law. Irshad Manji said, "I am a reformist not a moderate".
However, she encourages all parties to dare to fight the flow and to exit the sacred Islamic
environment. This is really a very dangerous statement. She also suggested that it is not wrong
for Muslim women to marry non-Muslims, practice lesbians and homosexuals. She seems to
want to defend the issue of sexual and moral liberties and expect it to be the norm in the Malay
community.

The book has also caused anxiety and anger among Muslims around the world as it has the same
idealism as the novelist The Satanic Verses, Salman Rushdie. Based on a study released by
Jakim, she is a liberalist, pluralism and feminist and is one of the world's leading lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) supporters.

While for her latest work of God Liberty and Love, it also contains things that insult Islam and
his struggle to defend his way of life as a lesbian. In addition, the elements are said to be able to
distort the understanding of Muslims towards the values of current civilization and to challenge
the flow of ideas in Islam without reference to authentic sources. Additionally, the publication of
this book is feared to confuse the public's view of the link between religion and culture among
Muslims.

In January 2008, Manji joined New York Universitys Wagner School of Public Service to
spearhead the Moral Courage Project, an initiative to help young people speak truth to power

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within their own communities. Since 2017 The University of Southern California is where Manji
and her team teach "moral courage."

Irshad Manji also was produced her own films, that is in 2007 - Manji's PBS documentary, Faith
without Fear, follows her journey to reconcile faith and freedom. Faith without Fear depicts the
personal risks Manji has faced as a Muslim reformer. She explores Islamism in Yemen, Europe
and North America, as well as histories of Islamic critical thinking in Spain and elsewhere.
Second film in 2007 is Faith without Fear: finalist for the National Film Board of Canada's
Gemini Award. Third in 2008 Faith without Fear: nominated for an Emmy. Fourth in 2008 Faith
Without Fear: won Gold at the New York Television Festival. Last film from her in 2008 is Faith
Without Fear launched the Muslim Film Festival organized by the American Islamic Congress.

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AWARDS

Irshad manji have a lot of awards her achieved. There are among the awards she has received:

1. She has become an administer and published several programs such as community affairs
in television she become the winner (Gemini) which is a recognition the highest broadcasting in
Canada.

2. Chutzpah Award is one of award she gets from Oprah Winfrey for she bravery, voice
volume, firmness at for the first year award.

3. Feminist for the 21st Century awarded to her from Ms. Magazine.

4. Immigration Equality establish since 1994 years, Immigration has been proud to support
and represent lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ), and HIV-positive immigrants
seeking security, fair treatment and freedom. Immigration Equality gives to her a Global Vision
Award.

5. The World Economic Forum chooses her as Young Global Leader. Young Global Leader
is a community of more than 800 brave and interested men, elected fewer than 40, operating as a
power to overcome obstacles elsewhere on the path of progress. The community consists of
leaders from all walks of life, from every region in the world, and from every group of
stakeholders in society.

6. The Jakarta Post is an English-language daily newspaper based in Jakarta. A world

Muslim majority country in Indonesia identified Irshad Manji as one of the three Muslim women
who gave a positive change in Islam today.

7. The Significant achievements for her it is her book The Trouble with Islam Today, Faith
Without Fear and her awards achievements from her book is Honorary Doctorate, University of
Puget Sound, 2008 , World Economic Forum "Young Global Leader"

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IRSHAD MANJI ISSUES TOWARD ISLAM

These are several statements on Irsyad Manji issues that we conclude from the reading article:

1. According to Irsyad Manji, the Al-Quran explains that every human being is God's
creation and it includes that group (LGBT group).
"Back to the Al-quran, everyone is God's creation. Even gay and lesbians are also created
by God"
2. The concept of Islam rejects and hate that group (LGBT) shows, contrary to the
concept of Allah is God Most Merciful.
3. Manji said that allowed marriage between Muslims and non-Muslims by not having
to change religion. He even calls on young people to do so.
4. Manji stated the Qur'an is imperfect and there is error, and the majority of Muslims
committed a major offense by claiming that only Islam is the true path to all human
beings

According from that, Manji's statement is contrary with the Al-quran and As-sunnah.
This issue from the article Masa Kini, Menara.my and Utusan.
1. http://ww1.utusan.com.my/utusan/Dalam_Negeri/20120523/dn_05/Buku-Irshad-
Manji-haram-jika-rosakkan-akidah
2. https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/198641
3. https://www.menara.my/saya-lesbian-beriman-irshad-manji/

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CONCLUSION

The challenge of Muslims, the past and the present, has always been a constant polymic. Allah
SWT has shown that the enemies of Islam will always find a way to mislead towards Muslims.
Allah stated in Surah Al-baqarah:

It is undeniable that Muslims are struggling to achieve advancement and same time seek to be a
quality Muslim in terms of faith. However, the challenge is to try the faith with the most
dangerous and bitter challenge ever. In the conclusion, try to improve the our efforts,
commitment and knowledge in order to become a powerful part to facing these challenges.
Without forgetting the prayer so we always istiqamah in doing anything.

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REFERENCES

John. H. Herz. (1951). Political Realism and Political Idealism: A Study in Theories and
Realities. Chicago: University of Chicago Press

John L. Esposito. (2014). "Ijtihad". The Oxford Dictionary of Islam. Oxford: Oxford University
Press. Retrieved 9 November 2017

Kathleen G. Donohue. (2003). Freedom from Want: American Liberalism and the Idea of the
Consumer (New Studies in American Intellectual and Cultural History). Johns Hopkins
University Press. Retrieved 8 November 2017

Krauss, Clifford. (4 October 2003). "An Unlikely Promoter of an Islamic Reformation". The
New York Times. Retrieved 8 November 2017

http://www.ismaweb.net/2012/05/katakan-tidak-kepada-irshad-manji/ accessed at 9 November

2017

http://www.sinarharian.com.my/karya/pendapat/haram-buku-irshad-manji-keputusan-terbaik-
jakim-1.50887 accessed at 9 November 2017

https://us.macmillan.com/thetroublewithislamtoday/irshadmanji/9780312327002/ accessed at 9
November 2017

http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/headtohead/2016/01/transcript-irshad-manji-
islamophobia-160123075229052.html accessed at 9 November 2017

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/06/04/%E2%80%98thoughts-on-being-
a-modern-muslim%E2%80%99/ accessed at 9 November 2017

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/irshad-manji-islams-marked-woman-
58908.html accessed at 9 November 2017

https://newrepublic.com/article/101694/allah-liberty-love-irshad-manji accessed at 9 November

2017

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