name: Article Reviews Example

Reflection on the Article

The article Islamic Modernism covers various disciplines and how they are incorporated in the Islamic context. The article comprises of various chapters ranging from science, law and philosophy. In the first chapter, Religion versus Islam, Sayyid Jamal critiques M.Renan assertion that Islamic religion was opposed to development of science. The author faults this thinking by citing that all religions are intolerant in different ways. Thus where religion has an upper hand, it will eliminate free thinking. It is human nature as per the article that a struggle will always exist between dogma and free investigation.
In Chapter two, Islamic Revealed Law Versus Islamic Common Law, the author Moulavi Chiragh Ali faults the thinking of Rev. MacColl regarding the common code of civil and religious rules. The article seeks to clarify that the common Islamic law is the unwritten law of the Muhamaddan society drawing heavily from a rich jurisprudence, customs, and Quran verses. Thus according to the author, the Muhammadan states are not theocratic in their system of governance. The Islamic law embraces reason and not servitude as asserted by Rev. MacColl and his ilk.
In the third Chapter, The Rationalistic and Philosophical Spirit, Amir Ali seeks to illustrate the rational interpretation of the Islamic religion. Contrary to many opinions regarding Islam, the Quran incorporates human free will and the role of God will as an educating will to be obeyed by his devotes. The author admits that man is absolute master of his conscience .He is responsible for his actions. God only offers supreme assistance and guidance to man once he seeks him. It is upon man to use his rational thinking to make a decision between good and bad. Human actions in Islam are connected to a series of cause and effect incidents thus espousing the need for critical thinking within the confines of religion.