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Fundamentalism 'has besieged free thought in Muslim world'
Innovation and free thought in the Muslim world are held captive by religious fundamentalists who reject the separation of religion from the political, social and cultural spheres, according to noted Arabic poet Adonis.
- By Barbara Bibbo', Correspondent
- Published: 00:06 April 8, 2008
- 78-year-old Adonis is considered the pioneer of modern Arabic poetry and the greatest of all living Arabic poets.
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Doha: Innovation and free thought in the Muslim world are held captive by religious fundamentalists who reject the separation of religion from the political, social and cultural spheres, according to noted Arabic poet Adonis.
"The essence of innovation is to reject any preset standards. But religious principles are eternal and unchangeable, therefore we should not seek to innovate religion, but to innovate human intellect," said Adonis addressing a two-day conference on "Innovation in Islam" that concluded here on Sunday.
"Also, religion cannot make innovation, but human intellect can through freedom, doubt, scepticism and criticism. There will be no innovation if we do not separate religion from politics. And I cannot understand why today there is such resistance [in the Muslim world] to distinguish between religion, politics, culture, society and so forth."
"What can emanate from a faith where people are made to believe that everything has been said and no more reasoning is required. A society that ceases to think freely is an antipode to existence," he said in a key-note speech at the conference organised by Georgetown University's Centre for Regional and International Studies.
He added that governance of modern societies should not be based on religious principles which discriminate against non-Muslims, but on secular principles.
The audience who gathered at the conference strongly criticised Adonis's speech, arguing he was not differentiating between religion and its practice by Muslims.
Egyptian philosopher Hasan Hanafi also rejected Adonis's idea that religion cannot be innovated, arguing Islam was delivered over a period of 23 years, in which it evolved. "There is always space for innovation in religion," said Hanafi.
But Adonis rejected the accusations arguing that he referred to the practice of Islam and not to principles. "Your view of innovation is based on the practice of Muslims and their actions based on events on the ground. In this regard our discourse does not differ," he told Hanafi.
Who is Adonis?
- Born Ali Ahmad Said, 78-year-old Adonis is considered the pioneer of modern Arabic poetry and the greatest of all living Arabic poets. The Syrian born writer was considered to be a candidate of the Nobel Prize in literature for the past three editions, but the award went to other literary figures.
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