Fazlur Rahman's Islamic modernism

Abstract

This thesis discusses the Islamic modernism of Fazlur Rahman, adistinguished theologian who conceptualized a new understanding of Islam in orderto reconcile it with modern developments. Generally, religion is seen asrepresentative of tradition and, hence, an impediment to social change. In contrast, the main thesis of Islamic modernism is that Islam has the capacity to generatechange and renewal through its own dynamics, something which presupposes the reinterpretationof the Qur̕an through the use of reason. This thesis analyzes the Islamic revival and reform processes in the light of Fazlur Rahman̕s studies. Byscrutinizing the ideas of Fazlur Rahman, this thesis attempts to explain, on atheoretical level, the contributions as well as the shortcomings of Islamic modernismto Islamic thought.