Welcome to liberalislam.net - by Zeeshan Hasan

Luke, you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view. - Obiwan Kenobi So what exactly is 'Muslim liberalism'? Well, religion is very personal, and everyone has a different answer. I spent a few years thinking about this sort of thing while studying for my Master of Theological Studies degree at Harvard Divinity School. I finished the degree in 1996; my subsequent essays are on this site. These articles were originally written for various newspapers and magazines in Bangladesh, so I haven't added footnotes. A rough bibliography can be found in my reading lists on the history of Middle-Eastern religions and liberal Islam. I have also written articles about the warped psychology behind the Israel-Palestine conflict and about boycotting Israel and its corporate allies which I hope you'll find interesting. If you like poetry, I hope you'll enjoy the selection on the right. Please send any comments to zeeshan hasan AT yahoo DOT com. From The Conference of the Birds, by Farid-al-Din Attar: "It was in China, late one moonless night, The Simorgh first appeared to human sight - He let a feather float down through the air, And rumours of its fame spread everywhere; Throughout the world men separately conceived An image of its shape, and all believed Their private fantasies uniquely true! (In China still this feather is on view, Whence comes the saying you have heard, no doubt, "Seek Knowledge, unto China seek it out.") If this same feather had not floated down, The world would not be filled with His renown - It is a sign of Him, and in each heart There lies this feather's hidden counterpart. But since no words suffice, what use are mine To represent or to describe this sign? Whoever wishes to explore the Way, Let him set out - what more is there to say?"