Abdallah Al-Arawy
The Arab Cultural Centre 2008
Sunna and the Reform Process by Abdallah Al-Arawy is the author's reply to a message sent by a Muslim woman. This woman was a divorcee of a middle easterner and had a child whose future she cared about since they lived in a multiethnic environment. In an introduction to his reply to this woman's letter, this Moroccan thinker sheds light on mythology, theology and philosophy. Al-Arawy traces back to a world that existed a thousand of years before Islam, since Alexander's conquests.
The author uses this letter to raise questions that may be in the minds of many Muslims all over the world, especially those who live in mixed communities where Islam is not the dominant religion The author addresses questions such as: What is the relation between Islam and other religions. Or how do Muslims deal with differences within their own religion? The book tackles the way Islam, specifically Sunna, presents itself to the world and how it interacts with the "other," namely the West, in a context in which geographic boundaries are collapsing and isolation is no longer a valid option. The book takes the reader on an historical journey years before Islam passing through the origin of Sunna by applying the methods of a historian. In other words, the author discusses the possibilities of Sunna and reform from an historical perspective.
What differentiates this book from others of its kind is the author’s consistent methodology as well as his reference to history. In this way the author questions whether there could be a reform of Sunna? Could Muslims use their past to enlighten their future? The dilemmas of Sunna and reform have been troubling the minds of many in recent years, not only Muslims or religious thinkers. Intellectuals all around the world have been trying to find answers for the issues tackled in this book. The author argues, albeit implicitly, that "Sunna" can transcend difference and divisiveness. As a result, it can stand the test of time since the logic of Sunna is in fact quite harmonious and interrelated.
Despite the strong adherence to the methodology of an historian, the book lacks coherence in other areas. For example, when the author refers to the letter that sets the tone of the book in the beginning, he does not share it with his readers. This adds a degree of unnecessary confusion that might have been avoided if the author had applied a more coherent structure to his work. A further weakness of the book is that at times it can be overly philosophical which can either be confusing or seem unnecessary. This makes the book overly theoretical and complicates the reader’s ability to apply its lessons to the problems of the real world.
Finally, a draw in terms of the book’s merit is found in the author’s attempt to remain relatively objective in his analysis. As a result, however, the message put forth by the author sometimes appears to lack a distinct direction.
