Wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so thrilled that you are doing this! After seeing Irshad Manji on television, Hearing and seeing that there is a voice for those who love their Islamic heritage and faith but don't love oppressive views. Knowing that this was holding back many to make a further commitment to their faith. And driving a wedge between them and their families. This gives All a forum to be heard. LOVE IT!

ALHAMDULILLAH!

Thank you for the dedicated and learned scholars for the hard work and effort involved in presenting Islam according to the quran.

Before I found the PMU website I was disillusioned but now my knowledge and understanding of true Islam has increased tenfold and am a truee

I look forward to the announcement and intend to help promote PMU whenever and wherever I can.

Salaam

My URL will connect to my index page. The first link on that page is "Short Version", which takes you to a five-chapter E-Book about human development, religion, politics, and peacemaking. I developed it over the past few years while leading a class for retired professionals on "Islam in America", based upon Jane Smith's book with the same title, a nd another class on "When Religion Is Misused to Justify Evil Acts", based upon Charles Kimball's book entitled, "When Religion Becomes Evil".

I have read several chapters in Omid Safi's book as soon as it was published and refer to it in my E-Book. I highly recommend his book.

I hope that some of your members will find my E-Book informative. I'd like to get feedback about corrections, additions, etc.

More about my background appears in a link in Section A of Chapter 1.

Best of Luck in your work,

Charlie Notess,

May Allah reward you. I hope that you are right, because my conscience agrees with your views.

ASSALAMO-ALAIKUM SISTERS AND BROTHERS!

As I have read and continued to study the guiding principles of my faith, I am continually amazed at its depth and complexity. Many of the concepts we wish articulate are already contained within the pages of The Qur'an and the Hadith of the Prophet, May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him. The challenge as I see it, is not to redefine the faith as much as it is to expand our understanding of it to include the challenges of our age.

Whether it be the rights of our sisters, domestice violence in our and other communities, or respect for practices performed by Shi, Sufi, and other sects of Islam, these issues must be approached with respect, dignity, and above all humanity for all. May Allah guide us all!

Ramadan Mubarak!
ASSALAMO-ALAIKUM
Warren Kundis

well, it makes me happy to see you "Progs" up and working again! im so thrilled!

and again, it doesnt raise any eyebrows for me to see FREE North America the capital of the amazing Muslim initiative! Lets hope we see something similar here in the Middle East soon!

Good Luck!

Sallam everyone :-)
PMU is what our community needs. I am so thriiled that progressive muslims finally will have a forum , may be even a politcal platform ,inshallah, so we can be part of the democratic and plotical process of the US.

But instead of having the "north america" label. Just let muslims in each country decide their own forum.

As a movement, proclaiming yourself was the easiest step. You need to have physical space and the most crucial Islamic space is a mosque. The number of mosques you have across North America will determine whether this is a fringe or a mainstream movement.

I'm sure that this is in your agenda and at your mosque you will have Female Imams, mixed prayers and English khutbas etc. These items are what is expected of you. However the Progressive movement needs a powerful idea to attract non mosque-goers and for that it needs to establishes a precedent and that precedent is the establishment of salat itself in English.

Great Idea and godspeed in your new venture. Please keep me posted.

Although I'm a protestant Christian I am in full support of your Statement of Principles. Congratulations and continued best wishes to you all! Lawrence

I am thrilled, excited and equally optimist about this movement. PMU statement of principles represent most of human beings..regardless of their religious affiliation. I have a reason to beleive that this movement will bring the majority of American Muslims together. I have been a prgressive activist locally and will do whatever I can to support this movement. Inshallah! we shall overcome.

This is Fantastic, with a capital F!
However, will the PMU be expanding at all to include Europe at all esp. London?

thank you, thank you, thank you!

i have three daughters and a vested interest in a progressive movement in Islam.

until now, i've felt like an (almost) lone voice in my efforts. i am so thrilled to hear of your work!

all the best,
ameena

Assalamu aleikum and Ramadan mubarak! What a bold and brave course you have charted for yourselves. These are both challenging and exciting times for Muslims in North America, especially converts (reverts?) and those born here. Especially frustrating is the blur between true Islam and culture. What made Islam great was its tolerance & ability to be adopted by other cultures without losing their identity. Islam implores us to learn from each other, in spite of our differences, and from the world around us. It still has a lot to offer western society, as is increasingly evident by the number of new converts.
May Allah bless and reward you for your sincere efforts to promote Islam as a modern religion and way of life. You have provided a home base for hundreds of thousands of "moderate" muslims.
Don't be swayed or discouraged by the nay-sayers. Only Allah knows best.
I wish you peace & success my brothers & sisters.

Alhamduallah! May Allah bless your deeds and spread moderation and tolerance worldwide. Assalaamu Alaykum!

i am an Egyptian moslem and i agree fully with your principles...what we need is a more tolerant Islam.
youssef

We need more progressive Muslims in this World.
Peace to all bros and sis may Rahim(God) bless ya souls !!!!
Ps.: I do not give peace to any 5%er.

I AM SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW!!!! You people are aspiring to do wonderful things.

Barak

Alhamdulillah! I am very happy to finally see a group that not only touches a cord with my religious & social ideals, but my political ones as well. By going back to the true meaning of the Prophet's (pbuh) teachings, I hope to see the PMU make great social and political changes first in the Muslim community and then to help shape non-Muslim attitudes for the better towards our currently misunderstood and maligned religion. Inshallah.

While in many ways this is indeed a good start for building a progressive muslim presence in North America. Folks should be aware that some important concerns have been raised by Muslims who've been long involved in social movements and struggles.

This discussion has primarily taken on the Network Of Progressive Muslims e-mail list. From my conversations with folks involved in that debate/discussion, here are some of the main issues of concern:

1. The inclusion of people who have been strong supporters of the Bush regime on the advisory board. What are Bush supporters, people who support the invasion and "liberation" of Afghanistan doing on the advisory board of an org. that stands for social justice? Unless one beleives that Bush stands for justice? Do supporters of imperialism (even if they do not consider Bush's actions to be imperialism) belong on the advisory board of such an org.? What kind of a statement is this org. making?

2. It is not clear, because of the "big tent" philosophy - what exactly is this org. going to be about, what are it's specific stands going to be? The statement is very general, so general that even a strong Bush supporter (major financial supporter in the hundreds of thousands of dollars) can be invited, and be on the board - what does this mean? What is the scope, what do these nice sounding terms in the statement mean? What is the agenda going to be of this new org.?

3. Invitation was also sent out to people who consider themselves to be atheists - or have stated that they are not Muslim in public - (Tariq Ali is one example, who i think was invited) - there may be others, I don't know there names.

These are the three major ones - there maybe others (i have not been involved in those debates). This does not mean folks should not be involved with this org., but it does mean - that people should be aware that there are important concerns - and questions being raised amongst, and within whatever little community of progressive Muslims we have...

These discussions, frankly, should be taking at a much more public arena, than an e-mail discussion list...

I have been a supporter of PMU - at the same time - I think that the founders of this org. should be clear that there are serious concerns - and not just present a totally rosy picture.

Let me be clear, those expressing these concerns are not your usual "anti-progressive muslims" people - These are comitted activists, and very much progressive muslims. All the more reason for a public airing of all concerns.

Altaf

I especially am impressed with your statement:"We believe that there are multiple paths that lead to truth".
However, can you tell me if you still remain 'Muslims' if you obey that dictat/axiom? I understand the Kalma makes it very clear that one must accept only Allah as one's deity and Mohamed as the last Prophet.
Please tell me if I'm wrong.
Best wishes and Happy Id
-- Ashok

There was a mistake in line 2. I have corrected and pasting again.

Very Good Initiative Indeed.

No Religion is higher than the truth.

All religions came out of the truth realized by someone at various times and places. But later the rituals became more important making all the problems.

Truth and rules of life are Universal and do not change. Happiness is the goal of life for all.

The truth and these rules are now very well known and can be put together easily. This should form the curriculam of to be taught in schools and colleges systematically and uniformly as a subject by the governments all over the world.

Constititutions of most countries are based on the human values and rules of life based on the truth. Today, by not teaching them formally in schools and colleges leaves the children, the future citizens with no directions.

Violence, corruption, confusion, conflicts are the result of this missing link.

Well said; well done! Congratulations!

About time some one came up with this Noble Idea.
Mission Statement is Great. Let us try to change the wrong image of Muslims around the world.
May Allah Bless. Eid Mubarak. Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak to all Indian and Hindu brothers and sisters.

I'm thrilled someone is finally coming forward to start things moving forward. There has been a need for a movement like this for so long. At the same time i'm a little concerned that your definition of muslim seems almost to define the meaning of the word away. A 'muslim' is one who has 'surrendered themselves to God', surely? I appreciate you want to be as inclusive as possible, but without any boundary at all 'muslim' becomes no more meaningful than 'nice', and no more powerful either. Right now there is a sense of euphoria (rightly so) at seeing an Islamic website that speaks with compassion and is prepared to deal with today's issues instead of trying to 'disappear' them with scholars' opinions. But when that fades? Also, I worry that few progressive muslims seem to have really engaged with the task of communicating with the rest of Islam. Books are dry and intellectual or at any rate not written in a style that is going to speak to the kids i see around me in London. And yet they need progressive Islam too. In fact, they probably need it more than anyone.

An absolute dream come true!! This is high time that progressive muslim have a voice. I deeply appreciate your effort and hard work. It is critical to get PMU's voice get publicity in the mainstream media.

I am so encouraged to see this movement taking shape. It has been needed for a long time, and even more so since 9/11. I am curious to hear more details about the meeting planned at Harvard in March.

I hope that you have a chapter in every North American city - inshallah! Muslims need a voice that is moderate, intelligent and compassionate and strong. We must take back our religion. You are Muslim if you say you are - yes!

Good luck.

THANK GOD...finally a group of Muslims who presnet our faith in its true light. I wish you the best of luck in your efforts.

very good idea and very good beginning.Muslim Reformation is overdue.Saud Arabia never criticize the Talibans or Fis and Gia(both in algeria) even though they were,what they'were:unjust,criminal,regressive.No very islamic.
Hope you will be able to say that LOUDLY.
thanks

IT'S REALLY GREAT SERVICE TO HUMANITY.......

REALLY TOLERANCE & FORWARD LOOKING PHILOSOPHY LET PEOPLE TOGETHER....

KKEP THE MORAL HIGH......

WE R WITH U GUIES.....

THX.. ALOT

DIGITALLY URS

AHMED
TELECOM ENGINEER
NEPAL

Let me say that as a devout agnostic (and former fundamentalist Christian), I'm fervently in support of your views.

Look. I can't say with any measure of certainty that there _is_ a god. I guess, to be truthful, that I hope there is one and I hope that he/she/it will let me know about himself and that I will not be pea-brained enough to ignore the message.

That said: I don't believe that any god would demand that half of his congregation would maintain silence, much less require that the whole of the congregation shut down their brains and engage in an orgy of illiteracy and ignorance.
I just don't buy it.

What you are doing is only the first step in identifying your religion as something more than an oppressive, depressing, prison sentence for women and for anyone who disagrees with your conclusions. Accordingly, I applaud and encourage your efforts.

Caz

PMU Statement of Principles is too vague and too general. It seems PMU is still undecided on the practical aspects. Theoritical hundreds of forum claim every thing and anything. What really matters is the practical programme.

Thousand will appreciate PMU if its come up with some practical programs to achieve its objectives

M H Lakdawala

MUMBAI

thank you for this great effort. We are also working in Bangladesh on the same religious field. Our organisation is Haqqani Mission Bangladesh i.e.ThanksOneness with the truth. We believe Islam means Peace and Peace means Islam. To maintain peace it is needed for a man to develop himself through changing behaviour pattern and maintaing the religious values in day to day work in life. Haqqani greetings. you are requested to open web.www.weeklysanglap.8k.com. and comment on this.

its a good initiative, which is being initiated at a right time.pls chq out the URL of Forum for democratic rights started by student from AMU.I feel we have a lot of ideological similarities.
all the best
isteyaq ahmed
mumbai
india

Congratulations on this historic step!

I hope people will learn from you that there is a world of difference between 1. believing that one's religion is the best and being proud of it and 2. believing that anyone who believes in another religion (or sect) should be exterminated.

Thank you for bringing Islam (especially middle eastern) into the modern world.

As-Salaamu Alaykum: Sisters and Brothers, in Islam.

I have unfortunately read far too many "attacks", name calling, berating, and just plain whining from some people (self described) and recognized by others as "progressive" to make me ill. It seems as though this type of "public" attention drawn to the topic would only leave an ordinary Muslim, who has some interest in the as yet undefined concept of 'progressive Islam', left to see it as just another macho form of boys being boys and wanting the privilege to "own" a concept rather than to spend time on working with the content of the issues plaguing Muslims, too much time is taken in positioning oneself as an authority.

Life is short. The opportunity to do good deeds is not endless. Exercising of tolerance towards plurality of opinions might be a good deed. The rest, just takes time away from the serenity of the heart and the remembrance of Allah.

Please do not add me to your attack list, if I just say I am tired of so much bickering.

yours in search of the Truth, amina wadud

I organise a progressive Meet-Up group in the United Kingdom, and wondered how can go about linkiing up with you fellows?

I used to like progeressive psychadelic rock so please don.'t view me as a die hard traditionalist, but I feel that Islam ought to be in principal a religion with a more ascetic morality than I'm used to. So looking at your site worries me. On the other hand it's a source of psychic ease to look upon a community with less stringently defined values.
Anyhow I'd like to invite you all to look at my site and take inspiration from there. The aim is to promote the idea of an international/universal Islamic constitution for a new umma in the 21st c.
It's time we got together in a more organised fashion. Giving invitation may be a duty but what are we inviting to. Muslims are emigrating to the west for a better life. Therefore lets organise and make out culture a source of ayttraction to others, both in terms of achievement in this world and the promice of the next.
Progressive thinkers have walways been 'on the wave as it breaks' so surf on over, if not to give thanks and praise then to (if needs be)lend a helping hand. To be honest I haven't got very far.
Needed: website designers, security staff, experts in law, anyone with international contacts, translators and multi lingual persons,
system analysists and managers, historians of politics and philosophers etc. It's a big project with small beginnings(insha allah).
So to finish good luck and the blessings of Allah in your persuit of the deen.

a.k.a. luqman
(it's a sunnah to have more than one name).

Congratulations !!

Way to go.....

Mohib

Thank you for working to shift the base of Islam away from an ideology of intolerance and exclusiveness and toward a spirituality of tolerance and inclusiveness. That is an Islam everyone can truly admire.

Honorable Mention(s) of PMU:
I a speechless !!!! and deeply impressed by your vigour, authenticity, insightfull outlook as well as your vision of future Islam. I am a Muslim who has worked in this feild for about 5 years ( Agraduate of Al-Azher University in CAIRO, EGYPT ) with a degree in Communications & Interpretation. I am genuinely interested in your work, and the agenda you advance. Would Like To Join Your Time in any capacity that would Further the cause of Islam. I am wondering DO YOU HAVE A CHAPTER IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA or A CONTACT PERSON WhOM I cAn CoMMUNiCAtE WITH. If so, please provide me with the appropriate information. Incidently, I have assumed a number of professional position(s) in the area of communications, most recently in Iraq, as a Communications Specialist. Once again, Congratualation on the superb work you are undertaking.
Omar El-Aref - 703.922-0526

Finally the fragmented efforts are getting together in one place: A progressive Union for Moslems.
I was honored to be part of another courageous moslem group (mainly women) who started similar idea in 2003 yet on a smaller scale. The Progressive Masjid is a safe place for moslems to worship with dignity where women and men (gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and straight people) have the same right and responsibility in the worship place. We pray together on the same row (standing next to each other, toe to toe). The Imam position is being rotated equally among men and women. After prayer, we form small group on the floor and discuss a Sura or Hadith of concern to us and interprete it in a contemporay progressive way. Sometimes we invite people of other faith to join us after prayer in this form of progressive Halaqa.
We started the group secretly for our own safety, the same way Prophet Mohamed had convened the first moslem group in Dar Ibn Alarqam, 1434 years ago in Mecca. In the spirit of this Ramadan, we announced the group publicly during one Iftar event hosted by the American Friends Service Committee, A Quaker religious org in Philadelphia.

Great initiative! This will provide a platform for an open debate among Muslims. I do not see why Islam should feel so insecure that it cannot withstand progressive thinking from the present generation. Besides progressive Christians, Hindus and Bhudists have evolved a progressive interpretation of their respective religions, and these religions still exist and are thriving in a multi-cultural world as far as I know.

I agree with your stated principles.I wish you all success in your mission.

We are also with you. Our Mission believes that
Islam means Peace and Peace means Islam. Muslims are those who maintain peace each and every work in day-to-day life by discovering truth of each work. We are working in Bangladesh. We believe Sufism is the best theory to acheive Peace throughout the whole world.If you are interested to know about us, please inform. We will exchange our views. Haqqani Greetings.
Shah Sufi Sheikh Abdul Hanif.

As a non Islamic American, I for one would very much like to commend you and your fine organization. Far too long have Muslims and Islamic beliefs in general been portrayed in a very negative light. I would like to offer my voice as one of friendship and peace. With more people in the world such as us...I pray we can ALL progress together toward the future. In this time of uncertainty, it genuinely does my heart good to see not all people have taken the "fundamentalist" line on either side. Thank you all once again for reinforcing my belief in humanity as a good and noble cause.

Blessings and Light to you all.

How do we join, support, collaborate, or in any other way say "RIGHT ON!"?

Asslamo Alikum Wa Rahmatullah,

I'm excited to see such an open-minded union who accept and respect those of different faiths and beliefs. Being an Ahmadi Muslim, I have seen many of our members as victims of persecution solely on the basis of "posing as Muslims" (www.thepersecution.org). I was extremely happy to see one of the principles of the Progressive Muslim Union affirming "that a Muslim is anyone who identifies herself or himself as 'Muslim'." I hope others are exposed to the Islam that is tolerable to others, and promotes peace; a website like this is an excellent tool to be used for this kind of purpose.

At the same time, I really need to investigate and further analyze some of the material on this website to assure myself that I agree with it.

I wish that all involved in producing this union are righteously guided.

If there is any way I can be of assistance, please feel free to contact me.

Respectfully,

Tuseef Chaudhry

Thanks for your movement and website. While I am of the Christian Faith, I too believe that there are many paths to the paradise we all seek. We have just gone through an election in which the radical Christian right has just about taken over the government which leaves room for none of us. They claim to be Moral ones. Unfortunately I know little of my own religion let alone those of the Muslim Faith, the Jewish Faith nor the rest of the worlds major religions. I fervently disagree that the Christian religious right represent anything more that a radical sect and are the moral majority in the US,

We, people of all faiths or none at all have morals that prohibit war, promote the welfare of the less fortunate and care of the sick and homeless and powerless. These are human moral values for which we all strive.

I am seeking to keep in contact with those such as those in your organization and organizations of other faiths or groups that are concerned about basic human rights ans welfare not only for one specific Religious group or for that matter political group in any country but especially in my home country the USA. We have more in common in hopes, dreams and desires than we have that keep us apart.

World peace is possible if we learn to find our similarities and make them stronger, learn to be tolerant of each others beliefs and prectices and
learn to love, respect, and forgive each other for things our ancenstors may have done.

Thank you again, good luck and may God Bless all of us, no exceptions!

Wayne Fox
Tempe, AZ

You have an agenda that is not Islamic, and you should not refer to yourselves as "Muslim." Indeed, your criteria for identifying one as a Muslim is in clear contradiction to the Qur'an and Sunna of our Prophet, salallahu alaihi wassalam. As for your acceptance of homosexuality, you have merely taken the whims of the kuffar and placed them above the teachings of the Qur'an.

Particularly offensive are articles in which you attempt to portray anyone who practices Islam faithfully as either ignorant or out of touch with the current age. I was raised in the west and have a PhD, and I find your entire approach completely invalid.

There is a need for Muslims to return to the true essence of their faith, but this guide has already been provided in the Risale-i Nur by Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, the regenerator of the 15th century Hijra. I strongly encourage you to visit the site I have provided thatis devoted to Imam Nursi's teachings. In this way you will learn the proper way to regenerate Islam.

I completely support this Union, it's just what is needed in the west. As someone in the UK, I would like to see a sister site created for a British site which has a large Muslim population. I'm prepared to help in this respect.

May Allah guide and bless you.

I discovered your website just today, after discovering Muslim WakeUp yesterday.
I am very happy that movements like yours DO exist.
I am not muslim myself, but I have some very dear muslim friends, and I feel in pain each time I think about the general image of muslims here in Europe, because I know my friends, they are nice people with a beautiful soul, and I don't like them to be assimilated with that nasty image. And knowing them, I have been convinced that there are millions and millions of muslims which aren't to be assimilated with this current "muslim image".
So it makes me happy to see muslims declaring openly their ideas of progress (as it makes me happy when a christian, or I could say, a member of humankind, declares openly his/her ideas of progress). I hope that movements like yours will spread to Europe (maybe there are yet, but I am not informed of everything which happens here).
One more thing I wish to add is about the name of your movement. I think the word "progressive" is an excellent choice, I mean symbolic in some way.
You know, in Europe, politicians use to speak about "moderate" muslims, as if to be muslim in general is to be "immoderate". This "moderate" has an insulting taste for me. What would say christians if it would be spoken about "moderate" christians ? The person who kills or oppresses surely is "immoderate", yes, and even more if he or she does this in the name of God (and not only muslims have done this, we christians know it very well), but why associate SOME of muslims with that @"#§% "moderate" ?
So I like very much your "progressive", which means seeking progress, as I like, being myself of christian breed, progressive christians.

I send you my sincere support, and may God bless you and your rightful action.

Vincent, from France

After posting my comment, I read some of the other comments, and saw that some reckon that you are "non islamic" ! To these I would ask, even if I am dechristianized, am I "non christian", being though of christian breed and christian culture ? And is, for example, Dr. Hassaballa, who seems to know the Coran entirely by heart, "non islamic" or "non muslim" ?

But I will finish my little comment quoting one of the other comments above, "may God Bless all of us, no exceptions!"

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