Bangladeshi expat, Mohiuddin Ahmed, releases book on religion and reformation

In his debut work, Keno Proyojon Dormochintar Punorgothon (September 2021), published by Rabbul Islam Khan, Chief Executive of Kushtia Prokashon Amla, Mirpur, Kushtia, Toronto-based Bangladeshi expatriate Mohiuddin Ahmed adds to the body of work on Islamic Reformation in Bangla.

The book contains chapters on "Cultivating Islam in the shadows of emotion and ignorance"; "The lack of creative knowledge and religious intolerance"; and "Why we need an ethical economic system", each of which seeks to provide insight on Islam, ethics, tolerance and spiritual empowerment.

The author identifies issues of dogmatic thoughts and interpretation that are being propagated by some Muslims in Bangladesh and around the world. The impact of fatwas and violations of human rights by some clerics are discussed, along with reported sayings of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) (e.g., regarding women's leadership roles) which have been misinterpreted for socio-political reasons. 

The problems of Islamophobia, superpowers, and their hegemonic designs are balanced with discussions around the issues (e.g., fanatism, politicization of Islam) that plague the Muslim community. The author argues that in present day nation states, there should be no communal divide based on religion. The concept of an Islamic State in the political arena is debated and readers are left to ask if such a state would be inherently productive and practical for furthering the cause of Islam in the modern world.

The text stresses on the need to question ideas and encourage religious discussion and dialogue, and to make a difference between religion and religious thought or understanding of religion. The former, the author highlights, is Divine. The latter are human endeavours which may be influenced by an individual's culture and the time in which they live. A case is made against relying on any one individual as the gatekeeper of religion. It is openness and perpetual pursuit of understanding that can lead to true enlightenment, the author states. 

A number of notable personalities have contributed to the book's Foreword, including Farhad Mazhar, celebrated Bangladeshi writer, activist, environmentalist, and one of the founders and the managing director of UBINIG; as well as Professor Dr Taj Hashmi, analyst of history, society and politics, and Hasan Mahmud, Sharia law expert and author of Sharia Ki Bole, Amra Ki Kori. 

"Today or tomorrow, we have to follow the path that the author has shown in the restructuring of Islamic thought through his objective and impartial research", Hasan Mahmud said. 

The book is available on Rokomari.