Sam Harris & Maajid Nawaz on reforming Islam

[Mystic]

I think I can believe original Islam doesn't teach killing of apostates or killing of those who insult the Prophet (the Quran is full of reference of people insulting him but telling him to forbear their accusations). I also believe the Quran forbids marriage to children. However I do believe in some laws that are "barbaric" or "harsh" in the western eyes, like lashing those who fornicate or do adultery. However I believe to punish the latter, one must believe in a concept of muta which refers to temporary marriage, in which one agrees on a contract that can be extended with a certain reward at the end of it (in any form, it can be dates, flowers, or money, but must be agreed upon), and that the woman must wait two menstrual cycles so as to make sure if there is a baby, the father is known, or they can agree upon full marriage after that if they want to, but any rate it's to not neglect the right of the child. I believe with muta there is really no excuse for fornication, but without it, it's hard to say people should be punished for following desires that are hard to suppress.

I don't believe in stoning etc and I do think some things were meant in a specific context and period like cutting of two small fingers off the hand if you steal ( I believe we have a reforming system now that is better but could not be implemented during time of Nabi or Ali due to circumstances).

However I think there is a hadith that says never to decapitate a person from the PRophet - so it maybe that this law was abrogated even during the time of the Prophet. God knows best.

At any rate - if I had to chose - I rather have full on secularism Islam, but I think there can be a middle ground.