Hizb ut-Tahrir -- Why They're Relevant

Unless you're a reader of Indonesian newspapers, it's likely you never heard of Hizb ut-Tahrir.  However, in a country with a massive Islamic population, they're beginning to exert their theology.  This theology differs from the Islamic faith practiced by most Indonesians.  It's far more radical and extreme than the traditional Islamic faith of Indonesia.  (It's sometimes referred to as a Salafist type of Islam.)  For thieves, Hizb ut-Tahrir favors amputating their right hand.  For blasphemy, it can be death.

So how does an Islamic country deal with radical Islam?  Not well, I'm afraid.  They arrest and imprison the radicals for threatening, and actually, undermining the state of Indonesia.

That may get many radicals off the street, but it doesn't get to the root of the problem.  The position of radical Muslims is that they represent the true faith.  To be imprisoned for their steadfastness in behalf of that faith simply strengthens their resolve to fight ever harder for that faith.

A far better approach, in my opinion, would be to demonstrate that Salafist Islam is not true Islam.  It is a deviancy from pure Islam.  Liberal Islam is the true Islam.

The question then becomes whether Liberal Islam can be sold to Muslims as the true expression of Islam.  Here is the argument I would promote:

All religions will on occasion take a wrong turn.  Christians at one time in history went on Crusades.  The Jews divided themselves between Pharasees and Sadducees, fighting with one another over the true practice of Judaism.  Protestants struggled against Roman Catholics.  And, on and on.  Today, we have Iran contending with Saudi Arabia.  One a Shiite nation, the other a Sunni nation.  But, are these nations really so far apart in their theology or are they using theology as a cover for their political differences.  And, who does Allah really favor?  The Sunnis or the Shiites?

Many of today's religions interpret God's will based on their religious writings.  For Christians, it's the Old and New Testaments. For the Jews, it's the Torah and the prophets.  For Buddhists it's the words of Buddha as recorded by followers who sat around him taking down his words as he spoke.
For Muslims, it's the Quran as given to Mohammad by the Angel Gabriel.  Islam has, of course, three texts; namely, the Quran, the Hadith, and the Sunnah.  But, while these three writings are of equal importance, the Quran is the touchstone.

But can the Quran be understood without interpretation.  True, in a sense, the interpreter puts himself between God and the man seeking God's guidance.  But all of this is beyond the understanding of a true Salafist.  Muslims must do all possible to educate their fellow Muslims and explain that Salafism is not true Islam.  It is a corruption of Islam.