Employing a Reason-based Approach

WHEN it comes to religion, today’s Muslim youth lives in confusion. This is because answers to their questions are provided to them in a traditional way, that is, religious guidance is provided to them based on the principle of “dos and don’ts”. Such a response does not address the minds of today’s youth. This has practically taken the youth of today away from religion. And the number of people who have drifted away from religion is increasing day by day.

The Quran says: Speak to them in such terms as will address their minds. (4: 63) According to this Quranic guidance, there may be different styles of address. The style and idiom of the address will be governed by the kind of addressees. The addressees will be studied first, and then according to their mindset, a style that appeals to them will be adopted.

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One must adopt a style that makes religious beliefs understandable to people on the basis of reason in the present Age of Reason. One must not employ the method of “dos and don’ts”.

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This verse of the Quran means one needs to couch his words in such a manner that addresses the minds of the youth. Dayees (those who call people to God) must prepare themselves according to the need of the time so that they can speak in the language that would address the mind of the addressees. An address that does not have this attribute is an address that does not fulfil the demands of the times.

The present age is called the Age of Reason. To address the modern mind, it is necessary that whatever needs to be said should be reasonbased. It means one must adopt a style that makes religious beliefs understandable to people on the basis of reason in the present Age of Reason. One must not employ the method of “dos and don’ts”. Instead, religious beliefs should be presented in the light of rational arguments. This is the age of reason-based understanding and explanation. No other style can be effective for today’s human beings.