Title: Criticizing Conventional Islam Question: On one side conventions and traditions are included in Islamic law as Maroof , but on the other side traditional Islam is criticized by scholars. Please explain the difference between the two. Muhammad Siftain Khan Pakistan Answer: No doubt, the traditions and customs of a certain society would be given a due importance provided those are not contrary to the ethical principles and moral values established by the religion. As for the criticism on traditional Islam it is entirely a different thing, which has nothing to do with Maroofat. Only those things are criticized by the scholars, which have no foundations in the original sources of Islam, but are given a religious sanctity in the name of religion and people hold them as a part of religious requirements. Similarly all those customs and social traditions deserve criticism, which violate the basic principles of religion, or disregard the social etiquette set by the religion or promote extravagance. Furthermore, if a convention or tradition is incorrectly made a part of Islam, it should be criticized as strongly as an incorrect opinion of a scholar. I think that by traditional Islam you mean the beliefs, ideas and practices that exit in the society in the name of religion, if I am right, then I would like to say that all those things which are considered as religious, deserve strong criticism if they hold no basis in the original sources of Islam i.e., the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and it is the duty of the scholars that they should be conscious about such things and must continue their criticism for the benefit of all God fearing people. I do not think that scholars criticize just for the sake of criticism, their arguments should be taken into consideration and they should be regarded if there is nothing but a sincere effort to purify the sources of Islam and elaboration in the light of the very sources. Regards. Siddiq Bukhary February 26, 2003