Quranists in the UK

[Nabeel]

Salaams everyone. I am interested in learning more about this movement and philosophy within Islam and was hoping to meet up with some people and attend some conferences and gatherings etc inshAllah and establish some contact with the community.

I don't think 'Qur'an only' should be seen as a philosophy or movement, but if you want such gathering or meeting, we would need to arrange such things ourselves because Qur'an only people are far and few.  These conferences / gatherings don't exist.

[Nabeel]

Is there anyone else on here who may be able to meet in London?

[Wakas]

This is near London:
http://www.meco.org.uk

As far as I know, people there limit use of Traditional Hadith.

[Nabeel]

This is near London:
http://www.meco.org.uk

As far as I know, people there limit use of Traditional Hadith.

Thanks but part of their mission statement is this:

"MECO reaffirms the imperative for Ijtihad (analytical reasoning) in contemporary Islam to acquire new guidance and fresh inspiration from the transcendent Qur’an and the subordinate prophetic traditions (ahadith)."

If you notice in their logo, they have 'Muhammad' displayed alongside 'Allah', which is a blatant Sunni idol-worship.

I have a feeling that this group is not as progressive as they seem on the surface.

[Wakas]

On the contrary, I think you will find they are very progressive. Based on what I have read and know.


Here is another:
http://quran-institute.org.uk

[Nabeel]

On the contrary, I think you will find they are very progressive. Based on what I have read and know.

Here is another:
http://quran-institute.org.uk

Taken from their website: http://quran-institute.org.uk/institute.html (see the underlined parts):

We believe for instance that a constructive collaboration between a traditional scholar of the Quran with a historian well-versed in modern methodologies of historical research can offer a better and in the same time further authentic insight to the historical characteristics of the holy book. On the other hand forging genuine partnerships between traditional scholars of the Quran and modern legal experts can generate results of outstanding nature as regards to a new outlook to the legal jurisprudence of the Quran and its contemporary codification. The Institute hopes to achieve this by encouraging the scholars across the world to identify the areas of the Quranic investigation which may be in need of further development and elaboration.

A 'traditional scholar' is a a Sunni scholar who relies heavily on Hadith; if they are collaborating with such scholars, they can't be very progressive.  Unless you can show they mean something else?

[Wakas]

I know for a fact MECO are progressive. I recommend doing some research.

With regard to the 2nd link, the very fact they want to modernise traditional scholarship is enough for me to consider them a good avenue for approach, conference to meet people at etc.

Perhaps you are looking for a UK organisation that openly states their rejection of Traditional Hadith and the irrelevance of Traditional scholars. If so, good luck with that search.

[Nabeel]

Perhaps you are looking for a UK organisation that openly states their rejection of Traditional Hadith and the irrelevance of Traditional scholars. If so, good luck with that search.

I know that no such organisation exists, that's why I wasn't searching for one.  The groups you recommended are at best 'moderate / modern Sunnism', and as such should be approached with caution.

[Wakas]

The groups you recommended are at best 'moderate / modern Sunnism', and as such should be approached with caution.

That is one way of looking at it. Here is another way:

MECO organises conference with members of this forum, e.g. Edip Yuksel, Arnold Yasin:
http://www.19.org/994/islamic-reform-conference/

A conference was organized at Oxford University, U.K. from 11-13 June 2010 by Deen Research Foundation, Netherland in collaboration with Islamic Reform, USA and Muslim Educational Centre of Oxford in which more than 35 Islamic scholars from Europe, USA, Canada, South Africa, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Bosnia, Turkey, U.K., Saudi Arabia, Syria, and other countries participated.

MECO hosts first UK mixed prayer congregation led by a woman:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/7676239.stm

Spearheads anti-burqa, anti-niqab campaigns, including public burqa burning:
http://www.meco.org.uk/campaigns/abni.htm
Aim: RESTORE QUR?ANIC ISLAM BY JETTISONING ?CULTURAL ISLAM?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLlu2LGX1TA

etc.


I'm not sure how active they are now etc but I think I've made my point.

[Nabeel]

Not to discredit their good works of-course. Just saying that we really are a rare kind out there with our views on Hadith / Qur'an.