Islam is a religion without any hierarchy and its believers have the right to approach the religion in the way that he and she understands best. It acknowledges the direct relation between God and Man (and Woman) without the use of intermediary.

However right now we are seeing in practice that the one with the money and guns seems to hold the 'rights' to define Islam.

You see this pattern throughout the Middle East from the prosecution of the Shias in Saudi Arabia or the blowing out of Shias Mosques in Iraq. Where one Muslim faction denounces the other as 'not a true Islam'.

It is ironic that a religion that has a deep support for 'liberation theology' and concept of justice is being dominated by blind ambition and greed of some of its believers.

And the fact that silence majority (read: silenced) letting this happens is maddening. Your silence is not golden. To a lot of non-Muslims Islam is equal fear. The assertion that Islam is a "religion of peace" rings hollow when what people see is the image of heads being cut off or even Mosques being blown up while the word "Allahuakbar" is being shouted in the background.

Heck, even Islam right now is a danger to some Muslims. Being a Sunni or Shias, in some place can get you killed.

How fucked up is that.

Imagine that. Being a 'wrong' stripe of Muslim can get you killed by your fellow Muslims of different stripe.

It is questionable that Islam needs reform. But for sure, Muslims need reform, for Islam's sake and the rest of the world.

Nothing on this post is new. Many intellectuals in the Muslim worlds have espoused this view; and there are tons of intellectuals in the Muslim world. The idea is there, the realization is there. It's just not happening.

Update: It happened in London (they are reclaiming their religion)