Reforming Islam or Reforming Muslims?

However, many Muslims have long believed that Islam itself does not need to be "reformed," but that Muslims' attitudes toward their faith are what must be changed.

I wholeheartedly agree.

The compelling need facing Islam today is for Muslims to regain their collective self-confidence and learn to deal effectively and constructively with the demands and challenges of the real world around them.

In fact, the Qur'an insists time after time that Muslims cannot expect God to support them utterly, and it points to the example of ancient nations who disappeared before them.

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Thus, we Muslims need not search for new principles of conduct from outside, but have only to apply our old and forsaken ones in order to launch a modern and moderate reformation movement. We certainly may use new methodologies gained from the experience of others, but we must not displace the essential fabric of Islam, as some commentators seem intent on doing. They are trying to address a so-called "crisis of modernization" by blaming Islam instead of Muslims.

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A reformation there must be: but it should be a reformation of Muslims from within, not of Islam itself.