ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the main arguments and theories developed by leading progressive Muslim thinkers which theoretically affirm the conceptual compatibility between Islamic doctrine and the modern human rights scheme. In the words of Senturk (2005): Without putting the issue [of human rights] into an historical and sociological perspective, the confusion on and deprivation of human rights cannot be understood and solved in the Muslim world. A number of progressive Muslim scholars examined in the chapter have taken precisely this task of developing Islamic human rights discourse upon themselves in accordance with the approach outlined by Senturk in the above-given quote. Progressive Muslim scholars argue that a serious rethinking of some of the main interpretational assumptions in the realm of classical Islamic theology, ethics, and jurisprudence is necessary. As alluded to above, the chapter provides the views of four leading progressive Muslim scholars in this regard. These include Muhammad Abed Al-Jabiri, Abdulaziz Sachedina, Khaled Abou El Fadl, and Ebrahim Moosa.
