ABSTRACT
Although the Socialist Theists never explicitly talked about reforming Islamic thought, it can be seen that while being faithful to Islam, they criticized the traditional approach to the religion, and adopted a new approach that focussed on issues with which traditionalists were not concerned. Habibollah Peiman, a survivor of the group, argues that the Socialist Theists were concerned with expressing Islamic conceptions in a way congruent with modern knowledge, culture and requirements. Moreover, they believed that the religion’s aims in the social and private domains should be followed through new ways and by new means available in every era. They were eager to work out how Prophet Mohammad’s mission can be fulfilled in the present age.41 In the following, it is examined how it can be claimed that the Socialist Theists attempted to introduce a new approach to Islam. For this purpose, their account of the traditional approach to Islam is explored. It is also discussed which Islamic conceptions they regarded as superstitious, which ones they highlighted and which new ones they introduced. Furthermore, it is considered how they utilized other schools of thought and sciences in their approach to Islam.
