Are American and European muslims more liberal?

[Khairan]

Asalaamu alikum,I once hear a lecture in which the Shieykh was telling about how one must approach the Quran with humility and sumission.  He pointed out how the Quran begins with \"Alif, Lam, Meem\" and read any tasfeer and you will see the answer to this is ALLAHU ALIM.  So look, we begin with a sign that we are of course limited in our knowledge.  A fact that we have to acknowledge not only with our tongues, but our hearts as well.

If one approaches the Quran trying to use his or her own logic and pervious understanding it cannot be a guidance because that person has not submitted to the book.  The book of Allah swt, to whom Muslims are in submission to.

I dont think it is so much opinion.  No one is greater than the author of the Quran, how than can we insert our own logic and expect to come with sound theory when all our knowledge comes from Allah in the first place?  And just as He gave it, He can take it away.  He is the only Knower of all things.  

May Allah help us all and increase us in Taqwa.  Ameen.

Jennifer,

what I mean is that there is nothing we can do BUT use our own logic. God has sent us the Book of Guidance but in the end humans must still use their minds to understand that book, and it is my contention that the process of taking God's words and turning it into something we can comprehend is inherently flawed and that we will, despite our best intentions, make mistakes. For this reason I believe in questioning everything.

salaam