"Traditionalist" Musulmon atamasi reaktsion atama hisoblanadi. Bu atama "modernist" va "islohotchi Musulmon"ga qarshi zarur farqni belgilash uchun yaratilishiga to'g'ri kelgan. Traditsionalistning asosiy xususiyati o'tmish musulmonlarining aqliga hurmat va zamonaviy istisnochilikning haqiqiyligiga shubha bilan qarashdir. Modernist esa, aksincha, o'tmish musulmonlarining aqliga shubha bilan qaraydi va zamonaviy istisnochilikka qat'iy ishonadi.

Being a “traditionalist” Muslim is a reactionary term. The term had to be coined in order to make the necessary distinction against “modernist” and “reformist Muslim.” The defining feature of a traditionalist is respect for the intellect of past Muslims and a skepticism in the validity of modern exceptionalism. The modernist, in contrast, is skeptical of the intellect of past Muslims and a firm believer in modern exceptionalism.

Boshqacha aytganda, modernistlar biz noyob zamonda yashayapmiz, deb hisoblaydilar va bu Islomni avval hech qachon amal qilinmagan tarzda amal qilishni taqozo etadi. Modernistlar, shuningdek, zamonaviy davrda o'tmish musulmonlariga ma'lum bo'lmagan noyob bilimga egamiz, deb ishonishga moyildirlar va bu bilim bizga Islomni avval hech qachon amal qilinmagan tarzda amal qilish uchun ruxsat beradi.