Who Needs a Secular State?
(or ‘Who needs a Secular Muslim Revisionist?’)
‘Who needs an Islamic state?’, the question would be funny if it weren’t so serious. It is the equivalent of asking ‘Who needs to believe in One God?’ or ‘Who needs to believe in Muhammed (saw) to be Muslim?’
Unfortunately, due to the absence of the practical implementation of the Islamic way of life on a societal level, and the pervasiveness of the Capitalist ideology (a.k.a ‘liberal democracy’), some Muslims have become so defeated, they question Islamic history from a pro-secular viewpoint, and adduce that Islam had no model for ruling and organising Man’s affairs (i.e. politics, economics, penal system etc).
This is despite the blatant fact that the Prophet Muhammed (saw) was a political leader who ruled according to the revelation from God, in ALL matters pertaining to politics, diplomacy, economics, social system, judiciary/penal system and many other areas.
‘And so (O Muhammad) judge/rule [Hukm] among them in accordance with God’s revelations to you’
[Quran 5:49]
Can we use Western methods to achieve Islamic objectives?
There is much talk of using ‘modern methods’ to establish ‘Islamic objectives’, but in reality these are deliberately misused in order to pervert the Islamic system of ruling, and turn the Muslim concept of politics into something subservient to western political theory and ruling systems.
Though Islam and the West have a concept called ‘Justice’, do they mean the same thing? Likewise, do Muslims and the West both have a conception of terrorism and fighting for justice, when Muslim anti-occupation fighters are called terrorists and the US Marines are called just?
Obviously, Islam has a very different concept of justice to the West. This is just as the West has a different concept of justice to communists. The West have, in the pursuit of it’s definition of justice, imposed virtually absolute legal equality upon it’s citizens, whereby everyone under the law gets equal rights. But it does not take into account that people are different from each other, with some who are stronger and others who are weaker than others (e.g. free speech for everyone to slander who they like and verbally defend themselves is good, until you consider that media mogul Rupert Murdoch has considerably more power than you to express his opinions! – though you both have equal rights!).
Likewise, communists believed in economic equality, where everyone gets the same about of wealth, thereby creating justice. The problem with this is, that different people have different abilities, thus those who had more to offer society felt oppressed and unsupported to reach their full potential.
Islam answers this differently. Islam does not believe in equality because people are different to each other in strengths, weaknesses, abilities and skills. Islam addressed man’s human nature by assigning to man EQUITY amongst his fellow man. The Islamic concept of justice is about preventing the strong from oppressing the weak, or having an advantage against the weak such that the weak do not realise their rights as humans [Islam also has a different concept of human rights, but this is for another discussion!].
Finally, since Islam was not the first to introduce the concept called ‘Justice’, why did the Quran come in the first place if it were possible to establish justice without revelation?
We have sent our messengers with Clarifications. And We revealed with them the Book (of Allah) and the STANDARD, so that people may establish Justice…
[Quran 57:25]
Secularism, an irrational ideology
In conclusion, Islam must be studied rationally, devoid of prejudice or bias to derive solutions for how mankind should live. Furthermore, it is not only Islam that should be studied rationally, but also Western political theory. If Western political theory was studied rationally, then the blatant flaws in it’s premises and derived solutions would become apparent.
If we looked at Secularism, we notice that it stipulates a separation of religion from lifes affairs (politics). If this is the case, does that make sense? How can man’s purpose in life be separate from his life’s affairs?
It’s like saying ‘a car’s purpose for transportation has no connection to its natural use’! Again, it would be funny if it weren’t so serious…
Response from the Quran to Western Social Theory
Would Allah (swt) fail to mention how humans should live in accordance with his purpose?
Does man think that he will be left aimless?
[Quran, 75:36]
Can humans determine there own criteria of what is good for them, and build a system of life around it?
It may be that you hate something when it is good for you and it may be that you love something when it is bad for you. God knows and you do not know
[Surat al-Baqara: 216]
Was the Prophet’s state a democracy? Did he rule by will of the people?
‘Do not follow their wishes, and beware lest they divert you from some of GOD’s revelations to you, if they turn away, then know that GOD wills to punish them for some of their sins. Indeed, many people are wicked.
[Quran 5:49]
What does the Quran say about Majorities being able to make decisions?
“And if you obey most of the people on Earth, they will lead you astray”
[Quran, sura al-Anaam 116]
Has Allah (swt) not given us a method by which we may implement the laws of Islam?
‘To each among you have we prescribed a law [hukm] and a way [Tahreeq – method of implementation]’
[Quran 5:48]
Was the Prophet Muhammed (saw) merely an absolute ruler?
It is not (right) that a man, to whom is given the Book, and Wisdom, and the prophetic office, should say to people: “Be ye my servants rather than Allah’s”: on the contrary (He would say) “Be ye worshippers of Him Who is truly the Cherisher of all: For ye have taught the Book and ye have studied it earnestly.”
[Quran 3:79]
Can Islam use other Ideologies and theories to supplement it’s viewpoint to political system?
Say (O Muhammad): “Shall I seek for judge [HAKAMan] other than Allah? – when He it is Who hath sent unto you the Book, explained in detail.” They know full well, to whom We have given the Book, that it hath been sent down from thy Lord in truth. Never be then of those who doubt.
[Quran 6:114]
All these verses, conclusively prove that Islam has a distinct, detailed and elaborate system of ruling and government. This system is pure, consistent with human nature, and able to advance the potential of man further than any other ideology in the world today.
Instead of aping the West and prostrating ourselves to western political theory and solutions, let us be proud of Islam, strive to establish it and create a noble, progressive and advanced Khilafah, to take us into the 21st century and beyond.
May Allah (swt) bring victory to the dawah carriers, Unity to the Ummah and enlightenment to those who ponder over the signs of Allah (swt).
