Islam and Secularization

Considering how Islam was recently used to rationalize the tyrannical authoritarian regimes of the Talibans in Afghanistan, their masters, the Wahhabists in Saudi Arabia, and the ayatollahs in Iran, it is no wonder that the Western scholars and people alike views the term ‘Islamic Democracy’ with a doubtful eye. Some of them reject this notion outright stating that Democratic precepts cannot be reconciled with fundamental Islamic values. While others posit that an Islamic Democracy can only exist insofar as there’s no a priori moral framework around it. And this brings me to the issue of secularization and its role as a democratization agent.

As the theologian Harvey Cox states: “ secularization is the process by which certain responsibilities pass from ecclesiastic to political authorities” (US). Whereas secularism is an ideology based on the suppression of religion from public life (Turkey). If you look at the two-faceted histories of the US you will easily discern the rhetorical from the factual version. As recognized 2 centuries ago by Alexis de Tocqueville, religion, with its Judeo-Christian moral framework is the keystone of the American political system. One only needs to pay attention to the political language around such polarizing issues as abortion, gay rights, stem cell research, and government funded ‘faith-based initiatives” to understand the importance of religion in the US and how it permeates every fiber of its constitutional structures. I would highly recommend a book by Esther Kaplan called: “With God on Their Side: George W. Bush and the Christian Right”

Despite what we read in the history books, the true pillar of US democracy is not the symbolic words in “Separation of Church and State” as it is the long political evolutionary process of secularization based NOT on secularism but on pluralism. Pluralism is what defines democracy and not the moral framework it sits upon.

Islamic pluralism can be quite succinctly summed up in these two verses:

Qu’ran (42:38) “Those who hearken to their Lord and establish regular prayer; who (conduct) their affairs by mutual Consultation; who spend out of what We bestow on them for Sustenance”
In this verse, the Qur’an clearly orders Muslims to perform all their affairs thru (Shura) or consultation to mitigate the risks of oppression and authoritarianism thus inviting opposing views and opinions.

Qur’an (2:256) “There’s no compulsion in religion.”
The depth of this message was alas lost in translation when the purveyors of a different flavor of Islam established their pure and unadulterated line of demarcation between the sphere of peace (Dar Al-Islam) and the sphere of war (Dar Al-Harb) forever plunging us into a constant turmoil with devastating consequences.

In my opinion, the secret to democratization rests within the confines of inclusion, acceptance, and tolerance of everybody’s ideas and opinions. Past and contemporary History is peppered with examples where a failure to accommodate for diversity have had long lasting and painful scars in our collective political, religious, and societal psyche.