Prologue: Islam, Secularism and the Muslim World

Abstract

Secularism has made deep inroads into the Muslim world; it has become the standard mode of governing Muslim society. To be sure, Islam is the arch-enemy of the secularist’s claim to universal acceptance and, therefore, the main target of secularism has been the Islamic faith and culture. It is precisely in these areas that the greatest erosion was caused by the triumphant march of secularism. Despite aping Western manners, and alien institutions, the Muslim world is nowhere closer to the millennium of self-sustained growth. On the contrary, they have become strangers to their own tradition and have become alienated from their own culture, values and belief system. This chapter discusses the nature of secularism, contrasts it with Islam, analyses the forces that shaped the secular idea and assesses the manner and extent of damage caused by secular domination of Muslim thought and life. Determined in the crucible of specific socio-political environment, secularism evinces many forms and shapes varying in contents, intents and origins. It is instructive, therefore, to discuss secularism by focusing upon its Western, Marxist and Third World varieties.