This article was originally published on islamsperspective.blogspot.com

On the 18th of December 2008 an article titled "In defense of a secular state" appeared in the daily The News written by Dr. Rubina Saigol. The article gives a few examples of nation states which have adopted secularism and then strongly argues in favor of it, claiming that a secular state can solve five problems: diminishing sectarian strife, engendering equality, reducing discrimination against women, generating tolerance, and countering terror.

As the author begins her article by explaining the meaning and context of secularism, I will do the same, before analyzing her arguments, refuting her claims and showing how Islam can actually solve those problems if implemented comprehensively.

Though Dr. Saigol gives five different definitions for secularism, they are all cosmetic differences referring to differences in political structures that one may find in secular states. However, there is no ambiguity in the concept and definition of secularism: as per the American Heritage Dictionary, it is 'the view that religious considerations should be excluded from civil affairs or public education'. In simple terms, a secular state is when religion and God's role is limited to the individual's private domain whilst public life and affairs — social, economic and political — is legislated and organized by man.

It should be clear that this separation between religion and state does not mean that secularism is atheism, which is rejecting the existence of God altogether; rather it is even more dangerous due to its potential to deceive people into believing that they can be perfectly Muslim while being completely secular.

Secularism and Sectarianism

Since secularism is established upon the sovereignty of man to legislate, secular societies are the most prone to sectarian division and friction — whether based on colour, religion, race and ethnicity. This has been the 300 year history of the western world with the treatment of blacks, Jews, women, the colonized lands, native Indians, aborigines, and Latin Americans. It is also important to note that under the recent regime of Musharraf, which was the most secular of all that the Muslims of Pakistan have seen so far, sectarian violence increased manifold.

Equality among Citizens

This claim is ridiculous given the reality of Muslims in various Western countries today. The institutional discrimination has now surpassed personal discrimination in countries like the US and UK. Muslims are treated as guilty unless proven innocent after 9/11 and their civil rights have been curtailed under the pretext of 'war on terror'. Guantanamo Bay, extraordinary rendition flights, and the legality to torture suspects are sufficient examples.

It was only under Islam that Muslims, Jews, Christians and Hindus lived side by side and there was never any discrimination or inequality based on religion, race or ethnicity. Islam is very clear on the status of non-Muslims living under the protection of Islam. These people, called the ahl al-dhimmah, are mentioned in one hadith by Muhammad (saw): "Whoever hurts a dhimmi has hurt me and whoever hurts me annoys Allah (swt)." [at-Tabbari]

Women Rights

Again this assertion is also ridiculous given the status of women in secular societies, where they are misused, abused and discriminated against in every walk of life. Even Western societies have come to realize the fraud of emancipation which in reality has brought no freedom but added misery to women's lives. If one would not mistake all the atrocities and ills which befall women in Muslim countries — due to backward tradition and a non-functional police and legal system — for being the result of Islam, one would clearly see how Islam has honored women in all their roles.

Religious Extremism

Religious extremism is a result of secularism. It manifested itself the most in times of more secular regimes — quite understandable because these are mostly reactionary elements which, when they see the country going in the wrong direction, often do not know how to stop this tide and resort to unacceptable methods. The people of Pakistan love Islam more than anything. They have never come out on the streets in the last 60 years for democracy and secular values. Whenever they came on the streets, it was for the sake of defending Islam — whether for Nizam-e-Mustafa, Namoos-e-Risalat, or other such mass movements.

State and Non-State Terror

The most secularized countries on the face of this earth — the US, the UK and India — all three are involved in the worst form of state terrorism. The former two have waged two wars for achieving economic and geo-political hegemony whereas the latter is suppressing the basic rights of its own citizens. Only the correct and comprehensive implementation of Islam can root out the menace of all kinds of terrorism.

In summary, we don't need our educated elite to advance secularism. Secularism should be discarded in the bin of history and our educated elite should seek to present the Islamic ideology as the only viable and just alternative for Pakistan and the Muslim world.