Blasphemy and Secular Criticism: Reading Talal Asad
By
Grace Mubashir, New Age Islam
2 September
2022
"In Presenting This Note On Criticism I Am
Trying To Underline The Very Different Understandings People Have Had Of
Western History And To Suggest That These Understandings Cannot Be Reduced To
Distinctions Between Secular Criticism (Freedom And Rationality) And Religious
Criticism (Intolerance And Anti-Enlightenment)" - Talal Asad
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Talal Asad is a Saudi-born cultural anthropologist who is currently a
professor of anthropology at the City University of New York Graduate Center.
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In this
essay, Talal Asad makes some observations that expose the epistemological
violence of values defined as universal within modern discourse. It questions
the logic behind such discourses, which are uncritically accepted, pointing out
the problems with such dichotomous constructs and the religious-secular
definitions of secularism, freedom of expression, blasphemy etc. Assad observes
how freedom of speech, which is supposed to be its hallmark in liberal
democracy, becomes part of a hegemonic institution over religion. All liberal
secular criticisms and part of freedom of speech, the limitations of liberal
democracy in the act of criticism are revealed where religious criticism is
understood as symbols of intolerance.
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Also Read:
Blasphemy, Islam and Free Speech
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An
important point Asad puts forward in examining the history of criticism is
this: 'The term has come to mean only the just resolution of particular crises
and the correction of particular qualities within a particular way of life.'
This reveals the politics of critique. After 9/11, the discovery of 'terrorist
Islam' as the main opponent of the European liberal democratic society and the
subsequent 'war on terror' which was built with public consent are incursions
on Islam. Through this freedom of expression, Blasphemy etc. become propaganda
tool of Islamophobia through secular frame. On the other hand, the criticisms
raised by Islam are not accepted.
Assad is
trying to reveal the contradictions in ideas, including freedom, which are
mainly raised within the liberal social system. While attacking the 'denial of
freedom' in religions/Islam, Asad observes how freedom is limited in the
liberal system, citing some examples. Suicide is a crime in a democracy.
Liberal democracy defines it as a crime by law itself. At the same time, the
system supports the killing of thousands of people through the War on Terror
and other unilateral wars. Another example is copyright. It is clear that this
restricts free expression. But another important element of liberal democracy
is the right to private property. When someone asserts property rights over a
work of art, it becomes theirs alone, but at the same time it becomes a
violation of free expression. It is this contradiction that he points out. Or
rather, the values that exist within this system only have the capacity to
preserve certain particularities, particular colonial interests. Assad says
that the view of these as universal values needs to be critiqued.
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Also Read:
Islam and Free Speech: A Reply to A. Faizur Rahman
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Then
blasphemy is examined. Assad analyses blasphemy from the standpoint of
Christianity. Assad sees its modern renewal as a major milestone in the history
of Christianity. Christianity becomes a reforming project through new
definitions combined with Greek philosophical principles. Asad also analyses
the representation of Islam. He examines what is meant by religion and how a
context serves as an influencing force within religion. He rejects external
standards of faith definition by questioning how to define faith. Belief is
something related to a person's mind. This cannot be proved in a court of law.
Therefore, belief and disbelief cannot be judged or imposed on the basis of
external reasons. Reading the concept of apostasy in Islam in this context, it
does not actually deal with the problem of apostasy, but with a material issue
of breach of contract. It is argued that the encroachment of another on one's
faith occurs because faith is understood in a statist perspective.
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Also Read:
The False Binary of the Secular versus Islamic Needs
to Be Broken
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It is the
state's methodology to insist on matters of faith. By this it is clarified that
religion interferes in the nature of a nation in the modern system. Another
possibility of religion needs to be understood through different definitions.
In the name of this same freedom of expression, liberal democracy is faced with
a rejection of the fundamental values of the religion of morality, mercy and
justice, which is sustained by the modern discourses of mechanical obedience,
institutionalization and violence. In fact, they are constantly fighting
something of their own imagination. Religion is still outside their discourses.
Views of
Asad on blasphemy needs further bolstering especially after attack on Salman
Rushdie.
------
A regular columnist for NewAgeIslam.com, Mubashir
V.P is a PhD scholar in Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia and freelance
journalist.
URL: https://newageislam.com/books-documents/blasphemy-secular-criticism-talal/d/127859
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