Secularism, Muslims, and the Contemporary Scenario
By Dr. Zafar Darik Qasmi, New Age Islam
07 May 2026
Abstract:
India is a secular country where people have the freedom to follow any religion and culture. The Constitution strongly supports democratic and secular values. The article explains that Muslims have always supported India’s secular system and national unity. However, many people wrongly believe that secularism is against religion. Scholars and thinkers have clarified that secularism respects all religions and gives equal rights to everyone. Political groups have sometimes used religious differences for their own benefit, creating hatred and division in society. The writer says that violence and discrimination in the name of religion damage India’s secular structure and social harmony. He stresses that people of all communities should live together peacefully with love, understanding, and mutual respect. Only by rejecting hatred and protecting constitutional values can India remain united, peaceful, and strong.
Main Points:
· India’s Constitution gives equal religious freedom and protects democratic and secular values for all citizens.
· Muslims have strongly supported India’s secular traditions, national unity, and peaceful social harmony for many years.
· Secularism does not oppose religion; it respects all faiths and supports equal rights for everyone.
· Political hatred and religious discrimination weaken society, damage unity, and create serious social and moral problems.
· Peace, love, mutual respect, and constitutional values are necessary for India’s progress, unity, and stability.
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There should be no doubt that India is a secular state. The country has a Constitution which strongly supports democratic and secular values in both spirit and practice. A secular state means that the government does not follow or favour any particular religion. However, the people living in the country have the freedom to follow any religion, culture, or tradition according to their own choice.
India is known for unity in diversity, cultural variety, different social customs, and many languages. All these clearly show that secularism and democracy have deep roots in this country. No one can erase this identity of India. There are countless examples of shared culture, social harmony, and peaceful coexistence which remind us at every step that India is a strong secular nation.
If we study the political and social conditions from the time of independence until today, it can confidently be said that the Muslim community has sincerely tried its best to protect India’s secular structure and values. At the same time, we must also accept the truth written by Mr Mushirul Haq, former Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, in his Musalman Aur Secular Hindustan. He wrote that many Indian secular thinkers, whether Hindu or Muslim, never properly understood the religious feelings of ordinary Muslims. Gradually, through speeches and writings, they created an atmosphere in which people began to believe that secularism and religion were completely opposed to each other. As a result, many Muslims felt that if they wished to remain true Muslims, they should place their trust more in religious scholars than in secular Muslim leaders.
The effects of separating religion from secularism are clearly visible today. If secularism had not been presented as something against religion, the results might have been very different.
In reality, a secular system of government is not against religion. Syed Abid Husain explained this in his book“Hindustani Musalman Aaina-e-Ayyam Mein”. He said that many people, especially Muslims in India, misunderstand secularism. They think it means denying religion and its importance. However, secularism is not necessarily against religion. Many people who believe in political and intellectual secularism also respect religion and consider it an important part of life.
This means that one group believes secularism is not against religion, while another group sees it as opposed to religion. This intellectual conflict gave politicians an opportunity to use the issue for their own benefit. They spread the idea that secularism and religion are two completely separate paths. This created division among the people, while political parties gained advantage from it. The truth, however, is that secularism is not against religion.
Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan also said that secularism is neither irreligion nor atheism. It does not mean focusing only on worldly pleasures. Rather, secularism supports universal spiritual values that people may reach through different ways.
Similarly, Maulana Arshad Madani, President of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, often speaks strongly in favour of India’s democracy and secular system. He says that secularism means every person has the right to follow the religion of their choice, and the Indian Constitution gives this right to all citizens. The government has no religion of its own and cannot force everyone to follow one single system of belief.
All these examples clearly prove that Muslims have not harmed India’s secular traditions or national culture. Their behaviour and contribution over many years show their support for secular values. It is painful, however, when attempts are made to weaken secularism and spread hatred in the name of religion. Violence or discrimination based on religion is completely wrong and harms India’s secular structure.
If we carefully observe the current political situation, it seems that politics today is mainly driven by personal interests and the struggle for power. In this environment, true secularism and the spirit of Indian unity are becoming weaker. When these important values are damaged, many social problems arise.
The important question now is how people of different communities can live together peacefully and remain united, as they have done for centuries. For this, we must rise above political interests and work for the rights and welfare of all people without discrimination based on religion, caste, race, or background.
Unfortunately, present social conditions do not give much hope. It appears that an atmosphere of anti-Muslim feeling is growing. Because of this, hurting religious sentiments, spreading Hindu-Muslim hatred, and taking pride in such behaviour have become common in society.
Such negative actions may bring temporary political benefits to some people, but in reality their harmful effects are much greater. Therefore, before making hateful statements, people should think about how such words affect society. If we place the greatness of the country, democracy, and constitutional values above personal interests, positive social change can take place and secular values will become stronger.
At present, the dominant political thinking in India seems to be based on division, discrimination, and hatred. Anti-Muslim feelings are being used strongly, and people are made to believe that if political outcomes change, Hindus will be in danger. In reality, this has no connection with facts and is only political deception. People must understand this politics of hatred so that the dignity and strength of India’s secular system can be protected.
The true spirit and greatness of Indian secularism can survive only when political interests are guided by principles that do not harm secular values or the idea of Indian unity. If political gains destroy democratic and secular traditions, then such interests should be abandoned for the sake of peace, unity, and harmony in the country.
If the politics of hatred is not stopped immediately, it may create political, moral, and cultural problems in society, which will badly affect the progress of the country.
Another important question is this: Indians have lived together peacefully for centuries, so why have people suddenly started troubling one another in the name of religion, caste, colour, and race?
Political success can also be achieved through love, understanding, and mutual respect. There is no need to spread hatred and discrimination in society.
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Dr. Zafar Darik Qasmi is an Islamic Scholar, Author and Regular Columnist for New Age Islam
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-politics/secularism-muslims-contemporary-scenario/d/139932
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