The Roots of Islamist Opposition to Secularism and Secular Government: A Theological Perspective - Part 1
By Grace Mubashir, New Age Islam
7 February 2025
The idea that Muslims must reject secularism and establish an Islamic state is not a universally accepted Islamic position. Many scholars argue that Islam prioritizes justice, social welfare, and religious freedom rather than mandating a theocratic government.
Major Points:
1. Secularism, being a system that advocates the dissociation of religious practices and doctrine from political engagement and public life, is actively resisted by a number of Islamist movements and intellectuals
2. This fierce opposition emanates from deeply held theological convictions and religious norms, which assert that Islam encompasses not only personal religion and piety but also constitutes a comprehensive model of government, jurisprudence, and social organization
3. The rejection of secularism is not a religious necessity but a political choice, and Islam allows for diverse forms of governance as long as they uphold justice and human dignity.
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Secularism, being a system that advocates the dissociation of religious practices and doctrine from political engagement and public life, is actively resisted by a number of Islamist movements and intellectuals. This fierce opposition emanates from deeply held theological convictions and religious norms, which assert that Islam encompasses not only personal religion and piety but also constitutes a comprehensive model of government, jurisprudence, and social organization. This article examines why Islamists oppose secularism, quoting religious reasons, verses from the Quran, sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and opinions of Islamic scholars.
The idea that Muslims must reject secularism and establish an Islamic state is not a universally accepted Islamic position. Many scholars argue that Islam prioritizes justice, social welfare, and religious freedom rather than mandating a theocratic government. The Quran does not prescribe a specific political system, and the Prophet’s governance in Madinah was shaped by historical circumstances rather than a divine command for all times. Furthermore, secular governments do not necessarily prevent Muslims from practicing their religion; rather, they often provide religious freedom and protect individual rights. By focusing on ethical governance and the welfare of society, Muslims can actively contribute to secular states while maintaining their faith. Thus, the rejection of secularism is not a religious necessity but a political choice, and Islam allows for diverse forms of governance as long as they uphold justice and human dignity.
1. Islam as a Complete Way of Life
One of the principal reasons why Islamists are against secularism is that Islam is not a religion in the Western sense but rather a way of life. Islam governs all aspects of human life—personal, social, legal, and political.
The Quran states:
"We have not left anything out of the Book." (Surah Al-An'am 6:38)
This particular verse suggests that Islam goes further to address all aspects of human life, including the vital area of governance. The concept of secularism, which seeks to separate religion from the realm of politics, stands in stark contrast to this comprehensive and holistic approach taken by Islam.
The renowned Islamic theorist Sayyid Qutb elaborates on this perception when he states:
"Islam is a complete system. It is not just a collection of beliefs and rituals, but a total system that governs every sphere of life, including politics and government." (Milestones)
The Islamists' resistance to secularism is rooted in a natural conviction that the guidance from Allah, as revealed in the sacred texts of the Quran and the Sunnah, is more authoritative and far superior to any legislation that is crafted by humans.
2. The theory of sovereignty rests firmly with Allah, not with human beings.
One central and key underlying principle of Islamic theology is that the sovereignty, or final authority, rests only and solely with Allah alone. Conversely, in a secular system of government, it is human beings who undertake the role of making and devising laws, doing so according to diverse parameters such as reason, personal experience, and the dynamic nature of social norms, which may undergo change over a period of time. Islamists firmly believe this to be totally unacceptable and incorrect because they assert that only Allah's law, which is called Shariah, should be the one and only code that governs and regulates human affairs and behaviour.
Allah reveals this basic fact in the Quran, wherein He states:
"The rule (hukm) is for none but Allah." (Surah Yusuf 12:40)
In addition to this, yet another verse elucidates:
"And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, then they are disbelievers." (Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:44)
These and similar verses convey a profound principle that the laws of society and the conduct of individuals must be firmly grounded in the divine revelations sent by Allah. Secularism, however, which seeks to substitute or replace these sacred divine laws with man-made and human-devised laws, is therefore regarded by many illustrious Islamic scholars as an act of disbelief.
The highly esteemed scholar Ibn Taymiyyah offers an explanation:
"Rule by other than that which Allah has decreed is oppression and misguidance. It is obligatory upon Muslims to adhere to the laws of Allah in all things." (Majmu' al-Fatawa)
Since secularism negates the sovereignty of God and bestows authority on man, Islamists interpret it as blatant disregard for the authority of Allah.
3. The Prophet's Role as a Political Leader
Islamists are strictly opposed to the concept of secularism because they are of the view that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was not merely a religious leader or preacher but a political leader as well and head of the state. The life and work of Prophet Muhammad are an ideal model of governance, which in the most perfect way substantiates that Islam is destined to be intertwined and applied in the political realm too.
In Madinah, the Prophet established a state based on Islamic principles. He was the ruler, judge, and commander in war. His leadership was not secular but religious in nature, implementing Shariah laws and governing society on the basis of divine commandments.
Imam Al-Mawardi, an Islamic scholar of classical Islamic times, states:
"The leadership of the Muslims is a religious obligation, ensuring the establishment of Shariah and protecting the faith." (Al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyyah)
By emulating the exemplary model of the Prophet, Islamists who profess adherence to this faith aver that the political leadership of society must necessarily be Islamic in orientation and cannot be divorced from religious teachings.
4. Ummah vs. Nation-State
The secularist ideology fosters the idea of nationalism, wherein individuals are bound and joined more by geographic space than by shared faith or religious creed. Islam, as opposed to this, places strong emphasis on the unity and solidarity of the Ummah—a wide and universal global Muslim community that transcends and stands above national boundaries and divisions.
The Quran states:
"In fact, this Ummah of yours is a single Ummah, and I am your Lord, so worship Me." (Surah Al-Anbiya 21:92)
Islamists believe that dividing the huge Muslim world into secular nation-states enormously diminishes the very unity fundamental to Islam between its adherents. Secular governments usually consider national interests and agendas, which often come at the expense of the unique Islamic identity and general well-being of the global Ummah.
Sayyid Abul A'la Maududi, an acknowledged major and influential Islamic thinker, advances an argument quite strong:
"Secular nationalism, by definition, sows dissension among Muslims and effectively shatters their collective power and unity as a community. On the contrary, the Islamic state brings them together peacefully under the common flag of Tawheed, which emphasizes the oneness of God, and Shariah, the divine law that regulates their lives."
To Islamists, secularism seems to be an artificial phenomenon that not only destroys the essential unity of Muslims but also disconnects them from their meaningful religious commitments and obligations.
5. The Consequences of Secularism Lead to Both Moral and Social Corruption
The vast majority of Islamists hold the view that secularism is the prime cause of the moral corruption increasingly being observed in modern society. They hold that by excluding religious values from various realms of public life, secular governments offer an atmosphere conducive to practices deemed immoral, such as the consumption of alcohol, gambling, and adopting permissive lifestyles, all of which are expressly prohibited by Islamic law.
In this regard, the Quran provides a strict warning:
"And do not follow the desires of those who have gone astray, who mislead many and stray themselves from the right path." (Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:77)
Under the umbrella of an Islamic system, the legislation that is laid down is consciously designed to affirm and uphold moral values as well as the dicta of social justice. By contrast, laws that are formulated under secular principles, which reflect the caprice and lusts of humanity, often lead to a society fraught with corruption as well as forms of vice.
Ibn Qayyim, who stands as a learned Islamic scholar in high esteem, expresses this scathing view when he states:
"When man-made laws contradict divine laws, society becomes filled with injustice and immorality. True justice can only be achieved through Shariah." (I'lam al-Muwaqqi'in)
Islamists perceive secularism as a negative direction that inevitably leads to moral corruption in society. This is due to the fact that secularism effectively does away with a number of religious prohibitions controlling behaviour, thereby establishing a values system directly in opposition to Islam's teachings and precepts.
6. Islam's Legal System vs. Secular Law
Islamists firmly believe that Shariah law is not just a legal code but is indeed divinely revealed and therefore takes a position of superiority over secular legal codes, which are man-made. Unlike secular laws, which are subject to revision and evolution over time based on evolving human logic and societal norms, Shariah is regarded as timeless and fixed, having a sense of permanence that is inherently divinely decreed.
Allah ordains in the Quran:
"And so, therefore, you must judge among them by what Allah has revealed in His holy scripture, and you should not follow their personal desires and inclinations when they lead you away from the truth." (Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:48)
The all-encompassing system of Shariah addresses every sphere of life, including not just criminal justice but also family law, economic principles, and the system of governance. Conversely, secular legal systems that opt to omit divine guidance and wisdom are considered to be inherently flawed and unjust, devoid of moral integrity.
Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi states:
"Shariah is not a mere set of laws; instead, it is a complete and divine guideline intended for the welfare of the entire mankind." The act of substituting Shariah with laws that are designed by human beings is regarded as a great betrayal of the original spirit of Islam.
In light of the reality that secular regimes are not ready to adopt and enforce Shariah, Islamists therefore view such regimes as not legitimate in their power.
7. The Influence of Secularism and Colonialism
Most Islamists have argued that Western colonialists forcefully imposed the concept of secularism on Muslim nations as they expanded their empires. Prior to colonization, the majority of Muslim territories were governed by Islamic values and laws that entrenched themselves firmly in the societies' cultures and traditions. Secularism's introduction and enforcement are seen as a strategic ploy to undermine Islamic identity and exert control over Muslim states at the cost of their religious heritage.
Imam Hasan al-Banna, widely regarded as the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, states:
“Secularism, as we perceive it, is fundamentally a foreign ideology that has been forcibly imposed upon us by those who once ruled over us during the colonial period. This imposition serves as a detrimental poison that effectively distances Muslims from their core faith and beliefs.”
For Islamists, the act of opposing secularism transcends mere religious duty; it embodies a fervent struggle aimed at reclaiming their rich Islamic heritage from the lingering shadows of colonial influence that have sought to reshape their identity.
8. The Essential Duty to Establish a Government Governed by Islamic Principles
Islamists strongly hold the view that the establishment of an Islamic government is not an option to be entertained, but a religious obligation that must be fulfilled. This is founded on Islamic scripture, which states that Muslims are duty-bound to actively work towards the implementation of Allah's laws on earth, thereby bringing divine guidance to the lives of people and societies.
The Quran is quite unequivocal about this matter, as it gives a clear instruction:
"And those who, if We give them authority in the land, establish prayer and give zakah and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong." (Surah Al-Hajj 22:41)
This verse is read as a divine command for Islamic governance. Secular regimes, not implementing Islamic laws, are therefore illegitimate in the eyes of most Islamists.
Scholar Abu Ala Maududi explains:
"Islam does not merely seek to guide individuals but to establish a society governed by divine laws. Secular government is contrary to this duty."
Islamists therefore oppose secularism since it prevents the application of Islamic governance.
Conclusion
The theological and ideological refutation of Islamists and radicals affect global Muslim politics and understanding. By subverting the inclusive approach of Islam, these groups are sowing discontent of existence in society.
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A regular columnist for NewAgeIslam.com, Mubashir V.P is a PhD scholar in Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia and freelance journalist.
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