www.stand4islam.blogspot.com: Refuting Secularism

About this blog

In recent times a plethora of misconceptions, misrepresentation and myths have been forged about Islam
and Muslims. Many western influentials from politicians, policymakers to judges have taken it upon
themselves to undermine the Islamic beliefs, values and rules so to make it palatable to their
egotistic minds and the secular liberal thoughts.

This blog is dedicated:-

1. To argue the point for Islam in its belief and systems and to refute the misconceptions.
2. To expose the weakness and contradictions of all forms of secularism.

20 Feb 2009

Refuting Secularism

The following is a transcript of a talk given by Abu Yusuf Al-Karanshi

Examples of Attack on Creed:

Superiority of Secularism

Islam is a religion like other religions and it is only if we separate religion from life affairs we will progress. Its because of Muslims holding onto their creed in lifes affair we have little or no progress. Eg Look at all the Muslim Countries who still insist of having Islam present in their societal life.

We view the humans to be naturally good. Being left to do what they want without coercion (or by harming others) leads man to prosper. On a larger scale whenever individuals looks out for it self society as a whole improves. This is what happened when we separated the coercion of the religious bigotry from our lives progress took place which lead to the industrial revolution eg Enlightenment.

Refutation:

1. The Islamic belief agrees with mans instincts and organic needs, agrees with his mind and gives him tranquillity in his heart.

2. Secularism is based upon a struggle that lead to a compromise: A compromise between 2 contradictory sides.

3. Man is not naturally good or bad (Christian’s original sin). He has instincts and organic needs. The way he satisfies these and the standard he has accepted determines if it is good or bad.

4. If man is left to do what he pleases than nothing guarantees that he will progress. Fascism and communism was a result of this. Without direction man is left to choose any system he pleases. In today’s secular society individualism is rampant due to this principle. Living on the streets or being on welfare support has become a life style, these are no way progress.

5. Scientific Progress is not specific to secularism. This also happened with Islam and likewise with Communism.

6. The Secular view Law, like Christians, as a necessary evil so in reality it only intervenes when 2 equally powerful individuals clash otherwise it is silenced. They do not view the prevalent Law as an integral part of Society. Which means it is negligent in protecting rights of all individuals as there is no initiation but only reaction eg Laws on such as Racism, Women, Equal Pay, Immigration manifested only after a struggle.

8. It is inherent in secular societies for ‘might is right’ and ‘survival of the fittest’ which increases the poor-rich divide.

9. In reality Secularism has failed to give solution to societal problems. Crime, Racism, Social depredation, Child Abuse, Environmental decay, Diseases etc, are rampant and are always increasing. Moreover, many of these are their own causes.

Social Inclusion of Secularism

Islam only sees its own belief superior and undermines and totally disregards other beliefs. How do you expect society to progress when one section of society completely disregards the beliefs or convictions of another?

Secularism allows people of different beliefs to live together. One religion has no superiority over other religions. This we can witness today where we have diversity of Christian, Jews, Muslims, Atheist or Ex-Muslims (Apostates) to cooperate and live together under common core values.

Refutation:

1. Islam does no way disregard or insult other beliefs. Islam has always accommodated people of different beliefs to prosper. In fact there are historical accounts of many non-Muslims succeeding under the Islamic State.

2. Most religions or convictions believe its superior, why single out Islam.

3. In every society there are norms. But Islam does not expect its non-Muslim people to believe in Islam but only to conform to the temporal laws, which are applied indiscriminately

4. It is a form of ‘smoke-screen’ and justification. Islam did not need to refer to these slogans to silent dissent from foreigners and minority groups. In Islam it is either citizen or non-citizen.

5. In Secular societies people are expected to live together within common core values. These values are nothing but secular. Those who disagree are made to be isolated or forced to accept these values like what’s happening with Muslims in Britain (Liberal Integration) and more clearly in France (Assimilation).

Examples of Attack on Core Values:

Freedom to Express

In Islam all Muslims are slaves of God. (God being Muhammads (saws) world view). A God that they will obey without caution or reference to reason. That’s why their motto is ‘Hear and obey’ not Hear, Think than obey’. Islam does not allow them to question God or any part of its creed.

This narrow-mindedness has resulted in being bigoted, intolerant, lack of progress and the persecution of silent majority in the Muslim lands like Iran . Muslims need to de-program and open themselves to think freely and question everything without any boundaries. They should welcome questions on their Prophet and God as a mark of progress to show that they welcome debate and discussion.

When questioning is absent thinking is its victim. While thinking is neglected there is no wonder many Muslims cannot see the fallacy of their belief. Our quest for freedom has succeeded in destroying slavery (of man or any God). If we are forced to keep quite than will we never reach the stage of continues push to exceed and improve our lives. We do not believe in absolute truths as truths deter questioning and stagnate progress. Scepticism gives us more. People should be allowed to say whatever they want and as there is a freedom to respond its leads to a healthy clash between these views and as long as discussion and debate exist human lives will always be improving.

Refutation:

1. Yes we believe questioning God is beyond mans reason and we view this as strength, because we acknowledge our imperfection and Gods perfection.

2. Islam recognises people have sacred matters or things they value with strong sentiments. This consideration does not only encourage debate and discussion but also adds focus to it.

3. We don’t question everything or be sceptical (doubting and questioning). We question what needs to be questioned so to satisfy our instincts and organic needs. Otherwise questioning becomes for its sake and that’s no way progress.

4. Freedom is slogan used by the secularist to appease the oppressed. What kind of society would we be when everybody begins criticising (or insulting) everything. The reality is people are bound by certain thoughts and within those thoughts they discuss.

5. Freedom is used selectively eg on the one hand it is a non-negotiable concept and on the other banning Qur’an or dissent when criticising governments’ foreign policies.

6. For secularist nothing is certain. Everything is up for questioning. That’s way they are always changing. They view changing of laws as a sign of progress. But in reality this has lead to persecution of innocent people. At one time a person is innocent but another the same person is not and vise versa. Who knows if your rights of today will be protected tomorrow?

7. To believe in Scepticsm or Relativism is in itself a contradiction eg I am certain that nothing is certain.

Freedom being fundamental to progress

Islam has produced no thinkers but merely ‘Message-bearers’ people who give information by reiterating statements from their scriptures. The manner in the way they do it is seen as amazing to them! In the present times, the little progress you see is only due to some imitation of the west eg like Dubai and nothing to do with Islam.

When man is fed originality will never take place so he should be free to experiment. These experiments (or trial and error) will no doubt get better and better. The new situation will always be better than the old and this is continues and never ending. This means as we are at present our future will always be better.

Refutation:

1. History is a witness to the vast wealth of Muslim thinkers in every subject matter.

2. Todays Muslim nations do not reflect Islam

3. In fact the decline in Muslim lands is due to secularism. This conflicts directly with the indigenous people who hold a different belief, heritage and history. Eg Turkey (Fundamental Secularist)

4. Secularism was specific to Europeans (Christendoms). The Arabs and those Islam conquered progressed without resorting to secularism. Eg Africa under the rule of Umar Abdul Aziz (ra)

5. Man is need of previous information for progress. Man can never develop thinking just by experimentation.

6. It is due to an ideological criterion by which man permanently progresses not by freedom.

7. Secularism will always carry the baggage of problems since they stem from it ie they are inherent eg social breakdown, boom-bust and trickling effect economy, seeking only material value. While Islam will indeed be better, simply because it will not have these inherent weaknesses and its systems will embrace the science more cohesively.

Freedom of Belief

Islam does not allow a Muslim to revert or convert to another belief by threatening those who do with death! Eg ‘Whoever changes his deen kill him’ How unjust and double standards when it obligates people other faiths and convictions to become Muslim. This has created a society where those who wish not to believe, that’s if they are not killed, being witch hunted or murdered and to live in horrifying circumstances. If there religion was so strong why can’t it convince a person who disbelieves to return without resorting to death penalty.

Our freedom of belief understands and appreciates the nature of humans to have curiosity and to choose to live their lives upon their own convictions and not be forced to believe in something they sincerely do not. We are confident that we can defend our values.

Refutation:

1. Freedoms do not exist is reality. There are boundaries. In every society there are laws, and this law is specific to be implemented by the Islamic authority in an Islamic state. This cannot be implemented by any group or individuals.

2. The rule for apostasy is repentance and not immediate capital punishment. Islam does not just apply the punishment without the strict conditions and the chance of retrieval.

3. Like all punishments they have a function to deter people. This Punishment deters apostasy very strongly

4. The severity of the punishment can be understood by the severity of the cause. Apostasy itself has no place in Islam since it is a rejection and an undermining of the very belief of Islam. It is detrimental to every thing the Islam hold true to. It is more dangerous than treason. Dealing with the apostasy is a vital matter in Islam.

5. Islam gets rid from the root before it become too great to deal with. Like the punishment for the alcoholics that leads to greater crimes and the adultery leading to social decay of the family structure.

6. When a person enters Islam they are certain of capital punishments and if he chooses to disbelieve than he is well aware to keep it to himself (not make it known) or leave the state. Unlike secularism, where nothing remains certain, the laws change due to which group of people run it and the demand-struggle phenomenon.

7. Islam is the basis of the State not a state religion; therefore it should be of no surprise that any undermining of Islam is an undermining of the authority.

8. In Secular societies freedom of belief is restricted to religious beliefs and not personal belief since personal belief can interfere with life. Religious beliefs are separated from life ie to be only concerned with after-life and before-life. However when religious beliefs interfere with life or when personal beliefs (those that contradict secularism) are made known: The secular society acts to protect its secular thoughts.

9. In Secular societies there are ideas or values that can lead to capital punishment, like treason or holding certain beliefs of communism.

[Extracted from a transcript of a talk given by Abu Yusuf al-Karanshi]

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What they said...

“Islam represented the greatest military power on earth…It was the foremost economic power in the world…It had achieved the highest level so far in human history, in the arts and sciences of civilization...Islam in contrast created a world civilization, poly-ethnic, multiracial, international, one might even say intercontinental.”

[Bernard Lewis, Professor of Near Eastern Studies, Orientalist and Historian, 2001]

"There was once a civilization that was the greatest in the world. It was able to create a continental super-state that stretched from ocean to ocean, and from northern climes to tropics and deserts…the civilization I'm talking about was the Islamic world from the year 800 to 1600… Although we are often unaware of our indebtedness to this other civilization, its gifts are very much a part of our heritage"

[Carly Fiorina, ex-CEO of Hewlett-Packard, 2001]

"For the first three centuries of its existence (circ. A.D 650-1000) the realm of Islam was the most civilized and progressive portion of the world. Studded with splendid cities, gracious mosques and quiet universities where the wisdom of the ancient world was preserved and appreciated, the Moslem world offered a striking contrast to the Christian West, then sunk in the night of the Dark Ages."

[Lothrop Stoddard, Ph.D (Harvard), American political theorist and historian, 1932]

"Medieval Islam was technologically advanced and open to innovation. It achieved far higher literacy rates than in contemporary Europe;it assimilated the legacy of classical Greek civilization to such a degree that many classical books are now known to us only through Arabic copies. It invented windmills ,trigonometry, lateen sails and made major advances in metallurgy, mechanical and chemical engineering and irrigation methods. In the middle-ages the flow of technology was overwhelmingly from Islam to Europe rather from Europe to Islam. Only after the 1500's did the net direction of flow begin to reverse."

[Jared Diamond, UCLA sociologist and Author, 1997]

"No other society has such a record of success in uniting in an equality of status, of opportunity and endeavour so many and so varied races of mankind. The great Muslim communities of Africa, India and Indonesia, perhaps also the small community in Japan, show that Islam has still the power to reconcile apparently irreconcilable elements of race and tradition. If ever the opposition of the great societies of the East and west is to be replaced by cooperation, the mediation of Islam is an indispensable condition."

[Hamilton Alexander Rosskeen Gibb, Professor at Harvard University, 1932]

“The Muhammadan Law which is binding on all -- from the crowned head to the meanest subject is a law interwoven with a system of the wisest, the most learned and the most enlightened jurisprudence that ever existed in the world.”

[Edmund Burke, British Statesman and Philosopher, 1789]

"The Exile here is not like in our homeland. The Turks hold respectable Jews in esteem. Here and in Alexandria, Egypt, Jews are the chief officers and administrators of the customs, and the king’s revenues. No injuries are perpetuated against them in all the empire. Only this year, in consequence of the extraordinary expenditure caused by the war against Shah Tahmsap al-Sufi, were the Jews required to make advances of loans to the princes."

[David dei Rossi, Jewish Traveller 17CE, quoted by Norman A. Stillman, The Jews of Arab Lands]

"The notable religious tolerance towards Christians and Jew under Muslim rule had given way to the uncompromising zealotry of Spanish Inquisition. Jews and Muslims thus fled Spain with large numbers of Jews immigrating to the Ottoman Empire which was known for its tolerance to the Jews."

[Graham Fuller, Author and former CIA, 1995]

“If there is much misunderstanding in the West about the nature of Islam, there is also much ignorance about the debt our own culture and civilization owe to the Islamic world. It is a failure, which stems, I think, from the straightjacket of history, which we have inherited. The medieval Islamic world, from central Asia to the shores of the Atlantic, was a world where scholars and men of learning flourished. But because we have tended to see Islam as the enemy of the West, as an alien culture, society, and systems of beliefs, we have tended to ignore or erase its great relevance to our own history”

[Charles Philip Arthur George, HRH The Prince of Wales, 1993]

"...Not being subject to the Sharia, Jews and Christians were free to go to their own religious authorities for adjudication of disputes; but in many cases they went instead to the [Muslim] Qadi"

[Richard W. Bulliet, Professor of History and Author, 2004]

"Here in the land of the Turks we have nothing to complain of. We possess great fortunes; much gold and silver are in our hands. We are not oppressed by heavy taxes and our commerce is free and unhindered. Rich are the fruits of the earth. Everything is cheap and each one of us lives in freedom. Here a Jew is not compelled to wear a yellow star as a badge of shame as is the case in Germany where even wealth and great fortune is a curse for a Jew because he therewith arouses jealousy among the Christians and they devise all kinds of slander against him to rob him of his gold. Arise my brethren, gird up your loins, collect up your forces and come to us."

[In his book 'Constantinople', Philip Mansel quotes a rabbi in Turkey writing to his brethren in Europe where they were facing increasing persecution after 1453]

"Praise be to the beneficent God for his mercy towards me! Kings of the earth, to whom his [the Caliph’s] magnificence and power are known, bring gifts to him, conciliating his favour by costly presents, such as the king of the Germans, the king of the Gebalim, the king of Constantinople, and others. All their gifts pass through my hands, and I am charged with making gifts in return. (Let my lips express praise to the God in heaven who so far extends his loving kindness towards me without any merit of my own, but in the fullness of his mercies.) I always ask the ambassadors of these monarchs about our brethren the Jews, the remnant of the captivity, whether they have heard anything concerning the deliverance of those who have pined in bondage and had found no rest."

[Hasdai Ibn Shaprut (915-990 CE) Jewish physician, chief minister of Islamic Caliphate in Cordova, 'The Jewish Caravan']

"In Baghdad there are about forty thousand Jews, and they dwell in security, prosperity, and honour under the great Caliph [al-Mustanjid, 1160-70 CE], and amongst them are great sages, the Heads of the Academies engaged in the study of the Law…’"

[Benjamin of Tudela, Rabbi in Baghdad in the year 1168 CE, 'The Jew in the Medieval World']

"Those Eastern thinkers of the ninth century laid down, on the basis of their theology, the principle of the Rights of Man, in those very terms, comprehending the rights of individual liberty, and of inviolability of person and property; described the supreme power in Islam, or Califate, as based on a contract, implying conditions of capacity and performance, and subject to cancellation if the conditions under the contract were not fulfilled; elaborated a Law of War of which the humane, chivalrous prescriptions would have put to the blush certain belligerents in the Great War; expounded a doctrine of toleration of non-Moslem creeds so liberal that our West had to wait a thousand years before seeing equivalent principles adopted.

[Leon Ostorog, French Jurist]

"The debt of our science to that of the Arabs does not consist in startling discoveries or revolutionary theories; science owes a great deal more to Arab culture, it owes its existence"

[Robert Briffault, Novelist and Historian, 1928]

"The only effective link between the old and the new science is afforded by the Arabs. The dark ages come as an utter gap in the scientific history of Europe, and for more than a thousand years there was not a scientific man of note except in Arabia"

[Oliver Joseph Lodge, Writer and Professor of Physics, 1893]

“Thus, when Muslims crossed the straits of Gibraltar from North Africa in 711 and invaded the Iberian Peninsula, Jews welcomed them as liberators from Christian Persecution.”

[Zion Zohar, Jewish scholar at Florida International University, 2005]

“Throughout much of the period in question, Arabic served as the global language of scholarship, and learned men of all stripes could travel widely and hold serious and nuanced discussions in this lingua franca. Medieval Western scholars who wanted access to the latest findings also needed to master the Arabic Tongue or work from translations by those who had done so.”

[Jonathan Lyons, Author, Writer and Lecturer, 2009]