Secularism as a rough interpretation in today's usage is an ideology which states that an institution or body or state must be separated from religion. Therefore, secularism is a thinking that separates religion from life. Religion is only a matter of worship (ibaadah), relating to the way of how to worship the Creator. Meanwhile, for other affairs of life, religion cannot interfere.

Pluralism in social science is a framework where there is an interaction between a number of groups which show feelings of mutual respect and tolerance amongst each other. Pluralism also addresses an individual right in deciding for each of their universal truth.

Liberalism is an ideology, a philosophical view and political tradition which is based on the understanding that freedom is the main importance and consequence of politic. In general, liberalism aspires for a society that is absolutely free, characterized by the freedom in thinking for each individual. The ideology of liberalism rejects the existence of limitations, especially those that come from the authorities and religion.

Liberalism requires the existence of the exchange of ideas which are free, a market economy that supports private enterprises that are relatively free and a system of government that is transparent, and rejects the presence of limitations on individual ownerships. Due to that, the concept of liberalism further becomes the foundation for the growth of capitalism. In general, liberalism considers religion as a restraint for the potentials of human intellects.

In Islam, secularism, pluralism and liberalism in religion are prohibited, because these are all misguided ideas and harmful to the Islamic ummah.

What is meant by:

1. Pluralism in religion is a concept that teaches all religions to be the same because the truth of every religion is relative; due to that, every adherent of any religion cannot claim that only their religion is true, whereas, other religions are false. Pluralism also teaches that every adherent of any religion will enter and live side by side in Paradise.

2. The Plurality of religion is a reality that in certain countries and regions there are a variety of different religious adherents who live side by side.

3. Liberalism is to understand the nas (text of Al-Qur’an & Sunnah) by using free or liberal minds; and only those doctrines that are compatible with the mind are accepted.

4. Secularism is to disconnect worldly affairs from religion. A religion is only used to regulate the private relationship with God, whereas the relations with fellow human beings are regulated based on social accords only.

Allah SWT says:

“If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah., never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter He will be in the ranks of those who have lost (All spiritual good).” (Qur’an, Ali Imran [3]: 85).

“The Religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His Will).” (Qur’an, Ali Imran [3]: 19).

“To you be your religion, and to me mine.” (Qur’an, al-Kafirun [109]: 6).

“It is not fitting for a Believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger to have any option about their decision: if any one disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong Path.” (Qur’an, al-Azhab [33]:36).

Islam commands every Muslim to hold on tightly to the Islamic law. The Qur'an commands every human being to hold on tightly to the laws of Allah SWT and the laws of Allah SWT for the end times is the risalah (message) brought by Rasulullah SAW i.e. Al-Qur'an and Sunnah (Qur’an, Al Maidah: 48-49).

The idea of Secularism, Pluralism and Liberalism carried by the camp who claimed to act on behalf of Islam, is indeed a form of great fitnah on Islam. Rasulullah SAW affirmed:

1. Imam Muslim (d. 262 H) in his book Saheeh Muslim, vol. 1, no. 284, narrated the hadith of Rasulullah SAW:

"By Him (Allah) in Whose Hand Muhammad's soul is, there is none from amongst the Jews and the Christians (of these present nations) who hears about me and then dies without believing in the Message with which I have been sent (i.e. tawheed), but he will be from the dwellers of the (Hell) Fire."

2. The Prophet had sent letters of da’wah to the non-Muslims, amongst them are Emperor Heraclius, the Roman King who was a Christian, Al-Najashi, the King of Abyssinia and the Persian Kisra (Persian king known to Arabs as Kisra) who was a Majusi, where the Prophet invited them to enter into Islam. (Riwayah Ibn Sa’d in al-Thabaqat al-Kubra and Imam Al-Bukhari in Saheeh al-Bukhari).

3. The Prophet SAW conducted good social interactions with the non-Muslim communities such as the Jewish community who lived in Khaybar and the Christians who lived in Najran; in fact, one of the Prophet’s father in-law named Huyay bin Aththab was a notable figure of the Bani Quradzah (Sayyid Bani Qurayzah). (Riwayah al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Therefore, our attitude towards the three deviated ideas are as follows:

1. Pluralism, Secularism and Liberalism in religion as meant in the first part are ideas contrary to the teachings of Islam.

2. It is haram for the Islamic ummah to follow the concepts of Pluralism, Secularism and Liberalism in Religion.

3. In the issues of aqeedah and ibaadah, it is wajib for the the Islamic ummah to act exclusively, meaning it is haram to intermix the aqeedah and ibaadah of the Islamic ummah with the creeds and worships of the adherents of other religions.

4. For the Muslim society that lives alongside adherents of other religions (religious plurality), in terms of social issues that do not have anything to do with aqeedah and ibaadah, the Islamic ummah should behave inclusively, meaning to continue conducting social interaction as long as it does not cause mutual injuries.

Source: IRENA CENTER