International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VIII, Issue X, October 2021 | ISSN 2321–2705

Secularism: Meaning, Kinds and Characteristics

 Tijani Ahmad Ashimi
International Islamic University Malaysia

Abstract: Secularism is an ideology that advocates complete division and separation of this world and the world to come. It is defined as an elimination of man from religion and then from metaphysical control over his reason and his language. It invites people to separate between religion and politics, it also calls people to separate faith from routine activities or complete elimination of metaphysical realities from daily affairs, on the ground that metaphysical world or religious affairs can create obstacles and barriers to human development and progress. As such, the physical world and its fascination should be the first priority and main target of rational being. Based on this fact, this paper by applying analytical and comparative methods aims to explore the true etymology of secularism and investigates its various definitions.
Next, the paper will further explore the kinds and characteristics of secularism as an ideology that attempts to separate religion from daily activities. Lastly, the article will also compare this ideology to Islamic worldview, i.e we will investigate whether secularism is compatible with the right teaching of Islam and that will be followed by comprehensive concluding remarks.

Keywords: Secularism, Islam, naturalism. Religion, Qur’an , Christianity

I. BRIEF INTRODUCTION

Secularism is a belief system that rejects religion, or the belief that religion should not be part of the affairs of the state or part of public education. The principle of separation of church and state, and the idea of keeping religion out of the public school system is examples of secularism. Down the centuries, secularism often associated with the age of enlightenment in Europe which was also coincided with la renaissance and which played a major role in Western society. The principles, but not necessarily practices of separation of church and state in the United States and Laicite in France draw heavily on secularism. For instance, Laicite is a French secularity, which is the absence of religious involvement in government affairs, especially the prohibition of religious influence in the determination of state policies and its routine activities. Hence, the policy decision pertaining to topics like abortion, contraception, sex education and etc,, must purely be secularized. Based on this fact, this article aims to investigate secularism as an ideology that tends to separate the worldly affairs from metaphysical world. Yet, In order to achieve the objectives of this paper , we will apply analytical and comparative methods, by analyzing the meaning of secularism, its kinds and characteristics, then, comparing secularism with the Islamic worldview. Lastly, comprehensive concluding remarks of secularism will be provided.