Secular Muslim

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Map of the Muslim world, with secular countries in blue and Turkey as a secular republic in red.
Map of the Muslim world, with secular countries in blue and Turkey as a secular republic in red.

The idea of secularism in Islam means favoring a modern secular democracy with separation of church and state, as opposed to Islam as a political movement. A secular Muslim is a Muslim who practices Islam in her/his private sphere, and is opposed to entrenchment of Islamic law into public life. There are many people and nations who are extremely secular although living under Islamic rules, or vice versa (secular state with a devoted Muslim population).

Secularism is based on separating religion from all the affairs of this life and hence, it rules by law and regulations other than Allah's laws. Hence, secularism rejects Allah's rules with no exception and prefers regulations other than Allah's and His Messenger's. In fact, many secularists claim that Allah's laws might have been suitable for the time they were revealed but are now outdated.

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[edit] Turkey

Over the last century, there has been a strong tradition of secularism in Turkey. The Republic of Turkey is a secular state since 1937 under the Kemalist ideology and Atatürk's Reforms. Although an overwhelming majority of the population, at least nominally, adheres to Islam, the state neither has an official religion nor promotes any, and it actively monitors ("active neutrality") the area between the religions. The practice of Turkish Laïcité, established around the concept of "public reason", claims that activities falling outside of the private sphere should be secular.

The Constitution asserts that Turkey is a secular and democratic republic, deriving its sovereignty from the people. The sovereignty rests with the Turkish Nation, who delegates its exercise to an elected unicameral parliament, the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

During the Presidential Election in 2007, Secularists feared that a president from the AK - a party with Islamist roots - could undermine Turkey's secular order.[1] Mr. Gul’s candidacy goes to the heart of the secular-religious debate, because the presidency is such a revered symbol with real powers — he is commander in chief and has a veto. Turkish military leaders in the past have remarked that they would refuse to visit the presidential palace if a woman in a head scarf were living in it.[2]

[edit] List of secular states with majority Muslim populations

This is a list of secular predominantly Muslim countries in the world.

[edit] Africa

[edit] Asia

[edit] Europe

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Turkey 'must have secular leader'
  2. ^ Presidential Pick in Turkey Is Sign of a Rising Islamic Middle Class - New York Times
  3. ^ [1] Article 31
  4. ^ [2] Article 1
  5. ^ [3] Article 1 (1)
  6. ^ [4] Article 1
  7. ^ [5] Article 25
  8. ^ [6] Article 1
  9. ^ [7] Article 1.6/2.6
  10. ^ [8] Article 1 (1)
  11. ^ [9] Article 1
  12. ^ [10] Section 1: Foundations of the constitutional order, Article 1
  13. ^ [11] Article 7/Article 18
  14. ^ [12] Article 1 (1)
  15. ^ [13] Constitution of Turkey Characteristics of the Republic: Article 2, Provisions Relating to Political Parties: Article 68, Oath taking: Article 81, Oath: Article 103, Department of Religious Affairs: 136, Preservation of Reform Laws: 174
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