The Challenge of Secularism in Modern Islamic Thot

Abstract

Secularism, which fundamentally separates state affairs from religious authority, emerged from Europe's historical disillusionment with the church's abuse of power and its rejection of scientific advancement. This ideology spread globally during the 20th century, with Turkey becoming the first Muslim-majority nation to adopt it. This paper aims to examine the precipitating factors of secularism and its complex implications for the Islamic Ummah. Using a conceptual-historical analysis approach, this study highlights that the genesis of secularism was driven by five core factors within the historical European church: the arrogance of the clergy, the sale of indulgences, institutional arrogance, the establishment of the Inquisition courts, and open hostility toward rational science. When transposed into the Islamic world, secularism introduced profound multidimensional challenges. This research uses a conceptual-historical analysis approach. The primary implications include the marginalization of Islamic law in public and political spheres, a societal shift toward hedonistic moral values, and a religious crisis among the younger generation who increasingly view religion as irrelevant to modern life. Consequently, this study concludes that a strategic and sustainable response from that a strategic and sustainable response from educational institutions and religious leaders is imperative to bridge Islamic values with modern realities without compromising fundamental sharia principles.