By Samir Salama, Associate EditorPublished: 19:10 May 27, 2013
Abu Dhabi: Islam and secularism have much in common as both cherish human rights and justice, a regional conference on the Future of Moderate Arab-islamic Culture heard on Sunday.
“Islam and secularism really have much in common. Westerners say secularism is based on social justice and freedom and Islam says that he is not a believer, who eats his fill while his neighbour is hungry. The Shahada, the Muslim confession of faith: “There is no God but Allah and Mohammad [PBUH] is the Prophet of God.” When you say this confession, you formally become a Muslim, free from worldly influences,” said Dr Hassan Hanafi, professor of philosophy at the Cairo University.
Hanafi told the conference organised by the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research — Arab and Muslim countries should develop new concepts to engage with other cultures and give up the idea of “either we or your are right.”
The word secular, Dr Hanafi said, has been derived from the Latin word saeculum that means concerning the century and concerning the time.” In the West, secularism means the separation of the church and state. In Islam, since there is no church, we do not have a religious authority with power over society. In Islam, we don’t have a theocracy and there is no distinction between the sacred and the profane and the priority is given to the civil and to the secular. The spirit of Islam is life, not religion. Religion is only a tool to implement a good life, to create a perfect man and a perfect society,” Dr Hanafi said.
Categories: Arab World, Asia, ISLAM, United Arab Emirates
Yes, that is what we are promoting all along. Welcome.
May be the author read The Muslim Times.
This motion is a great one may almighty Allah let it be applicable