Islam and Secular State: Negotiating the Future of Sharia

The Muslim Times | Alislam |  Subscribe  Islam and Secular State: Negotiating the Future of Sharia Epigraph: "O ye who believe! be steadfast in the cause of Allah, bearing witness in equity; and let not a people's enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice. Be always just, that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah. Surely, Allah is aware of what you do."  (Al Quran 5:9) Top university in the world: Harvard University in Boston, USA Courtesy: Dr. Abdul Alim Publisher: Harvard University Press (March 30, 2010) Book by Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na'im: He is Charles Howard Candler Professor of Law at Emory University. What should be the place of Sharia—Islamic religious law—in predominantly Muslim societies of the world? In this ambitious and topical book, a Muslim scholar and human rights activist envisions a positive and sustainable role for Shari'a, based on a profound rethinking of the relationship between religion and the secular state in all societies. An-Na'im argues that the coercive enforcement of Shari'a by the state betrays the Qur'an's insistence on voluntary acceptance of Islam. Just as the state should be secure from the misuse of religious authority, Shari'a should be freed from the control of the state. State policies or legislation must be based on civic reasons accessible to citizens of all religions. Showing that throughout the history of Islam, Islam and the state have normally been separate, An-Na'im maintains that ideas of human rights and citizenship are more consistent with Islamic principles than with claims of a supposedly Islamic state to enforce Shari'a. In fact, he suggests, the very idea of an "Islamic state" is based on European ideas of state and law, and not Shari'a or the Islamic tradition. Bold, pragmatic, and deeply rooted in Islamic history and theology, Islam and the Secular State offers a workable future for the place of Shari'a in Muslim societies. More Below is link to the book- it is available on line for those who wish to read an online version: Read online Read reviews in the Muslim Times The Muslim Times' Editorial team: If you like what you see, please forward it to friends and family.  To know more about us: click here. 1-800-WHY-ISLAM

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'One learned man is harder on the devil than a thousand ignorant worshipers': Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)