Professor Naeem Qasim is an enlightened Muslim thinker, who usually writes on the implementation of Islamic system in Pakistan in the light of the notions of Dr. Iqbal and the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam. On one hand, he rejects the hard line of the theocracy and on the other, he he also does not accept the views of the Westernized liberals and secular mind set. He is moderate in his views and propounds Islamic values in totality in the light of Ijtehad( The Principal of Movement). Recently, in an article he has rejected the stance of the secular scholars who separate religion from politics and social system. I appreciate his views and would briefly  like to throw light on this subject.

In Christianity, according to the Bible, State and Church are separate. This is the reason the Pope is the custodian of faith and the King is the master of the state matters in the Christian world. The protestant Christians segregated politics from faith. The same is with other religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism and Zoroastrianism. These religions only deal with the spiritual and moral values and do not guide in the social and political aspects of life. But it is not with Islam. Islam is not a religion in the traditional sense. It is a complete code of life. It provides basics and fundamentals for each and every aspect of life. It lays down the basic principles forpersonal, moral, spiritual, social, legal, economic and political matters. It is a social religion emphasizing on the need of social welfare. Suppose, we can pray at home in loneliness but if we go to the mosque and pray with others, it has more reward and importance for social integration. It shows the social aura and environment of the spirit of Islam.


Professor Naeem Qasim rejects monarchy and theocracy. He possess some basic questions about the Islamic political system and about the law interpreting authority. He believes in democracy but at the same time propounds that under the present democratic system we need the guidance of Islamic Ideological council to accept or reject the bills passed and the laws made in the parliament. It is a genuine stance. In Pakistan we have Islamic Ideological Council that keeps an eye on the bills passed in our parliament. Dr. Iqbal had proposed that the parliament can exercise the right of Ijtehad. In Pakistan 95% members of parliament belong to upper class and are professional and  hereditary politicians having no knowledge of Islamic tenets. Hence, to scrutinize and assess the laws, we already have Islamic Ideological Council. In Iran, they have a parliament with the majority of clerics but even then, the Grand cleric Ayatullah Khomenai supervises the system.
 

Is Islam a secular religion? It is a ticklish, serious and sensitive question. Some people say it is a secular religion while some others negate its' being branded a secular religion. In my opinion, first we should differentiate between its' old and new connotation. Traditionally, in the Western sense, secularism means an irreligious state. The Communists countries are atheist states. They do not permit the practice of any religion. God is dead and driven out from a Marxian state. Presently, in Russia, after the reforms of Gorbachev, the religious freedom has been granted but in China still atheism is the state cult. India claims to be a secular state with the plea that all religions are practiced in India and there is no bar or restriction in practicing any faith. In the modern terminology, secularism means a multi- religious state granting  freedom to practice all religions. But, practically, India is an obdurate Hindu state where the Muslims, the Christians and the Sikhs face worst type of discrimination. Their mosques, churches and Gordwaras are razed to ground and burned to ashes. In my opinion, we need not adhere the word secularism with Islam as Islam in it self is a moderate, progressive, rational, democratic, pluralistic and secular religion. The Quran says:' There is no compulsion in religion". At an other place the Quran announces:" For you, your religion and for me my religion." It is narrated by Hazrat Abu Haraira that while describing the signs of the Day of Judgment, the holy prophet mentioned that when the debauch, mean and timid persons will become the rulers of the Muslims, then the doomsday is near. In the Quran and the sayings of the holy prophet we find ample material guiding us to collective welfare of society dealing with the social and political sides of society.


Francis Yokohama in his book titled" The End of History" boastfully brags that the American and the Western civilizations have reached the culmination point of  culture and are the best examples to follow. About their materialistic, selfish, immoral,  nude, rude, capitalistic, imperialistic, hegemonic,monopolistic and  expansionist designs, the poet of East Dr. Iqbal had aptly said:" Your civilization will commit suicide by your own dagger. The nest made on the weak bough is destined to destroy." In the wake of same mental retardation and prejudice, Professor Samuel Huntington gave the theory of the Clash of Civilizations. It is not the clash of civilizations, it is the clash of two systems. Islam negates the usury and interest oriented economic system, while the Western economy depends on usury. Islam stands for social justice while the Wester society is a class society. I must declare that the Quranic revolutionary system is only in the Quran and yet needs implementation. We do not need sectarianism, feudalism, mullahism and capitalism. Presently, in Pakistan we have feudal democracy that needs to be replaced by social or socialist democracy.


In the end, it is incumbent to mention that the founder of Pakistan, in his different speeches categorically announced that Pakistan was not being created for feudal lords, bureaucrats, religious extremists and capitalists. In his speeches he candidly mentioned that Pakistan would be a modern and democratic Islamic welfare state based on the principles of the Quran and Sunnah. In his speech delivered on August 11, 1947, he also clearly mentioned that there would be no racial or religious discrimination in Pakistan. The Muslims, the Hindus and the Christian are free to worship. This is the pluralist and inclusive spirit of Islam. The holy prophet permitted the Christians of Najran to worship in the mosque as they wish to worship. It shows the universal and humane mission of  Islam. If some people name it Islamic secularism, there is no harm in it. Actually, it is the fraternal aspect of Islam. The liberal and secular Muslims use such terms in a reaction to the narrow approach of the hardliners and religious extremists. Other wise, there was no need of using these modern terms such as Islamic democracy, Islamic socialism or Islamic secularism. Let the scientific minded and rational thinkers reinterpret and reconstruct the Islamic thought in the light of modern needs. We really need the enlightened thinkers who can show us the light in the dark tunnel. Life is not stagnant like a pond.It is moving like a flowing river. Same is the case with religions.The solution of our problems lies in the Principle of Movement.