Summary of Sunni concepts | 71- Concepts about secularism | Concepts (1105-1116)

0:00 Summary of the Concepts of Ahl al-Sunnah

0:09 Machiavellianism:

0:12 It was named after Machiavelli, author of the book *The Prince*, published in the year 1513 CE,

0:22 and it is considered the initial seed that paved the way for secularism.

0:27 In his aforementioned book, Machiavelli advocated

0:30 an explicit call to exclude religion from the realm of governance and politics,

0:36 establishing three interconnected foundations

0:39 derived from a purely non-religious worldview.

0:43 The first is that man is evil by nature,

0:48 and his desire for good is artificial, aimed solely at achieving personal gain;

0:53 therefore, in his view, there is no harm in this innate nature,

0:58 nor any blame in being swayed by it.

1:01 Second is the absolute separation between politics, religion, and morality,

1:07 emphasizing that there is no connection whatsoever between them;

1:11 while he did not reject religion and morality in themselves,

1:15 he freed the ruler from adhering to their constraints,

1:20 arguing that religion and morality should be confined exclusively to individual citizens.

1:25 Third is that the end justifies the means,

1:29 which served as his practical substitute for religion and ethics,

1:35 and through this principle, Machiavellianism became widely recognized and renowned,

1:39 though in reality it is merely one of its three pillars,

1:43 not the entirety of Machiavellianism.

1:48 Machiavellianism was a source of inspiration for most fascist, communist, and capitalist leaders:

1:57 Mussolini chose *The Prince* as the subject of his doctoral dissertation,

2:03 Hitler kept the book close to his bed,

2:07 reading from it every night before going to sleep,

2:11 and Lenin and Stalin were likewise disciples of it.

2:15 The spirit of Machiavellianism is clearly evident in the statement of Engels:

2:20 "The morality in which we believe

2:23 is any action that leads to the triumph of our principles,

2:27 no matter how much that action contradicts prevailing moral standards."

2:32 Lenin stated:

2:34 "The true communist fighter must

2:37 master all forms of deceit, deception, and misdirection,

2:42 for the struggle for communism

2:44 blesses every means that brings communism about."

2:48 Miles Copeland,

2:50 author of *The Game of Nations*, affirms

2:53 that Machiavellianism is the methodology of American capitalist politics.

2:59 The Definition of Secularism:

3:03 It is a mistranslation of the English word *secularism*

3:11 or the French *sécularité*.

3:15 As defined by the *Encyclopædia Britannica*, it means

3:19 a social movement

3:21 that aims to divert people

3:23 and direct them away from concern for the Hereafter

3:26 to an exclusive preoccupation with this worldly life alone.

3:29 The *Oxford English Dictionary* defines

3:31 the word *secular* with two meanings:

3:34 the first is worldly or temporal,

3:37 neither religious nor spiritual,

3:40 such as non-religious education,

3:43 non-religious authority,

3:45 or government as opposed to the church;

3:48 the second is the view which holds

3:52 that religion should not be the basis for morality and education.

3:57 Thus, it becomes clear from the definitions of the *Encyclopædia Britannica*

4:00 and the *Oxford English Dictionary*

4:02 that secularism

4:04 denotes irreligion or temporalism—

4:07 that is, whatever has no relation to religion,

4:10 or stands in direct opposition to religion.

4:14 It is a movement and concept aimed at separating religion

4:18 from the entirety of practical life,

4:20 not merely from politics.

4:23 This began to emerge in the late Middle Ages

4:27 as a resistance against the intense urge

4:29 toward worldly renunciation

4:31 and contemplation of Allah and the Last Day,

4:34 which were predominant during those ages.

4:37 Thus, secularism arose,

4:39 calling for devotion to humanism

4:42 and human achievements in this worldly life,

4:46 while antagonizing and opposing religion;

4:50 it continued to evolve

4:52 until it culminated in an explicit call

4:54 to separate religion from the entirety of practical life.

4:58 As for "knowledge" in English,

5:00 it is "science,"

5:02 its adjective is "scientific,"

5:04 meaning based on science,

5:06 and scientism denotes the scientific doctrine.

5:09 Perhaps translating the term

5:11 *secularism*

5:13 and the concepts it entails

5:15 into the Arabic word *'almaniyyah* (suggestive of knowledge)

5:17 instead of *la-diniyyah* (irreligion)

5:19 was deliberate,

5:21 so that the doctrine would not collide

5:23 in direct confrontation

5:25 with the faith of Muslims in the Arab East

5:27 and their understanding of the Hereafter,

5:29 and so that the movement would be able

5:31 to propagate its ideas

5:33 smoothly and quietly,

5:35 while Muslims remained unawares.

5:37 There is no doubt that this concept

5:39 does not exist in Islam whatsoever;

5:41 rather, it is apostasy

5:43 and a complete shedding of the religion.

5:45 There is no secularism in Islam;

5:47 rather, such a concept

5:49 falls under the category of

5:51 *Jahiliyyah* (pre-Islamic ignorance).

5:53 The Qur'an mentions four pillars

5:55 of Jahiliyyah,

5:57 which are the very same pillars of secularism:

5:59 the assumption of Jahiliyyah,

6:01 the ruling of Jahiliyyah,

6:03 the wanton display of Jahiliyyah,

6:05 and the chauvinistic zeal of Jahiliyyah.

6:07 And a fifth pillar

6:09 was mentioned in the Sunnah:

6:11 the lord of Jahiliyyah.

6:13 These pillars of Jahiliyyah

6:15 are implemented today

6:17 in Muslim lands

6:19 with malice and cunning:

6:21 keeping people ignorant of their Lord

6:23 is the assumption of Jahiliyyah;

6:25 setting aside the Sharia of Allah

6:27 and rejecting His judgment is the ruling of Jahiliyyah;

6:29 the westernization of women

6:31 and their unveiling is the wanton display of Jahiliyyah;

6:33 the wanton display of Jahiliyyah;

6:35 basing loyalty and disavowal

6:37 on a homeland, ethnicity, or any banner

6:39 other than the banner of Tawhid

6:41 is the chauvinistic zeal of Jahiliyyah;

6:43 and the worship of wealth and capitalism

6:45 founded on usury

6:47 and gambling

6:49 is the lord of Jahiliyyah.

6:52 Kemalism:

6:55 It is Turkish secularism

6:57 as advocated by

6:59 Mustafa Kemal,

7:01 known as Atatürk,

7:03 who waged a relentless war against Islam

7:05 and its sacred rites:

7:07 he banned the call to prayer in Arabic

7:09 and banned the wearing of the hijab

7:11 in workplaces and public spaces,

7:13 among other measures,

7:15 aggressively combating everything related

7:17 to Islam and its outward manifestations.

7:19 Between Religion,

7:23 Politics, and Corruption:

7:25 The separation of religion

7:28 from politics emerged in the West

7:30 because their religion was corrupt

7:32 and would corrupt politics;

7:34 whereas this separation was introduced in the East

7:36 because politics was corrupt,

7:38 and religion prevents its corruption.

7:40 Secularism

7:43 and Worship:

7:46 Secularism pays

7:48 no regard to religion and worship

7:50 as long as they remain a private matter

7:52 between the servant and his Lord,

7:54 confined strictly to the mosque

7:56 without extending into practical life.

7:58 But if anyone attempts

8:00 to establish the principles of religion in governance

8:02 and politics, secularism confronts

8:04 and fiercely fights against them,

8:06 which

8:08 explains why its war is focused

8:10 against Islam specifically, unlike other

8:12 religions. The case of

8:14 secularists is just like that of

8:16 the people of Madyan with their prophet

8:18 Shu'ayb, peace be upon him,

8:20 when he forbade them from giving short measure

8:22 and weight,

8:24 and they said to him: "Does your prayer

8:26 command you that we should abandon

8:28 what our forefathers worshipped?"

8:30 “They said: O Shu'eyb! Doth thy way of prayer command thee that we should forsake that which our fathers (used to) worship, or that we (should leave off) doing what we will with our own property. Lo! thou art the mild, the guide to right behaviour.” (11:87)

8:33 It is the very same case as the disbelievers of Quraysh

8:35 with the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him:

8:38 they did not initially oppose

8:40 him when

8:42 he worshipped Allah alone in the cave of Hira;

8:44 but when he called people

8:46 to adhere to the religion of Allah,

8:48 establish the societal order

8:50 upon its foundation, and renounce

8:52 disbelief, they fought him

8:54 with the utmost hostility.

8:56 Secularism

8:59 is a Defiance of Truth:

9:01 Reason dictates that the Maker

9:04 is best aware of what He made;

9:06 so whoever advocates

9:08 separating the religion of Allah from politics

9:10 either does not believe

9:12 that Allah is the Creator

9:14 the universe and its Sustainer,

9:16 and He knows best what He created;

9:18 or he is simply a follower of base desires,

9:20 stubbornly defying the truth.

9:24 Secularism is ruling

9:26 by other than what Allah has revealed.

9:29 Since secularism

9:31 is basing life on something other than religion,

9:33 it inherently means

9:35 ruling by other than what Allah has revealed.

9:37 Accordingly,

9:39 it is an order of ignorance (Jahiliyyah)

9:41 that has no place whatsoever within the fold

9:43 of Islam.

9:45 "Is it then the judgment of the time of ignorance they seek?

9:47 And who is better than Allah

9:49 in judgment for a people who are certain in faith?"

9:51 It is an order

9:53 of explicit disbelief,

9:55 by the explicit text of the Qur'an:

9:57 "And whoever does not judge by what

9:59 Allah has revealed, then it is they

10:01 who are the disbelievers."

10:03 Refutation of those who do not

10:06 declare secularism to be disbelief:

10:08 Most

10:11 of the verses concerning the excommunication

10:13 of those who do not judge by what Allah revealed

10:15 and the negation of their faith

10:17 were revealed regarding those who claim

10:19 faith from among the People of the Book,

10:21 or the hypocrites

10:23 who outwardly profess Islam.

10:25 That is—and Allah

10:27 knows best—only because

10:29 whoever makes no claim to faith at all

10:31 does not

10:33 need to be proven as such; he is necessarily a disbeliever,

10:35 and there is no doubt about his disbelief.

10:37 This is unlike someone who claims faith

10:39 yet still rules by other

10:41 than what Allah has revealed;

10:43 his case requires affirmation

10:45 that he is indeed among the disbelievers,

10:47 and his mere claim

10:49 to faith will avail him nothing.

10:51 Thus, the words of Allah Almighty:

10:53 "And whoever does not judge

10:55 by what Allah has revealed,

10:57 then it is they who are the disbelievers,"

10:59 and His saying:

11:01 “Hast thou not seen those who pretend that they believe in that which is revealed unto thee and that which was revealed before thee, how they would go for judgment (in their disputes) to false deities when they have been ordered to abjure them? Satan would mislead them far astray.” (4:60)

11:03 "...that they believe in what

11:05 was revealed to you and what

11:07 was revealed before you?

11:09 They wish to seek judgment

11:11 from the Taghut, even though

11:13 “Hast thou not seen those who pretend that they believe in that which is revealed unto thee and that which was revealed before thee, how they would go for judgment (in their disputes) to false deities when they have been ordered to abjure them? Satan would mislead them far astray.” (4:60)

11:15 and Satan wishes to

11:17 mislead them far astray,"

11:19 as well as His saying:

11:21 "But no, by your Lord, they do not

11:23 believe until they make you judge

11:25 in what disputes arise between them

11:27 “But nay, by thy Lord, they will not believe (in truth) until they make thee judge of what is in dispute between them and find within themselves no dislike of that which thou decidest, and submit with full submission.” (4:65)

11:29 in themselves any hesitation

11:31 regarding what you have decided and submit

11:33 completely"—

11:35 were revealed concerning the hypocrites.

11:37 For these hypocrites

11:39 used to pray

11:41 and fast, and they claimed

11:43 to have faith, observing

11:45 many outward rituals of Islam;

11:47 yet that did not prevent

11:49 them from being branded with disbelief

11:51 and stripped of true faith,

11:53 because they abandoned ruling by what

11:55 Allah revealed and seeking judgment from Him.

11:57 Therefore, let no one argue

11:59 against the disbelief of secularism

12:01 by claiming that it does not deny

12:03 the existence of Allah, nor does it forbid

12:05 performing acts of worship,

12:07 and that it outwardly respects

12:09 religious institutions

12:11 and clerics; for religion

12:13 is an indivisible whole,

12:15 as the Almighty said:

12:17 "O you who

12:19 have believed, enter into Islam

12:21 completely,

12:23 and do not follow the footsteps of Satan.

12:25 Indeed, he is to you

12:27 a clear enemy."

12:29 "Al-Silm" means Islam,

12:31 as the exegetes have stated.

12:33 And the Almighty said:

12:35 "Indeed, those who disbelieve

12:37 in Allah and His messengers,

12:39 and wish to discriminate

12:41 between Allah and His messengers,

12:43 saying, 'We believe in some

12:45 and disbelieve in others,'

12:47 and wish to adopt

12:49 a way in between—

12:51 those are the disbelievers,

12:53 in truth.

12:55 And We have prepared

12:57 for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment."

12:59 The constitution:

13:02 The constitution

13:05 is the basic law

13:07 or fundamental statute

13:09 of any country,

13:11 to which all laws are referred;

13:13 hence, it is called

13:15 the mother of all laws.

13:17 It may be amended or repealed

13:19 in democratic systems

13:21 through a referendum,

13:23 or a ruler may suspend it

13:25 in positive-law systems

13:27 when ruling under what they call

13:29 emergency law.

13:31 But the constitution of the Muslims

13:33 is the Book and the Sunnah,

13:35 for they reign supreme over governance

13:37 in the Islamic system,

13:39 and to them every subsidiary law must refer.

13:41 If the Muslims

13:43 in any country draft

13:45 a numbered constitution for themselves

13:47 in the form of main articles,

13:49 its primary, foundational article—

13:51 which can never

13:53 be abolished, amended,

13:55 or put to a referendum—must be

13:57 that Islamic Sharia

13:59 is the sole source

14:01 of legislation, nullifying

14:03 any law that contradicts it;

14:05 and this article

14:07 must be effectively implemented on the ground,

14:09 not merely stated

14:11 as dust in the eyes

14:13 through cunning,

14:15 twisted phrasing, such as when some omit

14:17 the definite article from it

14:19 to make it just one source

14:21 among multiple sources,

14:23 rather than the sole source.

14:25 With this aforementioned

14:27 condition, any

14:29 constitution in any Muslim land

14:31 would be a branch of the Book

14:33 and the Sunnah, governed by them,

14:35 and incapable of contradicting

14:37 them.

14:40 Civil law

14:43 is the set of penal or criminal

14:45 rules

14:47 that govern any country

14:49 based on its constitution,

14:51 to which secularists resort for judgment—

14:53 seeking judgment from the Taghut

14:55 while casting Islamic Sharia

14:57 behind their backs.

14:59 The first person to initiate

15:01 codified legislation in the modern era

15:03 was Napoleon,

15:05 in the year eighteen hundred and four

15:07 CE,

15:09 and from him Easterners adopted it.

15:11 Yet Islamic fiqh,

15:13 especially in the section on commercial and civil dealings,

15:15 is the true reference for Muslim judges

15:17 regarding penal rulings

15:19 or criminal matters,

15:21 in place of this so-called

15:23 civil law.

15:26 Civil society

15:28 is an ambiguous term

15:31 with multiple meanings,

15:33 which its proponents employ

15:35 for various purposes;

15:37 it lump-sums anything

15:39 with everything.

15:41 It emerged through a long evolution

15:43 and carries within its folds

15:45 tensions and contradictions

15:47 that are the very cause of its ambiguity.

15:49 Within this term,

15:51 the concepts of

15:53 the believer versus the non-believer,

15:55 man and woman,

15:57 and tribal member versus Bedouin,

15:59 and so forth, disappear entirely,

16:01 and they are all replaced

16:03 by the concept of the individual citizen.

16:05 Among the most essential pillars

16:07 civil society,

16:09 the principle of individual freedom,

16:11 and secular citizenship

16:13 eliminate any other allegiance,

16:15 whether based on religion, ethnicity,

16:17 or the like,

16:19 and lay the foundation for separating religion

16:21 from the state.

16:24 Nowadays, the term

16:26 "civil society organizations" may also be applied

16:28 to non-profit organizations

16:30 that aim to

16:32 serve the community in which they are established.

16:34 There is no objection to that

16:36 in such a case,

16:38 provided that none of these

16:40 organizations operates

16:42 on concepts contrary to Islam,

16:44 and that they are not

16:46 tied to foreign entities—

16:48 which are often

16:50 intelligence agencies—

16:52 that actually exploit them

16:54 to serve their own interests.

16:56 And this is indeed the reality of many

16:58 such organizations,

17:00 as events reveal after

17:02 a period of time,

17:04 during which the goals of these

17:06 suspicious entities are fulfilled,

17:08 or once they are exposed by the security services

17:10 of the countries where they operate.

17:12 The summary of the doctrine of

17:14 Ahl al-Sunnah

Summary of Sunni concepts | 71- Concepts about secularism | Concepts (1105-1116)

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