European Transition to Secular Thought

European Transition to Secular Thought: Lessons for Muslim

Accepted for publication in Insights Magazine: Dawah Academy, IRI, IIUI

publication has been interminably delayed. The document EHL4Mmerged combines original paper with edits done by IRI, where some references have been added and others have been asked for. This needs to be polished to create a final version for submission elsewhere.

See also, central page on Decline of Morality in the West

Respected Br Dr Asad Zaman Sahib,

Assalamu ‘Alaykum wa Rahmat Allah

I hope this message reaches you in best of your health and high spirits of Imaan!

Thank you indeed for your kind query. Your article, “Transition to Secular Thought in Europe: Lessons for Muslims,” will be appearing, insha Allah in vol. 4, no. 1. It did not remain possible for us to include it, according to our original plan, in vol. 3 vol. 4, as treatment of the several queries which remained unattended is taking editor’s time. As discussed on the phone, about 25-30% work in this regard still needs to be taken care of. We are in the final stage of editing of vol. 3 no. 4, and as soon as it is sent to the press, shortly, we will get back to final editing work of vol. 4, no. 1. We shall get back to you at that time for your assistance, if needed. We highly appreciate your academic cooperation and patience with us.

Full Length Essay is attached at bottom of page -- The introduction section is given below. Short Newspaper articles on this theme are listed here:

  1. “European Transition to Secular Thought”.

This essay describes briefly how Europeans abandoned their religion of Christianity and developed a secular worldview. It also describes how much damage to both Europe and the world has resulted because abandonment of religion has also led to a substantial decline in morality in the West.

Friday, December 19, 2008. Jakarta Post: Social Movements: Lessons from European History

published in The News (Pakistan) on Friday, Oct 24, 2008, with title: Not Just Europe

See also, DECLINE OF MORALITY IN THE WEST.

Transition to Secular Thought in Europe:

Lessons for Muslims

Asad Zaman

1. Introduction................................................................................................................. 1

2. The Corruption of the Christian Clergy....................................................................... 2

2.1 Need for Separation of Religious and Temporal Leadership................................ 4

2.2 Preferring Simple Lifestyles to Luxury................................................................. 5

2.3 The Worst of all Creatures..................................................................................... 6

3. Rejection of Traditions and Formation of Sects......................................................... 7

3.1 Unity in Diversity.................................................................................................. 8

3.2 The Ummah as One Body................................................................................... 10

3.3 Love and Tolerance............................................................................................. 11

4. Religious Wars in Europe.......................................................................................... 12

4.1 The European Mindset........................................................................................ 14

4.2 The Rules of War................................................................................................. 15

4.3 Islamic Standards of Justice................................................................................ 16

5. Conclusions............................................................................................................... 17

1. Introduction

A dramatic transition in ways of thinking took place in Europe between the sixteenth and the eighteenth century. Tawney (1930) describes this transition to secular ways of thinking as follows:

The theory of a hierarchy of values, embracing all human interests and activities in a system of which the apex is religion, is replaced by the conception of separate and parallel compartments, between which a due balance should be maintained, but which have no vital connection with each other.

An essential ingredient of secular thought is the idea that there are spheres of human life and intellectual effort which are not connected to religion. Islamic teachings match pre-modern European thought that religious considerations are of paramount importance in all spheres of life. In dramatic contrast, eighteenth century European thought treats social, political and economic thought without reference to religion or the spiritual aspirations of man. Tawney (1930) has documented this revolution in thought, and also provided the complex and subtle historical details of how it came about in England.

Since then, secular thought has come to dominate the world, influencing the thinking of all across the globe. Religion has been virtually driven out of the public sphere. Removal of religious barriers against greed, hedonism and individualism has led to

  • social catastrophes: breakdown of families and community.

  • political calamities: immoral wars conducted for control of resources.

  • Environmental disasters: pollution, global warming, destruction of species and forests, all for the sake of multinational profits

  • Financial Crisis: Ponzi schemes, large scale speculative gambling, and fraudulent practices encourage by putting greed above all social considerations.

More recently, the harmful effects of relegating spirituality and morality to a personal and private choice have become obvious for all to see. An effort is being made to reintroduce religion, spirituality and morality into debates and intellectual arenas from which they have been long excluded.

Our goal in this article is to review some neglected and forgotten aspects of European history which led to this transition from religious based thought to secular ways of thinking. As Western education has become widespread throughout the Islamic world, some aspects of secular thinking have also become widely accepted by Muslims. Secular thought is clearly incompatible with Islam, which is a complete religion and provides guidance in all spheres of life. Maulana Syed Abul Hassan Ali Nadvi has highlighted the conflict between Islam and Modernity taking place all over the world in Islamic societies. Our object is not to present a comprehensive or balanced picture of this European history, which has been done by many authors, in many books, from many different angles. Instead, we will highlight certain ingredients which are especially important to Muslims in the struggle to resist the encroachment of secular thought into Islamic societies. In particular, we will put stress on those teachings of Islam which create barriers against replication of the European history of loss of faith.