What is secularism?

Praise be to Allah.

Secularism is a new philosophy and a corrupt movement which aims to separate religion from the state, and focuses on worldly matters, and worldly desires and pleasures; it makes this world the only goal in life, and forgets and ignores the Hereafter. It pays no attention to deeds pertaining to the Hereafter. The words of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) may be applied to the secularist: “Wretched is the slave of the dinar and the slave of the dirham and the slave of the khameesah (a kind of luxurious garment made of wool with patterns). If he is given he is pleased and if he is not given he becomes discontent. May he be wretched and doomed, and if he is pricked with a thorn may it not be pulled out (i.e., may he have no help to remove it).” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (2887). 

This description includes everyone who criticizes anything of the teachings of Islam in word or deed. The one who rules according to man-made laws and abolishes the rulings of sharee‘ah is a secularist; the one who permits forbidden things such as adultery, alcohol, music and usurious (riba-based) transactions, and believes that forbidding them is harmful to people and is narrow-mindedness which causes people to miss out on some benefits, is a secularist. The one who ban or objects to the carrying out of hadd punishments such as executing the murderer and stoning or flogging the adulterer and the drinker of alcohol, or cutting off the limbs of the thief or bandit, and claims that carrying out these punishments is inhumane, or that it is cruel and abhorrent, also comes under the heading of secularism. 

With regard to the Islamic ruling concerning them, Allah, may He be exalted, says, describing the Jews (interpretation of the meaning):

“Then do you believe in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest? Then what is the recompense of those who do so among you, except disgrace in the life of this world”

[al-Baqarah 2:85]. 

Whoever accepts whatever suits him of the religion, such as laws on personal and family matters, and some acts of worship, and rejects whatever does not suit him, is included in this verse. 

Similarly, Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Whosoever desires the life of the world and its glitter; to them We shall pay in full (the wages of) their deeds therein, and they will have no diminution therein.

They are those for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter but Fire; and vain are the deeds they did therein. And of no effect is that which they used to do”

[Hood 11:15-16]. 

The aims of the secularists are focused on worldly accumulation and pleasures, even it it is haraam and even if it prevents them doing the obligatory duties. Thus they are included in this verse and in the verse in which Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Whoever wishes for the quick-passing (transitory enjoyment of this world), We readily grant him what We will for whom We like. Then, afterwards, We have appointed for him Hell, he will burn therein disgraced and rejected, ( far away from Allah’s Mercy)”

[al-Isra’ 17:18].

And there are other similar verses and hadeeths. And Allah knows best. 

Shaykh ‘Abdullah ibn Jibreen (may Allah have mercy on him).