UNNECESSARY CONFRONTATION

Mr. Albert Hourani (1915–1993) was a prominent Lebanese-British historian specializing in Middle Eastern studies, best known for his influential book, “A History of the Arab Peoples.” He argues that the optimal political approach for Arab countries is secularism. According to him, a nation is more likely to achieve progress when religion and politics remain distinct. In his words:

“The separation of religion from political life seemed to be a condition of successful national life in the modern world.”

In modern times, the enlightened class argues that religion should be kept within the private sphere. They believe that separating religion and politics is essential for creating a peaceful society. In contrast, contemporary Islamic supporters strongly oppose this view, asserting that religion and politics are inseparable. They claim that the two are interconnected and cannot be separated.

This unnecessary debate stems from dichotomous thinking. These individuals see only two options: religion with politics or religion without politics. As a result, they view each other as foes and start fighting. However, there is a third view, which relates to gradualism. This approach involves practically accepting the sphere in which the current system allows religion to operate without debate and using it as a starting point to begin one’s work intellectually.

The simple solution to this conflict is for the Islamist group to accept what the secular group defines as a clear separation and practical division. Even within this framework, the Islamic group can continue to peacefully promote its ideas, a freedom it already fully enjoys. In such a situation, there is no cause for concern.