What is secularism? Secularism is not a religion; instead it is a practical formula of life. The crux of secularism is that basically there are two different affairs of life: worldly affairs and other worldly affairs. There is a declared or an undeclared settlement between the two disciplines. Broadly speaking religion pertains to other worldly affairs and secularism pertains to worldly affairs. 

Life cannot be divided into watertight compartments. Every aspect of life is bound to affect the other aspect of life. And certainly religion and secularism are not exceptions. The word secularism was not in the previous dictionary of mankind but in essence Islam advocates the same kind of settlement between the two affairs of life.

According to Islam, religious matters are fixed on ideal norms. One has to accept it without any change or alteration. But the nature of worldly affairs is quite different. In worldly affairs there are differences between different groups. It is not possible to bring about consensus in these affairs. Islam has adopted a very practical formula: In religion Islam advocates idealism, and in worldly affairs, Islam advocates status quoism.

Status quoism does not mean to accept the situation as a reality. Islamic status quoism means to avoid confrontation and try to disseminate your ideas through peaceful methods. You can be an idealist in your personal life, but you cannot establish idealism in social and political life. So, Islam gives us a very practical formula: follow idealism in your personal life, and when it comes to the social and political affairs, be practical. This is the concept of secularism in Islam.

Islam differentiates between individual and society. As an individual you can follow your ideal norms but this is simply not possible in the social and political fields. So the best formula for peaceful living is individual idealism and political secularism.

Modern secularism is not an independent discipline. Modern secularism is completely subject to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the consensus of all the member countries of the United Nations Organisation. No concept of secularism will be accepted that contradicts the universally accepted human rights under the auspices of the United Nations. By adding this charter secularism is not a danger to any group of people instead it is a boon to all communities and groups including religious groups.

According to this definition, secularism is quite in accordance with the Islamic teachings. Islam focuses more and more on opportunities. Any scheme that opens the doors of opportunities is acceptable to the religion of Islam, and secularism has the same value. The secular system is a great boon. Secular system accepts complete freedom to any individual including one’s right of dissemination of his own ideas provided he refrains from violence. Every individual is allowed to do anything as long as he follows the peaceful methods. He is not allowed to be harmful to any other member of society. Until he is harmless he is free to all kinds of activities including religious activities.

This is the gist of secularism and in this sense Islam has no problem with secularism and it is completely comfortable with secularism. So there is no conflict between Islam and secularism at all. Islam endorses secularism and secularism endorses Islam. This is the situation between Islam and secularism regardless of it being declared or undeclared.