Is there a separation of mosque and state?
– Richard, Sahuarita
Dear Habibi,
This is a simple question with a very complex answer.
Practically speaking, Muslim countries are ruled differently according to their own political, social and economic climate. Most of them mix Western and Islamic laws as they see fit.
Family law is usually Islamic canonical law or "Shariah"-based, but criminal and civil laws are taken mostly from Western legal codes such as those of the French, Swiss and some from the British.
I can illustrate two Muslim countries on opposite ends: Turkey, which is secular, and Saudi Arabia, where Christian churches are forbidden. I think that Malaysia is the moderate example and close to ideal because it is a Muslim country with a pluralistic way of life.
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Turkey is the only relatively successful Islamic secular country where even its family law is not Shariah-based. However, because its government made Turkey drastically secular, its government has been extreme against those who want to display their symbols of faith in public.
I visited Istanbul in 2001 and I must say that if it were not for its secularism, Turkey's rich history would not have been preserved. I felt that Turkey combined the best of the East with the best of West in one country. I think that is a gift of secularism.
Theologically speaking, separation of church and state within Islam is a controversial topic between Muslim scholars and faith-based Muslim political groups.
Egypt provides a clear example of such a divide. In March 2007, through a national referendum, the Egyptian government outlawed faith-based political groups. That means the extremist group Muslim Brotherhood is now considered outlawed because it supports a government of clerics, abolition of civil liberties, and rejection of secularism in Egypt.
A few months ago, according to scholar L. Azuri, Egyptian clerics, in contrast to the Muslim Brotherhood, "unanimously rejected the concept of a religious state headed by clerics, saying that this concept is incompatible with the principles of Islam. They have argued that Islam has from its outset decreed that there should be a civil democratic state with man-made laws, and that these laws may be based on Muslim religious law." Azuri is a research fellow with the Middle East Media Research Institute in Washington, D.C.
In other words, from an Islamic theological point of view, governments may or may not use the Quran to draw up laws. But there is no requirement to do so because history has shown that mixing Islam with government has produced more extremism and violence. Islamic theology supports pluralistic, democratic states.
As someone of Egyptian origin, I hope that the Muslim Brotherhood or its sympathizers never get to rule Egypt – or anywhere else in the world.
I support secularism because I don't want my religion manipulated by states. Islamic theology supports keeping the government out of religion, not states run by religious clerics.
Mona Darwich-Gatto, an Arab-American, has lived in several places throughout the world and has moved around with her husband, a former Marine. You can read her blog, "Salaam Sahuarita," and add your comments at the SahuaritaStar.com Web site. Send your questions to askamuslim@azstarnet.com.
* Habibi and Habibati are the male and female forms of a commonly used Arabic word that means "darling," "honey," "dear" or "friend."
Mona Darwich-Gatto: Ask a Muslim
