Islam, Human Rights & Secularism

“So many others have tried their hand at putting together a story of the wonderful harvest of Scripture and history that took place among us, using reports handed down by the original eyewitnesses who served this Word with their very lives.

Since I have investigated all the reports in close detail, starting from the story's beginning, I decided to write it all out for you, most honourable Theophilus, so you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught.”

- Luke, 1:1-4

I recently attended a talk by distinguished Professor Abdullahi An-Na’im on Islam, Human Rights and Secularism. While a firm believer of Islam, I found out however, that for him, faith was not blind at all. Coupled with his extensive knowledge and work on Religion, Law and Human Rights in cross-cultural perspectives, he proved that religion neither has to be dogmatic nor employ the use of arms to proliferate its beliefs.

I don’t suppose for one minute that he meant his talk for the sole purpose of sparking some lively discussion and clever scholarly debate. And neither did I think he meant for us to pack his thoughts and ideas into a neat little parcel so we may pat ourselves on the back as we walk out of the auditorium and congratulate ourselves for being open-minded and world-conscious thinkers unlike our more ignorant Singaporean counterparts.

Rather, I noted with interest as Professor An-Na’im noted at the outset of his talk that he did not believe in scholarship for its own sake, but scholarship for the sake of social change. It felt like he was a keen analyst, liberal thinker, and a firm believer of Islam all rolled into one. Using a didactic approach, he sought to convince his audience that Islam (and religion more generally), human rights and secularism most certainly may – and should indeed, co-exist in a tripartite relationship. All this without negating the basic premise that all religions must necessarily be founded upon human agency: i.e. a faith and conversion experience that is both intimately personal and based on one’s own volition and free will.

Religion, if understood in Professor An-Na’im terms, can be as reason-able as it is spiritual. I agree. A faith that is blind is dogma and extremism at its worst. Perhaps that may shed some perspective on the monstrosities and violence that we witness taking place in and around our world, committed against believers and un-believers alike, all in the name of god.

We use it in vain.

If nothing else, I was convinced that Professor An-Na’im demonstrated a genuine, and no less outstanding understanding of his faith and applied it to his world no less fervently than some of the fiercest proponents of Islam. This ought to give us some food for thought, and perhaps, more than a mouthful to swallow.

There is certainly room for us to revolutionise our conceptions and notions of evangelism and outreach – and the way we are used to doing things. To be given an international platform and to have the chance to step into secular institutions to speak, if not “preach” Islam, and to be embraced, and lauded no less, for doing so, is something worth giving more than a penny for our thoughts.

Apologetics shouldn’t be the be all and end all of our attempt to engage with our worlds. We have what it takes to step out of our defences and to a greater extent, our defensiveness, and take the offence for a change with the same grace-full confidence that David took against Goliath. Sling and shot, sword and spear, surely that which we purport as the Truth, the Way and the Life is more than able to hit the nail on the head and engage the world by way of Reason, Witness, Spirit, or Signs, Wonders and Miracles.

Samuel reasoned with the Israelites concerning their choice of a human king over that of the divine King of Kings that delivered them out of Egypt. Solomon’s display of practical wisdom in Proverbs still addresses the human condition to this day. Paul wrote letters to clarify doubts and address issues that the various churches were struggling to deal with such as idolatry and debauchery. And God chose the Word as the medium through which we may get to know Him – “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.” (1 Cor 1:21)

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. Faith, or hupo-stasis in Greek, is literally under-standing. Our faith is a relevant faith, where what we believe and know about God is the confidence upon which we may stand on as kings and priests, human beings created in the likeness of God.

Faith is not blind. May we apply our minds even as we apply our hearts. God is alive and present in our world. May our under-standing show it.