Rasprave o sekularizmu u savremenoj arapskoj islamskoj misli
The debates over secularism in contemporary Arab-Islamic thought

Summary/Abstract: This article follows the intellectual debate about the place and role of religion in Arabic societies that was ignited over a century ago and has raged unabatedly until these days. This conflict is more than just a dispute about an issue as it poisons intellectual atmosphere that obstructs genuine dialogue on the relationship between state and religion. This paper argues that Arab societies need an authentic answer to this universal dilemma; an answer that will protect rights of both believers and non-believers; a contextualized form of secularism rooted in local history and culture. For development of such an answer there already exist ample textual sources as well as rich historical experience discussed variously in the works of Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, Rashid Al-Ghannushi, and Louay Safi which were analyzed here. According to Al-Ghannushi in Islam and its history one can clearly distinguish political issues from religious affairs. In his own analysis today democracy is theoretically the second best, but in practice the best and the only possible choice for Muslim societies.

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