Ali Abdul Raziq: A Pioneer of Secular Political Thought in Islam

Early in the 20th century, Egyptian scholar and preacher Ali Abdul Raziq gained popularity in the Islamic world for his divisive opinions on the interplay of politics and religion. His ground-breaking ideas brought secularism to the Islamic world, a concept that continues to be discussed by Islamic scholars and practitioners.
In general, secularism refers to the division of governmental and religious issues. On the other hand, the idea is given a deeper significance in an Islamic perspective. According to Ali Abdul Raziq, Islam does not specifically control politics or the government because it is a comprehensive religion. He makes the case in his well-known book Al-Islam wa Usul al-Hukm (Islam and the Foundations of Government) that Muslims are free to select the form of government that best fits their needs, regardless of historical precedent or the Qur'an or Hadith. This includes the khilafah and other political institutions. His point of view sought to make a distinction between the dynamic and practical workings of politics and the spiritual and ethical lessons found in religion.

In the Egyptian hamlet of Al-Gharbiya, in 1888, Ali Abdul Raziq was born into a well-known clerical family. His father, Sheikh Abdul Raziq, was a well-respected religious leader, and the family had a long history of academic excellence. Ali Abdul Raziq shown an intense interest in religious and scientific subjects from a young age.
One of the most esteemed and ancient Islamic educational institutions in the world, Al-Azhar, is where Ali received his initial education. He had a conventional Islamic education at Al-Azhar and developed into a skilled scholar. At Oxford University in England, where he pursued his studies further, he was introduced to Western political and philosophical ideas, which subsequently shaped his opinions on the interplay between religion and state.
Egypt was ruled by the British at the start of the 20th century, and the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1924 had left the Islamic world in disarray. Considered a symbol of Muslim unity, the centuries-old Turkish-led caliphate vanished overnight, creating a void in both politics and ideology. This led to a contentious discussion on how Muslims ought to set up their political lives in the contemporary day.
There was conflict in Egypt between conservatives who wished to uphold Islamic customs within the framework of the government and nationalists who desired freedom and reform from the colonial system. It was in this context that Ali Abdul Raziq made his opinions known, ones that went against the grain and provided fresh insight into the place of Islam in politics.
The contentious book "Al-Islam wa Usul al-Hukm" (Islam and the Foundations of Government) was written by Ali Abdul Raziq and published in 1925. Abdul Raziq made the case in this book that there is no set political structure that Muslims must adhere to. He contends that rather than establishing a specific state or governmental structure, the Prophet Muhammad disseminated religious doctrines that were primarily moral and spiritual in nature.
Furthermore, Ali Abdul Raziq underlined that the caliphate---which many Muslims regard as the cornerstone of the Islamic political system---is an artificial structure devoid of a strong foundation in religious writings. The work provoked intense discussions, received heavy condemnation from numerous traditional experts, and resulted in Al-Azhar endorsing Abdul Raziq.

Abdul Raziq used a number of Hadith and verses from the Qur'an that stressed the moral and spiritual aspects of Islamic teachings as well as the lack of clear instructions regarding a specific governmental structure to bolster his arguments. One of his primary points of contention is that the Qur'n contains no verses ordering Muslims to institute a caliphate or any other kind of particular political structure. The Qur'an, Surah Al-Maidah, Verse 48, which reads, "We have revealed to you O Prophet this Book with the truth, as a confirmation of previous Scriptures and a supreme authority on them. So judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their desires over the truth that has come to you. To each of you We have ordained a code of law and a way of life. If Allah had willed, He would have made you one community, but His Will is to test you with what He has given each of you. So compete with one another in doing good. To Allah you will all return, then He will inform you of the truth regarding your differences. " is one of the verses used to support his point of view. We have provided a guideline and a clear route for each of your nations. If Allah had desired it, He would have united you as one people. However, Allah wishes to put you to the test regarding the favor He has shown you. Thus, strive to conduct nice deeds. You shall all return to Allah alone, and He alone will make known to you the matter you have been debating.

This verse is frequently read as Allah giving humanity the opportunity to select the route that best matches their circumstances and period, and that the final test is how they do good rather than what governmental system they adopt. Abdul Raziq also cites a Hadith that describes Prophet Muhammad as a spiritual leader who prioritized moral instruction and the dissemination of Islamic teachings over building or bequeathing a certain political structure. The Hadith supports the claim that political organization was not part of the prophetic mission.
Using this reasoning, Ali Abdul Raziq aimed to demonstrate that political arrangements could and should be tailored to the social, cultural, and historical circumstances of each Muslim society, rather than adhering to classic forms such as the caliphate. Many traditional experts saw his ideas as a challenge to the very foundations of Islam and the Muslim community. They said that Abdul Raziq had diverged from conventional teachings that emphasized the need of religious and political unity in the khilafah system. His 1925 book "Al-Islam wa Usul al-Hukm" sparked a heated debate about religion's place in politics.

Abdul Raziq faced criticism from a variety of sources, including conservative clerics and prominent personalities who claimed that his beliefs threatened the current social and moral order. Some accused him of attempting to divide the Muslim community and bringing in secular, anti-Islamic Western influences. The debate not only erupted in Egypt, but also prompted emotions throughout the Islamic world, which was dealing with the effects of colonialism and industrialization.
Despite widespread criticism, Ali Abdul Raziq's ideas drew support from intellectuals and reformers seeking a fresh interpretation of Islam. They interpreted his thoughts as an attempt to rethink the function of religion in a more diverse and dynamic society. Abdul Raziq's followers claim that separating religion and politics allows for better flexibility in dealing with current difficulties and social transformation.
Some modern Muslim thinkers regard Abdul Raziq as a brave pioneer who initiated a discussion about how Islam may coexist with modern democratic and governance ideas. They suggest that a more flexible and contextualized approach to Islamic law and politics can assist Muslims in adapting to global changes without abandoning their spiritual beliefs.
Furthermore, some reformists argue that Abdul Raziq's ideas are consistent with Islamic teachings that promote intelligence and ijtihad (independent reasoning) in solving problems for the the Muslim community. They see these perspectives as part of a larger effort to rekindle intellectual vigor in the Islamic tradition.

As a result, we can conclude that Ali Abdul Raziq's secular ideas paved the path for secularism and political modernization movements in a variety of Muslim countries. His theories prompted intellectuals and reformers to investigate systems of administration that were not solely based on religious law, such as democracy in Turkey and Indonesia. Abdul Raziq initiated an intellectual debate about the role of religion in politics, which continues today.