কিতাব পর্যালোচনা (Book Reviews)

6

On Secularism by Farooque Chowdhury

The present world we live in is called a secular world. Most "followable," "intellectual, and "Ellie" people promote and preach secularism through their rules, speeches, writings, etc. Secularism is an ideology that came from the womb of the Renaissance in Europe. In short words, is the worldly world and the world without religion. In Arabic, it's said العلمانية (Al'almaniyyah), rooted from عالم ('Aalam), meaning "world." Same as Urdu and Hindi, it's said لا دینیت (La-Diniyyat) or دنياویّت (Duniyawiyyat). But in Bengali, we said ধর্মনিরপেক্ষতাবাদ, which indicates the neutrality of religions and a kind of non-communalism. This is impossible and a wrong translation for this word too. It's said that in 1972 when the constitution was being written, the policymakers decided to translate "secularism" as the mentioned word so that people wouldn't understand it clearly and rebel against it because people were still pious and concerned about their religion (Allah knows). Originally it should be ধর্মহীনতাবাদ or ইহজাগতিকতাবাদ, some of writers are translated by these too. Anyway, when I started to study state philosophy, I first chose secularism. Because this is one of the keys to entering the thoughts of the west, and yes, there's an inevitable clash between Islam and secularism, I tried to point out the center point of the clash. Many of the ulemas have been written since they applicate to the Muslim world by colonization specialty (otherwise how will enter Secularism into us?  If you don't believe me, just look at Kemal Pasha and what he does in Turkey, what France does in Africa, what Britain does in Asia, and the rest of the world, etc. However, there was no evidence of accepting Secularism into the Muslim world willingly.  Thus, secularism spreads by force and brutality (don't forget the French Revolution, yehhe boy). Secularism wants to separate religion from the state. Religion in secular land is like what Daniel Haqiqatjou described as "a vast of paper flowers on the dining table by which enjoy eyes just." I read about secularism before that a little bit like its basic principles and how it conflicts with Islam.  But I wasn't satisfied and was curious about its application in the state and society. I wasn't going forward with elongated books of my limited knowledge and disability to take from that. That's why I was looking for a book that included so many things in one. And, alhamdulillah, I have gotten this book from the old bookshop at Kamalapur Rail Station. I tried to read this book (especially) slowly for an exact understanding of things and to acquire the underlying meanings of it. But I'm not succeed at all for the pressure of academic study and a bunch of worries.  After all, I want to share with you what is included in this book.

This book is not fundamental, but since it's compiled (journals and articles) and edited by Farooque Chowdhury (I don't know much about him, as he described himself in the preface), it could be possible he wrote something without ascertaining its facts. The book is full of so many discussions and discourses, lots of arguments, critics, and solutions; I'm mentioning just the most important and highlighting parts, and I hope you'll be interested. There is a foreword and preface to this important book, where it is discussed the mistakes of some Islamic scholars regarding secularism and Islam's stance on it, the concept of sovereignty and divinity in the west, etc. Then the book started with a definition of secularism, its historical development and evolution (secular beliefs in the 19th and 20th centuries), the evil influence of secularism on individuals, families, education, international relations, etc. Then some ideas and ideologies based on secularism and humanism, such as the rise of feminism, mass media propaganda, the sex revolution, the normalization of pornography, explicit sex on screen, the psychology study of Freud's school, and more. After that, he arrived at the new-age movement and its application, old age. The last two chapters include Secularism in the Muslim World, the impact of secularism on religious beliefs and practices, some questions about that can anybody be both secular and religious, some journal entries on how secularism forces religion and makes religion paralyzed, and secularism in India. The book is finished with its final remarks titled "The religion and secularism in the modern world."

I was enriched by this book; so many principles, discourses, criticisms, arguments, and information led me to rethink and realize things. Although the editor borrowed something disagreeable, like the aspects of democracy and Islam and liberal views on some issues, Dr. M. Abdul Mannan Chowdhury wrote in the preface, "...even though I have some reservations and I do not agree with all the statements and conclusions of these articles in to-to."

I'll rate it 8.3 out of 10, and this book is suggested for anyone interested in philosophy and world politics, and the reader should have some basic knowledge of them. HAPPY READING!

(I'm not good at English. Please correct me kindly if you find any mistakes. Oh yes, the door to critics is open. Thanks.)