July 14, 2002

These are difficult times for people in South Asia. A person caught in the crossfire between the forces of fanaticism and political extremism finds no escape. As a result what we witness today is the destruction of human civilization. To understand this phenomenon, especially in its historical context, the reader would be well advised to look up Dr Mubarak Ali’s treatise Mazhab aur siyasat: imtizaj, tasadum aur alahedgi.

Religion and politics, the scholarly Mubarak Ali points out, have a common goal. They both seek to capture power and it is inevitable that a clash develops between them. There then comes a stage when they join hands to share power . This is the process of the assimilation of religion and politics. In another context, political power dominates the forces of religion and exploits them for its own benefit. This is what happened in Pakistan in the period of Ziaul Haq’s regime.

But history has demonstrated that this phase does not last long. Running the state, which is the sole business of politics and politicians, is not free of contradictions and invariably a clash develops with the clergy. The conflict between religion and the state is finally resolved when they reach an understanding to confine themselves to their own prescribed sphere and not interfere in the other’s area. Those at the helm of political power do not meddle in religion. Similarly the clergy is not allowed to impose its will on the state. This is the secularization of politics which is the very basis of democracy.

While taking up the history of the Muslims, Dr Mubarak Ali analyzes the dilemma they have faced in coping with the process of social change. They have reacted in different ways. The religious elements have attempted to thwart this process by resorting to oration from the pulpit and issuing fatwas. Or else they have opted for the more pragmatic course and accepted material changes by re-interpreting relevant beliefs and adjusting religion in response to the demands of modernity. Lastly the clergy has reacted by withdrawing from the new social order totally.

Observing that religion and politics must be kept separate, Ali is of the opinion that the real strength of religion lies in the faith of the followers and not in state authority. By seeking support from the state, religion becomes subservient to political power and thus loses its sanctity.

Thus Akbar married nine wives and when his action was questioned by some people, the emperor obtained a fatwa in his favour from a maliki kazi who replaced the sitting kazi. In Europe democracy became firmly rooted only when the church and the king separated their jurisdictions after a long period of deadly confrontation.

Mazhab aur siyasat: imtezaj, tasadum aur alahedgi — Hamza Alavi distinguished lecture
By Dr Mubarak Ali
Irteqa Institute of Social Sciences, 8 Al Ahmad Mansion, Block 13 B, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Karachi
Tel: 021-498 3688. 24pp. Rs15

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