The secular liberal says to religious people: ignore politics, just focus on worship, teaching your religion, and learning about your religion.
But what if the government restricts worship, teaching, and learning about your religion, all in the name of fighting “radicalism” (i.e., traditional Islamic beliefs and practices)?
For instance, what if the government limits the number of mosques, or limits their hours of operation, or shuts down mosques associated with traditional Muslim groups?
What if the government limits what topics can be preached about in mosques, what ideas can be transmitted on the internet, and what texts can be read in Islamic schools?
What if the government surveils, harasses, discriminates against, and imprisons “radicals” – and then defines “radicals” to include individuals who frequently pray in the mosque, frequently fast or read Quran, wear a beard, or wear a veil?
RELATED: Liberalism Is the Fentanyl of Society
These exact policies are employed by the liberals who govern Western countries (e.g., France, Germany) as well as the liberals who govern many Muslim majority countries.
Religion is not reducible to politics, and the most important elements of religion (e.g., iman, taqwa, salah, siyam, zakah, hajj) are not directly related to politics. Nevertheless, many political systems (e.g., liberalism, communism, Hindutva, Zionism) restrict or repress all elements of the Islamic religion, including worship, religious teaching, and religious learning.
This is why all Muslims who wish to worship, teach, and learn cannot be neutral in political matters. It is only by ensuring a proper government that Muslims will be able to worship, teach, and learn. This is why it is absurd to state: ignore politics, just focus on teaching and learning religion.
In the bizarre world in which we live, a Muslim who disagrees with political policies that repress Islamic worship, teaching, and learning, is labelled an “Islamist radical” – who is “only concerned politics,” and who likely wants to engage in “terrorism.” Shockingly, it is even self-identified “Muslims” who will make this criticism.
RELATED: The Logical Necessity of the Caliphate