From Secularism to Creation-Centered Thought

In this original philosophical inquiry, Dr. Nayef Bin Nahar rigorously addresses the conceptual ambiguity surrounding secularism in Arab-Islamic political thought. The author argues that applying Western-derived terms like "secularism" to Islamic societies causes intellectual alienation, as it misdiagnoses the fundamental debate over authority and governance. To resolve this, Bin Nahar establishes a precise typology, differentiating between five distinct levels of religious separation (Secularism, Laïcité, Non-religious politics, Non-religious authority, and Irreligion). He introduces the alternative concept of "Khalaqaniyya"—derived from the Quranic verse "Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command"—to accurately capture the shift when legislative sovereignty (the Command) is transferred from the Creator (Al-Khaliq) to human beings (Al-Khalq). The book moves the debate beyond surface-level political models, framing it around ultimate legislative reference points.

It offers a highly original philosophical critique that untangles decades of ideological confusion surrounding secularism, equipping readers with precise analytical categories for examining Islamic political theory.

Ideal for scholars of Islamic political thought, political scientists, philosophers of law, and readers interested in state-religion dynamics, conceptual analysis, and contemporary Arab thought.