Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Secretary General and former lawmaker Professor Mia Golam Porwar has issued the following statement on 5 July 2021 protesting and condemning the remark of Prime Minister that she made in the parliament on 3rd July saying that ‘Secularism exists even in the holy Quran’.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her concluding address in the budget session of the parliament tried to defend secularism by all means. At one point, she claimed that, the holy Quran also suggests secularism. We are vehemently condemning such unreasonable comment of the Premier. By making such remark, actually, he misinterpreted the holy Quran which is not acceptable at all.
The holy Quran never talked about secularism. In order to mislead the people, the Prime Minister misinterpreted Sura Kafirun. Almighty Allah in this Sura says, “To you be your religion, and to me mine.” It means, you belong to your religion so do I. This verse does not refer secularism. It does not endorse any other religion or doctrine except Islam. The rejecters and transgressors of Makkah proposed to follow some parts of this religion. Sura Kafirum was revealed to response such unjustified proposal. So, whoever wants to establish secularism with this verse, they are doing wrong.
The secularism precisely recommends to have no nexus between religion and the state. But Allah says in the Quran that, “If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah., never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter He will be in the ranks of those who have lost (All spiritual good). (Sura Imran: Verse 85). So no Muslim can follow secularism. Rather, they have to apply Islam at all phases of life including the individual, social and national aspects of lives.
But there is no room for imposing pressure upon the people of other faiths. Allah categorically declares that, “Let there be no compulsion in religion” (Sura Bakara: verse 256). It is clearly stated in the Quran. Prime Minister can check that by herself.
This is why; we are of the view that Prime Minister has made wrong statement and she has misinterpreted the holy Quran. We are urging her to withdraw or expunge such wrong statement.
