Rethinking Islamic Secularization: Institutional Differentiation, Democracy, and Human Rights in Mun’im Sirry’s Thought

Abstract

This study examines Mun’im Sirry’s concept of Islamic secularization and its implications for religion-state relations, democracy, and human rights in Indonesia. The relationship between religion and the state remains a significant issue in contemporary Muslim societies, particularly in Indonesia, where religious values, democratic principles, and human rights continuously interact. Existing debates often position secularization as anti-religious, creating tensions between Islamic commitment and modern democratic values. This study employed a qualitative research design using a descriptive-analytical method and a critical-hermeneutic approach. Data were collected through an in-depth interview with Mun’im Sirry, documentary analysis of his scholarly works, and relevant academic literature, followed by thematic and interpretive analysis. The findings reveal three main arguments. First, Sirry conceptualizes secularization as institutional differentiation rather than the elimination of religion, allowing religious and political institutions to maintain distinct functions. Second, historical analysis demonstrates that differentiation between religious and political authority existed within Islamic traditions and provides a foundation for understanding democracy as contemporary political ijtihad. Third, Sirry’s framework connects Islamic concepts of karamah al-insan, pluralism, and equal citizenship with human-rights principles. This study contributes theoretically by expanding discussions of Islamic secularization beyond the binary opposition between religion and modernity and offers practical implications for developing inclusive democratic governance in plural societies.