Abstract
This article delves around the concept that Modernity and Religion go hand in hand in establishment of a modern state. Religion or deen encompasses all facets of our social, political and constitutional development resulting in a modern democratic state. Modernity and democracy are compatible with the teachings of religion Islam and all revealed religions are based upon such fundamental principles which are compatible with demands of contemporary societies. Numerous contemporary scholars writing on Islam in Muslim countries as well as Western scholars have supported this notion in their writings. Core issue discussed in this article is what is the role of religion in establishment a modern state? Socio-Political thought of leading world scholars are discussed in this paper. Various theories such as should religion be separated from politics or that the religion supplements the political development or that it is form of religion that is pivotal to the social development that aids the state to flourish in an air of tolerance and peace. All these notions are discussed in the framework of secularization, Atheism and socio-political thought of Muslim thinkers. Findings of this research reveal that personal aspect of religiosity of an individual strengthens the state and society. Furthermore the religious laws under Islam or the sharia are compatible with secularism and all revealed religions strongly support the concept of a modern welfare state.
Keyword(s)
Religion, Modern State, Secularization, Atheism, Islam, Sociopolitical thought