[adverwork]

IT seems from these replies that people dont understand secularism.

My personal experience is that many of the brothers who comment here do have a wide understanding of the matters. Secularism is not a new idea to us Muslims.
Even though its the clearly the only model to have worked in modern times for both muslim and non-muslim countries. We have working examples of its success e.g. in Turkey and most western nation states. Practical success is rather obvious idea to judge an idea but it is hopelessly incomplete.
Oswald was an excellent marksman and even the most nimble military people are left with awe by his action.
But his activity remains undesirable. We shall not talk about Third Reich.

The point is not success. Every single dime of money, every single square meter of land for ruling will come in our possession that has been destined. The problem is whether we get it through Halaal means or not.
And hence it really boils down to the following: Are our actions according to Shariah? Every single step outside that is a mistake and a loss. Let not get blinded by the worldly success.

Just see, for a pleasant example, the wealth of oil. What did our Muslim brothers did to deserve that? Allah (SWT) gave all this wealth to nationalism obsessed Arabs!

We have had attempts at 'sharia'. Why i put 'sharia' in inverted commas is that I dont think anyone apart from God and His messenger fully and truly understands what Allah's complete will is in all matters. And besides Islam's multiple orientations in today's time make a single common religious perspective very difficult to implement. It does sound like pragmatic but I doubt it. We are only responsible for our attempts and that is all. If there is too much of scattering in our ranks then it is because of the fact that we have ignored some problems for far too long. The solution is to take up the problem - not to give up.
Therre are numerous models of 'sharia' in place or people who thought they will institute a sharia led community
1. taliban
2. al-shabab
3. Saud-wahhabi arabia
4. Islamic republic of Iran
5. Bandar Aceh
These are few examples of 'sharia' in practice in the modern world. In spite of the secular framework Turkey has taken some steps that I personally feel happy about. I have mentioned R.T.Ardughan's Somalia visit. His attempt to bring the errant Army General is a big positive development.

My argument is that if we can implement one Islamic concept at one place then it has proven its practicability.
If Pakistan has strict standards on public drinking then so can be the case in Tunisia, sooner or later.

And again the question is about Turkey's current orientation. Are there other indications apart from the obvious positive and negative points?
Anyones why I am putting all these things here is that if the Sunni world doesnot come to acknowledge that today's modern nation states are run best by secularism which is favorable towards religion then we will waste the 21st century not able to construct a proper way of running country and government. What i think people fail to understand is that secularism actually favors the practice of authentic religion rather than hypocrisy of compulsion. I cite turkey as being on the right path because they have pursued the path of secularism whilst holding fast to tradition of religion. Also I must add democracy. Democracy goes hand in hand with Islam. If the Muslims are not happy with a ruler he can be evicted. IF they are not happy with his ruling also then there can be referendums to overturn that ruling. Secularism is, at its best, religion neutrality.
Allah (SWT) says in Surah Asr that you are in a state of loss if you do not fall towards the side of Truth=Islam.
Any invitation to secularism is an invitation to loss. No one likes loss. Muslims might be in a state of shock because of the painful events of the recent past but they do maintain some awareness. May Allah (SWT) be with the Ummah.
And to add, I am expressing all this is because I think its important that Muslim realized quickly that secularism and Democracy will be the model of government for most nations in this world. Such prophecies have an element of supplication.
Supplications of a Muslim should be for guidance on the Right Path.
Even if secularism is the ideology of future we Muslims should take it as a sign of coming trial rather than of opportunity.
No elite of society will come to a different conclusion if he thinks in the best interest of society. Religion is supposed to be developed, spread and disseminated by non-legislative institutions not by government and ministries. IF I am in ministry of health, I focus not on fatwa's but just on providing health and welfare to my people. Christian Church indulged in atrocities.
As a result, Christians shunned the Church and turned to separation of Church and state.
Why should we too go down the drain?
I have to also add that I have lived in three varied countries - a eastafrican christian secular country, a muslim asian secular country and a western -'christian by name/atheist' secular country. All three implement secularism and democracy in their non-ideal forms. If any non-Islamic system shows signs of success then it only means that they might be doing something right. Here right = according to Islam. Falsehood does not have the property to be successful in the long run.

It is un-Islamic to pin our hopes on non-Islamic principles.
But even then with the semi-authentic models and with lack of true Islamic spirit in governance I have been blessed to have unrestricted religious liberties going to mosques, praying at workplace/school place and eating halal food and following the halal way. In none of the three countries do I think that were a religious government in place I would have been more religious. I could have infact become less religious seeing all the artifical show of piety like in saudi arabia. It is nice that you are thankful to secular system.
Thanks to Allah (SWT) are still due.
Thanking Allah (SWT) means using his blessings in the service of His Deen, or at least according to Shariah.

But anyway this thread is about the visible signs of movement of Turkey in the direction of Right Path.