Zaid Shakir – Islam, Secularism, and Modernity

About this lecture

In this thought-provoking lecture, Imam Zaid Shakir examines the fundamental tensions between Islam, secularism, and modernity, arguing that the modern secular project — despite its promise of freedom and equality — has produced rootlessness, loss of meaning, and deepening inequality. He makes the case that Islamic tradition, far from being oppressive, provides the very context and framework through which human beings can achieve genuine freedom and fulfillment. Drawing on sociology, Quranic concepts of the soul, and contemporary political realities, Shakir offers a compelling Islamic response to the dominant secular worldview.