The Future of Shari'aFirst, the link between Islam and the state's legitimacy is well-grounded in history, although states have always sought to enlist Shari`a to bolster political authority.
Second, as literacy has risen, modern Muslims should seize the ability to form independent beliefs. Today, ulama no longer have an intellectual monopoly.
Third, the worldwide arena pressures state action. The international practices of equality and non-discrimination influence all states to adopt those measures even if those rights are not part of the state's agenda.
Fourth, the state's standing is naturally dependent upon society. Public policy inherently favors the majority, as a state's legitimacy and power relates to its acceptance among the people. Thus, the state is always acting based upon its underlying need for persuasion and approval. However, the tenets of secularism, constitutionalism, and human rights should prevent the majority from imposing its religious and cuiltural identity upon the minority.