The Future of Shari'aFirst, a secular state would not exclude religion from the public life of society. Oftentimes, Muslims object to the notion of a secular state because of the negative connotations associated with Western cultures and their "secular states." But, even with a secular state, Islam and Shari`a would still have a public role. Separating religion from the state does not mean separating of religion and politics - Muslims will rightly seek to shape their lives around Islam, and Muslims generally want their political leaders to possess Islamic legitimacy.
A secular state does not follow an absolute definition. Rather, instituting a secular state is a constant exercise in negotiating the relationship between religion and the state. The only normative content of a secular state is the attempt to keep religion separate from state action; therefore, the secular state imposes a minimal ethos on its population and embraces mediation and balance.