Deen Versus Secular Order: Islam's Discursive Challenge to Western-Dominated Global Politics

Abstract

The encounter between Islam and the West is frequently reduced to security threats, political violence, or the simplistic notion of a "clash of civilizations." While dominant, these frameworks obscure a more profound dimension: a deep-seated discursive struggle between two competing worldviews over the very foundations of a legitimate human order. Drawing on Dr. Hanna Pfeifer's work on discursive struggles and Islamist engagement with global politics, this paper argues that the contemporary contest over world order is shaped not merely by material power but by rival claims to meaning, authority, and the proper structure of existence. At the heart of this divergence lies a fundamental opposition. The modern Western secular order operates within a compartmentalized framework that confines religion to the private sphere, separating it from governance and law. In contrast, Islam—understood as deen, a complete way of life—presents a holistic and divinely grounded system that integrates all dimensions of existence into a unified whole. This paper contends that this is not simply a religious objection to secularism but the articulation of a coherent discursive counter-narrative challenging the presumed universality of the Western model. By examining three contested concepts—justice (Adl), sovereignty (Hakimiyyah), and modernity (Hadathah)—the analysis reveals how Islam offers distinct definitions that contest Western liberal assumptions, constructing an alternative framework rooted in divine authority. Drawing upon constructivist and post-structuralist International Relations theory, this study demonstrates that recognizing Islam's comprehensive vision as a legitimate discursive alternative is essential for moving beyond reductionist portrayals of Islam-West relations. Such recognition opens the door to genuine intellectual engagement, unsettling the assumption that the Western secular model is universally applicable or inherently superior, and inviting a more nuanced conversation about the future of global order.