How Islam Responds to Liberalism: A Comparative Analysis of Ideological Foundations and Social Outcomes

Abstract

Liberalism has significantly shaped the modern political and social landscape. It exalts individual freedom, rational consent, and secular governance, holding that people may do as they wish so long as they do not harm others (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2021). Islam, by contrast, views human beings as servants of God and treats divine revelation as the ultimate moral law (WhyIslam, 2023). This paper compares these two paradigms and argues that their foundational premises are incompatible. It synthesizes philosophical literature and socioeconomic data to show how liberalism’s emphasis on unfettered autonomy conflicts with Islam’s emphasis on obedience, community, and objective morality. Findings indicate that Muslim-majority societies often display lower suicide and homicide rates and lower alcohol consumption than many secular liberal societies (Khan et al., 2020; World Health Organization, 2021; Fish, 2011). The discussion suggests that liberalism’s moral relativism can produce social fragmentation, whereas Islam’s moral boundaries foster community cohesion but restrict personal freedom for the person’s own benefit. The paper concludes that the tension between Islam and liberalism is structural and enduring; meaningful coexistence requires recognizing and negotiating these differences rather than assuming they are superficial.