A native of Bangladesh, Tarik M. Quadir received his doctorate in Islamic Studies from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, and currently reside in Turkey where he teaches about the work of 13th century Sufi mystic and poet, Mowlana Jalaluddin Rumi.

I think it would be wise for us to focus on the notion of dharmoniropekkhota, which signifies “neutrality in the choice of religion,” and not get entangled in the concept of “secularism” as it is understood in European countries. In Bangladesh, we tend to translate dharmoniropekkhota as secularism, though dharmoniropekkhota refers to only one of the many meanings of secularism current in the world today. This problematic translation initiates many unnecessary debates. Continue reading →