The author has drawn carefully the complex issue of religion and state, secularism, and modernity. These entire big topics, although have been discussed by scholars and ulama in the Arab and Muslim since the beginning of the decolonization process more than 40 years ago, are still not easy to be anchored in Muslim society. Fouad Zakariyya, the modern Arab secularist, is taking debatable steps by saying that Arab thinkers should revive the old paths of Mu'tazilites, Ibn Rushd, or al-F?r?b?, because in fact, all Arab and Muslim thinkers are the direct product of Western academia, no matter where they are residing. However, Zakariyya is right when he says that the value of freedom, justice, and equality is not well expressed in the governments of the Arab world, especially in Gulf States. Sadly, Shari'ah is often used as a last attempt to preserve their hegemonic power. Islam, in his eyes, is corrupted by both the revivalists and the official Muslim rulers.

Students who are interested in the contemporary Arab thoughts should have read this book.