Muslim Countries: Impact of Islam

Figure 1.--

One way of assessing Islam it seems to us is to study the policies and programs persued in Muslim countries. Here we are talking primarily about modern countries, although historic Islamic societies is another interesting subject. A Pakistani reader, however, does not believe this is a valid approach. We do not entirely agree with him, but are pleased to present his point of view. He writes, "You see Muslim countries as prime representatives of the religion of Islam. Tell me where is the Shariah Law implemented in full in any of these so-called Muslim countries? President Musharraf here in Pakistan has amended one of the Islamic Shariah Law on rape and adultery, throwing Pakistan further away from Islam."

Policies and Programs in Muslim Countries

One way of assessing Islam it seems to us is to study the policies and programs persued in Muslim countries. Here we are talking primarily about modern countries, although historic Islamic societies is another interesting subject. Can we look at Muslim countries to draw conclusions on how Islam has affected these countries. We tend to think that you cam and that this is a valuable exercise.

Objection

A Pakistani reader, however, does not believe this is a valid approach. We do not entirely agree with him, but are pleased to present his point of view. He writes, "You see Muslim countries as prime representatives of the religion of Islam. Tell me where is the Shariah Law implemented in full in any of these so-called Muslim countries? President Musharraf here in Pakistan has amended one of the Islamic Shariah Law on rape and adultery, throwing Pakistan further away from Islam." Further he tells us, "You have to make a clear-cut distinction between Islam and Muslims so as to not confuse whatever Muslims do as being Islamic. What Islam say is one thing and what Muslims do/dont is another. Let me give you an example. What if an unexperienced lame driver bangs a Mercedez car against a wall: who is to be blamed--the driver or the car? What these "Islamic Regimes" are doing i.e. enforcing/policing people to adhere to specific dress-codes like Taliban and Saudi governments is like banging Islam against the wall. What Crusaders did to innocent Muslims, the Church to innocent scientists, or Hitler (a christian by faith[HBC note: Hitler was baptized and raised a Christian, but it would be incorrect to describe him as a Chritian by faith. In fact the NAZIs were engaged in e beginning phase of an effort to eradicate Christiamity in Germany.]) to the Jews canot be attributed to the teachings of Christianity! It will be tragic to say the least. Unfortunately the West have come to see Islam from the black sheeps of the Muslim community as drivers of the car of Islam."

Responsibility

Our reader makes an important point, as to who is responsible in Muslim countries, the car or the driver. I take his point and accept in in part. But like life, I think the issue is much more complicated. We also note the same arguments put forward by Scocialists.

Communism

Socialists and Communists today say that thet can not be blaimed for what Lennin, Stalin, and other Soviet rulers did, that the Soviet regime was an abberation of Communism. To an extent I agree, but there are also elements in the nature of Comminism and Marxist doctrine that allowed the murder of millions of people. After all the same occured in China, North Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Eastern Europe.

Islam

As to Islam, you can take the position that the Tailban, the Mullhas in Iran, the Saudis, ect. are an abberation of Islam. But are their elements of Islam that make those regimes possible and allow them to persure intolerant policies? That is the question that must be asked. And why is there no government in the Islamic world where there is free speech and media. Even in secular countries like Turkey, people are procecuted for political and religious statements. And there are not just governmrnt retrictiins, but there are widespread public aversion to free discussion of religion such as evidence inthe reaction to imprtant works, such as the Solomon Rushdee books, the Nobel prize winner in Bangladesh, or film makers having their throats cut on the street. It may be as our reader suggests that the problems that Muslim countries have are due to failing to fully apply Sharia Law. It is also strikes us that it is also possible that the priblems come from the elements of Islam that do influence these countries. Arguing that there is no pure Islamic state is a convenient way of avoiding responsibility for the condition currently experienced in Muslim countries. I think it is striking that it is only in the West that that all Muslims can freely write and practice their faith. I occassionaly read in the paper about attacks in Pakistan on Muslims. Usually it is attacks on Shiias and Shiia Mosques. (Here I am not talking about graffiti and scuffles, but bombs where peopke are killed.) And in many other Muslim country there are attacks, usually on the Muslim sect that is in the minority. Here in America, a country so intensely criticised in the Muslim world, there are no such attacks where people are killed.

Intelectual Consistency

Interestingly we note that our reader who maintains that you cannot evaluate Islam on the basis of the conditions in Muslim countries, is quite prone to criticise secular sociery on the basis of conditions in the West, especially America. It is true as he claims that there is no pure Islamic state, although the Taliban would come close. It is also true that there is not pure secular state. (And of all the princi[pal Western countries, America is surely the least secularized.) Yest our reader has commented on American society, decrying crime, rape, and poverty. This seems to us a basic intelectual inconsistency undermining his contention that the situation in Muslim countries can not be used to assess Islam.

HBC

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Created: 10:21 AM 2/17/2007
Last updated: 10:21 AM 2/17/2007