Figure 1.--Here we see see two women and a boy in rural Egypt during 1926.

One way of assessing Islam is to study the policies and programs persued in Muslim countries. Here we are talking about modern countries, although historic Islamic societies is another interesting subject. There are several different types of Muslim countries. They include regimes which profess to be Islamic meaning to govern basic on the Koran and other Islamic religious texts. We have referred to these governments as Islamic regimes. A Pakistani reader takes issue with the term "Islamic regime". There are also secular states with majority Muslim populations that have a law code which which may be influenced but not based on the Koran. In these states individuals theoretically are equal before the law regardless of their religion. Many Muslim countries fall in between these two different poles.

Assessing the Impact of Islam on Muslim Countries

One way of assessing Islam it seems to us is to study the policies and programs persued in Muslim countries and the conditions of life in those 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 not 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."

The Caliphate

Our Pakistani reader advises us, "If you really want to judge the car by its driver then put an expert driver behind the wheels. Muhammad (pbuh) established the perfect Islamic State in his lifetime, which was continued by the four Caliphs (Abu Bakr, Umar, Usman, and Ali), which was reflected in how the Spanish Muslims ruled over Spain for over 8 centuries and furthermore, how Indian Muslims ruled over India (Hindus) for over 10 centuries (Muslims have always remained in minority from the beginning there!). Our struggle (jihad) today is not against the west but against the muslim rulers of today who have taken our islamic countries away from islam." We do indeed admire the intelectual and cultural achievements of the Golden Age of Islam. But our question is was this cultural flowering the result of Islam itself or the tolerance and diversity it fostered. And was not the decline of the Muslim world the result of the victory of faith over reason.

Modern Muslim States

There are several different types of Muslim countries. I think many westerners would attempt to use the term Islamic and Muslim countries interchangably. This is not accurate and it is important to understand the difference. An Islamic country is a country which uses the Koran, Islamic texts, and Sharia Law as the basis of the legal and social system. A Muslim country on the other hand is a country with a majority Muslim population. Many Muslim countries cam be Islamic or secular. Most countries are somewhere between these two opposing poles.

Theocratic states

An Islamic regime is a country which profess to be Islamic meaning the use of Sharia Law. These countries puport to govern basic on the Koran and other Islamic religious texts. We have referred to these governments as Islamic regimes. The best examples here are probably Iran and Saudi Arabia and perhaps Sudan. The former Taiban regime in Afghanistan would be another example. We would not say that these regimes are purely Islamic or Islamic law is fully implemented, but it is surely the dominant influebnce in the legal system. These countries would describe themselves as Islamic states. A reader writes, however, "One of the point that I wish you to know straight-away is that there is no "Islamic Regime" per se in the world at this very moment." This may be true, but there are clearly a few theocratic states moved primarily by Islam. Besides Iran and Saudi, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt before the miliray removed President Morsi seem to be moving in that directioin.

Mixed Systems

Nost majoeity Muslim states have mixed relgious and political systems. It is virtually impossivle go enturely remove Ix;am from the political system because of the nature of Islam. The Koean is not just aeligious document, it is also aolitical system requiring that aust government engotce a range of relhious dictates. Un addition. It also sets out a legak system--Sgafia, This includes a number secular mandates. It also not only instructs on right aznd wrong, but how vilolators should be treatd. An it sets out how Muslims shold conduct themselves toward non-Muslims as ell as limitations on the conductg ofnon-Muslims. Instructions like this can only be enforced through secular authority. Some countries have made considerable progress toward legislating secular law, but even in these states there is a cointunuing impact of Sharia. And the growth of fundamentalism has meant that there has been a growing movement oward Sharia. Other countries have been less successful and Sharia continues to a major force. We have begun to build pages on Islam in many of these countries: Akgeria, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Mali, Morocco, Pakistan, Syria, Tunisia, and other countries.

Secular Muslim States

There are also secular states with majority Muslim populations that have a law code which which may be influenced but not based on the Koran. In these states individuals theoretically are equal before the law regardless of their religion. Turkey is perhaps the most secularized Muslim state and the state with the deepest democratic roots. Islamicists in recent years have made progress in eroding the strict boundaries of a secular state. Several Arab states were influenced by the NAZIs and Soviets and after World War II and instituted a range of socialist reforms and varying degrees of totalitarianism. This has proven to be economic disasters. The former Soviet states of central Asia are also secularized, but certainly not democratic. Here Soviet authorities severely suppressed Islam for many decades. Secular authorities here tend to severely restrict religion. Uzbekistan for example does not allow Islamic worship unless the the Islamic group is registered with the state authorities.

Other Muslim countries

Many Muslim countries fall in between these two different extremes. This includes most countries in the Middle East and North Africa. It also includes the two Southeast Asian countries, Malaysia and Indonedia. These two countries have a tradition of moderate Islam.

Minority Muslim Communities in Non-Majority Muslim Countries

There are also several countries which have large Muslim populations. The largest Muslim minority is found in India. In fact even though the Muslims are a minority in India, India is the country with the largest Muslim population.

Minority Muslim Sects in Muslim Countries

Minority Religions in Muslim Countries

Created: 8:58 PM 2/2/2007
Last updated: 5:36 AM 4/2/2020