pigraph:
There should be no compulsion in religion. Surely, right has become distinct from wrong; so whosoever refuses to be led by those who transgress, and believes in Allah, has surely grasped a strong handle which knows no breaking. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (Al Quran 2:257)
Professor Hossein Askari’s conclusions regarding the use of Islam as a political instrument is observable in Malaysia, where the two largest Muslim political parties and staunch rivals — Umno and PAS — are engaged in a religious auction to court the support of the majority Malay-Muslim electorate. — AFP pic –
KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 — Malaysia is behind Israel and Singapore in a ranking measuring the “Islamicity” of countries in which no Muslim country managed to break into the top 25 of the ladder.
But the Southeast Asian nation is also the best-ranked among Muslim countries in the world, coming in at 33rd; the next highest-placed was Kuwait (42nd) while Saudi Arabia — the birthplace of Islam — was 91st.
No Arab nation breached the top 50.
Ireland came in at the head of the index, followed by Denmark, Luxembourg and Sweden. Singapore was 8th and Israel 27th.
Dubbed the “Overall Islamicity Index” and conducted by Hossein Askari, a professor of International Business and International Affairs at George Washington University, the survey applied the ideals of Islam in the areas of a society’s economic achievements, governance, human and political rights, and international relations.
“We must emphasise that many countries that profess Islam and are called Islamic are unjust, corrupt, and underdeveloped and are in fact not ‘Islamic’ by any stretch of the imagination,” Askari said during an interview with BBC World.
“If a country, society, or community displays characteristics such as unelected, corrupt, oppressive, and unjust rulers, inequality before the law, unequal opportunities for human development, absence of freedom of choice (including that of religion), opulence alongside poverty, force, and aggression as the instruments of conflict resolution as opposed to dialogue and reconciliation, and, above all, the prevalence of injustice of any kind, it is prima facie evidence that it is not an Islamic community,” he said.
The Muslim Times stands for Separation of Mosque-Church and State in every country of the world
The further I moved from Muslim majority or so called Islamic Republics, the more closer I became to God and Shirk Free.
Dear MT
This survey is based on false parameters for a number of reasons.
1. The western states are not based on Islamic principles or as the article says:“Islamicity” .
The welfare systems were devised for the local needs, economic development, education, technological advancement and most important of all,higher living standards and labor laws.
2.One can not compare most Muslim countries to western countries because of the period it took for the west to develop, the size of the country populations in Muslim countries and the perpetual interference form vested interests from the developed world.
3. To call Israel and Denmark as models for Islamic principles is as stupid as to call Nazi Germany as defender of Judaism. Denmark, where I live is the most anti-Islam country, in EU and Israel is an apartheid state.
4. The welfare systems, these countries have invented was for their own populations and religion played no part in that.
5. In Denmark, State and religion is not separate but a very much part of the system. You can not even be a monarch if you are not Lutheran Christian. It is enshrined in the constitution.
So dear MT, I know that you have your own reasons for highlighting such silly surveys but use some logic in that too.
Kind regards
Bashy Quraishy
Secretary General – EMISCO -European Muslim Initiative for Social Cohesion – Strasbourg
Member – Advisory Board – Migration Research Centre – Hacettepe University – Ankara.Turkey
Chair-Advisory Council-ENAR – Brussels
The survey seems to be correct. It says “the survey applied the ideals of Islam in the areas of a society’s economic achievements, governance, human and political rights, and international relations.”
“We must emphasise that many countries that profess Islam and are called Islamic are unjust, corrupt, and underdeveloped and are in fact not ‘Islamic’ by any stretch of the imagination,” Askari said during an interview with BBC World.
All of the above seems true. The west is following some aspects of the Islamic ideals. There is liberty, freedom of speech (most important Islamic principle), and freedom of faith. There is more justice than in Islamic republics and more peace i.e. Islam. Islam means peace.
Separation of state and mosque/church is another important step in western countries. For that, there is no need to banish the religion from the country. Religion remains and minds its own business.
A bizarre conclusion, but fully evidenced by the bizarre actions of regimes that claim to act in the name of Islam.
Surprised? We shouldn’t be as this was was prophecied centuries ago by none other than the Holy Prophet of Islam.
Did the Holy Prophet of Islam (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) come to establish a society of peace, equality and justice or to start a religion that would glorify him?
The comments of Bashy Quraishy are typical of supporters of “Islam as a team” that must be supported no matter what.
The actions of the governments and citizens of those that top this poll may be why they are seen as Islamic. For example, welfare (cf Zakat), freedom, fair play.
There are many wrongs in each of these countries too which can be said to be unIslamic but the basics are long established and solid. Whereas, a country like Pakistan relishes in whipping up hatred against anyone who is not a Sunni. The rich avoid paying taxes and corruption and oppression are rife. Never mind being Islamic, some of this behaviour is inhumane.
Bashy Qureshy, as an Ahmadi Muslim I cannot say prayers, call myself Muslim, cannot use Islamic greetings among other thing in Pakistans Islamic Republic or in Saudia and many other like minded so called Islamic Republics. But I am free to practice Ahmadiyya Islam the true Islam in Europe, USA and many like minded Countries, so are other Muslims.
Then the survey is portrayed correctly. You need to look at the survey like a Muslim at ease in which Countries Islamic ones or others.
I think there are some wrong understanding on both sides. First of all it is true that in the so called Islamic Countries, Islam is applied wrongfully and in this matter the west its better and more “Islamic”. But we should not forget that the west was also called “Dajjal” by the Holy Prophet (SAW) and that shall spread disorder in the earth. Something wich is happening now. Moreover, the west is quite anti religeous. Thus, it depends on which matter we wanna focus. The survey is not totally reliable but quite good in some of the fields that was conducted.