"OK, you can open your eyes now...and take a look at Allah's big surprise..."
Posted on 02/23/2005 9:49:49 PM PST by Lorianne
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And do not clothe (cover) truth with falsehood, while you know what it is.” (Al-Baqarah:42)
One would be forgiven into believing that the amount of times that George Bush referred to democracy in his inaugural speech for his second term as US President that he actually believed in it.
It is not that democracy has any real substance, it never really did. In history, nations and their philosophers who sought to bring life to it only ended up discarding it or spending the rest of their philosophical lives trying to re-engineer it within more philosophical constraints. Meanwhile, the modern day western politicians and capitalists have been thriving upon it, seducing the world’s states to adopt democracy as the only way to become progressive and civilized. Such is the dominance and influence of western political philosophy over the mind-set of academics, politicians, nations and people – it is as if one would be considered a heretic to even suggest an alternative or to even challenge the validity and application of democracy….and at least be popularly labelled as a fundamentalist, extremist and averse to world peace.
This stranglehold, not surprisingly, today stills deals an unfortunate blow for many leading Islamic thinkers, academics and scholars – who – in their sincere attempts to preserve Islam have made the grave error of wanting to present Islam as not simply ‘democractic’, but the actual source of democracy.
Recently, whilst, Sheikh al-Qardawi on his regular slot on Al-Jazeera was trying hard to defend ‘Islamic democracy’ against a tirade of Muslim callers at pains to point out their fundamental incompatibility – an article printed on-line by ArabNews entitled ‘Muslims and Democracy’ (21/02/05) referred to New York University professor, Noah Feldman, a theorist of Islamic democracy, who observed in his book, ‘After Jihad’, “that the caliphs never had absolute authority...the historical roots (for democracy) are there for modern Muslims who want to draw on the historical narrative”.
Without doubt, the rise of political Islam has been a key cause for the exponential rise in the discussions, conferences, papers, policies to equate Islam with democracy. The guardians of the bastion of ‘western capitalism’ have not only begun to see their own people increasingly beginning to reject the western values, and at least see the open hypocrisies of their western governments, but they have witnessed their worst fear, a global rise in political Islam that challenges the very existence of capitalism, its values and exposes the continuation of imperialist policies around the world, particularly in the Muslim world with the aid of puppet regimes.
To this end, Muslims must be like a cog in this Islamic political wheel. Indeed Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) said, “The wheels of Islam are turning, so turn with it.”
The Muslims must present the truth as truth and the falsehood as falsehood. The Muslims must not cower in intellectual defeat from the current dominant western political climate of words, values and indeed actions…seeking reconciliation, where there is none and attempt to mould Islam by words and meanings to make it more palatable for western political consumption, though such words and their meanings are alien to Islamic political philosophy and fundamentally contradict the Islamic creed. Indeed Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) says (in the translation of the meaning),
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“And do not clothe (cover) truth with falsehood, while you know what it is.” (Al-Baqarah:42)
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“O you who believe, do not say ‘Ra’ina, but rather say, ‘Unthurna…” (Al-Baqarah:104).
This ayat was revealed in connection to the incident of where Jews used a word which had a meaning and changed its meaning to insult Muhammad (saw), thereby the Muslims were prohibited from using it.
So where does that leave democracy? The well-known definition of democracy is of a government that is established, ‘of the people, by the people, for the people’. By simply scratching at its surface, it is clear that it democracy no relationship with Islam in its generality or in its detail. The following points should be observed:
Origins Democracy has originated from the mind of man, whereas Islam has originated from Allah (swt).
Basis Democracy has its basis in secularism i.e. the detachment of religion from life, whereas Islam is based upon a comprehensive socio-economic and political structure where 'religion' i.e. the shariyah, is the source of all legislation.
Thoughts Democracy produces thoughts such as the four general freedoms (belief, individual, speech and ownership), people are the source of legislation, and the rule of the majority. Islam by contrast does not allow these absolute freedoms, nor are the people the source of legislation and neither is the Islamic ruling based on majority rule.
Systems Democracy produces systems that incorporate a legislative body (parliament or equivalent), political parties that function to oppose and compete against the government and a time limit for leadership (normally 4-5 years office). The Islamic political structure has no such structures or systems. In Islam there is no legislative body and the Khaleefah is the judicial and executive power. Political parties in Islam exist for one duty that is to account the government and raise the political and intellectual level of the ummah. Political parties are not permitted to compete for power and become an 'opposition party'. Also, the ruler in Islam is the ruler for as long as he implements Islam and as long as he does not contradict the conditions of ruling and neither resigns or dies.
Though in Islam there are elections for the appointment of the leader (Ameer) over the Muslims, one cannot say that elections are what makes Islam and democracy similar, for this is like comparing a dog to a chair and saying that since both have four legs, they are similar. In the west, elections represent the concept that people are sovereign over their affairs and the source of legislation, whereas in Islam elections represent the shariyah rule that the people have the authority and obligation to appoint a ruler to govern them with Islam.
It should be evident therefore that democracy has no relationship with Islam. Indeed the very misery that is being caused in the Muslim world i.e. oppression, suppression of any attempt to account the rulers, denial of rights, nepotism, people political enfranchisement – has been caused and supported by the ‘west’. It is evident that the drive for democracy is only to secure their control over the Muslim world and suppress the rise of political Islam – since their puppets have lost the ability to do this for them and the world has started to talk about the injustices that have the hidden support of western governments.
The intellectual political climate today is ripe for the Muslims to present the Islamic political framework and thoughts and not succumb to the western political philosophy.
Agreed that it is interesting insight into the reality that "Islamic thinking" is nothing more than an oxymoron.
That is not to say that Muslims can't think. They can, and often they can think very well. It is when they try "Islamic thinking" that they go into train wreck mode.
This tract is shallow, trivial, unhistoric, and basically false.
Ironic thing is that the largest Muslim countries(in terms of population) like Indonesia,Bangladesh & India are democracies to varying degrees!!
Consider this:
pre-1947: The British Indian Empire: Consisting of the people of the Indian Subcontinent.
post-1947: Independent India, secular democratic republic, a democracy since its conception in 1947.
Paksitan, Muslim state, consisting of the Muslims of S. Asia, dysfuntional republic, without democracy presently, and for more than a third of its existance since 1947.
Middle East: Israel, democracy since inception. Palestine, a Muslim people, has hardly ever been a true democracy, quite like all Muslim nations around it.
Turkey is the only exception. But it is a secular state, not Muslim.
If Islam and democracy are mutually incompatible, then get rid of Islam, not democracy.
Truths are self evident - freedom has no relationship with slavery.
Democracy has originated from the mind of man, whereas Islam has originated from Allah (swt).
Actually, many believe our form of gov't is inspired from God.
Democracy has its basis in secularism i.e. the detachment of religion from life, whereas Islam is based upon a comprehensive socio-economic and political structure where 'religion' i.e. the shariyah, is the source of all legislation.
Actually, democracy does not have its basis in secularism. Secularism comes in the attempt to maximize freedom of religion by not having a state religion.
Indeed the very misery that is being caused in the Muslim world i.e. oppression, suppression of any attempt to account the rulers, denial of rights, nepotism, people political enfranchisement – has been caused and supported by the ‘west’.
This is generally true. Both the oil, and the Cold War, caused us to rely on dictators, at the expense of the people of the Middle East. However, we are now trying to rectify this mistake.
Totalitarians will use whatever is at hand to gain and keep control. Using religion is hardly unique, and has historically probably been the norm. Those who have used, and continue to try and use Islam for that purpose are in for a big surprise.
Judging the two systems for:
1. Economic well being, and
2. Personal freedom,
Islam fails. Democracy succeeds.
Let the people choose. Let Iran hold real, fair elections. See if they want the mullah dictatorship.
They don't, for they have 25 years of rotten experience.
Major P.R.O.P.* PING!
The Governance of Islam vs. the Governance of democracy
Read and know the mind of allah (porkfat be upon him) and the unvarnished designs the P.R.O.P. have for all the world.
Remember, the (paedophile) false prophet muhammad, has truly vomited, "The wheels of Islam are turning indeed, so turn with it"
...become like a cog on the Islam political wheel, or be ground into dust by it!
The incompatability between Islam and every other form of government is clearly stated by their own leaders, and backed up by their satanic verses!
Any more doubts that it is "us versus them"?
(*Phony Religion Of Peace)
What a brilliant but false revelation.
A countries religious ethics and many of it's beliefs are incorporated into laws in a democracy.
I think what he refers to is the ideas of some Muslims that the Mullah is law and the arbiter of the truth.(found in Iran and some other backward countries)
This author may be right about some of the most extreme elements of this religion, but he is wrong that changes cannot occur.
They already have. We are just pushing it along a bit faster as they needed some help. It will take like a small bush, but it will seed the entire area, assuming we do not give up when things get rough from time to time.
foe some of them it will not be easy. The Mullah will not give up his birthright power as he sees it, but he will in the end, as those in the Christian religions did. Including the Pope himself.
I remain confident that they can evolve. I must, for now. They need a chance to do it or we will end up destroying them to protect ourselves. All of them.
I think I get it, islam originated from allah because that's what mohammad said and if you don't believe it then allah wants you dead. Simple.
I have to admit I read this rubbish four times and came up empty. The clerics are terrified of democracy and that's really all I care about. Not one imam, one mufti, one ayatollah in muslim countries would have a job if he had to rely on his followers to vote for him.
The clerics rule through fear. It might work in their ME hell-holes but it will NOT work within the immigrant community.
In Australia some 20 muslim community groups have combined to remove a radical cleric from their mosque and replace him with a prayer leader of their own choosing.
Makes me wonder, just how would the contents of this stupid article be received by the muslims in Sydney who do value their right to vote?
Poor clerics, much nail biting and tearing of hair going on, you can't keep a good thing like democracy down.
bump for later reading..
The basic conflict I see is that Democracy relies on TOLERANCE, and accepting that we all don't think alike, but the majority oof us want the same "result": the 4 Freedoms, and other benefits of an open society.
Islam is INTOLERANT and relies on the ability to bully it's followers through religious blackmail ("Do it OUR way or ALLAH will be ANGRY!") and a need for ALL to think alike.
Freedom of religion, speech, assembly, press, et cetera, can cause problems because they must be tightly controlled for the Islamic "democracy" to exist.
In fact, as I see it, Islamic "democracy" would be similar to "1984", fitting very well into Huxley's world of "Big Brother" ("Big ALLAH is watching YOU!").
I already have khilafah bookmarked and check in on it several times a week to see what they're spewing next. It's been kinda slow lately... I'm surprised since Sheik Omar Bakri Mohammeds "Al Mujaharoun" websites have been down after they disbanded and Hizb ut Tahrir (an affiliated group of Al Qeada supporters) normally had more action going on in the aftermath.
In case you have not checked out their mission statement, it's here: Khilafah . (Democracy is imcompatible)
And they didn't get the memo about jihad being a peaceful internal struggle for self improvement either. They started off a six part series of "Jihad" a while back and then stopped and removed the links from their front page after article #3.
The first article included nice reassurances such as:
This expression of ‘the smaller Jihaad to the bigger Jihaad’ has been used time and time again to diminish the importance, reward and requirement for the Muslims to perform Jihaad Fi Sabeel Lillah i.e. physical struggle. Instead, compromising diplomacy and a defeatist attitude characterise the so-called ‘Greater Jihaad’ on a political level and self-effacing inner struggle on an individual level.
(They also have another site here)
Hey, if you're a lost Muslim seeking guidance and youve already had a good laugh at all the hilarious fatwahs over at "ask the imam," you can always stroll over to islamic-state.org and get their low down on the Khilafah
72 Virgins raisins and Allah Satan await all the brave shaheeds.
This article is justification for the eternal rule of the clerics. The people are not expected to be intelligent enough to manage their own lives. The clerics need to decide on and control every aspect of people's lives.
If, every 4 years, the people freely vote for a tyrant to run their affairs, so be it.
"OK, you can open your eyes now...and take a look at Allah's big surprise..."
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