10-31-2004, 12:29 PM
Back to the original point of imposing democracy in the middle east, PII you are talking about the possible styles and means one can adopt to enforce/bring democracy.
Primarily, we should be asking ourselves can democracy ever be implanted in the middle east/muslim world, then we will realise if it is worth talking about the styles and means.
It does not matter if you drop "democratic" bombs from F16s or use the peaceful means, the fact is democracy in the middle east will always be difficult to take root. This is because those who wish to spread democracy to a "backward people" have failed to realise and understand the unique creed/aqeedah which the muslims embrace.
The Islamic creed is such that it provides solutions for all of mans problems he may face in his lifetime.
[الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الأِسْلاَمَ دِيناً]
(This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.) This, indeed, is the biggest favor from Allah to this Ummah, for He has completed their religion for them, and they, thus, do not need any other religion or any other Prophet except Muhammad. This is why Allah made Muhammad the Final Prophet and sent him to all humans and Jinn. Therefore, the permissible is what he allows, the impermissible is what he prohibits, the Law is what he legislates and everything that he conveys is true and authentic and does not contain lies or contradictions. (Tafsir by Ibn-Kathir)
Due to the fact that muslims already have a creed which dictates how muslims should live their lives, there is no room for muslims to adopt democracy. This is why the non-muslims have always found it difficult to impose democracy upon the muslims.
As for christianity and judaism etc, these are all spiritual creeds which do not provide <b>comprehensive</b> solutions for man to solve his daily affairs. Therefore, it is innevitable for democracy to be implemented upon these people as man provides solutions as their creeds lack the ability. This is what happened in the industrial revolution where the church ruled in collaboration with the King to justify his actions. There came a time when religion was seperated from the states affairs and innevitably, since religion played no part in ruling, man became the law maker.
As for democracy itself, it is a tried and tested system which even the founding forefathers (Greeks) rejected as a system which is impossible to implement.
So why spread a failed/rejected system upon a people whom Allah SWT defines as the best people ever to be sent to mankind;
[كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ]
(You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind;) means, the best of peoples for the people.
The meaning of the Ayah is that the Ummah of Muhammad is the most righteous and beneficial nation for mankind. Hence Allah's description of them,
[تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ]
(you enjoin Al-Ma`ruf and forbid Al-Munkar and believe in Allah) [3:110].
I hope that little peice helps, even though I think many muslims have an incorrect understanding of democracy.