Perceptions and Misperceptions
Islam continues to be at the center stage
of the global community. Yet the Muslim world - nearly 1/5th of the world
population - is currently in a dysfunctional state, caught between the modern as
well as the mundane aspirations of life on one hand and a disconnect from the
past glories and transcending values --beliefs that these people identify with,
on the other.
Muslim world would like to progress past
its problems without de-linking from Islam. The western countries, currently
dominating the world, supposedly prefer that the Muslim world move forward, too,
but also de-link itself from Islam except at the personal or spiritual level,
and most definitely, not upset the current global status quo.
Western countries are mostly democratic
and they claim that they would like to see the spread of democracy around the
world. They consider democracy to be an indispensable modern ideal that, they
contend, is quite conducive to attaining modern aspirations of life. The current
superstructure of the world - defined in terms of the economic, political,
military and technological power and the accompanying apparatus - definitely
reflects the strength of democracy. Modern superpowers, such as the former
Soviet Union, that did not adopt democracy, have collapsed. Another major power,
China, despite some economic success, offers a significantly lower standard of
living than any western countries.
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In 1120, a Muslim doctor was on his way to see his patient, the Almoravid
ruler of Seville. By the side of the road he saw an emaciated man holding a
water jug. The man's belly was swollen, and he was in obvious distress.
"Are you sick?" the doctor asked. The man nodded.
"What have you been eating?"
"Only a few crusts of bread and the
water from this jug."
"Bread won't hurt you," said the
doctor. "It could be the water. Where are you getting it?"
"From the well in town."
The doctor pondered a moment. "The well
is clean. It must be the jug. Break it and find a new one."
"I can't," whined the man,
"This is my only jug."
"And that thing bulging out
there," replied the doctor, pointing to the man's midsection, "is your
only stomach. It is easier to find a new jug than a new stomach."
The man continued to protest, but one of the
doctor's servants picked up a stone and smashed the jug.
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