"We have shown that Islam can rule the world perfectly for 14 centuries, and during this time of Muslim power we did not borrow ideas like democracy from others, so why do we need to learn democracy from them now?"
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The quote by Abu Bakar Bashir shows a point of view rooted in the belief of Islam's sufficiency as a thorough system for governance, ethics, and social company. To analyze this declaration, it's vital to unpack its historic, ideological, and political measurements.
To start with, the quote highlights a sense of historic pride. Bashir mentions the extensive period throughout which Islamic empires, such as the Umayyad, Abbasid, and Ottoman, held significant worldwide influence and power. During these centuries, the Islamic world experienced exceptional developments in science, innovation, viewpoint, and the arts. This era is typically described as the "Islamic Golden Age", where Islamic governance, based upon the Sharia (Islamic law), worked as the foundation for societal rule. Bashir implies that this track record demonstrates Islam's capability to operate as a total and effective political system without requiring external ideological impacts.
Secondly, by dismissing the requirement for democracy, the quote reveals an ideological stance that chooses a theocratic or Sharia-based political system over nonreligious governance structures that were developed outside the Islamic world. Democracy, with its emphasis on popular sovereignty and nonreligious lawmaking, can be seen as contravening a system based on magnificent sovereignty and religious laws. Bashir's statement recommends a view that democratic ideas could dilute or weaken the perceived divine authority intrinsic in Islamic governance.
Finally, there's a political measurement where Bashir's words could be translated as critiquing Western influence and intervention in Muslim-majority nations. This sentiment resonates with those who view Western political concepts as impositions that do not regard native beliefs and governance systems.
In general, Bashir's quote encapsulates a perspective that venerates Islamic history and governance, presenting them as ageless and adequate, consequently questioning the requirement and legitimacy of embracing Western democratic principles in modern Islamic societies.
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