The Quran and the 2nd Arab Spring - collaborative article?

Jafar

Peace Brothers and Sisters.

Its armies were made up of people of many nationalities, and its military protection allowed a degree of peace and prosperity that had never been known.

And this civilization was driven more than anything, by invention. Its architects designed buildings that defied gravity. Its mathematicians created the algebra and algorithms that would enable the building of computers, and the creation of encryption. Its doctors examined the human body, and found new cures for disease. Its astronomers looked into the heavens, named the stars, and paved the way for space travel and exploration. Its writers created thousands of stories. Stories of courage, romance and magic.

When other nations were afraid of ideas, this civilization thrived on them, and kept them alive. When censors threatened to wipe out knowledge from past civilizations, this civilization kept the knowledge alive, and passed it on to others. While modern Western civilization shares many of these traits, the civilization I'm talking about was the Islamic world from the year 800 to 1600, which included the Ottoman Empire and the courts of Baghdad, Damascus and Cairo, and enlightened rulers like Suleiman the Magnificent.

Although we are often unaware of our indebtedness to this other civilization, its gifts are very much a part of our heritage. The technology industry would not exist without the contributions of Arab mathematicians. Leaders like Suleiman contributed to our notions of tolerance and civic leadership. And perhaps we can learn a lesson from his example It was leadership based on meritocracy, not inheritance. It was leadership that harnessed the full capabilities of a very diverse population that included Christianity, Islamic, and Jewish traditions. This kind of enlightened leadership - leadership that nurtured culture, sustainability, diversity and courage - led to 800 years of invention and prosperity."

The name of the empire/kingdom/country can be varied, but the "traits" or "characteristics" of advancing civilization is pretty much the same.
From Cyrus Persian Kingdom, Middle Ages Caliph, Post-Renaissance Europe and 19th-20th century USA.

These are the traits

Open Mindedness
Example The basic of algebra was not invented by Arabs or other mideastern folks, it was initially invented in the region which is now named as India. The Arabs translated thousands of Sanskrit based manuscript to Arabic and share it with others, including the more backwards european.
The population of "Islamic Caliph" back then doesn't have the attitude of It must be false because it's originated from foreign culture and not in my / our tradition / holy book.
Critical Thinking, Creative Thinking with Freedom of Thought and Expression
This is clear, the motto of "If it's not broken keep looking for something better".
Secularism, Tolerance and Egalitarianism
Cognate well with the previous point, Cyrus never enforced Zoroastrianism to the Jews, infact he helped the Jews to build the largest temple to their God, YHVH.
Meritocracy and Justice for All
Clear, no oppression based on his/her background, the system shall judge people based on his/her deed and his/her deed alone, either for punishment or reward. The criteria of good and bad behavior must be based on agreement of the people and not based on subjective interpretation of some elite without public discourse.
Check and Balance on Political Power
Initially invented by the Greeks, applied for limited time by the Roman (Republic Era), and gained widespread popularity in post-renaissance europe. Power tends to corrupt and one crazy dictator can easily corrupt and destroyed all of the point above, if not properly checked.

Wakas

peace all,

In case I was not clear, I am looking for Quran verses to provide a framework for this subject.

I intentionally called it the 2nd Arab Spring as the first, it could be argued, was the one that occurred alongside the revelation of The Quran. It led to a monumental transformation of the region and beyond. I believe it can happen again, using the very same source that ignited the first.

Many in the middle east regard The Quran highly (albeit they may not study it), thus if a basic framework can be made clear from it, then I think there is a reasonable chance this message will thrive in the region, hence this thread.

ths

Wakas I think this is a good effort.

In the past I've had the same political inclinations as brother
I've been involved with socialism and far left ideology quite a bit, and am still a pan-arabist.
So I agree with about the need for further integration and unification, and would ideally like to see a federation of Arab states. I do not accept Sykes-Picot, and I do not accept the Balfour Declaration. I don't think any Arabs who actually know about these accept them either.

I'm just not sure about secularism.

I think your argument that another spring can arise from the Quran alone is a very interesting one, and that the Quranic system must be political by its nature. I just don't see this happening within our lifetimes to be honest and so politically I follow socialist groups and pan-arabist ones.

Lastly - Jafar -

For the hundredth time - it is written a'raabu. Not arabu. Learn to read you simpleton

It's amazing that you so stubbornly and ignorantly choose to ignore two different words. There are 2 extra letters in one. Or does that not matter to you? I suppose you can't tell the difference between such similar sounding words as "moron" "maroon" or "loose" "lose" or "choose" "chose". Hey they're kind of similar right?? That's good enough. A'raabu and arabu are kinda sorta close and you happen to be a racist so what the hell. Go with that

Taro_Hiroshi

Feel free to discuss and add verses which you think would be relevant to this important subject.

Peace Wakas,

Many people are hardcore fans of Revolution. But I am a supporter of Reform. In most situations, I think Reform is better than Revolution when it comes to creating changes in a country. I see the value of Revolutions, but the fact is that Revolutions are not always pragmatic. They don't always lead to good results. And for me results are all that matters when it comes to creating changes in backward and/or oppressive country. Many groups of people that have started revolutions, have ended up creating worse conditions in their countries (e.g. Syria, Libya and Egypt). Many groups of people who started revolutions to create a more free and more just society, when getting in positions of power, ended up being dictators themselves. The fact is that it is often less risky and much easier to reform the existing system in a country than to destroy it totally, then create a whole new system. In my opinion gradual changes that slowly but surely show positive results and development in a country, are less risky and less dangerous than a change that is going to "happen overnight" in a country, without considering all the different variables that are related to a new political system and all the future consequences that happen as a result of such a huge and rapid change.

In my opinion, there is no point in starting a revolution in a country if the people in that country can achieve their aims through Reforms. To start a revolution in a country that has a system that works, is like sending a car that works to a breaker's yard. To create a reform in a country, is like fixing the car. What is best? Is it best to throw a car that works or is it best to fix it? That being said, in some countries it is almost impossible to create reforms. For example it will be almost impossible to create reforms in a country like North Korea. So in such a country it is pointless to try create Reforms. Because one's effort will be futile. Therefore it seems that only a revolution can lead to changes in countries with hardcore dictatorial systems. In my opinion a Revolution should always be the last resort. People should only start revolution if it is impossible to create changes through reform. As far as I am concerned, verse 839 in the Quran supports Revolution.

Quran 839 You should fight them all until there is no more oppression, and so that the entire system is God's. But if they cease, then God is seer of what they do.

Revolutions have a tendency to swing back and forth like a pendulum. In the first phase things go fast forward where the insurgency is carried forward on the popular wave that results in the fall of the old regime. Then comes a phase where the air is let out a little of the spontaneous popular will and a power vacuum has formed on top of the system. An attempt to fill this vacuum with revolutionary forces can result in the pendulum beginning to swing back again, the necessity of creating peace and order in the country coupled with the fear of counter-revolution, increases the risk that another brutal regime takes the place of the old. The examples are many, most notably the French Revolution of 1789.

John H.

Aftermath of revolution
http//www.nytimes.com/2013/02/15/opinion/global/aftermath-of-revolution.html?_r=2&

It seems that the concept of revolution is being glamorized and used a lot to promote changes in different countries. Some people claim that if people want to start a succesful revolution, they first have to start a revolution in their own minds. Because all man-made external changes are a result of inner changes in our minds. In other words, all change starts from within. I think a group of people can start reforms and achieve as good results as they would have achieved by starting revolutions. A quote I really like about revolution is a quote from a Professor at the University of Kabul. His quotes illustrate the importance of creating a psychological revolution in the mind before trying to start a revolution in a country.

..."Revolution is possible without violence. It's possible to have a revolution of the mind. If you change peoples ideas, then things will change with."

Quran 1311 Each person has Divine laws surrounding him. They record his actions according to the command of God. Most certainly, God does not change the condition of a nation until they first change themselves. And when God intends a nation to suffer punishment (as a consequence of their misdeeds), there is none who can repel it. For, they have no defender besides Him.

Taro_Hiroshi

I intentionally called it the 2nd Arab Spring as the first, it could be argued, was the one that occurred alongside the revelation of The Quran. It led to a monumental transformation of the region and beyond. I believe it can happen again, using the very same source that ignited the first.

I deeply recommend reading these 3 articles

Color Revolutions. Getting Our Facts Straight on the "Arab Spring"
http//www.globalresearch.ca/color-revolutions-getting-our-facts-straight-on-the-arab-spring/5379479

Media Disinformation and the "Arab Spring" Color Revolutions
http//www.globalresearch.ca/media-disinformation-and-the-arab-spring-color-revolutions/30320

The Ngo raids in Egypt
http//www.globalresearch.ca/the-us-engineered-arab-spring-the-ngo-raids-in-egypt/28433

Many in the middle east regard The Quran highly (albeit they may not study it), thus if a basic framework can be made clear from it, then I think there is a reasonable chance this message will thrive in the region, hence this thread.

I agree with your view. I think it's a good idea.

Wakas

peace all,

I agree with some of what has been said.

I'm surprised that in Egypt for example, the divide seems to be against secularists and religionists but what they don't seem to realise is that The Quran can unite them both, as its basic framework for rights, principles etc is quite secular. Hence this thread idea.

I think ideally, with a basic framework, wherein it doesn't really matter who gets into power as no group can invalidate such. A federation of Arab states could then form around this basic framework.

In some ways similar to the USA.

huruf

Wakas,
?What formidable courage! May God male reality your wishes and aims.

I become so despondent in this whole situation, it being still an unknown what Israel might do with its atomic weapons and submarines, and the moral sapping that the Egyptian population has undergone, I am glad you are so optimistic and confident. I do hope your wishes come true.

Salaam

Taro_Hiroshi

Peace Wakas, all,

I completely agree with what you wrote in your last post. I would like to add that one of the keys to peace, prosperity, justice, equality and freedom in a country, is its constitution. If the arab states adopt a constution that is based on the Quran but at the same time has a similar structure as the constitution of the United states, France or Japan, I think this will lead to peace, prosperity, justice, equality and freeedom in these countries. By the way I consider the constitution of the United states and the constitution of France as two of best constitutions in the world. For example Norway is a country that has copied the constitution of the United states and France. This is confirmed by historical works. Many people claim that the success of Norway is because of its great constitution. Many people claim that if Norway didn't have the constitution it has, then Norway would not have had the rights and opportunities which it has today. When it comes to women's rights and opportunities Norway, Finland and Sweden are ranked among the best in the world. Another great country that I like is Japan. A political analysts (don't remember his name) claimed that the secret of success in Japan is its constitution. In my opinion, Japan has the best constitution in the Asian continent. As far as I know, Japan is the only country in Asia with a constitution that don't allows an offensive war. The constitution of Japan only allows war in self-defence. This is similar to the Quranic law which states that war only is allowed for a country, if it wants to defend itself (see verse 2239, 913. Thus, the constitution of Japans seems to be in agreement of the above mentioned Quranic principles. Even though the Quran only allows war in self-defence, there seems to be an exception to this rule in two verses of the Quran. The Quran seems to support peacekeeping missions, similar to the ones the UN have had in the past (see verse 474 and 499).

By the way, I would like to share some information about Article 9 of the Japanese constitution, with you and other members in this forum.

From an article

The Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution (9 Nihonkokukenp dai 9-j?) is a clause in the National Constitution of Japan outlawing war as a means to settle international disputes involving the state. The Constitution came into effect on May 3, 1947, following World War II. In its text, the state formally renounces the sovereign right of belligerency and aims at an international peace based on justice and order. The article also states that, to accomplish these aims, armed forces with war potential will not be maintained, although Japan maintains de facto armed forces, referred to as the Japan Self-Defense Forces which may have originally been thought of as something akin to what Mahatma Gandhi called the Shanti Sena (soldiers of peace) or a collective security police (peace keeping) force operating under the United Nations.

Source

http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_9_of_the_Japanese_Constitution

Taro_Hiroshi

Peace everyone

..."Revolution is possible without violence. It's possible to have a revolution of the mind. If you change peoples ideas, then things will change with."

Let me correct an error in the quote above

..."Revolution is possible without violence. It's possible to have a revolution of the mind. If you change peoples ideas, then things will change with it."

I forgot to write the word "it" in the Quote of my post. But now it is fixed.

Israfeel

The Arab Spring is utter nonsense, in fact, it is the cause of destruction for the Arabs.

Look at our beautiful Saudi Arabia which has been saved by Allah from the current crises and corruption that has swept most of the Arab world. That is because there was no "Arab Spring" in Saudi Arabia, Alhamdulillah for that!

The Arab spring has effected the following countries 1. Tunisia 2. Egypt 3. Libya 4. Yemen 5. Bahrain 6. Syria

All six of these countries are experiencing the worst turmoil. Syria in particular is in the midst of an appalling civil war.

Monarchy is in fact the best form of government (and the only viable form of government mentioned in the Qur'an BTW)

Democracy is destroying the Arab world and even a lot of the non-Arab Muslim countries. Pakistan is a perfect example.

On the other hand, countries like Saudi, Oman, Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait are the most secure and peaceful places in the entire Muslim world. This is the blessing of Monarchy and Kingdom.

The Qur'an commands us to obey Allah, obey His Messenger (which is why we follow Sunnah and Hadith), and those who are in a position of authority. That primarily means the government. Obedience to the government is like an article of faith from the Islamic perspective.

Uprising, revolutions, and the like are doomed to failure and invoke the Anger of Allah (Blessed and Most High)