Cometh the hour, cometh the man. With secular democracy in its last throws, liberals, on the left and right, are hoping that Barak Obama is the man to extend its ‘sell by date’.
Liberal freedom as embodied in democracy has undoubtedly caused a huge mess for humanity.
Economic liberalism - freedom of ownership and laissez faire markets - has brought near collapse in Western economies. Hundreds of billions are spent in an instant to safeguard the interests of a few thousand wealthy bankers while a protracted political debate lasting years holds up vital and necessary minimum healthcare services for tens of million in poverty in rich America.
Social liberalism – the exhortation of individualism - above all else has created a selfish, egotistical and cruel society. Resulting social breakdown and family meltdown is widespread with the massive harmful effects on women, families and the young conveniently disregarded. The wellbeing of the old and treatment of the weak and vulnerable is shameful being conditional on economic growth or maximising the returns of the rich.
The exportation of democratic liberalism to the Middle East and the Muslim world has brought a brutal foreign policy with Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo and the invasion and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. Hundreds of thousands have been killed, tens of millions displaced and made refugees and the military resistance to American occupation continues 5 years on in Iraq and 7 years on in Afghanistan. Enough said on the so-called desire for democracy in the Muslim world.
After hurricane Katrina vividly exposed the acute racial and income divide in today’s America, the rise of Obama is being hailed as victory for liberal democracy – a young black man, leader of the free world – the American dream personified.
Yet the issue of colour is a diversion. America already has powerful black political leaders – Colin Powell, former Chief of Staff and Condoleezza Rice, current Secretary of State. African-American politicians in the US Congress date back to 1870. Today there are numerous black city mayors – most notably one for New Orleans. Black sportsmen and women are everyday household names.
European states share America’s economic ills, as evidenced by the current financial crisis, and also America’s political and social malaise. This shows the underlying problems are the values underpinning western societies – i.e. liberalism - and not the slight variation in their respective democratic models. Politicians on the left and right vigorously fight over subtle policy differences to divert attention from the failing liberal values which go unaddressed. This will not change were Obama to be elected as president.
Two hundred years after the abolishment of slavery western liberal societies continue to debate whether a black man can lead the most powerful nation in the world. Yet for Muslims this issue was resolved over 1400 years ago.
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
Allah's Apostle (saw) said, "You should listen to and obey, your ruler even if he was an Ethiopian (black) slave whose head looks like a raisin." (Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, Book 89, Number 256)
Racism and prejudice has no place in Islam even when it comes to leadership and ruling.
The sublime values of Islam as preserved in the Sharia provide real practical solutions for today’s problems from racism to family breakdown and financial turmoil. Only the Khilafah state will put these into practice and be a beacon of light for the entire world.
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