Why are Muslims powerless?

[turbocanuck]

According to Dr. Farrukh Saleem (Islamabad based freelance journalist), there are an estimated 1,476,233,470 Muslims on the face of the planet: one billion in Asia, 400 million in Africa, 44 million in Europe and six million in the Americas. Every fifth human being is a Muslim; for every single Hindu there are two Muslims, for every Buddhist there are two Muslims and for every Jew there are one hundred Muslims. Ever wondered why Muslims are so powerless?
Here is why: There are 57 member-countries of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), and all of them put together have around 500 universities; one university for every three million Muslims. The United States has 5,758 universities and India has 8,407. In 2004, Shanghai Jiao Tong University compiled an ‘Academic Ranking of World Universities’, and intriguingly, not one university from Muslim-majority states was in the top-500.
As per data collected by the UNDP, literacy in the Christian world stands at nearly 90 per cent and 15 Christian-majority states have a literacy rate of 100 per cent. A Muslim-majority state, as a sharp contrast, has an average literacy rate of around 40 per cent and there is no Muslim-majority state with a literacy rate of 100 per cent. Some 98 per cent of the ‘literates’ in the Christian world had completed primary school, while less than 50 per cent of the ‘literates’ in the Muslim world did the same. Around 40 per cent of the ‘literates’ in the Christian world attended university while no more than two per cent of the ‘literates’ in the Muslim world did the same.
Muslim-majority countries have 230 scientists per one million Muslims. The US has 4,000 scientists per million and Japan has 5,000 per million. In the entire Arab world, the total number of full-time researchers is 35,000 and there are only 50 technicians per one million Arabs (in the Christian world there are up to 1,000 technicians per one million). Furthermore, the Muslim world spends 0.2 per cent of its GDP on research and development, while the Christian world spends around five per cent of its GDP.
Conclusion: The Muslim world lacks the capacity to produce knowledge.
Daily newspapers per 1,000 people and number of book titles per million are two indicators of whether knowledge is being diffused in a society. In Pakistan, there are 23 daily newspapers per 1,000 Pakistanis while the same ratio in Singapore is 360. In the UK, the number of book titles per million stands at 2,000 while the same in Egypt is 20.
Conclusion: The Muslim world is failing to diffuse knowledge.
Exports of high technology products as a percentage of total exports are an important indicator of knowledge application. Pakistan’s exports of high technology products as a percentage of total exports stands at one per cent. The same for Saudi Arabia is 0.3 per cent; Kuwait, Morocco, and Algeria are all at 0.3 per cent while Singapore is at 58 per cent. Conclusion: The Muslim world is failing to apply knowledge.
Why are Muslims powerless? Because we aren’t producing knowledge. Why are Muslims powerless? Because we aren’t diffusing knowledge. Why are Muslims powerless?
Because we aren’t applying knowledge. And, the future belongs to knowledge-based societies.
Interestingly, the combined annual GDP of 57 OIC-countries is under $2 trillion. America, just by herself, produces goods and services worth $12 trillion; China $8 trillion, Japan $3.8 trillion and Germany $2.4 trillion (purchasing power parity basis).
Oil rich Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and Qatar collectively produce goods and services (mostly oil) worth $500 billion; Spain alone produces goods and services worth over $1 trillion, Catholic Poland $489 billion and Buddhist Thailand $545 billion (Muslim GDP as a percentage of world GDP is fast declining).
So, why are Muslims so powerless?
Answer: “Lack of education”

[anajmi]

I lay the blame squarely on the shoulders of the Hazar/Ghaib Imams for failing to provide the leadership and direction to the muslims. These Imams are supposed to be the leaders of the entire Muslim Ummah. One is busy hiding, god knows where and from whom, and the other is of no use to more than 99% of the muslims.

[turbocanuck]

Originally posted by anajmi:
I lay the blame squarely on the shoulders of the Hazar/Ghaib Imams for failing to provide the leadership and direction to the muslims. These Imams are supposed to be the leaders of the entire Muslim Ummah. One is busy hiding, god knows where and from whom, and the other is of no use to more than 99% of the muslims.

and what did your whoever (read neighborhood thug) imam do for the 99% of the Muslims? You idiots are busy condemning the entire world, arguing over what is halal and haram/najis while The Living Imam is busy uplifting the lives of muslims who no matter shia or sunni. maybe your local thug was busy cracking nuts with his butt cheeks (must've had practice locally) to teach the local urchins any tameez.
Turbonut

[anajmi]

The neighbourhood Imam is not the true Imam. The Hazar Imam is the true Imam. He is the true descendent of Hazrat Ali. It is his job to uplift the rest of the ummah too. If he paid as much attention to his ummah as he does to his horses, we would be in a much better state. One of his horse has been uplifted so much that he can even participate on discussion boards.

[Average Bohra]

This data is demonstrative and makes a good point, however, the UN uses the term "literacy" rather loosely as in "the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate and compute, using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning to enable an individual to achieve his or her goals, to develop his or her knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in the wider society."

Which means the Islamic "literate" population includes those whose only exposure to education is the Madrasa. They have also been known to include those that can simply read or write their own names if it furthers the particular UN agency's agenda and justification for more money.

The real world statistics are more direly……..

[turbocanuck]

Originally posted by anajmi:
The neighbourhood Imam is not the true Imam. The Hazar Imam is the true Imam. He is the true descendent of Hazrat Ali. It is his job to uplift the rest of the ummah too. If he paid as much attention to his ummah as he does to his horses, we would be in a much better state. One of his horse has been uplifted so much that he can even participate on discussion boards.

Anajma, you have never heard of the organisation called "grameen", well guess who gave the idea and the seed money to uplift women and their families? Yeah right. your wahabbi thug. guess who provided millions when there was an earthquake in the mainly sunni area of Pakistan? yeah right. your wahabbi nutcracker thug. guess who has paid millions in rehabilitating sunni mosques? yeah right. your wahabbi thug. God!! you're a moron.
turbonut

[Muslim First]

.
turbo

Anajma, you have never heard of the organisation called "grameen",

I thought it was Bangladeshi brother who invented this concept and was awarded Nobel for it.

Is your MHI Mai Baap trying to take credit for that too?
.

[turbocanuck]

Originally posted by Muslim First:
.
turbo

Anajma, you have never heard of the organisation called "grameen",

I thought it was Bangladeshi brother who invented this concept and was awarded Nobel for it.

Is your MHI Mai Baap trying to take credit for that too?
.

You surely havent heard of the "Agakhan agency of microfinance" or the Agakhan award for Architecture. AKAM (microfinance) is in existence for over 25 years, and active in the rural areas of india and Pakistan. The Idea of Grameen came off it. Br. Mohammed Yunus took it into Bangladesh, and in 1983 made it a reality. In 1987 Grameen was awarded the Aga Khan award for architecture with a huge prize money. Guess what that money did to Grameen? It became a major player in International banking. That is what leadership is all about.

[anajmi]

turbonut,

Look at your first post and see the state of the Muslim Ummah. According to the Average Moron it is even worst than what you have stated. All this is because of the Imam of the muslim ummah who is busy uplifting horses rather than the muslims. If he is uplifting the ummah, then you are lying when you portray such a miserable state of the ummah.

[turbocanuck]

Originally posted by anajmi:
turbonut,

Look at your first post and see the state of the Muslim Ummah. According to the Average Moron it is even worst than what you have stated. All this is because of the Imam of the muslim ummah who is busy uplifting horses rather than the muslims. If he is uplifting the ummah, then you are lying when you portray such a miserable state of the ummah.

HEY RETARD.......WHAT YOU SEE BELOW IS THE PROBLEM.

<small>[ October 19, 2007, 10:45 AM: Message edited by: Admin ]</small>

[Muslim First]

.
Turbo

I am aware of all the good deeds of Agakhan.

that does not make one Muslim.

Go find defination of Muslim.

A person believing or not permoming Salat, Ramadan Fast or Hujj is not Muslim.

Aga Khan is good Nizari Ismaili.

You are His good spiritual child.

He is your Mai Baap

I have no problem with goodness of Aga Khan.

He is also good in breeding Horces for races on which people Gamble. Gambling of any short is Haraam for Muslims.

Alcohol is Haraam for Muslim, so he can not consume it, sell it or own a hotel which serves it.

A Muslim cannot give his daughter or sister to non Muslim. A Nizari Ismali can do it.

Take care and be good.
.

[anajmi]

Why is the Hazar Imam, who is the true Imam, the true descendent of Hazrat Ali, lead these misguided folks into the light? It is his duty, being the Amirul-Mumineed, to show these people the true Islam. Or is he a fake?

[Humsafar]

“Why are Muslims so powerless” is just a variation on another constant refrain “why are Muslims so backward”. These questions are not only full of false assumptions and fallacies but reflect a parochial mindset that divides humanity into Muslims, Christians and Hindus, Jews etc.

First off, the statistics quoted are irrelevant because they ignore the context and history of Muslims, and second it is assumed that Muslims are an undifferentiated homogenous lot that must act, speak, behave and live like a single organism. As if by some sociological and historical miracle they should all rise and fall together, or that by some divine sanction they have the right to be powerful and advanced and supreme.

Just because Muslims share the same religion doesn’t mean they become a single entity. Power and progress are social, political and economic categories, religion has little to do with it.

Look at it this way, let’s suppose that there were only Muslims in the whole world. Do you think they would all be powerful and advanced? Certainly not. Why? Because the evolution of our societies and the “eternal markets” have created deep class structures of haves and have-nots. There are rich and powerful Muslims as there are rich and powerful Christians. It depends where you are looking. In the West, the Muslims are relatively rich and educated, and would be powerful too if they had the numbers. In contrast, in Africa and Asia there are as many poor and backward Muslims as there are Christians or Hindus. Progress is a function of the society you live in, and the dominant mode of consciousness and discourse (e.g. democracy, dictatorship, monarchy etc.) that defines it.

Now there is a question of the stupendous wealth of Gulf Arabs. They are filthy rich and would be bloody powerful, too, if they did not hitch their wagon to American imperialism. Even so, supposing that Gulf Arabs were independent and powerful, the expectation that their power would somehow empower Muslims elsewhere is quite unrealistic. Nations, such as they are, behave in their own self-interest. A Muslim country will not support other Muslims if it is not in its self-interest to do so. Muslim Iraq will go to war with Muslim Iran in the same way as Christian America will bomb Christian Serbia.

Even within countries, rich and powerful Muslims always strive to keep the poor and backward Muslims at bay in the same way as the Christians or Hindus or Jews do. Look at Muslim Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Syria, Morocco, Jordan, Iran, they are all divided along class lines. You have the same reality in Christian USA, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Angola, South Africa etc. Bringing religion into the discussion about power and dominance is nothing more than a pointless diversion. Muslims will do well to realise that they are neither a single race nor a nation and stop behaving as if they were.

To conclude, it is true that a particular type of religious mentality discourages thought and prevents progress but it’s not entirely religion’s fault that certain countries and a class of people are powerless or backward.

I would reframe the question like this: Why is the majority of the world so powerless? A vast majority of us do not want war. But all we have is war, strife and terror. Why? That is the question to ask and worth answering.

[Average Bohra]

Assuming the posted statistics are accurate, you have reduced the discussion to rich vs. poor when the article refers to statistics regarding education and making a note that the GDP (not individual wealth) of these countries tends to reflect the disparity in education.

Apologists can attribute this disparity to coincidence and/or American imperialism {!}; wherein lies the problem.

[anajmi]

To put it in context, consider the state of education and its infrastructure in Iraq after it was freed from the tyrant Saddam by the American liberators. Now extrapolate and you will get the root cause of the problem. Don't forget to mention the state of Afghanistan and Palestine.

Besides, education in America has brought up what? War and chaos around the globe. They've got an idiot who was educated in Yale for president. What more can I say!!

[Average Bohra]

1. Was Iraq the Harvard of the Middle East prior to the invasion ?

2. After the Taliban were helped by the US and showed them the finger (“un-hitched”), what educational advancements did they make { } They created a Wahabi Disneyland instead !

3. Israel used the billions in aid and created a vibrant educational system and economy. What did Palestine do with the billions in aid ? Arafat stole most of it and kept the Palestinians in refugee camps; uneducated, desperate, hopeless and armed with hatred and revenge alone.

When un-hitched from "their wagon to American imperialism" they did not exactly become beacons of educational success. Further disproving Humsafar’s rant is the disparity in education in India itself between Hindus and Indian Muslims (ex-Hindus).

[anajmi]

Average Moron,

The condition in Iraq is getting worse day by day because we have morons like you talking about Iraq like it doesn't deserve any better because it wasn't better before. Is that how this education has thought you to think. I am grateful I didn't get this education which has brought countries to utter ruin and the world to the brink of destruction.

As far as Taliban is concerned, they got much less time and even less resources than the American moron have already had in Afghanistan. Is Afghanistan better off or worse off? Put some of that education to good use and don't make a waste of your dad's sperm.

Israel has used billions in aid to create a brutal occupation in Palestian and it continues to use this aid to destroy the lives and livelihoods of millions of Palestinians. Didn't your education teach you to read and understand? Ah but wait, you support the Palestinian cause don't you? I only wish you had been a little more educated. It would've been the difference between average and moronic.

Unhitiching from the American wagon of imperialism should be the primary concern of every country and society on earth, cause it doesn't matter how bad your condition gets after, you won't get worse than what the Americans can do to you. History of the last few decades teaches this lesson to all that actually educated.

[Humsafar]

Originally posted by Average Bohra:
Further disproving Humsafar’s rant is the disparity in education in India itself between Hindus and Indian Muslims (ex-Hindus).[/QB]

Shows how much you know about the Indian reality.

Also, the point of my rant was not to reduce the discussion to "rich vs poor" but to introduce history, economy and culture as major factors affecting the fate of a people. The point is, Muslims are not backward and powerless because they are Muslims but for reasons that have little to do with religion.

[anajmi]

Cheney calls Iran an obstacle to peace

Vice President Dick Cheney on Sunday described Iran as an obstacle to peace in the Middle East

The only reason this freak can say such things, even though it is his country and he personally, the only ones responsible for the chaos, death and destruction in the middle east, is because his audience is nothing but a bunch of educated average morons.

[jawanmardan]

Terrorism and Suicide bombings, how do we deal with these threats?

Let me briefly share some of my thoughts, the common mis-perception is people commit suicide bombings because of the following red herrings:

They believe in 72 Virgins.

A anonymous Mulla never issued a fatwa to say it was wrong.

Moderate Muslims don't voice an opinion.

Vacuous statements like these by politicians and the media prevent the public from focusing on the real issues and engaging in a vigorous public debate. And therefore finding effective solutions to combat extremism.

Initial steps should include taking the following actions:

Address the immoral and racist policies of Israeli hardliners in duality with addressing Palestinian violence and terrorism. Produce tangible results toward giving them dignity, prosperity, and ultimately a viable homeland.

Muslims in turn need to allow politics to be discussed in the mosques, and for the legitimate anger and frustration of Muslim youth to be channelled through the Ballot Box, and not into the hands of extremists.

Islamism needs to be allowed to be expressed through the ballot box let the people decide. That means the west ought to refrain from double standards about democracy ie supporting it in Iraq thru war, but dismissing it in Palestine.

These are initial steps, but would help to marginalize extremists, on both sides. Although I see little initiative from those in office to even begin to acknowledge root causes.

Regards.

[jawanmardan]

woops posted in the wrong window!