Logo of UNDP that Urged Muslim Nations to Follow the Principles of Hazrat Ali for Good Governance and World Peace.
Dr.Mazhar
Naqvi
The Muslim countries have paid a very heavy price by
ignoring the advice of United Nations Development Program(UNDP) to follow the rules of governance introduced
by Imam Ali bin Abi Talib. The UNDP in its 2002 Arab Human €development Report had listed six sayings of Imam Ali about ideal
governance and urged the Islamic nations to consider them for establishing a
regime based on justice and democracy and encouraging knowledge. The report had
categorically pointed out that most Muslim countries were lagging behind other
nations in democracy, wide political representation, women's participation,
development and knowledge. Instead of paying heed to the report, the Muslim countries
somewhat remained indifferent to UNDP suggestion.
What
disastrous result their apathy has brought could only be gauged from the
statistics revealed by 2014 edition of Global Terrorism Index. The report says that
since 2000 there has been over a five-fold increase in the number of deaths
from terrorism, rising from 3,361 in 2000 to 17,958 in 2013. Of these, 82% killed
in terrorist attacks were in just five countries: Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria
and Syria. The recent rise of ultra-violent group such as Islamic States (IS) poses
a threat to take into its territorial fold countries like Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Yemen, Palestine and Southern Turkey as well. If so happens, possibility of further
destabilization in the Middle East cannot be ruled out.
Out
of the total deaths recorded from terrorist attacks in 2013, 66 per cent were
claimed by only four terrorist organizations namely, IS, Boko Haram, Taliban, Al-Qaida
and its affiliates or associate outfits. Variations of religious ideologies
based on extreme interpretations of Wahabi Islam are the key common factor of the
entire four groups.
UNDP had
probably anticipated the emergence of terrorist outfit in Muslim countries and
suggested Islamic countries to develop their society on the principles of
equity, democracy and justice. UNDP had presented the following sayings of Imam Ali after much analysis and deliberations to run their respective governments ideally:
1. "He
who has appointed himself an Imam (ruler) of the people must begin by teaching
himself before teaching others. His teaching of others must be first by setting
an example rather than with his words, for he who begins by teaching and
educating himself is more worthy of respect than he who teaches and educates
others."
2. "Your
concern with developing the land should be greater than your concern for
collecting taxes, for the latter can only be obtained by developing; whereas he
who seeks revenue without development destroys the country and the
people."
3. "Seek
the company of the learned and the wise in search of solving the problems of
your country and the righteousness of your people."
4. "No
good can come out in keeping silent to the government or in speaking out
of ignorance."
5. "The
righteous are men of virtue, whose logic is straightforward, whose dress is ostentatious, whose path is modest, whose actions are many and who is
undeterred by difficulties."
6. "Choose
the best among your people to administer justice among them. Choose someone who
does not easily give up, who is unruffled by enmities, someone who will not
persist in wrong doings, who will not hesitate to pursue right once he knows
it, someone whose heart knows no greed, who will not be satisfied with a
minimum of explanation without seeking the maximum of understanding, who will
be the most steadfast when doubt is cast, who will be the least impatient in
correcting the opponent, the most patient in pursuing the truth, the most stern
in meting out judgement, someone who is unaffected by flattery and not swayed by
temptation and these are but few."
The
report also predicts that the risk of future violent attacks in countries with currently
low levels of terrorist activities cannot be ignored. By measuring and
comparing various political, social and violence indicators, the report has
identified 13 countries i.e. Angola, Bangladesh, Burundi, Central African
Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Iran, Israel, Mali, Mexico, Myanmar, Sri
Lanka and Uganda with high potential for terrorist attacks. UNDP has found religion
as the driving ideology for rise in terrorism since 2000 while nationalist separatist agenda was
the main causes of terrorist organizations
prior to it.
As
Muslim nations are witnessing the worst ever sectarian violence at present, it
is high time for true believers to pay attention to the advice given by Hazrat
Ali to counter the rise of religious extremism. Followers of moderate
theologies need to be encouraged to cultivate credible forces within Islam on
urgent basis as the current political context underscores the importance of liberal
doctrines. As all Islamic schools hold Hazrat Ali in high esteem and believe
him to be a man with vast knowledge ,an ultimate leader and also as a man with spirituality
of highest order, it would be appropriate for the Muslim nations to now pay
heed to what UNDP recommended in 2002.Such a move will also be a glowing
tribute to Maula Ali at a time when his martyrdom is being recalled by his
admirers all over the world. (Reference available on request)
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