I would like to add that Islamic societies, before while European societies were struggling amidst the bubonic plague and other factors, were making much progress in the fields of science, medicine, and technologies. For example, welfare and pensions are part of Islamic law from its early days. During the Rashidun Caliphate, social security (which the West wouldn’t see until the 19th century), retirement pensions, public trusteeship and public ownership were introduced. The caliphate also included a poverty threshold, ensuring a minimum standard of living and guaranteeing the poor cash stipends. These are but a few of the examples of how ahead of its time Islamic Empires and sharia was.
The unprogressive strain of Islam prevalent in the Middle East today is largely due to the effects of colonialism and imperialism, who introduced with class society, the subjugation of women and LGBTQ. Capitalism always needs a sector of society to oppress, and women serve that purpose. In fact, there are a lot of values in Islam that align with Marxist values. For example, centering the collective as opposed to centering the individual, prohibition of the accumulation of wealth in the hands of the privileged classes, organization of the economic structure of the state to ensure social welfare, equality of opportunity for all human beings, and prevention of enduring class structure through revolution.
I would like to add that Islamic societies, before while European societies were struggling amidst the bubonic plague and other factors, were making much progress in the fields of science, medicine, and technologies. For example, welfare and pensions are part of Islamic law from its early days. During the Rashidun Caliphate, social security (which the West wouldn’t see until the 19th century), retirement pensions, public trusteeship and public ownership were introduced. The caliphate also included a poverty threshold, ensuring a minimum standard of living and guaranteeing the poor cash stipends. These are but a few of the examples of how ahead of its time Islamic Empires and sharia was.
The unprogressive strain of Islam prevalent in the Middle East today is largely due to the effects of colonialism and imperialism, who introduced with class society, the subjugation of women and LGBTQ. Capitalism always needs a sector of society to oppress, and women serve that purpose. In fact, there are a lot of values in Islam that align with Marxist values. For example, centering the collective as opposed to centering the individual, prohibition of the accumulation of wealth in the hands of the privileged classes, organization of the economic structure of the state to ensure social welfare, equality of opportunity for all human beings, and prevention of enduring class structure through revolution.