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There can be no peace or coexistence between the Islamic faith and non-Islamic societies and political institutions. The failure of these institutions to function and the instability of these regimes in Muslim countries, manifest in frequent changes and coups d'etat, is most often the consequence of their a priori opposition to Islam, as the fundamental and foremost feeling of the people in those countries. - ibid., p. 30

Alija Izetbegovic#8

Islam

About this quote

What does it mean?
Peace between Islam and non-Islamic societies is impossible due to fundamental incompatibility. Instability in Muslim countries stems from opposition to Islamic values.
In plain terms
Islam and non-Islamic systems cannot coexist peacefully, and opposition causes instability.
What can you take from it?
Conflict arises when Islamic values are opposed by existing political structures.

Where it applies

  • comparing cultures
  • analyzing coups
  • discussing secularism

Putting it to work

  • studying conflicts
  • analyzing regime changes
  • debating secularism

Questions to consider

  • Can different systems ever truly coexist?
  • Is instability always ideological?

Another view

It overlooks historical examples of peaceful coexistence.

More from Alija Izetbegovic

  1. The briefest definition of the Islamic order defines it as a unity of religion and law, upbringing and power, ideal and interest, the spiritual community and t…

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  2. There are immutable Islamic principles which order relations between people, but there is no Islamic economic, social or political structure which cannot be ch…

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  3. The idea of Islamic renewal, which understands Islam as capable not only of educating human beings but also of ordering the world, will always have two types o…

    Permalink to quote #6

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