At the beginning of the 20th century, all Muslim countries were under colonial rule. By the middle of the century, almost all were free. By the end of the century, the first wave of radical Muslim forces emerged, giving rise to militants, such as the Taliban in Afghanistan, and al-Qaeda and allied organisations everywhere else.
The beginning of this century saw the second wave of Muslim forces that are moderate and liberal, especially in Turkey, Malaysia, and now in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. It was a natural consequence because Islam is in our hearts, not in our arms. The Arab Spring was actually the beginning of the second wave in a peaceful and democratic manner. The third wave will see the acceptance of Islamic teachings in all spheres of life, replacing the Western concept of the separation of religion and politics.
An article Why Islamism is winning by John M Owen in The New York Times notes that “the Arab Spring is producing flowers of a decidedly Islamist hue.” It adds, “Today, rural and urban Arabs with widely varying cultures and histories are showing that they share more than a deep frustration with despots and a demand for dignity. Most, whether moderate or radical, or living in a monarchy or a republic, share a common inherited language of dissent: Islamism.”
MUHAMMAD ABDUL HAMEED
Lahore