How exactly did so many Muslim-majority nations become so oppressive?
This is something I’ve been grappling with for a while (and I am continuing to do my research so this isn’t an ignorant rant, but a discussion prompt to talk about this more bc I don’t feel it’s talked about enough).
I’ve become a questioning Muslim of late (for a variety of reasons, but mostly bc my parents (who honestly, excuse the language, are batshit crazy narcissists)) keep using Islam to justify their abuse, disrespect towards others, callousness, racism, and the list can go on. Now before someone comments that this is not a problem with religion per se, but a people problem, I already know that. And I agree to some extent, bc I’m well aware that all religions will have people using religion to exert authority and control over others, and not for spiritual, altruistic reasons.
But that is a distraction from us in the Muslim community actually confronting the fact that our community is unfortunately by and large very oppressive. Even when I find parts of the Qu’ran that reject these toxic behaviours (like for example the way people are made to fear critical thinking in many mainstream Islamic communities), I find countries that are ruled (in theory at least I guess bc Idk what “true Shariah” is) by Islamic law reinforce these behaviours and even actively encourage them sometimes. I know Salafis / Wahhabists etc. have infiltrated a lot of mosques for example, but I actually think the problem goes far deeper than that. It’s systemic.
And I’m in the process of continuing my own research as to how exactly we as a community got this way (bc I know we weren’t always this way, and also, that there are different versions of Islam, like w/ any religion), but I’d like to hear from people what their thoughts are on this to gain a broader perspective on the issues we have and where these may possibly come from.
TL; DR: How did many Muslim-majority countries become so oppressive? Let’s talk about it.
Edit: For clarity, when I say “Muslim-majority”, I mean countries where Islam is enshrined in the legal system (or at least supposedly is). I’m not making this about Muslims as a people (and I myself am still Muslim, albeit a questioning one right now). I’m not encouraging any hate towards any group of people, and genuinely opening up this discussion bc it’s important.