| |
Call
to take old Muslim leader as an example
courtesy: Abu Dhabi |A Staff Reporter | 01-09-2002
The United Nations has advised the Arab countries
to take an old Muslim leader as an example in
encouraging knowledge and establishing a regime
based on justice and democracy.
The UNDP published excerpts in English of remarks
made by Imam Ali bin Abi Taleb, a cousin of Prophet
Mohammed (PBUH), nearly 1,000 years ago about
knowledge, justice and right rule of people.
The UNDP referred to the regime as governance, an
English equivalent of 'Al Hokm', and said most
regional countries are still far behind other
nations in democracy, wide political representation,
women's participation, development and knowledge.
In its 2002 Arab Human Development Report,
distributed around the world, the UNDP listed six
main points in the comments of Imam Ali bin Abi
Taleb about ideal governance.
They include consultation between the ruler and the
ruled, speaking out against corruption and other
wrong doings, ensuring justice to all, and achieving
domestic development.
It quoted the Imam as saying: "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."
On development he tells rulers: "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.
"Seek the company of the learned and the wise
in search of solving the problems of your country
and the righteousness of your people. No good can
come in keeping silent as to government or in
speaking out of ignorance."
On justice and virtue, the Imam says: "The
righteous are men of virtue, whose logic is
straightforward, whose dress is unostentatious,
whose path is modest, whose actions are many and who
are undeterred by difficulties.
"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 judgment, someone who
is unaffected by flattery and not
swayed by temptation and these are but few."
The report, distributed by the UNDP office in Abu
Dhabi, said Arab countries have generally made
progress in their political and social reforms but
they still lag behind other states.
It said women in the Arab region are less
represented in political bodies, elections are
flawed, poverty and illiteracy are prevalent, and
democracy is not fully enforced.
It acknowledged reforms have gained momentum during
1990s in most Arab nations covering the permission
of wider participation, more frequent elections, the
ratification of several human rights conventions,
more freedom of the press and associations.
But it added: "On closer observation, the
picture is more complex. The process remains heavily
regulated and partial. It has not been opened to all
citizens.
"Persisting inequities in the region,
reflecting poverty, illiteracy, the urban/rural
divide and gender inequality, continue to exclude
many from public discourse. As a result, the process
of political liberalization has bypassed too many
people."
It said real political participation in the Arab
world is less 'advanced' than in other developing
regions, adding that in such areas as Latin America,
East and Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa,
freedom of association is less restricted,
governments change through ballot box and people's
groups have been
encouraged to express themselves.
"Meanwhile, mass mobilization-type regimes
still exist in a number of Arab countries, freedom
of association is restricted in other cases, levels
of political participation are uneven, and the
transfer of power through the ballot box is not a
common phenomenon.
"Practical constrains of these kinds have had
adverse effects on people's perceptions and actions,
reflected in low turnout rates during national and
local elections and in aversion to participating in
the activities of political parties."
The report urged the Arab governments to learn from
Imam Ali bin Abi Taleb in advocating knowledge and
fighting ignorance as the main reason for most
problems.
It quotes him again: "No vessel is limitless
except for the vessel of knowledge, which forever
expands. If God has to humiliate a human being, he
will deny him knowledge. No wealth equals to the
mind, and no poverty equals to ignorance. No wealth
can profit you more than the mind.
"Knowledge is superior to wealth. It guards you
whereas you guard wealth.
Wealth decreases with expenditure whereas knowledge
multiplies with dissemination."
|
|
|
|
