WHY SOME COUNTRIES ARE POOR?

In the name of the most beneficent God

Peace be upon our Master Muhammad and his purified progeny

Some countries in the world are poor and some countries in the world are rich. The poor countries of the world are often called the Third World Countries as they are mostly underdeveloped with underprivileged citizens, frail economy, internal conflicts between different communities, corrup bureaucrats, intolerant atmosphere and many other problems which make them poor.

What made me write this blog is a myth which identifies religion as the underlying reason why most Muslim countries are poor. This myth, often supported by Islamophobic agencies and anti-Muslim organizations, claims that the faith of Islam is responsible of the impoverishment of Muslims because this religion is inherently intolerant, extremist, misogynistic, totalitarian, authoritarian, tyrannical and fanatical. When, in fact, all these problems they associate with Islam are actually aspects of certain Islamic nations and do not define the nature of the Mohammedan belief system itself. As a liberal Muslim, I believe that no religion is evil rather can be used for evil purposes when it becomes a tool in the hands of ill-minded adherents. As a Pakistani who was born and raised in Punjab and later migrated to Sindh, I had a chance to deeply study my people and I found that Muslims only abide by those Islamic principles which suit their personal needs and desires and opt to ignore those Islamic principles that serves them no personal gain. A fundamental example of this hypocrisy of Muslims is the widespread disease of corruption in Pakistan. Prophet Muhammad had said: "The one who bribes and the one who is bribed, both will go to hell." But bribery is a necessary source of income for most government officials in Pakistan. In my life-span, I have seen people openly disobeying the teachings of Islam but still calling themselves followers of Quran. Moreover, if Islam is the problem here behind Muslims being backwards, why didn't it stop us from going in the Golden Age. Early Muslims were pioneers of science and philosophy for modern-age Europeans. Early Muslims were better followers of Islam than 21st century Muslims are. Doesn't it show that Islam is not a factor here rather Muslims have something to do with their own poverty?

Then why some countries (mostly Muslim) are poor? These factors are to be held responsible:

• Corruption
• Sectarian and ethnic violence
• Corruption
• Political instability
• Diseases
• Lack of rainfall
• Unemployment
• Lack of proper education
• Mismanagement of natural national resources
• Overpopulation

I recommend everyone to read Why Nations Fail? which is a fantastic book to read for everyone interested in this subject.