The Phenomenon of Muslim Countries Not Practicing Islamic Values and Its Causes

The Phenomenon of Muslim Countries Not Practicing Islamic Values ​​and Its Causes


By: Sujaya, Advisor to ASWIN


A research study conducted by Professor Hossein Askari from George Washington University in 2015 measured the extent to which countries around the world practice Islamic values ​​based on Islamic economic principles, social justice, government governance, and human rights.

Ironically, the study found that countries with a majority Muslim population are not the most Islamic in practicing Islamic values. Instead, countries from the Western world are the ones that most closely adhere to Islamic values.

The following are some of the top-ranked countries:

1. Ireland
2. Denmark
3. Sweden
4. United Kingdom
5. New Zealand

Meanwhile, Muslim-majority countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Pakistan are ranked lower due to practices that contradict Islamic principles, such as corruption, social injustice, and human rights violations.

This study shows that Islamic values, such as honesty, justice, transparency, and social welfare, are more widely applied in countries with democratic and transparent governments.

This phenomenon occurs due to several factors:

1. Different understanding of Islam
2. Weak government governance
3. Cultural and political history
4. Education and innovation
5. Separation of religion and state

To better practice Islamic values, Muslim countries need to undergo deep reforms in various aspects, such as improving government governance, reforming education, prioritizing social welfare, and applying Islamic ethics in economics.

In conclusion, Muslim countries need to return to the essence of Islamic teachings, which emphasize justice, honesty, and social welfare, rather than just focusing on religious symbols.


Indramayu,March 24,2025

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