Protests have flared across Egypt- the focal point and crucible of the Arab Spring-after the Egyptian president Muhammad Morsi gave new and sweeping powers to himself. This is ominous and dangerous: the Arab Spring-now stalled-is in danger of turning into an Arab Winter. That is, strengthening the presidency and donning the mantle of what may be called neo presidentialism, Morsi runs the risk of turning the gains of the Arab Spring and reverting to what is fallaciously held to be the character of the Arab Muslim peoples: authoritarianism. This stereotype has been trotted out by Orientalists and is widely believed –so much so that most people were cynical about the real import and significance of the Arab Spring.
The real question and import of the Arab Spring was and is whether Islam is compatible with democracy. It is this delicate, sensitive question and idea of great import that Morsi with his ill thought decree is giving short shrift to. The question of Islam’s compatibility with democracy goes beyond elections, sharing and wielding of political power in accord with the tenets of democracy. It is also, and perhaps more importantly, about Islam’s compatibility with political freedom and human rights. Whilst there can be no pure democracy in Islamic lands given that the philosophical premises of both Islam and democracy are different, it stands to reason that some sort of synthesis is eminently possible.
A word on the nature of Islam and democracy is warranted here. The latter holds and believes in the absolute sovereignty of God and the Prophet to be supreme and in this schema reason is not be discarded but is held to be subservient to God and faith. The latter holds man and his/her reason to be supreme. As a corollary then, Islam holds that all laws flow from God and His Prophet while democracy gives primacy to man and reason. Prima facie, these profound philosophical differences imply that Islam and democracy can never be reconciled. This , however, is a very flimsy and flawed understanding.
Both , Islam and democracy hold the dignity of man to be paramount and , it may be said that both hold that man is born free. As such, both sets of philosophies , accord primacy to rights. And rights have a clear cut relation with political freedom. This , then, can be the starting point for a synthesis between Islam and democracy. Moreover, procedurally, there does not appear to be a tension between procedural democracy and Islam.
Having established that while there are important and profound differences between Islam and democracy but at the same time , some scope for a common meeting ground, let us turn to the Arab Spring, Morsi’s decision and the question of Islam and democracy.
The Arab Spring set in motion a series of events of world historical significance: the Arabs , it appeared had had enough and began to question and challenge the status quo in the Middle East: that of authoritarianism. The idiom that the Arab Spring was articulated in was that of freedom, rights and Islam. This gave rise to the notion that the Arab Muslim Middle East was finally unshackling itself and rooting for a future that synthesized Islam with democracy and that a new efflorescence and order was shaping up in the Arab Muslim Middle East.
In essence then, this was an eloquent rejoinder and response by Arabs themselves to the detractors of Arab culture and Islam. They were proving that the Arab Muslim peoples had a role in the design and pattern if history and that Islam could be compatible with aspects of democracy.
It is this bold and beautiful design and march of history that Morsi with his decree is giving short shrift to and pouring cold water over. This gives grist to the mill of assertions that Islam is incompatible with democracy, political freedom and rights and vindicates Orientalist tropes about Islam and the Arab peoples. By arrogating power and concentrating it in the office of the presidency, Morsi then not only is giving ammunition to the detractors of Islam but also doing his bit to stall the course and direction of history.
The Arab Spring is a grand historical process. No one can really stop it. However, actions like the one taken by Morsi dull its momentum. It would be prudent if instead of being an obstructionist force, Morsi be a facilitator and enabler. Democracy and Islam, to repeat, may not be entirely compatible but a synthesis of sorts is eminently possible and this synthesis is owed to the peoples of the Arab Muslim Middle East. Let it not be thwarted or obstructed.
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