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Quote by Bernard Lewis

“Moses led his people through the wilderness and he wasn't permitted to enter the Promised Land. Jesus was crucified. Mohammad founded a state which soon became an empire, so that Islam from the very beginning is involved with government, with politics. And therefore there is a very clear strong political tradition in Islam.”

Author

Bernard Lewis

Bernard Lewis is a renowned Jewish American historian known for his research on the history of the Middle East. His work covers various periods from ancient to modern times, with a particular focus on the history and culture of the Islamic world. more

“I think the important point which I've been trying to get across is that Islam, from the very beginning, is strongly, clearly opposed to autocratic dictatorial government. The idea which we so often hear expressed in the Western world, that's how they are, that's how they will always be and they can't do anything else.”

Thinking World Trying Important Islam Western

Author:Bernard Lewis

“Islam explicitly rejects dictatorship and there are no traditions of the Prophet or passages in the Qur'an which clearly give dictators this support.”

Giving Support Tradition Islam Prophet Dictatorship Dictator

Author:Bernard Lewis

“Muslims are very keenly aware of the history of their community, of the history of that relationship between their community and the rest of the world. And they have had this all through the centuries and are very much heightened by modern communications. I mean now you have Muslims in the Muslim world who can compare their situations with people elsewhere and they find that very humiliating.”

People World Mean Community Situation Modern Communication Compare Elsewhere Humiliating

Author:Bernard Lewis

“A remarkable feature of Islam is that it gives dignity even to the humblest illiterate peasants. It gives them a certain human dignity which one doesn't find in other societies.”

Giving Dignity Islam Remarkable Human Dignity Illiterate

Author:Bernard Lewis