Why is there not a single ISLAMIC country in the list of top thirty countries in the HDI.?

Question

The Human Development Index (HDI) was developed in 1990 by the Pakistani economist Mahbub ul Haq. It is a comparative measure of poverty, literacy, education, life expectancy, childbirth, and other factors for countries worldwide & is a standard means of measuring well-being, especially child welfare.
In the list of top thirty countries ranked on the basis of HDI, there is not a single Islamic country even though they control most of the world’s oil & the associated revenue.
Is it because the concept of blind faith does not allow for rational thinking which is a must for scientific progress? Or because of the intolerance practised in Islam - no tolerance for criticism or the other point of view, or the inability to accept that there is a problem (most of the answerers here point out to the problems in other communities or religions which is not a solution).
Pl do not take this criticism but as a search for answers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hdi

Jamal- The concept of Madhab looks look good on paper but it pre-supposes the basic fact that the persons are muslims & accept the basics of the faith. For example if someone says that he believes that the miracles performed by Mohammad were just stories, then in an Islamic country he would be jailed for blasphemy at the very least. The fact is that Islam does allow for differences in opinion but within a very very narrow range.
In fact you you will be aware that in Iraq if someone says that Abu Bakar was the first caliph he can be killed by someone else who believes that Ali was the first Imam. This is just to give you an indication of the ground realities of blind faith & intolerance in Islam.
As regards the history of Islam and science you might know that most of the well known scientific luminiaries of Islam such as Avicenna, Ar Razi etc. were totally non religious.

Further, I am not very interested in what is written down or what has happened in history. What we should be interested is in the here and now.

Answer 1

too much money and power concentrated in the hands of a few selfish royals who do not care about their people.
( same problem europe had before the revolutions that toppled the royals)
the arab peoples need to revolt and take their own freedom. we cannot give it to them

Answer 2

IF HDI was developed by a Pakistani Economist, I don't think he turned a blind eye to facts. And to be included in the top 30 does not mean you are a rich country.

I reside in an aggressive developing city, a city next to the capital city, yet in the survey, my city ranked poorly, 12th from the bottom in terms of child education.

Answer 3

Poverty:

James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn't God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him?

Mathew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

So then muslims are the heirs of god's kingdom :)

Blind faith:

In islam there is no religious figure. what dictates islamic belief is precisely debate and reasoning based on quran and hadith. So islam is the farthest religion from blind faith. There is something in islam called Madhab's which are literally differences of opinion, and all are respected.

read it: http://www.therevival.co.uk/?p=113
Its a long article.


Furthermore, Quran pushes people to contemplate science

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Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (With the thought): "Our Lord! not for naught Hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire.


Quran delves so often into science to prove its authenticity

"He has let free the two sees meeting together: Between is a Barrier which they do not transgress. Then which of the favors of your lord will you deny." [Al-Rahman 55:19-21]

in reference of the salty and sweet sea.


Furhtermore, it asks those who don't believe to "bring your proof" if you are truthfull.

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Or have they taken for worship (other) gods besides him? Say, "Bring your convincing proof: this is the Message of those with me and the Message of those before me." But most of them know not the Truth, and so turn away.

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And from each people shall We draw a witness, and We shall say: "Produce your Proof": then shall they know that the Truth is in Allah (alone), and the (lies) which they invented will leave them in lurch.

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Or, Who originates creation, then repeats it, and who gives you sustenance from heaven and earth? (Can there be another) god besides Allah? Say, "Bring forth your argument, if ye are telling the truth!"

and you call that "blind faith", bring your proof that it is blind faith. :)


Scientific progress:

You should look at the history of islam and science. They dominated sciences for quite a while.

I am not attacking your question, just trying to prove my point.