The year 2011 was a year of upheavals and uprisings for Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and Yemen. Now the dust over these countries has started to settle and stability is emerging gradually. The struggle against corruption and hereditary and authoritarian rule is successful and yearning for democratic Islamic polity has been rewarded with a profound change.
A great awakening has occurred and the most excellent manifestation of this was seen in the largest Arab country Egypt, with 80 million population, in the overthrow of 60-year long ruthless military dictatorship.
All these anti-Islamic, anti-people, authoritarian regimes had overt and covert support from the western capitalist democracies, for whom their own geo-political interests were more important than human rights and democracy to which they never get tired of paying lip-service.
The year 2012 is witnessing another great popular struggle, which has now turned into armed conflict, against the worst of regimes, the Syrian dictatorship of Bashar al-Asad. The world is eager to see how long tyranny defend itself and when the democratic Islamic aspirations of Syrian people taste success. Everyone can read the writing on the wall of events that sooner or later the repressive regime will fall and the oppressed people will triumph.
In first free and fair elections people have overwhelmingly given their verdict, in no uncertain terms, that they are for Islam, Islamic parties and Islamic way of life. The success of Islamic parties in country after country has confirmed the well-known but hidden reality that majority of Muslims in all countries want a return to Islam. It is only Islam which can fulfil their aspirations and bring out their potentialities. That is why the bewildered western analysts are seeing a re-emergence of Islam and a second period of Islamic power in the offing. It seems that now all roads lead to Islam and all events confirm that Arab Spring has paved the way for Islamic Spring, and in its turn, it will further inspire other Muslim countries to return to their roots, seek greater affinity with Islamic principles and gain new strength to embark on an Islamic journey.
The Arab Spring has opened the gates of new challenges. Let every challenge be turned into an opportunity and let every believer prepare himself theoretically, morally and materially to face this challenge. The world is keenly watching the currents and sub-currents in the Muslim countries. It is for them to show through their deeds that they believe in Islam, have Islam and are capable of living Islam.
Radiance is pleased to present an analysis of the Arab Spring, and its promises and challenges. We hope it would stir the imagination of our readers and they also will think and participate in this great movement to change the world.