Re: BBC view: American culture of charity and giving
Islamic era was pretty much modeled on Byzantines or Farsis (Iranians). Ummayahs, Abbasis, Moors, and then Ottomans courts were no different from the eras gone by.
Europeans started moving away from that model, and evolved new systems. Failure to adapt to these newer systems, ended Ottomans.
Turk leadership blamed Mullahs and Islam as the reasons they couldn't adapt. That is why Mustafa Kamal tried to erase even the smallest shades of Mullahism form the Trukish society.
Turkish revolt against Mullahs was similar to the European efforts to move away from Papal shenanigans.
The difference is that Europeans moved away from the Pope and evolved. Turks on the other hand could not evolve their native institutions at a fast pace like Europeans.
p.s. Faith and morals are good excuses for the decline. However innovation, stability of institutions, and intellectual's romance with evolution sit at the core of progress. Arabs like their African cousins can not move away from their tribalism. So there is no hope.
Pakistanis can progress if they can avoid tribal mess.