Re: What Stops Muslim countries from being totally and completely Islamic?
Iran and Saudi pick and choose Islamic Laws. They use Islamic Law to keep their grip on power.
Most Muslims do not ave a full understanding of what Islam is. The literacy rates are low. That makes them dependent upon Maulvis. These Maulvis have created a monopoly on Islamic knowledge. They have made Islam become hierarchical and institutionalized. It is all male dominated so first sufferer is the woman. I have seen “Muslims” bow to “Pirs” and their descendents. I have seen people worship graves. There is so much more but I will not go into that.
Then you have external influences. Most Muslim countries have been colonized by European countries at one time or another. Pakistan for example has a power structure modeled on the British. The british created a power structure that would be loyal and serve them long after they have gone. Our elite os western in attitude and in general wants a liberal country. The middle classes despise the elites yet when they get a chance become just like them.
The power structure in Pakistan is not Pro-Islamic but pro-Western. This is probably the same in all Muslim countries. You only have to look at the arms trade and you will see the subjects actually play an important role in the colonials economy even today. The last thing the colonials would want is a power structure that goes against their hegemony.
In Pakistan a lot of people do not understand Islam properly so they have a rigid view of it thanks to all the money used to finance Jihad. Their rigid view scares more balanced people.