The Islamicity Index
- Qur'an Explorer
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Interpreting the Islamicity Index Qur'anically
The Islamicity Index—developed by the Islamicity Foundation and led by scholars like Professor Hossein Askari—is designed to measure how closely a country’s institutions, governance, economic framework, and social systems align with the core societal teachings of the Qur'an and the Prophet Muhammad, rather than measuring personal religious rituals.
The 2024 results consistently mirror a famous observation by Islamic scholar Muhammad Abduh: "I went to the West and saw Islam, but no Muslims; I got back to the East and saw Muslims, but no Islam." In the 2024 Index, non-Muslim majority countries dominate the top spots (Ireland ranks #1, followed by Iceland, New Zealand, Denmark, and the Netherlands).
Meanwhile, Muslim-majority nations rank much lower; Malaysia is the highest-performing Muslim-majority nation, but it sits at #41, with other prominent Muslim nations trailing significantly behind (e.g., Indonesia at #56, Saudi Arabia at #100, and Turkey falling to #109).
When we synthesise these results through the lens of just six theological premises, a profound spiritual and sociological picture emerges:
1. Fitrah (Qur'an 30:30) & The Universal Blueprint
The Qur'an states that God created humans with an innate, pure nature (fitrah) structured to recognise truth, order, and justice. The 2024 Islamicity Index results prove that the manifestation of Islamic ideals—such as the rule of law, eradication of poverty, transparency, and human dignity—does not require a religious label. Because Western nations like Ireland or Iceland have built systems that foster justice, economic equity, and environmental stewardship, they are aligning with the universal fitrah. The index shows that fitrah is a cross-cultural reality; human societies naturally gravitate toward these principles when building functional systems.
2. Inspired Ability to Differentiate Right from Wrong (Qur'an 91:7-8)
God states that He proportioned the human soul and inspired it with the innate faculty to understand what is right (piety) and what is wrong (wickedness). The index utilises objective criteria to measure economic justice, human rights, and legal accountability. The top-ranking non-Muslim nations have successfully utilised this divinely inspired conscience to construct institutions that suppress corruption and protect the vulnerable. They did not need specific theological jurisprudence to realise that bribery, oppression, and extreme economic disparity are morally wrong.
3. The Same Guidance Given to Everyone (Qur'an 42:13)
This verse reminds us that God ordained for all of humanity the same core spiritual and ethical religion (Deen) that was commanded to Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad. The Islamicity Index serves as data-driven evidence for this verse: the foundational principles of a successful, ethical society are universal. Freedom, welfare, and equality are not exclusive "Western inventions," nor are they exclusive "Muslim secrets"—they are the baseline of the primordial guidance given to all of humanity.
4. People Differed Only After Receiving the Message(3:19)
Historically, nations and religious communities have fractured, regressed, or grown complacent after being entrusted with divine revelation, often due to tribalism, political greed, or sectarian pride. The lower rankings of Muslim-majority countries (such as Turkey's steep decline to #109 due to democratic and economic backsliding) demonstrate this exact phenomenon. Having a monopoly on the text of the Qur'an or identifying as a "Muslim state" does not automatically translate to an Islamic society. In fact, the data imply that many Muslim-majority nations have neglected the practical, ethical weight of the message they received, focusing on outward rituals or political control while slipping into corruption and human rights abuses.
5. To Not Associate Anything with God (Qur'an 22:26)
Monotheism (Tawhid) in Islam demands that supreme loyalty belongs only to God and His cosmic laws of justice and truth. When a government or society elevates a dictator, a ruling elite, a political party, or nationalistic pride above the universal principles of justice and human rights, they are committing a form of structural idolatry (associating partners with God's absolute authority). The low scores of many autocratic Muslim regimes across the 2024 index reflect a systemic failure to submit to the absolute standard of divine justice, choosing instead to serve the desires of absolute rulers and corrupt institutions.
6. The Promise of Succession and Security (Qur'an 24:55)
In this verse, God promises those who believe and do righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession (khilafah) on the earth, establish for them their religion, and replace their fear with peace and security—on the condition that they worship Him alone and do not commit idolatry. The index serves as an empirical verification of this divine law. True khilafah (vicegerency) is not an authoritarian regime or a hereditary political title; it is the physical manifestation of peace, stability, and societal well-being. The index demonstrates that when nations prioritise justice, transparency, and the welfare of their citizens, they achieve the very "security and stability" promised in the text. Conversely, the low rankings and pervasive instability of many Muslim-majority nations indicate a breach of this contract: by allowing corruption and oppression to rule, they have compromised the core of righteous action, losing the divine canopy of security.
Summary: The Formula of Divine Law
When we weave these six points together, the 2024 Islamicity Index functions less like a political scorecard and more like a mirror of cosmic spiritual laws.
The summary is stark but clear:
God’s societal promises are bound to righteous actions, not religious identities.
Because God gave the same core guidance to everyone (42:13), stamped the human soul with the fitrah (30:30), and gave all people the faculty to recognise right from wrong (91:7-8), any nation that builds its institutions on fairness, integrity, and human welfare will naturally yield the fruits of an Islamic society. Top-ranking nations like Ireland, Iceland, and New Zealand are living proof of this universal design.
In contrast, many Muslim-majority nations have fallen into the historical trap of differing and regressing after receiving the book (Point 4). By tolerating corruption, compromising human rights, and elevating regimes above divine justice (22:26), they have broken the covenant of righteous action. As a result, the 2024 Index shows that they are locked out of the peace, succession, and systemic security promised in 24:55.
Ultimately, the data shows that revelation is an active contract. The text belongs to the Muslim world, but the practical fruits of the message belong to whoever actually does the work.
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