On Islamic Socialism

I am aware that the given topic as introduced in the title is both interesting to intellectuals, and a nightmare for paranoid conspiracy theorists. However, Islamic socialism does exist; and no, it isn't the conservative's belief that Obama is Muslim and imposing Socialism on the nation.

A term coined by Muslim leaders, it has a history as well. Below is a broad timeline of these made achievements:

Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, established in 1977.
Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya was developmentally significant of a socialist state in terms of its progressive governmental policies and leadership overall, with its promotion of secularism, funding in education and health care, nationalization, and a strong belief in solidarity. While these may not seem the most progressive or surprising to many Western readers, they were extremely new and essentially revolutionary actions of government in the region: no nation had gone so far as to nationalize such aspects of industrial economy as oil, as was done under Gaddafi, to provide for his people. It is also important to note Gaddafi's political party, which was the Arab Socialist Union. Gaddafi outlined his version of Islamic socialism for Libya in his “Green Book,” a seminal exposition of his political thought pertinent to the region’s improvement and understanding of the origins of its core issues.

Ba'athist Syria, established in 1963.

The Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party took power and popular influence in Syria in 1963 after a coup d’etat against the “liberal democratic” president, who’d been establishing diplomatic ties with anti-leftist governments since his election. Today, the party's regional secretary, Bashar Al-Assad, runs the country. The presidential election which Assad ran unopposed, along with many other elements in which Syria had no involvement in, yet was told by foreign powers that they was involved, sparked a civil war that has lasted for years. With the rise of Jihadist right-wing forces like the FSA and ISIS, Assad and Syrian forces have fought to keep peace. Even under the weight of imperialist sanctions, civil war, and other such similar problems, Assad's rule has remained true to socialist principles of unity, and for the time being, progressive actions in the way of the funding of free public primary and secondary education, and nationalization of economic industry.

Islamic socialism as an ideology is influenced not only by Marxism, but religious history, and religious understanding therein, charged by such Islamic beliefs of helping the needy, standing against oppression, self-defense, etc. - It adopts the aspects of Marxism in with the beliefs of Islam. There is also the religious history of Muhammad (PBUH) establishing the welfare state of Medina, which was rather Utopian socialist, but regardless, is inspiration for Muslim socialists.

Islamic socialism, from a historical and intellectual standpoint, has been very successful, in spite of all attempts and actions committed by imperialist aggressors. Those nations such as Libya and Syria, despite foreign aggression, have been able to make major success in many fields. The late Gaddafi's Libya, with its policies on nationalization, was able to increase revenue, which helped the society improve and advance. Syria, while dealing with major plights, is now gaining ground in the civil war, and is driving back the imperialist-backed Daesh, which has been causing chaos in the territory. It ought be understood by all that socialism is the key to the liberation of the global proletariat. However, Islamic socialism may be a more suitable answer for liberation for the Middle Eastern proletariat.