Many Muslims in Saudi Arabia believe that the core values of Islam, namely acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty and basic human equality before God, are themselves compatible with liberty, equality and free political choice.

Feldman is reporting (and implicitly endorsing as plausible) a view held by many Saudi Muslims: that Islam’s theological fundamentals do not inherently mandate political authoritarianism. By emphasizing God’s sovereignty and human equality before God, the quote frames Islamic commitments as potentially supportive of modern political ideals—liberty, civic equality, and the legitimacy of choosing rulers—rather than opposed to them. The significance lies in separating religious doctrine from particular state structures (such as monarchy or clerical control) and suggesting that democratic aspirations can be articulated in an Islamic idiom. It also challenges stereotypes that treat “Islam” and “free political choice” as mutually exclusive categories.