~Fragi~
Age: 42
Total Posts: 64603
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Location:
Neutral Zone,
"Just 60 years ago Europe was involved in a brutal war amongst itself. Now they are united under the European Union with a single currency - something unimaginable just a few decades ago. If the EU with its strong nationalism, diverse languages and separate customs can unite, why can't the Muslim world?"
For some the idea that Muslims could unite together into one unified Islamic State under the banner of a Khilafah is a distant pipe dream. Recently a few so-called experts have stepped forward to rubbish the idea that in the 21st century Muslim unity is anything but possible. They cite examples of the current disunity and division plaguing the Muslim world as evidence to support their claims.
London-based anthropologist Madawi al-Rasheed said, "I can see the whole Arab world falling into sectarian violence, so I can't see this caliphate happening...Today, in the 21st century, it's a dream of Muslim activists."
Saudi analyst Faris bin Houzam said, "Their big dream is to set up an Islamic state, but there's nothing to suggest it could happen."
Indian journalist and author Mubashar Akbar writing in Newsweek said, "‘Muslims want to revive the Caliphate,' I hear pundits say. The idea is just preposterous."
Some of the allegations against the return of a Khilafah are summarised below.
1. The Muslim world is culturally too diverse
2. Nationalism is too deeply rooted
3. Sectarian differences prevent Sunni and Shia uniting
4. Muslims prefer to live separately in nation states
5. America will never allow it
1. The Muslim world is culturally too diverse
It's true that there are multitudes of languages, foods, clothing and other customs prevalent in the Muslim world. But this diversity is meaningless when it comes to the political system ruling the country. Political systems do not develop from people eating the same food or being the same colour skin. They develop from adopting economic, political and social legislation to govern the society. In most of the Muslim world today the political system derives from western constitutions such as the French constitution, which became a basis for many Muslim countries after their pseudo independence in the 20th Century.
Taking Iraq as an example, many Kurds long for an independent Kurdish state. Yet the problem in Iraq as elsewhere in the Muslim world is not one of ethnicity but rather the governing system. Saddam Hussein not only oppressed Kurds but he brutally tortured and murdered thousands of his own people whether Kurd, Arab, Sunni or Shia. He even executed his two son-in-laws!
The underlying culture of the Kurdish people is Islamic. They share the same Islamic culture as the rest of the Muslims whether in Turkey, Iraq or elsewhere. The most famous Kurd in history was Salahudeen Ayyubi (ra). He is honoured not just by Kurds but by all Muslims, from all ethnicities, because of his liberation of Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, the third holiest site in Islam.
The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "You see the believers as regards their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness and fever with it." [Bukhari>
Moreover is there anything in Shar'iah that cannot be implemented on a person due to his ethnicity? Muslims throughout the world of all colours pray five times a day, fast in Ramadan, give sadaqah and go for hajj to Makkah. They get married, educate their children, fight to defend their lands from occupation, pay taxes, establish companies and punish criminal behaviour.
2. Nationalism is too deeply rooted
"Just try selling a Pakistani Caliph to a Bangladeshi," said Mubashar Akbar.
The Khaleefah is not a Pakistani Khaleef or a Bengali Khaleef or an Arab Khaleef for that matter. He is a Muslim who is the leader of the Islamic State. The flaw of nationalism is that it can only unite people of a certain nationality temporarily when their is a real or perceived foe or aggressor; people from other nations will not follow a leader of another nationality as they cannot see beyond the person's country of birth. The Khaleefah is a leader who will represent the interests of Islam, he does not represent any ethnic group, tribe, clan or nation and hence is not tied to or biased toward a particular tribe, clan or nationality. Therefore, the Khaleefah will be able to unite Muslims all around the world based on the Islamic Aqeedah.
The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: "Do hear and obey, even if you were ruled by an Abyssinian slave, whose hair is like the raisin." [Bukhari>
For example, Bengali's and Pakistani's are all Muslim. During the devastating earthquake in Pakistan, Muslims in Bangladesh and throughout the world sent millions of dollars to help the victims. The majority of Muslims do not recognise these artificial borders drawn up by the western powers and enforced by corrupt rulers through national flags, independence days and border checkpoints. In fact it these rulers are the ones who sow the seeds of hatred between them. They are one people who share the same Islamic culture. The Islamic concept of Ummah runs deep. It's also a major problem for western powers conducting their colonial foreign policy since support for the resistance to their occupation not only comes from the indigenous population but from all corners of the Muslim world.
Nationalism is an outdated concept that took root in the Muslim world during a period of intellectual decline in the 19th century. Nowadays with globalisation, increased travel and modern communications the message of Islam is able to travel to millions almost instantly. As the Ummah draws close the shackles of patriotism, nationalism and racism are being consigned to the dustbins of history.
The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "He is not one us who calls for ‘Asabiyah, (nationalism/tribalism) or who fights for ‘Asabiyah or who dies for ‘Asabiyah." [Abu Dawood>
3. Sectarian differences
There is much talk of a Shia crescent being formed in the Muslim world with Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Iran uniting against the other Sunni states in the region. The civil war in Iraq is also painted as a Sunni Shia conflict.
The Sunni Shia schism has been hyped out of all proportions by those powers within the Muslim world and outside who are seeking to make political gain from it. There was never a problem between Sunni and Shia before the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Now, as a result of the occupation, regrettably some from the Sunni and Shia have taken upon themselves to harm one another. The cause is clearly not the Sunni Shia schism but the government in Iraq that was set up along ethnic and sectarian lines. Each grouping has its own militias that are now fighting for their own selfish political interests not for any Sunni or Shia interests.
The victory of Hizbollah in Lebanon was not seen as a Shia victory but an Islamic victory supported by Sunni and Shia across the world. Whenever a leader plays the Sunni or Shia card he is doing so for his own selfish political interests. It has nothing to do with Islam. Stoking the sectarian flames by Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia is just one more example of their treachery and their complete disregard for the interests of their people and Islam. We should not be surprised therefore by claims that Saudi will arm Sunni militias in Iraq against the Shia if America leaves.
Narrated Al-Ahnaf bin Qais: While I was going to help this man (‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib), Abu Bakra met me and asked, "Where are you going?" I replied, "I am going to help that person." He said, "Go back for I ha
Smooth_daddy
Age: 57
7600 days old here
Total Posts: 2772
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Oklahoma City, United States
Let alone Muslims, Palestinians are divided among themselves. Fatah is watching their opponents, Hamas, getting crushed. Technically, it is a political advantage -- weaker the hamas is, better would be Fatah's chances of forming government in Gaza. In reality, it is a suicide for Fatah. It will be easier for Israelies to fight each faction separatly and finish them both off.
It is the ordinary palestinian who is not sensible enough to see the obvious...because, they are ignorant and they react to their emotional demands.
