The Ottoman Caliphate, at its tail end, was a shadow of its former self. Indebted, beset by nationalist forces, surrounded by enemies seeking its destruction, and falling behind in material progress.
Nonetheless, there existed a state in the world that felt it needed to represent Islam. Bernard Lewis, the orientalist who was loved by neoconservatives, testified to this when he wrote,
“From its foundation until its fall, the Ottoman Empire was a state dedicated to the advancement or defence of the power and faith of Islam.” [1]
No such polity exists in the world today. Yet, one is sorely needed to manifest the collective aspirations espoused in the noble ayāt,
“You are the best Ummah ever raised for humanity — you encourage good, forbid evil, and believe in Allah.” [2]
In addition to,
“Thus, We have made you a just Ummah, that you be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger be a witness over you.” [3]
These are not simply instructions that are supposed to be manifest individually by 1.8 billion Muslims, but collectively under an Amīr.
No one could claim that Muslims collectively have been the “best” or most “just” in the world over the past century, despite some extraordinary individual examples. Rather, Muslims have been collectively misrepresented by 49 nation states.
The consequences of the demise of the Khilafah are perhaps most obvious in the Muslim world. A mix of authoritarian regimes, dysfunctional or corrupt democracies — all subjugated to varying degrees, politically, economically, or militarily, by the world powers who dominate the existing global order.
Global impact after ending Khilafah
The Gaza genocide has laid bare the lie of any rule of law in the world.
International law is ignored for the aggressors and their backers, whilst applied on lesser dictators. International institutions like the UN, weakened over the past twenty years, are now impotent.
Since the Western world order triumphed over the Soviet Union almost 33 years ago in 1991, we have seen the following:
- two Gulf wars;
- conflict in Ukraine;
- a devastating war in Yemen;
- war and genocide in the Balkans;
- the rise and fall of the Arab Spring;
- manifesting brutal conflict in Syria and Libya;
- a failed 20-year occupation of Afghanistan that destabilised the region;
- war and civilian massacres in Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, the Congo, and Rwanda.
In addition, we have the escalating ethnic cleansing in Palestine culminating in a genocide, watched in real-time by billions of people who feel impotent by their inability to comprehend not just why such slaughter is allowed, but why Western governments actively support it!
This is besides financial crises caused by capitalist markets; increasing concerns over energy security and environmental damage; and the mass migration of people away from the regions most affected by all of the above.
That is the devastating reality of the triumph of the West over the Soviet Union — and the absence of the justice and security of Islam on the world stage. People across the world feel less secure.
Indeed, Allah speaks the truth when He (subḥānahu wa ta’āla) says,
“Those who disbelieved are allies of one another.
“If you [Muslims] do not do so [i.e. be allies of one another], there will be fitnah on Earth and great corruption.” [4]
A better world for Muslims and others
Although Muslims in the West do not have to struggle with the same level of challenge as those in conflict zones, afflicted by poverty or poor governance, they feel the ever-increasing demonisation of Islam; discrimination, or even persecution at times; treated as second class citizens.
Their experience is not unique. Other minorities have been through the same and worse in Western societies, with educational and job deficits, rising prison numbers, and other jāhil behaviours that come from social and economic inequality.
Khilafah in the Muslim world wouldn’t directly solve those issues, but there would at least be a voice that could speak out about them; and offer a model of citizenship under Islamic governance that is more just than the nation state, where racism and bigotry seems endemic.
It is worth noting that Muslim states are not immune from the racism and bigotry that come with the nation state model.
This model is an obligation for us
Khilafah is a fard (obligation) upon Muslims.
Its absence means the absence of the vehicle Islam gave, through governing by the rules of the Sharī’ah, for realising many solutions for human problems — issues such as economic injustice, poverty, insecurity and conflict, political corruption, environmental damage, and the breakdown of community and family life.
Sincere Muslims who want change in the Muslim world cannot keep trying to think of models that are compliant with the global capitalist order which they hope might also be “Sharī’ah compliant”. Such models are not “compliant” with the Western order but subjugated by it in almost every way.
In fact, they are about as compliant with Sharī’ah as a pig subjected to dhabīhah (lawful slaughter) whilst reciting the name of Allah over it!
This anniversary, the terrible century that followed, and the horrific reality of today’s world, should motivate us all to present the idea of a civilisational alternative, to save humanity, both in this world and the Next.
About the author
Dr. Abdul Wahid is a commentator on Islam, current affairs, and identity.
He has been an active da’wah carrier for over 25 years.
Along with Islam21c, he has been published on 5Pillars, The Times Higher Educational Supplement, and on the websites of Foreign Policy, Open Democracy, and Prospect magazine.
Dr. Wahid has written this article in a wholly individual capacity.
Source: Islam21c
Notes
[1] Bernard Lewis, The Emergence of Modern Turkey (2nd ed. 1968)
[2] al-Qur’ān, 3:110
[3] al-Qur’ān, 2:143
[4] al-Qur’ān, 8:73
I have good opinion on Dr.Abdul Wahid, he must have stood strong on his identity and took legal fight in U.K at the cost of his livelihood to make the dawah stand strong with the name as he was the representative. We expect POP to take change in their stance in favor of Islam against all odds and we ourslef have to start with exemplary stances at the face oppression in dealing with kufr.
Allah knows best…