Echoes of the caliphate

  Why Is Islamic History in the West Reduced to Terrorism? Introduction Whenever I hear the word Islam on Western TV, the next word is often terrorism . It feels as if Islamic history is nothing but bombs, attacks, and fanaticism. For me, this is painful not just because I am a Muslim, but because I know Islam’s past is far richer than that. ( Esposito, Islam and the West , 1999 ) How This Narrative Grew We must be honest: this narrative didn’t appear overnight. Since 9/11, Western media has framed Islam equals terror . Even Hollywood, since the Cold War, often cast Arabs or Muslims as villains. ( Shaheen, Reel Bad Arabs , 2001 ) As a Muslim, I understand why the trauma exists. But if we stop there, then countless pages of Islamic history that once enlightened Europe will stay forgotten. A History Cut Short In Western schoolbooks, Islam often appears only as ‘the conqueror’. Yet, Islamic conquests under the Umayyads , Abbasids , and Ottomans brought science, philosophy, ...

  When Western Law Clashes with Sharia Law Introduction As a Muslim trying to stay neutral, I often wonder: why does the word Sharia always become a boogeyman in Europe or America whenever Islam is debated? For me, this signals a deeper clash not just about law, but about worldviews. ( Esposito, Islam and the West , 1999 ) A Definition Often Misunderstood We must admit, many Westerners understand Sharia only through one lens: hand-cutting, flogging, stoning. Yet, Sharia literally means the way to the water source  in other words, a broad life guide. ( Kamali, Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence , 1991 ) In my view, the problem is Sharia is reduced to its penal aspects. In reality, Sharia also regulates business ethics, family law, and child protection (though this too is debated). So when secular Western law meets Sharia, conflict often arises from narrow interpretation. Where the Clash Begins Many Western scholars say this clash stems from different roots. Western ...

  What Would the World Be Like Without Medieval Islamic Science? Introduction I often ask myself: what would the world look like if it had never been touched by Islamic science during the Middle Ages? This question is not just romantic nostalgia. It’s a reminder that knowledge once took a completely different route through Baghdad , Cairo, Cordoba , and Samarkand. ( Hodgson, The Venture of Islam , 1974 ) Baghdad: The Heart of the Knowledge Revolution When I imagine Baghdad during the reign of Caliph Harun al-Rashid and his son Al-Ma’mun , it feels like seeing Silicon Valley in the 9th century. The House of Wisdom stood as a massive translation hub for Greek, Persian, Indian, and Roman works. ( Gutas, Greek Thought, Arabic Culture , 1998 ) Without Baghdad, Europe might never have recovered Aristotle or Galen. Many Greek manuscripts that vanished in Europe survived in Baghdad. For me, this is the essence of Islamic science: not only creating new ideas but bridging civilizati...

  Islamic Civilization: From Conquerors to Mind-Shapers? Introduction As a Muslim, I often wonder: how could a civilization that once conquered half the known world now be seen merely as a shadow of its past? More importantly, is the legacy of Islamic glory only about physical conquests, or did this civilization actually become a ‘mind-shaper’ in a positive sense? ( Hodgson, The Venture of Islam , 1974 ) The Age of Conquests: The Dawn of Rise Undeniably, Islam’s early history was marked by rapid expansion. Within a century after the Prophet Muhammad’s death, the Muslim realm stretched from Persia to Syria, Egypt, and Spain. This conquest was not mere political ambition but a civilizational transformation: captured cities became centers of learning. ( Kennedy, The Great Arab Conquests , 2007 ) From my perspective, these conquests should not be viewed solely as military domination. More importantly, they paved the way for an intellectual exchange Persia contributed philosophy,...

  Why Is the West Afraid of the Word 'Jihad'? Introduction As a Muslim growing up in the post-9/11 era , I often feel that ‘ jihad ’ is one of the most misunderstood words in the West. Every time I hear the international media report “ Islamic Jihad ” or “jihadist movement”, I wonder: why has this noble word become so frightening to many? ( Esposito, Unholy War , 2002 ) The True Meaning of Jihad If you ask most Muslims what jihad means, they would say: jihad is the sincere struggle in the path of God. Its meaning is vast: improving oneself, seeking knowledge, doing good for family and society, or fighting injustice. In the Qur’an , jihad is more often associated with spiritual struggle against selfish desires. ( Cook, Understanding Jihad , 2015 ) Unfortunately, this meaning rarely appears in Western media. ‘Jihad’ is almost always equated with terrorism and violence. But armed jihad (qital) is only one aspect, with strict conditions it must never target civilians and mus...

  From ISIS to Islamophobia: Who Really Benefits? Introduction As a Muslim growing up in the social media era, I often ask myself: why does the word Islam always get dragged along every time ISIS appears in the news? Isn’t Islam itself a peaceful teaching, while ISIS is merely a radical political movement? This question led me to a deeper reflection: who actually benefits the most from the narrative that equates terrorism with Islam? ( Esposito, Unholy War , 2002 ) ISIS: A Product of Geopolitical Chaos There’s no denying that ISIS didn’t appear out of nowhere. The fall of Iraq after the 2003 US invasion became fertile ground for the seeds of extremism. Saddam’s regime collapsed, power vacuums emerged, sectarian conflict escalated, and armed militia groups mushroomed. ISIS, or Daesh , exploited this to present itself as the “ Sunni protector ” though in practice, they killed mostly fellow Muslims. ( Cockburn, The Rise of Islamic State , 2015 ) Here lies the big irony. Man...

  Can Democracy and the Caliphate Coexist? Introduction Personally, I see this question not just as an academic debate, but a big question that still divides opinions in the Muslim world today. Some believe democracy and the caliphate are like oil and water: impossible to mix. Others believe the two can coexist with certain adjustments. I want to look at this fairly not fully defending, nor fully rejecting. ( Esposito, Islam and Politics , 1998 ) Two Systems, Two Histories When we talk about democracy, we can’t separate it from its Western roots from Athenian democracy , the Magna Carta , the French Revolution, to the social contract theories of Rousseau and Locke . Democracy was born as a rejection of tyranny. Meanwhile, the caliphate emerged from the leadership legacy of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH , continued by the Rightly Guided Caliphs , and evolved into imperial political systems like the Umayyads, Abbasids, and Ottomans. ( Lewis, The Middle East , 2003 ) This is where t...

  How Does the Western World Read the Rise of Political Islam? Introduction If you ask me what global issue most often sparks controversy between East and West, my answer would be the rise of political Islam . Over the past few decades, this topic has repeatedly surfaced in international forums, Western media headlines, and academic debates. The question is: how does the Western world actually interpret the rise of political Islam? Is it seen purely as a threat, or also as an opportunity for dialogue? ( Esposito, Islam and Politics , 1998 ) Why Is This Issue So Sensitive? Personally, I believe the rise of political Islam did not emerge overnight. It is rooted in a long historical context — from the fall of the Ottoman Caliphate and European colonialism to modern Western interventions in the Middle East. All of this has shaped the collective memory among Muslims that “political Islam” is a means of reclaiming sovereignty. ( Kepel, Jihad: The Trail of Political Islam , 2002 )...

  The Crusades: An Old Wound That Hasn’t Healed? Introduction Every time I read history books, I always pause at the chapter about the Crusades . For me, the Crusades were not just a conflict between Christian Europe and the Muslim World but also a symbol of how religion can be used as political fuel. I often wonder: has the wound of the Crusades truly healed? Or is it still a collective memory passed down from generation to generation? ( Riley-Smith, The Crusades: A History , 2005 ) What Really Happened? Looking at historical records, the Crusades began in the late 11th century when Pope Urban II called on European Christians to seize Jerusalem from Muslim control. What strikes me is how religion was used as a pretext for mobilizing military power across continents. Many historians agree that behind the rhetoric of “liberating the Holy Land ” lay the economic and political ambitions of European nobility. ( Asbridge, The Crusades: The Authoritative History , 2010 ) The ...