Echoes of the caliphate

  Why Is Islamic History Often Cut and Twisted? Introduction: A Collective Wound on the Stage of Narrative As a neutral writer, I often ask myself: why is Islamic history a civilization spanning more than 14 centuries with its legacy of science, philosophy, art, and diplomacy so often reduced to mere chapters of conflict? If we trace it, this “cutting” pattern isn’t new. It has grown from classic orientalism to modern media narratives (Said,  Orientalism , 1978). Islamic history is often presented in fragments: the Crusades are glorified, Andalusia is briefly mentioned, the Ottoman conquests are framed as aggression, and today, “jihad” is equated solely with terrorism. What’s the motive behind this? I think this is the question worth unpacking slowly. (Hodgson,  The Venture of Islam , 1974). Early Stage: History as a Tool of Power Since colonial times, the West has used historical writing as a weapon of narrative. 18th and 19th-century European historians like Edward Gi...

  How Does the West Face the Rise of Young Muslims? Introduction: A New Reality in a Changing World As a writer, I try to see the rise of young Muslims with a neutral lens. I realize this topic often gets trapped between two poles: one side is overly optimistic that young Muslims will be a locomotive for global change, while the other sees them as an ideological threat to the West. But is it really that simple? I believe the answer is not merely black and white (Esposito, The Future of Islam , 2010). Today, we see a generation of Muslims born amid globalization, digitally literate, and fluent in social justice, human rights, and green economy discourses. Their identities are fluid, but at the same time, they carry an Islamic root that sometimes makes the West uneasy. (Roy, Globalized Islam , 2004). Early Phase: Young Muslims, Global Education, and New Ideas Since the 2000s, more Muslim diaspora students have studied in the West. Universities in Europe and America have becom...

  Why Is the Islamic World Struggling to Be Independent from the West? Introduction: An Old Question That Never Dies As a writer, I often wonder: why is it that the Islamic world  once a beacon of knowledge, economy, and culture today depends so heavily on the West? This question haunts me every time I read the news about imported technology, foreign loans, or the foreign policy of Muslim-majority countries that often seem to wait for a “green light” from Washington or Brussels. ( Karen Armstrong , Islam: A Short History , 2002). In my view, this question cannot be answered simply by blaming a so-called “Western conspiracy.” We also have to be honest in examining what went wrong within the Islamic world itself. I write this article with a neutral and careful stance not to accuse anyone, but to help us understand where the knots are, and maybe how to untie them. Colonial Legacy: Historical Wounds That Still Hurt Many historians agree that the roots of the Islamic world’s...

  Digital Caliphate: Could Muslim Unity Be Reborn Through the Internet? Introduction: A Question for a New Era As a writer trying to remain neutral, I often ask myself: could the idea of Muslim unity  once embodied in the Caliphate  find its new form through digital technology? This question does not arise from mere historical romanticism, but from real phenomena I see every day on social media, online forums, and networks of Muslim activists crossing national borders. (See: Manuel Castells , The Rise of the Network Society , 1996). The internet has changed how people communicate, organize, and even build identity. So, can this technology also be a “digital bridge” to revive the idea of a united ummah that has long been seen as utopian? In this article, I will unpack this issue neutrally without glorification, without paranoia. Remembering History: The Caliphate Then and a Different World The Caliphate once symbolized the political unity of the Muslim ummah, thoug...

  From Land Colonization to Mind Colonization: The West’s New Strategy? Introduction: Colonization Never Dies, It Just Changes Form As an observer trying to stay neutral, I always ask myself: is colonization truly over? History shows us that the colonial era ended in many Muslim regions in the 20th century. But I believe many would agree that Western hegemony never really vanished it simply shifted from controlling land to controlling minds. ( Edward Said , Culture and Imperialism , 1993) My question is simple: if Western powers once arrived with warships and rifles, they now come with mass media, global curricula, and digital technology. Is this a new, subtler form of colonization? And how are Muslims responding? Old Colonization: Control the Land, Subdue Resources History records how European powers scrambled for land in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East for spices, oil, and trade routes. Classical imperialism cemented power through treaties, weapons, and colonial adminis...

  Who Benefits Most from Islamophobia? Introduction: Fear That’s Carefully Kept Alive As a neutral observer, I always wonder: why does the fear narrative about Islam or Islamophobia  keep thriving? Shouldn’t the global era make people understand each other better? In reality, negative stigma grows stronger in much of Western media. ( Edward Said , Orientalism , 1978) In my view, Islamophobia does not appear out of nowhere. It is built, maintained, and spread systematically. So, who gains the most? Let’s break it down through history, economics, politics, and media industry. History: A Never-Ending Legacy Islamophobia has deep roots going back to the Crusades . The West remembers Islam as an “eternal rival” since medieval Europe. This narrative lives on in books, films, and academic discourse. ( Karen Armstrong , Holy War , 1988) After 9/11 , this sentiment exploded again. Global media cropped events, spotlighting radical Islam without deeper context. Public opinion was...

  Why Does the Muslim Diaspora Bridge Two Worlds? Introduction: Between Two Poles of Identity As a writer, I often ask myself: how do Muslim diaspora generations make sense of living between two poles? On one side, they carry their religious and cultural identity. On the other, they adapt to Western cultures that emphasize individuality and freedom of thought.  (See: Tariq Ramadan,  Western Muslims and the Future of Islam , 2004) In my observation, the diaspora’s position is unique  they’re not just passive minorities but also bridges between East and West. The challenge is, being a “bridge” is not easy. There are clashes, compromises, and inner struggles that shape who they are today. Early History: From Traders to Modern Migration Waves The Muslim diaspora’s history didn’t start yesterday. Since the 8th century, Arab, Persian, and Indian traders settled across East Africa, Southeast Asia, and Southern Europe. They spread Islam through trade routes, not the sword....

  How Was Anti-Caliphate Propaganda Built from the Past? Introduction: Why Is This Still Relevant? As a neutral writer, I often hear accusations that the Caliphate idea is a latent threat to global stability. But tracing it back, the anti-Caliphate narrative didn’t appear out of thin air. It was forged through a long history of political, ideological, and propaganda battles. (See: Wael Hallaq , The Impossible State , 2013) In my opinion, understanding anti-Caliphate propaganda doesn’t mean defending or rejecting the concept. But grasping its roots is vital, so Muslims and non-Muslims alike don’t get stuck repeating old inherited stigmas. The Golden Age: Power and Fear Looking at the Caliphate’s golden age  Umayyad , Abbasid , up to Ottoman  it’s understandable why the West saw it as a threat. Imagine a single politico-religious entity ruling three continents under one spiritual leadership. It wasn’t just about military might, but also civilization. ( Karen Armstr...