Why Does the Islamic World Never Die Despite Constant Weakening?

 

Why Does the Islamic World Never Die Despite Constant Weakening?

Resilient crescent sprouting from dry ground, Muslims united in prayer, broken chains and old flags, golden light breaks storm clouds


Introduction

As a writer trying to stay neutral, I often ask myself: how can the Islamic World keep surviving despite centuries of colonization, internal conflict, and propaganda? Many great empires collapsed and vanished from history, but the Islamic World keeps reappearing in different forms (Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations, 1996).

For me, this is not only about faith but also about the resilience of a civilization often underestimated.

The Islamic World: Never a Single Monolithic Block

First, we must honestly admit that the Islamic World is not a single homogeneous bloc. From the beginning, Islam spread to Africa, Asia, and Europe with different faces (Lapidus, A History of Islamic Societies, 2002). There are different schools of thought, cultures, languages, and political traditions.

In my view, this diversity is precisely why the Islamic World can never truly be killed off. When one region falls, the center of civilization shifts elsewhere.

Resilience Behind Colonization

Historically, the Islamic World has repeatedly been weakened through Western colonization. From the fall of Istanbul to the Allies in World War I to French colonization in North Africa and British control in the Middle East (Hourani, A History of the Arab Peoples, 1991).

Interestingly, however, Islamic identity often rises from such pressure. The rise of nationalist movements in Egypt, the resistance in Algeria, and Indonesia’s independence all stem from the Islamic spirit that unites people (Ricklefs, A History of Modern Indonesia, 2008).

Politics That Often Divide

Of course, I can’t ignore that the Islamic World has often been weakened from within. Sectarian conflict, rivalry between schools of thought, and royal family disputes all these have happened and still exist (Gause III, The International Relations of the Persian Gulf, 2010).

Yet, strangely enough, despite politics dividing people, the belief in a shared Islamic identity has never completely faded.

Islam as a Global Identity

One unique strength of the Islamic World is the concept of ummah a global community that feels connected (Esposito, Islam: The Straight Path, 1998). In the digital age, this bond grows stronger. We see cross-border solidarity when Palestine is attacked or when Muslim minorities in Europe face discrimination.

For me, this is the “lifeline” of the Islamic World. Even if Muslim countries are not always politically united, the people still feel they belong to the same spiritual home.

Why Does the Outside World Want a Weak Islamic World?

I often wonder why there is always a negative narrative about the Islamic World. My answer is simple: a strong collective identity often threatens external interests (Said, Orientalism, 1978).

In the global economy, the Islamic World controls critical energy routes the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia. Geopolitically, this region is strategic. No wonder pressure to divide and weaken it persists.

Modernization Sometimes Misapplied

Sometimes, modernization imposed without local context weakens the Islamic World from within. I believe modernization is necessary, but if imported blindly, it cuts cultural roots. This happened in Iran during the Shah’s era, where radical Westernization triggered the 1979 Revolution (Keddie, Modern Iran, 2003).

Why Does the Islamic World Always Rise Again?

In my opinion, the answer lies in the belief that Islam is not just a religion but a way of life. There is a spirit to endure under pressure. Religious education, family, and communal solidarity strengthen social networks (Ramadan, In the Footsteps of the Prophet, 2007).

The Islamic World also has a “shifting center” pattern. After Baghdad fell, the center of knowledge moved to Cairo, Istanbul, and Delhi.

Lessons for Us

As a Muslim, I feel it’s important to learn from this. Internal weaknesses must be addressed through inter-school dialogue, adaptive education, and global solidarity that goes beyond slogans. History teaches us: the Islamic World may weaken politically, but its ideas and civilizational spirit never truly die.

Conclusion

For me, the Islamic World is like a big tree whose branches can be cut off, but its roots stay alive. That’s why, despite being weakened again and again, it always finds a way to rise.

Lokasi: GWF7+PJ Blodgett Mills, NY, Amerika Serikat

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