Echoes of the caliphate

  WHY ARE MUSLIMS MORE AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT POLITICS? Introduction: Politics, Religion, and Collective Fear As I write this, I fully realize that politics within the Muslim community is always controversial. Many Muslims, especially in majority-Muslim countries, are reluctant to talk about politics openly. The question is, why? Whereas, historically, Islam was born as a spirit of socio-political change. ( See: Karen Armstrong , Islam: A Short History , 2000 ) As a neutral writer, I try to dissect this issue without bias. I believe this is not merely about religious doctrine but also about historical trauma, state repression, and modern propaganda that silences the courage of Muslims to think politically. Politics in Islam: A Source of Emancipatory Spirit If we look back to Islam’s early days, it’s clear that this religion came to free humans from structural oppression. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was not just a spiritual leader but also a head of state, judge, diplomat, and military ...

  How Can the Islamic World Become the Third Power? Introduction: Reading the Global Power Map When we talk about world order, we often hear about two major poles: the West represented by the United States and its allies, and the East now symbolized by the rise of China and Russia . However, amid this rivalry, an old question remains relevant: where does the Islamic World stand? Could it rise as an independent third power ? This question is far from simple. As a neutral writer, I see that answering it requires examining history, economy, culture, and geopolitics. ( Source: Samuel P. Huntington , The Clash of Civilizations , 1996 ) Brief History: From Center to Periphery It is undeniable that Muslims once stood at the center of civilization. From Baghdad to Andalusia , Muslims led science, trade, and intellectual life. But colonialism and internal fragmentation pushed the Islamic World to the periphery from the 19th century onwards. Since then, the Islamic World has often ...

  From Caliphate to Nation-State: Who Initiated It? Introduction: A Transition Far from Simple Many of us today often forget that the idea of the nation-state is relatively new in the long history of the Islamic world . Before the 20th century, Muslims lived under the structure of the caliphate which, although not always geographically unified, was still recognized as a symbol of unity ( Source: Bernard Lewis, The Middle East , 1995 ). As a writer trying to stay neutral, I invite readers to reflect: who actually initiated the shift from a united ummah to the nation-state system? Caliphate: Unifier or Symbol? The first caliphate emerged after the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ passed away, with Abu Bakr As-Siddiq appointed as Caliph. Since then, this system became both a symbolic and administrative backbone for Muslims. However, from the Abbasid to the Ottoman era, its practice was often fragmented due to ethnicity, locality, and political ambitions of regional rulers ( Source: Hugh...

  Who Actually Writes Islamic History? Introduction: History is Never Neutral Who has the right to write Islamic history? This question is rarely asked openly, but it’s crucial. Behind every historical narrative lies interest, bias, and a deliberate selection of what deserves to be remembered and what should be buried. As a writer trying to stay neutral, I put myself in the position of an ordinary reader: we often think Islamic history is singular, yet its authors are diverse and often contradictory. ( Source: Edward Said , Orientalism , 1978 ). Islamic History: From Scholars to Orientalists At first, Islamic history was written by Muslim historians themselves. Ibn Ishaq , Al-Tabari , Al-Masudi , Ibn Khaldun  they recorded events through oral tradition, documents, and observation. They didn’t just record facts but interpreted them, added religious context, and sometimes inserted personal views. ( Source: Franz Rosenthal , A History of Muslim Historiography , 1952 ). How...

  Why Does the West Need the Islamic World to Stay Weak? Introduction: A Question That Never Dies This question  "Why does the West seem to need the Islamic world to stay weak?"  is not an empty accusation. It often comes up at dinner tables, academic forums, and online discussions. As a writer trying to stay neutral, I see this not merely as a conspiracy theory, but a reality that demands we reexamine power relations, history, and interests. ( Said, Orientalism, 1978 ). Colonial Legacy: A Never-Ending Heritage To understand why the weakness of the Islamic world is sometimes seen as ‘needed,’ we must look back. From the 19th century to the mid-20th century, most Muslim lands were colonized by Western powers: Britain in Egypt , France in Algeria , the Dutch in Indonesia . Colonization was not just about occupying land, but also minds and identities. ( Lewis, The Middle East and the West, 1964 ). This legacy left many Muslim nations with fragile infrastructure, art...

  Is the Islamic World Quietly Rising Again? Introduction: A Revival Without Noise Decades ago, discussions about the rise of the Islamic world were often linked to massive demonstrations, revolutions, or the emergence of Islamic political movements . But today, I see that the signs of this revival are no longer always loud. The Muslim world seems to be rising slowly, quietly, through channels rarely noticed by the mainstream media. ( Esposito, The Future of Islam, 2010 ). As a writer trying to remain neutral, I believe this revival cannot be measured from only one perspective. Is this really a revival? Or just ripples that will fade? The answer demands that we see it through historical, economic, social, and cultural lenses all at once. Historical Footprint: A Cycle of Rise and Fall Looking back, Islamic civilization has a long cycle of ups and downs. From the golden Abbasid era , the fall of Baghdad in 1258 , then rising again through the Ottomans until finally collapsin...

  Is the Battle of Ideas More Dangerous Than a War of Weapons? Introduction: Weapons Are No Longer Just Bullets Today, when people hear the word “war,” they mostly imagine tanks, rifles, missiles, and explosions. But in our hyper-connected modern world, weapons are no longer just made of gunpowder. In fact, the most effective weapon is often words, ideas, and narratives spread systematically. This is what’s called the battle of ideas . ( Nye , Soft Power , 2004). From the Battlefield to the Mindfield In the past, an empire’s power was measured by its soldiers, fortresses, and warships. But since the Cold War , strategists realized that victory is not decided only at the frontline. Propaganda wars , cultural infiltration, and indoctrination became subtle yet destructive tactics. ( Huntington , Clash of Civilizations , 1996). I believe the battle of ideas is even more cunning. If bullets pierce skin, propaganda penetrates reason. As Goebbels , the Nazi propaganda minister, onc...