RISE AND DECLINE OF THE MUSLIM UMMAH: With a comparison to Jewish history and a brief survey of the present efforts towards the resurgence of Islam by Israr Ahmad

Author:Israr Ahmad [Ahmad, Israr]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-09-07T18:30:00+00:00

“He might substitute for you another people”. [TMQ Al-Qur’an 47 : 38]

But under the present circumstances the hopes of Islam are associated with the existing Muslim Ummah, and in fact these hopes and the existing Ummah are inseparable from each other.

Under these circumstances, the attainment of the blessing of political freedom by Muslim nations is surely connected with the process of Islamic renaissance. And the movements which have been instrumental in gaining this autonomy must be considered to have contributed to this renaissance. As for the criticism that the leaders of most of these movements were not ideal and practicing Muslims, perhaps the following Prophetic saying explains this:

“Verily, it happens that Allah strengthens His faith by means of a wicked person”. [Bukhari]

Allah’s providence is surely amazing. His planning is precise, perfect and mysterious. His design are subtle and unhurried and often His faith is served even by the vile and sinful:

And Allah hath full power to fulfil His commands but most men know it not” [TMQ Al-Qur’an 12 : 21]

In this connection another truth that we should realise is that the regional or racial prejudices which were invoked for strengthening the freedom campaigns in Muslim countries had as such no relation with the faith of Islam, and in fact contradicted a fundamental principle of the faith as mentioned above. But there was no other alternative, because the hearts and intellects of Muslims did not have an attachment to Islam strong enough to suffice as a foundation for a dynamic collective effort. Surely the human stamina and effective resistance power which are required for achieving steadfastness in a cause can only be maintained on the basis of concrete grounds, not upon mere idealism and sentimentalism. Had the sentiments of Turkish nationalism not been aroused immediately after World War I, the name of Turkey would not have remained on the world map. Similarly, it is common knowledge that Arabs do not have a sincere and tangible attachment to Islam at present, and therefore Arab nationalism has been the only available foundation for the struggle of Arab deliverance from the clutches of European domination. And there is in fact no harm in adopting it as temporary expedient defensive strategy, provided that it is not accepted as a permanent base for Muslim ideology. After the achievement of the transitional objective of political autonomy, true Islamic beliefs including the principle of the unity and brotherhood of Islamic Ummah should be stressed firmly.

Against this background, the creation of Pakistan in 1947 stands out as the most unique effort and its fruition. If the Muslims of the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent had co- operated with non-Muslims on the basis of Indian nationalism for achieving independence from the British, they would have done so with justification. It was a special blessing and mercy of Allah (swt) that, owing to the prevailing conditions of the time, the Indian Muslims launched their political struggle on the basis of Muslim nationalism. Consequently, it gave birth to a state ideologically based entirely upon Islam.

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