Muslim Ummah :Its Role,

Past, Present and Future,Challenges and Opportunities

Q.No.2013. write down in detail the problems of “Ummah” in the contemporary world.

بیان -2012 اثرات کے اس پر امہ مسلم ہوۓ کرتے بیان نظر نقطہ کا تمدن و تہذیب جدیدکیجیۓ

Q.7-2011-In the present period the Muslim Ummah is facing different problems and for the solution of these problem “ijtehad” is necessary, so point out such an institution that can offer solution of the new problems with the help of Ijtehad

Q.9-2011-In the present era, Muslim Ummah has all the resources, but it is the victim of disunity, while analysis the reasons of disunity, suggest measures to maintain unity amount the Muslim Ummah

Questions appeared in previous years

• Concept of Ummah• The Past_Glorious• The Present_Turmoil• The Future_ ?????• Challenges faced by Muslim Ummah• Causes of debacle• Responsibilities• Suggestions• Problems in Implementation • Epilogue

OUT LINE

The phrase Ummah in the Qur'an refers to all of the Islamic world unified.

The Quran says:“You [Muslims] are the best nation brought out for Mankind, commanding what is righteous (Ma'ruf, lit. "recognized [as good]") and forbidding what is wrong (Munkar, lit. "unrecognized [as good]")…” [3:110].

Concept

“The Muslims, regardless of their origin, irrespective of their geographical

boundaries and racial characteristics are one Ummah”

(The Convention of Madina)

Concept

Pan-Islamism is a political movement advocating the unity of Muslims under one Islamic state — often a Caliphate

Religious nationalism, Pan-Islamism differentiates itself from other pan-nationalistic ideologies

Pan-Islamism

• Allama Iqbal: – All the Muslims beyond any difference of color, caste, nation, state, 

ideology at the basis of religion are called Muslim Ummah.• Syed Jamal-ud-din Afghani:

– All the Muslim states constitute Ummah. He was preacher of Pa Islamism. 

• Shah Wali Ullah:–  Muslims belonging to Muslim states only constitute Muslim 

Ummah.– Muslims present in any part of the world are part of Muslim 

Ummah.

Concepts Shared by Intellectuals

Muslim Ummah has  Glorious History which Produced;

◦ Great Generals,Reformers, Thinkers, Scientists, Scholars and 

Astronomers

Today Muslims face a Common Threat of their Survival

Rise and fall is a social phenomenon, may be Muslim 

Ummah is facing its logical correction

Introduction

We are all Muslims, we believe in one God

i.e. Almighty Allah, we believe in one

Prophet i.e. Muhammad (Sallallaho Alaihe

wa Aal-e-hee Wasallam) and we all have the

book of Allah i.e. Qur'an.

Basis for Unity

• This difference in approaches on purely a political issue divided the Muslims permanently.

• However, there were no differences among Muslims regarding Islamic Jurisprudence and worshipping (Ibadaat).

• If some differences occasionally appeared among them, they never considered it as a difference that could divide Muslims.

Early Division

Development of Islamic Jurisprudence (The science of Fiqah), four Ahle Sunnat Imams of Islamic Jurisprudence, Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Malik, Imam Shafi'e and Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal learnt Islamic Jurisprudence from Imams of Ahle Bait

Imam Abu Hanifa was a student of Imam Ja'ffar us Sadiq

The major division among Muslims in Jurisprudence occurred when the Science of Fiqah (Islamic Jurisprudence) became a formal subject, the Sunni Muslims were divided into four Madhahib (ways), HANAFI, MALKI, SHAFI'E AND HANBALI.

Cont…

The local nationalism was never preferred over the worldwide Islamic brotherhood. Imam Muslim, Imam Bukhari, Imam Trmidhi and

many other Imams and scholars of Islam were non Arabs but no one felt that they were from n

Muslims were the leaders in setting up the standards for the rest of the world.

Muslims were educators, scientists, doctors, engineers, commanders, etc.

Muslims were the leaders and model for other communities and nations

Cont…

After almost 13 centuries of Muslim rule, the focus of Muslim Ummah changed.

What Qur'an describes the attributes of Muslims as,◦ "They (Muslims) are very kind among themselves

but very hard on Kuffaar". Muslims slowly adopted the opposite

attributes. ◦ They became very kind to KUFFAAR and very hard

and cruel to

The Start of Real Disunity

Touheed Cant be changed

Risalat , West develop and support few Muslims who are

willing to challenge the honour and authority of Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Holy Book, we believe that Qur'an is the word of God and can

not be changed. West develop and support those Muslims scholars

who will be able to provide "new" meanings to the Qur'anic verses and interpret them "differently"

3 important areas hit by the west

The Glorious Past

Period of Nabuwat Period of Khilafat Hazrat Umer Farooq (R.A) Iran, Iraq,

Palestine and Egypt were conquered. Hazrat Usman (R.A) Afghanistan, Qabris,

Tunis and Moroco were conquered. Hazrat Ali (R.A)

◦ Jang-e-Nehrwan with Kharji, Jang-e-Jaml with Hazrat Ayesha (R.A) and Jang-e-Safeen with Ameer Muawia.

00-100 AH

During the period of H Ameer Muawia Muslims got military strength. After Ameer Muawia long chain of government is being followed.

Muawia---Yazid---Muawia II---Merwan---Abdul Malik---Waleed Bin Malik

In the period of Waleed Bin Malik great victories came in part of Muslims. ◦ Muhammad Bin Qasim conquered Sindh◦ Qateebah Bin Muslim Conquered Turkistan◦ Tariq Bin Ziyad conquered Spain, Portugal◦ Musa Bin Naseer conquered Undlus, Africa

After this Islam emerged as power and penetrated in whole world quickly.

Cont….

The Great

Hazrat Umer (R.A)

Sulaman

Akber

Alexander

The Great

Period of Umer Bin Abdul Aziz Hasham Bin Malik ruled over Central Asia,

Roam Periodof Khilafat-e-Bnu Abbas

◦ Haroon-ur-Rasheed laid stress on education and he developed schools and colleges to spread education. Muslims got strength in education in his period.

100-500 AH

Umayyad◦ Lost control of the empire in 750, but set up

control of Muslim lands in Spain Abbasids

◦ Took over the empire from the Umayyad Dynasty, moving the capital from Damascus to Baghdad

Fatimid◦ An off-shoot of the Abbasids, they controlled most

of North Africa and Western Arabia

Three Major Powers

Bring the period 300-400AH Khilafat was divided.

Aal-e-boya Iran Fatimi Egypt Ghazni Alpatagin Banu Idrees Africa Umvi Undlus From 400-500 AH Shia-Suni split happened.

Cont….

500-600 Crusades (Noor-ud-Din Zangi and Salah-u-Din Ayubi)

600-700 was a period of Tatars attacks and falloff Baghdad 1258

First Qibla captured by Crusaders 700-800 Ameer Taimoor-Mahood Garan

accepted Islam. And havoc was turned 800-900 height of Ottoman Empire Rule of Banu Abbass ended in 923 AH 900-1000 Saleem Usmani, Ottoman Empire

500-1000 AH

The Fourth Crusade (1202–1204) was originally intended to conquer Muslim-controlled Jerusalem by means of an invasion through Egypt.

In 204 Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire).

The Empire received a mortal blow in 1204 by the Fourth Crusade, when it was dissolved and divided into competing Byzantine Greek and Latin realms. Despite the eventual recovery of Constantinople and re-establishment of the Empire in 1261

Fall of Roman Empire

1000-1100 period of fall 1100-1200 wars with Russia, Astria, Attack of 

Abdalli,Durrani on India 1200-1300 Egypt Vs Ottomans, rebellion in Bosnia, 

Napoleon’s attacks, Wahabiz at Hijaz 1300-1400 fall of Khilafat I-WW, II-WW

1000-1400 AH

Muslims enjoyed victories They had strong military They were at peak in education, justice and culture They were one Ummah They had strong economy and Jihad was basic tool 

of strong economy. 

Cause of glory

Jihad

Self

Social Economy

Finance

Distribution of

Wealth

Pen

Education

Qittal

War Economy

Lisan

Media

Jihad is an Economy

The Present

The conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, 

Somalia, Algeria, Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, 

Bangladesh, Iraq,Lebyia, Palestine, Syria 

Think of any !!!

Conflict Ridden Muslim World

Organization of Islamic Cooperation-OICECOArab LeagueAfrican UnionUNO 57 MembersNo Veto

Political Capital

Geostrategic importance Combine location of most Islamic states Universal Religion 99% literacy rate in CARs, 57 % in Pakistan,  Iran exhibit high scientific publication growth arte in 2009 From seven three  great : Egyptian, Gandhara, 

Indus/Moenjodaro Civilizations are in Muslim Countries

Social Capital

Collective population of member states is 1.6 billion as 2009-10

Combined GDP of $ 13 Trillion Turkey had highest GDP on 2010 among OIC members as $ 

729 Billion OPEP: Except Venezuela 34% oil contribution comes from 

Muslim world In Euro Zone, 575 B$ contribution is of Arab world in 

insurance banking and stock exchange. 

Economic Capital

World Economies Growth Rate

 Trillion $ GDP (PPP) Exports Imports

 OIC 5,664 1,392 933

% of World 6.81% 13.47% 9.03%

World 83,120 10,330 10,300

 Arab League 2,323

 European Union 12,180 1,318 1,402

Major Economies

Middle East-Asia

OPEC

South East Asia

Interest Rates

Debt to GDP Ratio

Rank Country GDP $Million

—  World 78,852,864—  European Union 15,788,5841  United States 15,064,8162  China,  11,316,2243  India 4,469,7634  Japan 4,395,60015  Indonesia 1,122,63816  Turkey 1,054,56017  Iran 930,23626  Egypt 516,18127  Pakistan 489,436

Rank country GDP - per capita (PPP)  Date of Information

1 Qatar $ 179,000 2010 est. 

2 Liechtenstein $ 141,100 2008 est. 

3 Luxembourg $ 82,600 2010 est. 

4 Bermuda $ 69,900 2004 est. 

5 Singapore $ 62,100 2010 est. 

6 Jersey $ 57,000 2005 est. 

7 Norway $ 54,600 2010 est. 

8 Brunei $ 51,600 2010 est. 

9 United Arab Emirates $ 49,600 2010 est. 

10 Kuwait $ 48,900 2010 est. 

Measures each country's progress toward democratic governance through multiple variables◦ Governance ◦ Freedom◦ HDI◦ Religious liberty. ◦ Economic Freedom

The Status of Democracy Index (SDI)

Only three of these countries—Mali, Guyana, and Suriname, together representing less than 1 percent of the Muslims present in the survey group—are considered full democracies. 

The rest of the countries in the index are considered partial democracies or partial autocracies, with four countries—Chad, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan, together representing almost 20 percent of the population—being full autocracies

Democracy in the Middle East and North Africa is the exception rather than the rule

SDI….

Countries must determine how much of their money to spend on guns—order and security—and butter, that is, spending that enhances social harmony and economic prosperity. 

The Status of Democracy Index score serves to illustrate the guns versus butter dilemma.

Guns and Butter

The greater percentage of Muslims a country had relative to its overall population, the lower its SDI score

The higher a country's GDP per capita, the lower its SDI score The greater percentage of a country's GDP that is devoted to 

military expenditures, the lower its SDI score The greater a country's military expenditure percentage, the 

lower its SDI

Analysis

Future

Illiteracy Terrorism Poverty-HDI Autocracy-SDI Far behind in Science 

and Technology No Veto Powers

Challenges faced by Muslim Ummah

Concentration of wealth Redefining the role of 

women Lack of Institutional Ijtehad Occupied Lands War ridden Economies

Best: Jordan & Kuwait  Worst: Djibouti, Yemen, Iraq and Morocco  Study of Arab league: 

◦ 30% of Arab population are illiterate.◦ 0.3% of GDP of Arab States is devoted to scientific research. ◦ $5-7 per capita is spent on R&D in Arab States.◦ $1000 per capita is spent on R&D in China.◦ 600 research centers in Arab world vs 1500 in France alone.◦ 30% of scientists in the US are from Arab countries

Illiteracy rate and poor standards (World Bank, 2008)

Forgetting Shariah Materialism Internal conflicts-Division

◦ Nationalism -Regionalism (Arab, Non Arab or Arab, African)◦ Sectarian

Internal and International conspiracies Illiteracy, poverty and conservatism Leaving Jihad and spirituality

Causes of Debacles:

Acting off beam philosophies including deen-eIlahi, Wahdat-ul-Wujood, Mootazilla

Aqeedat and Taqleed, Khangahi approach Irrational customs-Innovations and Biddat Traitors

◦ 1757, Battle Palassi, Nawab Siraj-ud-Dola◦ 1799, Saranga Patam, Tipu Sultan◦ 1857, Dehli, Bahadur Shah Zafar◦ 1739, Sultan Nizam-ul-Mulk

Meer Jaffar was traitor of Tipu Sultan and Meer Sadiq was traitor of Sultan Nizam-ul-Mulk

Cont…

Understanding, implementation and preaching of 

shariah- Religious

Establishment of Khilafat/Shariah-Political

Jihad-Economic

Ijtehad-Educational

Responsibilities of Ummah:

Attainment of Veto power by Muslim countries Islamic banking system, which ensures a system of interest 

and exploitation free principles Effective Political role of OIC  Collective media of all countries to protect Muslim world Common currency Less reliance on USD Common trade market Common court of justice Institutional  Ijtehad Development of Science and Technology

Recommendations

Linguistic issues Inter and intra country Economic disparity  Leadership crises

◦ Political, military and economic strengths are distributed. Iran is politically strong, Pakistan had influential military, and KSA is economically rich, Together Muslim world can bring revolution

Disparity between population and physical area

Problems in implementing solutions

Political Problems • Territorial Disputes• Ethnic Clashes• Dictatorships• Monarchies• Fragile Political Governments

Challenges Faced by Muslim Ummah

Economic Problems • Muslims Represents 1/5th of World’s Population, 

Possess 70% of World’s Energy Resources, 40% of available raw material• The Total GDP of Muslim Countries = 5% of World’s 

GDP• Entire GDP of OIC States = 4300 Billion US $ and 

Japan = 5500 Billion US $

Challenges Faced by Muslim Ummah

Social Problems • Nationalism and Sectarianism• Jihad and Terrorism• Absorption of Foreign Culture• Clash of Civilization

Challenges Faced by Muslim Ummah

Educational Decay• Lack of Creativity and Innovation• Failure to Promote Technical Education• Failure to Educate Women

Challenges Faced by Muslim Ummah

According to the Question Good Governance Models of 

◦Pakistan-Army and Nuke◦Turkey- Modernization◦Iran-Oil and Political Will◦KSA_ Religion and Economy◦Malaysia-Development and Governance

Conclusion

Biology:  The political role of death. Geology:  Recovering from the curse of oil. Theology:  Not all Islamists are Bin Laden. Technology:  free public sphere. Ideology:  The end of Sectarianism

Reasons of Optimism

THANK YOU

1.Mass-initiated (revolutionary transitions). 2.Elite- Led. 3.Occupation. 4.Naïve liberalization.5.Negotiated Exit. For democracy to consolidate, a strong commitment to democracy on the parts of elite and masses (i.e. political participation) should be present.

How Countries Democratize?

“Democracy-friendly” aspects

of Islam such as shura. ijtihad. racial equality. Islam’s sensitivity to

the needs of the poor and weak.

Respect for order. Islam’s sense of

justice.

“Democracy-challenging” aspects of Islam

Democracy as people-focused doctrine while tawheed (oneness of God) as piety-focused doctrine.

Beda’a (disguised innovation).

Ijma’a that delegitmizes dissent and opposition.

The unequal status of women and non-Muslims in Islam.

The link between mosque and monarch.

Counter Reading of Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy among Others (Said's Orientalism)

Stipulation of Democracy?Democracy as a

“Label”Hardware for Democracy:“Institutions

and Procedures”

Software for Democracy:

“Socio-Political and Religious

Tolerance”

Countries that has 480 or more respondents.

Including 4 countries where Muslims are minorities: USA, EU, and India.

Total of 33 countries. 91 Iraqis residing in the Arab world are

included.

Countries included in the analysis:

III. Stipulation of Democracy

Hardware for Democracy:

Institutions and Procedures

Software for Democracy:

Socio-Political and Religious Tolerance”

Analysis and Findings

TraditionalistIslamists

(Deductionists)

ModernistIslamists

(combination)

Secularist Muslims

(Inductionists)

?? is Islamic if it is explicitly accepted by the Qura’an and Sunni and forms (quasi-) consensus among ‘Ulama.

?? is Islamic if it does not contradict with the Qura’an and Sunni.

Tell me what is good for society, I will get you what will support it from the Qura’an and Sunni.

They fear imitating non-Muslims since it is innovation.

It is not imitation, it is wisdom.

Innovation is better than blind imitation.

Iraq

Turkey

EgyptMorocco

Mali

USA

Malaysia

Senegal

Jordan

India

TunisiaEurope

Kuwait

Iran

Syria

Algeria

Bangladesh

Qatar

Average

Lebanon

Indonesia

Tajikistan

Sudan

Libya

S.Arabia

UAE

Albania

Turkmenistan

Yemen NigeriaPakistan

Gambia

Oman

Bahrain

35

37

39

41

43

45

47

49

51

53

55

57

59

61

63

65

67

69

71

Support for Democratic Hardware

Su

pp

ort

fo

r D

emo

crat

ic S

oft

war

eRelatively Most Democratizable

Cultures

Relatively Least Democratizatble Cultures

Relatively Least Democratizable Cultures

Respondents’ Ideal Political Systems (%)

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Freq. Total

Select-ing Own

Count-ry

Modern-ists

Tradition-alists

Autocr-ats Pluralists

Iraq 43 0.18 0 0 0 11 0

Turkey 102 0.42 12 18 1 5 22

Jordan 173 0.71 11 5 2 21 10

Pakistan 311 1.28 8 1 4 18 4

Egypt 395 1.62 3 2 1 19 6

Sudan 398 1.63 15 5 12 9 3

S. Arabia 401 1.65 14 1 14 1 0

UK 503 2.06 34 10 1 1 14

India 546 2.24 23 6 0 2 12

France 955 3.92 31 7 0 1 10

Afghan 2,989 12.27 - 3 14 2 0

Iran 3,372 13.84 27 17 3 6 6

USA 4,072 16.71 37 11 0 2 12

None 9,883 40.56 - 14 48 2 1

Total 24,365 100 100 100 100 100

Support Democracy 24.93 34 1 6 48

Blaming the West for the continuation and spread for dictatorships in the Muslims world .

The attitudes toward political Islam measured by Muslims’ attitudes toward the concept of Islam as a religion and state were not found to be helpful in explaining the attitudes of Muslims toward democratic hardware at all.

II. Insignificant Variables

Muslims and Arabs are too heterogeneous to be studied in a lump-sum way of thinking.

Not all secular Muslims are liberal and not all Islamists are anti-democracy.

Some do bark: some countries’ political cultures are compatible with democracy--- search elsewhere for why they do not democratize.

Some countries’ political cultures are clear obstacles to democratization.

Concluding Remarks

B. Reasons for success1. Muhammad’s desire to spread Islam North2. Disciplined and well commanded armies3. Persecution suffered by people under Byzantine

and Sassanid rule b/c they didn’t support state religion

4. Muslims allowed conquered peoples to follow their own religion, but not spread it, as long as they paid the tax

Islam Expands (cont’d)

A. Society1. Rise of Muslim Cities

Many cultures combined Attracted many people Baghdad approaches 1 million people

2. 4 Social Classes: Upper class—Muslim at birth Second Class—converts to Islam Third Class—”protected peoples” included

Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians Lowest Class—slaves (POWs; all non-Muslims)

V. Muslim Culture

The Muslim World Expands1300-1700

The OttomansThe SafavidsThe Mughals

Empire Builders in the Middle East and South Asia

Anatolian Turks: ghazis, warriors for Islam Formed military societies and invaded the

territories of infidels, people who did not believe in Islam

Osman: successful ghazi, his followers were called Ottomans

Success and expansion until stopped by Timur the Lame

The Ottoman Empire: Turks Move into Byzantium

4 powerful sultans led Ottoman Empire until 1566

1453: took Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey) under Mehmed the Conqueror

1514: defeated the Safavid under Selim the Grim◦ Continued on to take Mecca, Medina and Cairo

The Ottoman Empire: Powerful Sultans Spur Dramatic Expansion

Suleyman the Lawgiver and Suleyman the Magnificent

Continued to expand the empire into Central Europe, North Africa and Central Asia

Structured social organization: law code, simplified taxes and government

Tolerance of religious and cultural differences

The Ottoman Empire: Suleyman

Mosque of Suleyman

Istanbul, Turkey

Pattern of gaining power and holding power The practices of the sultans led to weak

leaders and the decline of the empire◦ Suleyman killed his most capable son and sent

another into exile◦ Selim II inherited the throne

The Ottoman Empire: The Empire Declines Slowly

Major influences: Persians, Ottomans, Arabs Located between the Ottoman Empire and

the Mughal Empire Strong military force Leader Isma’il became a religious tyrant

and controlled Persia, (now Iran) and took the ancient Persian title of shah (meaning king)

Defeated by Ottomans in 1514, set present day border between Iraq and Iran

Building the Safavid Empire

Shah Abbas, also called Abbas the Great, helped create a Safavid culture that drew from the best of the Ottoman, Persian and Arab worlds

Reforms and respect for military and civilian life

Tolerance for other religions and cultures◦ Encouraged industry, trade and art exchanges

with European nations Built a beautiful new capital at Esfahan with

influences from all over Europe and Asia

The Safavid Empire Golden Age

Esfahan, Iran