Table of Contents Foreword Unity of the Muslim World The Curse of Nationalism The Failure of International Agencies Towards the World State Can Religions other than Islam deliver the good Can the West Unite the World Mar!ism and World Unity Islam" The #o$e of Man%ind The Challenge from Within A Word to the Critics The Tas% &efore the Muslim Summit
Foreword
Muslims today constitute one'fifth of the human race( Muslim states in the U(N( go to ma%e u$ a&out one'fourth of its total mem&ershi$( Africa is the Muslim continent) *+ $er cent of its $o$ulation &elieves in Unity of ,od and the -ro$hethood of Muhammad .$eace &e u$on him/ Muslim countries contain huge 0uantities of some of the most im$ortant mineral and economic resources of the world( The racial and $hysical stoc% of their $o$ulations is one of the &est in the world( They $ossess the great ideology of Islam) which can lead man%ind out of its contem$orary crisis) generated &y the conflict of ,odless) amoral and lo$sided ideologies of Communism and Secularism( And des$ite all this) Muslims have no effective voice in the world affairs( They have &ecome $assive am$'followers of others( Im$erialist $owers of the 1ast and the West are active in their lands( Their &asic $ro&lems remain unattended) what to say of their solution( -alestine &leeds) 2ashmiris groan) Tur%ish Cy$riots cry( 1ritrean Muslims are &eing crushed( Nigerians are &eing su&3ected to sa&otage from within( Somalians grum&le and $rotest( 4ut all these voices of agony and anguish fall on deaf ears( -ro&lems are &ecoming more and more aggravated( Situation is worsening and we) the si! hundred and fifty million Muslims stand &ewildered and aghast) hel$less s$ectators of our own ruin( This is a $arado! and we must wriggle ourselves out of this unha$$y state of affairs( The answer to this situation is that the Muslims must sincerely remodel their individual and collective life in accord with the $rinci$les of Islam and $ool their resources to $lay their rightful role in the world( It is through Islamic Revival and Islamic Unity that we can change the course of events and fulfill our tryst with destiny( Maulana Maududi has called the Muslim world) $articularly its thin%ing elements) to this strategy( The $resent &rochure contains a s$eech (of Maulana Maududi " Unity of the Muslim World, which he5 delivered at a meeting in the 4(N(R( Auditorium) 6ahore) and air article The Task Before the Muslim Summit, which was $u&lished in the 7aily Dawn, 2arachi( Their translation and editing have &een done at the Islamic Research Academy) which offers them to the Muslim intelligentsia with the ho$e that it shall res$ond to this call of the hour( 89th Fe&ruary) 8:*9( KHURSHID AHMAD Chater !ne" Unity of the Muslim World
The $olitical $hiloso$hy that dominated the early $art of the $resent century was the $hiloso$hy of nationalism( ;ne could scarcely conceive of the collective life of a nation e!ce$t in terms of its &eing free and inde$endent) its mem&ers &eing virtual worshi$$ers of their nation) e!erting themselves to the utmost to gain for its glory and su$remacy over all other nations even if that im$lied su$$ressing others and &ringing other nations low( To the nations of the world the <enith of $olitical life was the nation'state) whom they idoli<ed and worshi$$ed(
TH# CURS# !F $ATI!$A%ISM The catastro$he to which this conce$t led was witnessed &y the world in the form of the First World War( The worshi$$ers of nationalism whose greatest mission in life was to wor% for the domination of their nation over the rest of the world and who had e!alted the nation'state to the $osition of a god and considered sacrificing all human values at its altar) the acme of human achievement) had to wage a horri&le war from 8:8= to 8:8> during which they turned into &easts thirsty for one another5s &lood( 1ntire $o$ulations were annihilated and countries laid waste #umanity) morality) civili<ed &ehavior ' all values were tram$led under foot( #aving witnessed the horrors wrought &y nationalism) the world for the first time after the First World War started thin%ing a&out creating a su$ra'national organi<ation in which each nation should &e $re$ared to surrender a $art off its sovereignty to esta&lish a central authority that should $revent conflict among nations and devise means of com$osing their differences and $romoting amity among them( With this end in view) the 6eague of rations was esta&lished( 4ut it soon &ecame clear that this &ody had &een formed more with a view to sharing the s$oils of im$erialist machinations than to achieve any other $ur$ose( It soon started dividing 6i$ states and evolved the uni0ue $rocedure of assigning nations under mandates to the 4ig -owers) as if there would no more &e any need to su&3ugate wea%er nations militarily( Rather) the 6eague of Nations would ma%e gifts of them to the 4ig -owers( A&out the same time the idea of ma%ing -alestine the home of the ?ews emerged( ?ews from all over the world were &rought here and settled though -alestine was not an un$o$ulated land &ut was the home of the Ara&s for centuries( That was the arrangement for avoiding conflict &etween nations and $romoting amity among them@ It seemed that man had learnt5 a&solutely no lesson from the &itter e!$erience and the First World War( ;n the other hand) this e!$erience and the thin%ing $eo$le5s reflections a&out the e!$erience were used as means of misleading and deluding humanity( The a$$arent $ur$ose declared for $u&lic consum$tion was to create amity among $eo$les &ut in fact it was nationalism that dominated the thin%ing of nations and that $rovided the &ase on which their policies were uilt! 7es$ite $rotestations oA $eace) amity and international 3ustice &y the 6eague of rations what the world saw for twenty'one years was encroachments u$on the rights of wea%er nations) the sowing of the seeds of discord in every $art of the world and au arms race on a scale un$aralleled in the history of man%ind( Ultimately the Second World tear &ro%e out and &rought destruction that was unmatched seen &y the First 5world War( Millions of human &eings were %illed( Bast areas sere laid waste, entire communities were u$rooted from their homelands and $ushed into alien territories( 6arge $o$ulations were made $risoners of war( Man ($er$etrated such atrocities u$on man as would $ut &easts to shame(
The Failure of International A&en'ies After the Second World War the world that had &een twice rent asunder &y nationalism was once main greeted with the nets that international 3ustice would &e ensured to man%ind( For this $ur$ose the UN; was esta&lished) a declaration of #uman fights was $roclaimedC a Security Council was set u$ to esta&lish $eace in the world( 1veryone %nows how far the Security Council has succeeded in im$arting security to the $eo$les of the world( What we e!$erienced only last year is elo0uent commentary on the Council5s effectiveness( [1. Reference is to the Indo-Pakistan War of 6-13 September 1955 and the Securit !ounci"#s so"e therein.$ Its reso"utions on %ashmir ha&e been mockin' it for the "ast se&enteen ears (hi"e the Securit counci" "iar been sittin' id"e. ) mi""ion inhabitants of Pa"estine ha&e been dri&en out of their homes and their "and turned into the *nationa" home* of de(s brou'ht here from a"" parts of the (or"d. Simi"ar" in !prus schemes are bein' hatched for sstematica"" decimatin' tire +urk !priots. +he ,.-. sits coo" as f"a'rant in.ustice and open repression a/e bein' practiced in Rhodesia0 )n'o"a0 South )frica0 1ietnam0 2ritrea0 )den0 3emen and man other p"aces. )s for the 4ec"aration of 5uman Ri'hts0 the ,.-. member nations ha&e et to p"ed'e to abide b it or p"ace it on their statutes. +here is no a'enc to (hich the indi&idua"s0 'roups or nations (hose ri'hts ha&e been encroached upon cou"d turn fo/ redress.
T!WARDS TH# W!R%D STAT# It is because of these facts that the (or"d is 'ettin' increasin'" disenchanted (ith the internationa" a'encies concerned (ith maintainin' peace and ensurin' .ustice for mankind. +he present-da thinkers are 6uite &ehement in their assertion--rather it (ou"d be correct to sa that the (or"d of thou'ht has reco'ni7ed the fact that nationa"ism and the cu"t of nation-states are at the root of the i""s that p"a'ue the (or"d. 5umanit cannot achie&e peace unti" the independent nation-states 'i&e (a to a (or"d state. +here shou"d be one 'o&ernment for the entire (or"d. +he component nationa" units .shou"d not be a""o(ed to fi'ht at (i"". +he shou"d be sub.ect to a superior authorit (hich shou"d mana'e the affairs of the (or"d and distribute e6uitab" amon' nations (hat is due to each.
Can Reli&ions other than Islam deli(er the &ood) 8ut this is mere" a &ision0 no more than a p"easin' and pious (ish. +he rea" 6uestion is9 4oes the (or"d ha&e an ideo"o' that can 'i&e birth to a (or"d state: !an !hristianit be the basis of such a state: +he !hristians (ou"d for'i&e the present (riter if he ca""s spade a spade. +he !hristian doctrine offers no 'uidance for state0 "et a"one a (or"d state. *Render therefore unto !aesar the thin's that are !aesar#s*0 is said and abdicated tempora" po(er in fa&or of !aesar. )s far unitin' the mankind0 !hristianit0 despite its interests and efforts to dais end0 has achie&ed "itt"e success. 2&en toda the &ast ma.orit of )merican ne'roes professes !hristianit0 the faith of )merican (hite race. 8ut despite their common faith0 simi"ar names and common cu"ture the cannot pra in the same churches or sit on the same benches or dine in the same restaurants-"et a"one sharin' the same tab"e-or ride the s-me buses or "i&e in the same nei'hborhoods. If e&er a ne'ro fami" mo&es into a (hite "oca"it it does so at the risk of its house bein' made a shootin' tar'et b hosti"e (hites. If ne'ro chi"dren (ant to attend a (hite schoo" the are he"d to ridicu"e and are in perpetua" dan'er of "osin' a "imb. +he same is the condition in )frica. ;that the -(hite minorit in mouth )frica is doin' to the -e'ro ma.orit is kno(n to a"". +he !hristian inf"uence in )frica can be 'au'ed from the fact that in the b"ack man#s !hurch <esus#s. portrait sho(s him to be a co"ored man (hi"e in a (hite man#s !hurch he is painted as a (hite man0 as if t(o &ersions of <esus ha&e been prepared0 the ;(hite <esus# for the (hite and the ;b"ack <esus# for the co"ored. It is e&ident that this re"i'ion cannot form the basis of a (or"d brotherhood or a (or"d state. !an 8uddhism be the basis of such a state: It is more a&erse to the tempora" (or"d and more indifferent to its affairs and the prob"ems of statecraft than is e&en !hristianit. +he entire 8uddhist doctrine is de&oid of an 'uidance for practica" human affairs. )"" its 'uidance is directed to(ard de"i&erin' man from the inferno of "ife and re"easin' the sou" from the prison of human bod. It offers no 'uidance re'ardin' the administration of the (or"d or the mana'ement of its affairs= rather it sho(s the (a to escape dais (or"d and re"ease the sou" from its bodi" confinement. It is apparent0 therefore0 that 8uddhism a"so cannot furnish an basis for a (or"d societ or state. !an 5induism be the basis of human so"idarit: +he truth is that far from unitin' man it aims at di&idin' human bein's and settin' thorn apart from each other. +he manner in (hich the 5indu phi"osoph has (renched apart human bein's "eas no para""e" in an human societ. 5istor has (itnessed a"" manners off e/cesses committed on the &an6uished b the &ictors. 8ut there is no other e/amp"e of that (hat )rans did to the nati&e Indians9 forei'n in&aders (ho con6uered the "and turned the erst(hi"e masters of the soi" into untouchab"es-menia"s fit on" to remo&e e/crement and branded as unc"ean for "ife. -ot on" that. 2&er chi"d (as brou'ht up to be"ie&e that he# (as born "o( and unc"ean in retribution for the sins committed b him in the pre&ious "ife and that no one cou"d rescue him out of this de'radation. +he )rans are the on" con6uerors in the (or"d (ho ha&e sub.ected the peop"e the defeated to this kind of humi"iation and perennia" ser&itude. +he distinction bet(een man and man practiced b the )rans and the conception of superior and inferior races on (hich the based their socia" structure (ere not mere" matters of theor. Socia" "ife do(n to its e"ements (as the embodiment of these princip"es. >ne need 'o to ?anu#s code to kno( the princip"es of socia" discrimination. It is ruth"ess" operati&e in a"" aspects of 5indu socia" "ife at a"" times. +he ridicu"ous and scanda"ous e/tents to (hich it is practiced can be 'au'ed from the fact that in South India a 8rahmin or !aste 5indu doctor (ho ma be cab"ed in to treat a Sudra @untouchab"eA patient (ou"d stop fort paces a(a from the patient. 5e (ou"d not ta"k to the patient direct "est he mi'ht 'et defi"ed. Instead0 a brick (ou"d be p"aced bet(een tine doctor and the patient. +he patient (ou"d re"ate his condition b addressin' the brick. +he doctor in turn (ou"d prescribe the treatment0 addressin' the brick. 4ifferent "imits of safet are prescribed for the 8rahmins in so dea"in' (ith different cate'ories of Sudras or untouchab"es. If a 8rahmin and a Sudra do not keep the prescribed distance bet(een each a 8rahmin 'ets contaminated. It is c"ear that sash a socia" structure and phi"osoph of "ife cannot dra( human bein's c"ass to each other. Bar from bein' a unitin' .force it cannot but aim at sp"ittin' them apart. +he "imit is that accordin' to 5induism a sea &oa'e desecrates a 8rahmin. )n en"i'htened man "ike Pandit ?adan ?ohan ?a"a&ia had to do penance for ha&in' desecrated his faith b undertakin' the &oa'e to 2n'"and to attend the Round +ab"e !onference. In &ie( of this phi"osoph (ho can sa that there is e&en a remote possibi"it of the inte'ration of the human race under this phi"osoph:
Can the West Unite the World) Simi"ar"0 the Western ci&i"i7ation a"so cannot unite mankind on one f"oor. -ationa"ism is a chi"d of this &er ci&i"i7ation and it has torn the (or"d into pieces. It is the West (hich has e/a"ted the nation-state to the position of di&init. +he u"timate ob.ecti&e and purpose of "ife (hich it 'a&e to man (as the trappin's of (or"d" "ife0 the impro&ement of standard of "i&in' and the pursuit of materia" (e""-bein'. +his bein' the 'oa" of "ife for indi&idua"s and nations0 it (as but natura" that indi&idua"s0 c"asses and nations (ou"d stru''"e to outpace each other and en'a'e in a mad race for materia" e/p"oits. +his attitude sp"its men and arra them a'ainst each other. [C. In fact it has produced e&en in the indi&idua"s a sp"it persona"it= Inte'rated persona"ities are a rare phenomenon in the West.$ !ompetition de'enerates into ri&a"r and feud and riot and destruction0 +his ci&i"i7ation cannot furnish an idea" that cou"d he"p unite the human bein's0 compose their differences arid promote amon' them co- operation in p"ace of strife. +his ci&i"i7ation stands for the di&ision of men0 not for their inte'ration. ,nder the inf"uence of this ci&i"i7ation man preed upon man impe""ed b anima" instinct. With this end in &ie( the Western nations entered )merica. and occupied the "and after e/terminatin' the nati&e fed Indians. In the same (a the intruded into )frica0 made about a .hundred mi""ion )fricans into their s"a&es0 transported them to the areas occupied b them and forced them to (ork "ike do's on their co"oni7ation pro.ects and p"antations. )fter(ards the de&e"oped a ne( fan'"ed phi"osoph to furnish a rationa"e foe their practices0 a .ustification for their barbaric acts0 an effort to *pro&e* them as bein' ire accordance (ith the "a( off nature. +his phi"osoph stipu"ates that the (or"d is nothin' but an arena (herein the stru''"e for e/istence 'oes on cease"ess". In other (ords0 the basis off "ife in the (or"d is conf"ict rather than concord and cooperation. In this stru''"e nature on" he"ps preser&e one that is fitter than others to e/ist. +his is the natura" "a( of the sur&i&a" of the fittest ana" it is in accordance (ith this "a( that the species that 6ua"if for sur&i&a" are se"ected. +hus0 the e/termination of the (eak and the sur&i&a" of the stron' constitute the process of natura" se"ection. +he Western fo""o(ers of this ne( philosophy fe"t satisfied that if the (iped out or suppressed the sma""er nations in order to occup their "ands and e/p"oit their resources for their o(n a''randi7ement it (ou"d be no in.ustice to those nations since that (as (hat the "a( of nature demanded. +hat (as di&ine .usticeD It is because of this phi"osoph that toda man a (hite man does not fee" an compunction or uneasiness of conscience at the fact that the (hites ha&e supp"anted the Red Indians b resort to force. +he same #ta"isman# is -bein' in&oked to .ustif the e&iction of the )rabs from Pa"estine on the 'round that0 the (ere back(ard (hereas the <e(ish sett"ers in Pa"estine ha&e done so much to harness the resources off the "and. If the )rabs ha&e been dri&en out of their home"and and <e(s dra(n from a"" o&er the (or"d to sett"e in Pa"estine0 it is no0 in.ustice rather it is in accordance (ith the a""e'ed ta( off nature. +he estab"ishment of Israe" is bein' .ustified in )merica and 2urope b this &er "o'ic. +he 6uestion therefore0 arises9 !an a ci&i"i7ation founded on such a phi"osoph be the basis of the inte'ration of the human kind:
Mar*ism and World Unity Eet us no( see if ?ar/ism can unite human bein's. +his mi'ht perhaps be possib"e (hen0 as the phi"osoph 'oes0 after a profound and decisi&e c"ash of the c"ass and the (or"d is "eft (ith on" one c"ass of peop"e. 8ut to reach that sta'e a c"ass stru''"e and the resu"tant b"oodshed are ine&itab"e. Fod a"one kno(s if such a sta'e (ou"d e&er be reached. 8ut the course it has taken and (ants to take to reach that 'oa" is the course of a (or"d-(ide throu'h a trenchant c"ass stru''"e in&o"&in' &io"ence0 destruction and b"ood re&o"utions throu'h (hich it (i"t first estab"ish the dictatorship of the pro"etariat0 then "i6uidate propertied c"asses0 dispossess them of their ho"din's and fina"" e/terminate them b either ki""in' them or e/i"in' them or throu'h an other means. It (i"" be on" after a"" this has been done that man mi'ht rea"i7e the dream (or"d in (hich a sin'"e c"ass of human bein's (ou"d "i&e. +his process has not been comp"eted e&en sin Russia and !hina. )nd (hat has happened in Russia. and is takin' p"ace in china is a b"ood ta"e (here re&o"ution is eatin' its foes and friends a"ike0 na0 "ike the snake0 it is eatin' its o(n chi"dren. +he dream seems to be no(here near rea"i7ation. )nd e&en if the hope of the estab"ishment of a c"ass"ess societ e&er approaches rea"i7ation in these countries the (or"d ma ha&e to 'o throu'h the same b"ood-stained process of destruction and "i6uidation. 5o( "on' (i"" it take to comp"ete no one kno(s. Bor a fe( centuries at "east the (or"d shou"d e/pect to see conf"ict and di&ision rather than the unification of the human race. Peace and tran6ui"it for (hich the (or"d is c"amorin' toda cannot come at "east throu'h the a'enc of the ?ar/ist ideo"o' and strate'.
IS%AM" TH# H!+# !F MA$KI$D +his is the contemporar0 situation0 depressin' and heart-rendin'. 8ut there is a si"&er "inin' to the other(ise dark hori7on0 the si"&er "inin' of Is"am. It must0 be s6uare" stated that there is and (as no ideo"o' e/cept Is"am that can unite the (or"d and ser&e as a basis for a (or"d state. Is"am is the on" re"i'ion in the (or"d that considers entire mankind to be one fami" and proc"aims that a"" human bein's ha&e descended from the same parents *> mankind0 We created ou from a sin'"e ma"e and a fema"e*0 dec"ares the Gur#an. [3. *> mankindD We ha&e created ou from a sin'"e ma"e and a fema"e0 and ha&e made ou nations and tribes that ou ma kno( one mother. EoD the nob"est of ou0 in the si'ht of )""ah0 is the most ri'hteous and best in conduct. EoD )""ah is %no(er0 )(are.* @H99 13A. *> mankindD 8e carefu". of our dut to our Eord Who created ou from a sin'"e sou" and from it created its mate and from them t(ain hath spread abroad a mu"titude of men and (omen.* @H91A.$ +hen it asserts that Fod has 'rouped them into nations and tribes not that the ma fi'ht (ith each other but that the ma identif each other more easi" for promotin' co-operation amon' themse"&es. +his so-ca""ed di&ision into 'roups is to faci"itate reference or identification rather than to set one a'ainst the other9 *)nd We made ou into nations and tribes that e ma kno( each other*. -ot that e ma despise each otherD +he 'roupin' of men into nations0 c"ans and fami"ies is a natura" phenomenon. 2&erbod is born into a fami". +he peop"e nearest him are those comprisin' his fami" and it is the (ith (hom he makes his first ac6uaintance. 8eond this the fami"ies "i&in' in one "oca"it or to( are kno(n to one another far better and ha&e far c"oser socia" re"ationship (ith one another than (ith those of other "oca"ities and to(ns. +he same is true of the 'roup of fami"ies that constitute one nation or communit. +hat is the on" form0 inter- re"ationship and concourse bet(een human bein's takes. It is for this reason that the !reator of men has 'rouped them into nations and tribes. +he purpose is to faci"itate identification0 and co-operation rather than that the members of one fami"0 race or nation shou"d "ook do(n upon those of .others0 consider themse"&es superior to them or oppress them0 thus "eadin' to conf"icts bet(een nations and spread chaos on Fod#s earth. )ccordin' to Is"am superiorit does not f"o( from a hi'h birth or connection (ith an race or nation does not besto( upon an one distinction. If one is superior to another it is on" because of one#s mora" stature and piet9 1eri" the most honored of ou in the si'ht of Fod is @he (ho isA the most ri'hteous of ou. +his is the conception of the human race that can 'ather a"" men to'ether0 bind them into a fraternit and estab"ish a (or"d societ and a (or"d state. ?en can estab"ish brother" re"ations (ith each other on" (hen the kno( that the ha&e a"" been created b one Fod0 that the are a"" ans(erab"e to 5im0 that 5e a"ike is the !reator and Sustainer of a""0 that a"" human bein's. ha&e been created out of the same f"esh and b"ood0 that no one is better than others because of this parenta'e. )"" &irtue is due to one#s 'ood deeds and one#s superior mora" character. )none (ho is ri'hteous and .ust-is (orth of respect irrespecti&e of (hether he (as born in the 2ast or West. )none (hose conduct and character are disreputab"e is "o(0 be he (hite or b"ack. +his is the truth to (hich the Prophet of )""ah @peace be upon himA testified in his historic address on the occasion of his "ast pi"'rima'e. 5e said0 *-o )rab is superior to an non-)rab0 nor a non-)rab superior to an )rab. -either is a (hite man better than a b"ack man nor a b"ack better than a (hite. 3ou are a"" descended from )dam and )dam himse"f (as made of c"a. +he most honored of ou in the si'ht of Fod is he (ho fears Fod most and is the most ri'hteous.* Is"am did not present this conception of e6ua"it of man as an id"e phi"osoph. It estab"ished a societ based on this concept. In that societ it 'athered the different races and nations on the basis of comp"ete e6ua"it of a"" indi&idua"s. )"" distinctions of race0 co"or0 "an'ua'e or nationa"it (ere eradicated. )mon' the peop"e formin' this societ no one (as hi'h or "o(0 ho" or unho". )"" offered their praers standin' side b side in the same mos6ue9 +he inter"ined and intermarried free". In ri'hts and duties the (ere e6ua" to each other. 2&en the (orst opponents of Is"am ackno("ed'e that there is no re"i'ion apart from Is"am that has succeeded in ob"iteratin' distinctions of race0 co"or0 "an'ua'e0 p"ace of ori'in and nationa"it in estab"ishin' uni&ersa" brotherhood of men. +his is a uni6ue b"essin' of Is"am0 a remarkab"e e/amp"e of the "eadership of the 5o" Prophet @peace be upon himA and the mirac"e of the eterna" teachin's of the Gur#an that as far as ?us"im societ is concerned the entire human race has in fact become one ummah. -ot on" that0 Is"am a"so estab"ished a (or"d state on the basis of the same ideo"o' and (orked it successfu"". When durin' the das of the pious !a"iphs Is"am crossed the )rab frontiers0 a "ar'e part of the (or"d came under its s(a0 ?us"ims of a"" parts of the (or"d had on" one spiritua" and tempora" head0 the ca"iph. +he entire Is"amic (or"d (as 'o&erned b the same "a(. )"" ?us"ims formed one fami".0 If a person0 irrespecti&e of (hether he came from the 2ast or West0 accepted Is"am0 became a member of the Is"amic societ and en.oed the same ri'hts and pri&i"e'es as did the )rabs. +here is no difference bet(een the pri&i"e'es he en.oed and the ones en.oed b such "uminaries dike )bu 8akr0 >mar0 ,sman or )"i @Fod be p"eased (ith .themA. Whether one (as a ne'ro0 an Iranian0 or a copt0 or a 8erber0 he stood on the same footin' in the. ?us"im societ after acceptin' Is"am as did the kith and kin0 of the 5o" Prophet @peace be upon himA and his )rab fo""o(ers. 5is ob"i'ations (ere the same as theirs. 5e en.oed the same pri&i"e'es as the did. 5is socia" status (as e6ua" to theirs. 5e cou"d ac6uire the 'reatest eminence in the Is"amic societ on the basis of his mora" 6ua"ities and ri'hteousness. It is true that in the "ater periods ?us"ims de&e"oped man (eaknesses. Sti"" the uni&ersa" brotherhood of ?us"ims that Is"am had created remained a "i&in'. force despite a"" inimica" forces. It is a tra'ed that ?us"ims (ere di&ided into different sects. 4ifferences on the basis of nationa"it0 race0 and triba" conf"icts did crop up no( and a'ain. In p"ace of a sin'"e empire of ?us"ims0 man independent. states came into bein'. 8ut the idea that the ?us"ims of the (or"d constitute one ummah remained intact. +he be"ie&er in Is"am0 (hate&er his racia" "inks0 p"ace0 of ori'in0 mother ton'ue or co"or is a brother to another ?us"im and (here&er he mo&es in a ?us"im societ he en.os the same pri&i"e'es as other ?us"ims do. +he (or"d has for centuries (itnessed the ama7in' performance of this uni6ue idea. ) ?us"im from an part of the (or"d cou"d 'o to an ?us"im "and (ithout an restrictions0 more free" in that countr0 sta there as "on' as he (ished0 en'a'e in an trade0 secure the hi'hest 'o&ernment post in that countr 'et married (ithout an difficu"t. Is"amic histor is rep"ete (ith instances (here a ?us"im (ent out of his countr and "i&ed in other ?us"im "ands for decades. 5e mi'ht ha&e studied in one countr0 en'a'ed in business in another0 became a minister or commander-in-chief of the arm in a third one and0 then he mi'ht 'o o&er to et another0 sett"e there and 'et married. ) (e"" kno(n e/amp"e is Ibn-i-8atuta#s (ho tra&e"ed throu'h different ?us"im countries for t(ent-se&en ears. 5e did not need a passport or a &isa to 'o to an of these countries. -o(here (as he 6uestioned about his nationa"it. -o(here did he face an difficu"t in earnin' his "i&in'. He needed no permit to &isit an p"ace nor (as an period fi/ed for his sta. If he sou'ht a .ob under an 'o&ernment he 'ot appointed (ithout an difficu"t. 5e reached India durin' the rei'n of Su"tan ?ohammad +u'h"a6. +he fact that he tra&e"ed from the farthest corner of ?orocco0 his nati&e "and0 did not come in the (a of his appointment as a ma'istrate in India. )fter(ards the Su"tan sent him to !hina as his ambassador. +hat pro&es that nothin' barred his enterin' e&en into dip"omatic ser&ice. +his c"ear" sho(s that at that time not on" the idea of common(ea"th but a"so that of common citi7enship (as fu"" operati&e. +he (or"d of Is"am (as in fact a Eand of peace despite the e/istence of independent states0 (ithin this rea"m. +he manpo(er of the entire Is"amic (or"d (as a&ai"ab"e to an ?us"im countr. ?us"ims o(ed a""e'iance to a"" ?us"im states and the defense and protection of the (or"d of Is"am (as the common responsibi"it of a"" ?us"ims. +i"" the be'innin' of #the 19th centur ).!0 dais position pre&ai"ed in the (or"d of Is"am. What 'reater proof cou"d there be of the fact that Is"am not on" furnished the theoretica" and ideo"o'ica" bases of the (or"d state that the thinkers of toda are "on'in'. In fact it brou'ht such a state into bein' and (orked it effecti&e" for centuries. +his (as the mirac"e Is"am accomp"ished.
I,- TH# CHA%%#$.# FR!M WITHI$ ho(e&er0 it is e/treme" re'rettab"e that the present-da ?us"ims ha&e become ob"i&ious of the 'reat "e'ac of brotherhood of a"" ?us"ims. When the Western nations in&aded the Is"amic (or"d and brou'ht countr after countr under their s(a0 (e first suffered a defeat in the batt"efie"d then accepted the West#s supremac in the rea"m of kno("ed'e0 cu"ture and phi"osoph. What the West cou"d not achie&e b the force of arms its phi"osophies accomp"ished b means mire subt"e. +heir po"itica" ru"e touched the upper "aer of our phsica" e/istence on". 8ut their cu"tura" and inte""ectua" domination ens"a&ed our .minds. >ur bodies a"one (ere not enchained0 our minds and sou"s (ere a"so he"d capti&e and (e (ere inf"uenced into re.ectin' our o(n be"iefs and acceptin' their ideas. It is one of the tra'ic conse6uences of these &er inf"uences that the ?us"ims accepted the concept of nationa"ism that (as unkno(n to them unti" the 19th centur. )"on' (ith nationa"ism the ?us"ims a"so adopted the cu"t of re'iona"ism in emu"ation of the. West. In conse6uence of the po"icies of Western po(ers0 and of certain ?us"im 'o&ernments ?us"ims of a countr or those of a particu"ar ethnic ori'in (ere out off from the (ider fraternit of the communit of Is"am. +he chose to become a se"f-contained po"itica" unit0 ho(e&er0 superficia" and unrea"istic that mi'ht ha&e been. !ountr or ethnic 'roup Wes presented as the be-a"" and end-a"" of their e/istence. +hem "oa"ties (ere for their countr a"one. In this stran'e ne( (or"d a ?us"im cou"d on" en.o his ri'hts (ithin the boundaries of his o(n countr. >ther ?us"im countries became as forei'n to him as an non- ?us"im countr. Bor the fiat time in the histor the ?us"ims broke0 up (ith their o(n hands the unit of the (or"d of Is"am. +he nation to (hom the idea of territoria" nationa"ism (as simp" forei'n0 the nation that (as raised as0 to 6uote the Gur#an0 *the best of peop"e= raised unto mankind* [H. )" Gur#an0 39 11I.$ adopted the non- be"ie&ers# cu"t of nationa"ism and tore to pieces the precious mant"e of internationa" brotherhood that it had inherited and (hich others cannot 'et for an price9 *-ot if thou hadst spent a"" that is in the earth cou"dst thou ha&e produced that "o&e and affection but Fod had done it. [5. )"-Gur#an0 J9 63.$ Brom the midd"e of the 19th centur the West (as bent upon breakin' up the unit of the ?us"ims and introducin' the doctrine of nationa"ism. +he. resu"t (as .that durin' the9 Birst Wor"d War a ?us"im nation re&o"ted a'ainst another ?us"im nation (hen the "atter (as en'a'ed in fi'ht (ith the enemies. In this case both the nations (ere at fau"t. +he one had adopted the cu"t of )rab nationa"ism and the Kother that of +urkish nationa"ism. +heir common teacher (as the Imperia"ist West0 (ho made them disre'ard .the fact that both (ere bound to each other b the ties of Is"am. +he +urks for'ot the fact that their &ast empire c"aimed to be an Is"amic ca"iphate. +he# !aucasian +urks a"one did not popu"ate this empire. +here Were )rabs and other communities too (ho cou"d o(e a""e'iance to Is"am but cou"d not be e/pected to 'i&e their "oa"ties to +urks as their o&er"ords. +he )rabs did not rea"i7e that the peop"e a'ainst (hom the took up arms0 e&ident" at the insti'ation of Western imperia"ism0 (ere none e"se than their0 brethren in faith and the prospect of independence dan'"ed before them (as et another noose of s"a&er that (ou"d be ti'htened around their necks. 4runk (ith nationa"ism both missed the rea"it and c"ashed (ith each other. +he tra'ic conse6uence (as that on the one hand# the +urkish empire disinte'rated0 the +urks# o(n freedom (as peri"ed and (hen the bare" succeeded in keepin' their o(n countr intact the "i6uidated the ca"iphate in (hate&er form it had e/isted. Po"itics and re"i'ion (ere di&orced from each other. +he script (as chan'ed from the )rabic to Eatin. )"" ties (ith the ?us"im (or"d (ere snapped. +his (as the +urkish tra'ed. >n the other hand0 the )rabs cou"d not secure the independence in pursuit of (hich the had accepted to become the too"s of the enemies of Is"am. Ira6 (as anne/ed b the 8ritish. Sria and Eebanon passed into the su7eraint of Brance. Pa"estine (as assi'ned to 8ritain under #a mandate of the Eea'ue of -ations. +he started con&ertin' it into the nationa" home"and of the <e(s. +hat (as the price that the ?us"im nation had to pa for acceptin' the concept of territoria" nationa"ism. )fter the Second Wor"d War different ?us"im countries scattered from 2ast to West (ere b"essed (ith de"i&erance from Western co"onia" ru"e. [6. )t present there are 3L independent ?us"im States0 36 of (hich are members of the ,nited -ations0 of (hich CJ ha&e attained independence from co"onist ru"e on" after the Second Wor"d War.$ +he emer'ence of those nations as separate independent states is the ine&itab"e outcome of a historic mo&ement (hich cannot be a"tered. What is re'rettab"e is that a"" these ?us"im countries are fo""o(in' the same doctrine of nationa"ism that the had imbibed from their Western masters. +he concepts of a sin'"e nationa"it (ithin the 4arussa"am0 of common citi7enship0 of a common(ea"th of ?us"im countries apart0 the are not e&en fu"" conscious off the re&o"utionar ru"e of Is"am because of (hich the are "inked to each other0 (hich can unite their ?us"im popu"ations into one- ummah0 promote= 'ood(i"" and co-operation amon' them0 open up ne( &istas0 of co-operation and concord for their common de&e"opment0 turn them into comrades in arms defendin' each other#s territoria" independence. +he (estern concept of nationa"ism dominates them to such an e/tent that the consider a ?us"im off another countr a"ien to them as #is a non-?us"im. +he do not hesitate to fi'ht (ith another ?us"im countr if their territoria" interests so demand. +he see nothin' (ron' in makin' friends (ith the s(orn enem of another ?us"im .countr. +he are not mo&ed e&en if a brother ?us"im countr is sub.ected to in.ustice and oppression. +oda the are e6ua"" faced (ith the dan'er of once a'ain "osin' their independence in the e&ent of a c"ash bet(een the Pi' Po(ers. In such circumstances a (e"come &oice has been heard0 in&itin' the heads of ?us"im countries to assemb"e at one p"ace0 de"iberate on their common prob"ems and de&ise (as and means of mutua" co-operation for so"&in' them. Reason e/pected0 that this ca"" (ou"d be hai"ed. 8ut0 a"as a What (e hear and see is that more than the non-?us"ims our ?us"im brethren are disp"eased (ith this ca"". +he (isdom of unitin' nation- states on the basis of re"i'ion is bein' ca""ed in 6uestion. )nd the iron is that the men. (ho ho"d this &ie( are themse"&es raisin' the s"o'an that socia"ist countries shou"d band to'ether. Froupin' to'ether in the name of !ommunism is &irtue arid (isdom doin' so in the name of Is"am is fo"" and sin. ,nitin' and comin'0 to'ether on the basis of comprehensi&e bonds is beond reproach pro&ided the bindin' factor is be"ief in ?ar/ism and not in Fod#s deem. +hat is the e/tent of the menta" s"a&er of these discip"es of the Western imperia"ism e&en after the ha&e been freed from the tatter#s po"itica" domination0 +he man'er ma ha&e been unitin' round their mutua" hate for Is"am and sub.ectin' the ?us"ims to a"" manner of atrocities and ma sti"" be nurturin' e&i" desi'ns a'ainst the but once the ha&e tau'ht their discip"e- that admittin' 0 an re"ationship (ith Is"am is #reactionarism#0 ho( can dais reactionar discip"e act and dama'e his reputation of bein' a so-ca""ed pro'ressi&e :
A W!RD T! TH# CRITICS +he ob.ections to the proposa" of a conference of ?us"im countries that ha&e been heard in the near past re&ea" on" one fact0 &i7.0 that the ru"ers of the ?us"im countries are hi'h" confused. +he do not tr to probe facts and 'et at the core off the prob"em direct". What can be a &a"id ar'ument0 a'ainst the conference of ?us"im states (hen there e/ists a British !ommon(ea"th of nations. +he on" factor common amon' these nations is that .the ha&e a"" been ru"ed b the 8ritish. -either do the share their cu"tures= nor a common "an'ua'e nor are the "inked to9 each other economica"" nor are the each other#s nei'hbors 'eo'raphica"". Sti"" no one has an ob.ection to the 8ritish !ommon(ea"th. Simi"ar"0 there is an or'ani7ation of )frican states. +he participants ha&e nothin' common bet(een them e/cept the co"or of their skin and her common ob.ecti&e of protectin' the 8"acks a'ainst the desi'ns off the Whites. +he peop"e (ho are opposin' the mo&e for the unification of the ?us"ims are themse"&es members of dais or'ani7ation. +(o more re'iona" 'roupin's are in e/istence-one of !ommunists countries0 under the Warsa( Pact and the other off the states off -orthern )merica in the shape off the ,nited States off )merica. -or one 6uestions the ri'ht of these states to unite. Wh shou"d anone oppose such an or'ani7ation of ?us"im countries : >n (hat basis can the idea be ob.ected to. Prom Pakistan to ?orocco and South )frica the boundaries of the ?us"im countries are conti'uous to one another. If the interruption caused b the sea be o&er"ooked. Indonesia and ?a"asia a"so become 'eo'raphica"" conti'uous to #these countries and "inks in that "on' unbroken chain. Re"i'ion is not the on". common factor amon' them0 the are a"so bound to'ether b their common cu"ture and ci&i"i7ation. Where&er (e ma 'o from Indonesia to ?orocco0 the ?us"ims ha&e a cu"ture that is shared b a"" be"ie&ers in Is"am. +he fundamenta"s of this cu"ture are e6ua"" manifest in a"" ?us"im countries. Where&er a ?us"im ma 'o the moment he hears the ca"" to praer he becomes conscious that he is amon' his brothers in faith. 5e is as much a member of the con're'ation in the mas6ue as an nati&e ?us"im. -o one amon' the 'atherin' considers him a stran'er. Rather the rush to embrace him (hen the come to kno( that he has come from another ?us"im countr. 5e ma not kno( their "an'ua'e. 8ut #)s Sa"amo ;)"aikum# is. the common mode of sa"utation bet(een him and the nations. +he "an'ua'e of# the praer as (e"" as off the sermon is not Freek or Eatin to him. *)"" Praise is for )""ah0 the Sustainer of the Wor"ds* and *)""ah is Freat* are be"iefs that0 he shares (ith them. +he form and contents of the praer are the same from Indonesia to ?orocco. . +he con're'ations can choose him0 the "one stran'er0 to dead their praer. 5e0 the "one stran'er0 can offer his praer "ed b their "eader. >utside the mos6ue (here&er he ma mo&e in the ?us"im societ of that countr he (ou"d find the ties of cu"ture bindin' him and the nati&e ?us"ims. 5e can nine (ith them confident in the kno("ed'e that a"" that is prohibited is anathema to him and them a"ike. +he ru"es of c"ean"iness are obser&ed as much b them as b him. Whate&er ?us"im countr he ma be &isitin'0 its e"ite and common fo"k a"ike en6uire after the (e"fare of the ?us"ims of #his countr as if the (ere their &er kinsmen0 If the "earn that the are comfortab"e the praise )""ah for the happ ne(s (ith their faces f"ashed (ith .o. If the report is riot 'ood the fee" sorr as his o(n compatriots (ou"d do if the "earnt about the p"i'ht of their countrmen. -ot on" that. )"" "a(s 'o&ernin' marria'e0 di&orce0 herita'e0 etc.0 in ?us"im countries are so simi"ar to one another#s that the citi7en of one countr finds no difficu"t in marrin' the citi7en of another countr. +his state of affair e/ists no(here e"se in the (or"d apart from the ?us"im countries. +his pro&es that there e/ists bet(een a"" ?us"ims stron' and deep re"ationship based on the common sentiments0 mutua" smpathies and 'ood (ishes and common cu"ture and ci&i"i7ation-a re"ationship (hich no force can undo e&en in this a'e of the cu"t of nationa"ism. In addition a"" the ?us"im countries from the 2ast to West are conti'uous to one another 'eo'raphica"". Wh shou"dn#t the then combine to so"&e their common prob"ems and assist one another for pro'ress and de&e"opment. )nother reason (h the ?us"im countries shou"d .oin their forces is that indi&idua"" the cannot (ithstand the ruinous effects of internationa" conf"icts bet(een the 8i' Po(ers9 Bor'in' unit amon' them0 therefore0 is essentia" as it is considered necessar for the )frican nations to or'ani7e themse"&es to th(art the desi'ns of imperia"ist po(ers. If the co"or of the skin0 'eo'raphica" conti'uit and common interests are &a"id 'rounds for )fricans to unite and no one ob.ects to their or'ani7in' themse"&es (h is not the unit of ?us"ims for a common cause born of deeper re"ations amon' them &a"id and .ustifiab"e : 5o( can a rationa" person ob.ect to such an arran'ement. : +he persons (ho are opposed to ?us"im countries# 9or'ani7ation on the basis of re"i'ion0 shou"d be made to s6uare" face this 6uestion 9 Wh shou"d the ?us"ims not unite for protectin' themse"&es (hen it is re"i'ious pre.udice a"one that prompts the Western nations to commit e/cesses a'ainst the ?us"ims a"" o&er the (or"d : +he Western po(ers ha&e not et 'ot o&ercome o&er their pre.udice a'ainst Is"am and the ?us"ims that the inherited from the das of the crusades. 5o(e&er much a ?us"im ma 'o out of his (a to pro&e his re"i'ious to"erance and tr to (in their fa&ors b sho(in' indifference to his o(n re"i'ion0 the West (ou"dn#t for'i&e him for bein' a ?us"im nor (ou"d spare him their (rath. 0 +he are not content (ith the in.ustices the are inf"ictin' upon the ?us"ims. Where&er in the (or"d there is a conf"ict bet(een ?us"ims and non-?us"ims their smpathies are (ith the non-?us"ims irrespecti&e of (ho is the oppressor and (ho the &ictim. Who does not remember the proc"amation that Eord )""enb made after occupin' Pa"estine in the Birst Wor"d War. It (as in the spirit of the same Proc"amation that arran'ements (ere made to e&ict the ?us"ims from their home "and transp"antin' the <e(s in their p"ace. !ou"d the peop"e of )merica and 2urope (atch (ith e6uanimit an in.ustice of a simi"ar nature and ma'nitude been perpetrated upon an other nation : When India (as partitioned a ?us"im ma.orit area "ike %ashmir (as 'i&en a(a to 8harat as a 'ift on a p"atter. Since then the ?us"ims of %ashmir ha&e been sub.ected to most inhuman repression but this ta"e of torture and oppression has not moistened the ees that ha&e not stopped00 sheddin' tears o&er the fate of the 5un'arians0 a"thou'h (hat happened in 5un'ar bears no comparison to (hat has been happenin' in %ashmir for the "ast nineteen ears. Simi"ar" in the case of !prus the smpathies of the West are (ith the Freeks a"thou'h the are committin' atrocities on the +urk9. +he reason is simp"e9 the oppressors are after a"" !hristians (hite the oppressed are ?us"ims. +he ,S) sho(ed scant re'ard for the c"ose friendship that +urke had for her. +he rei'n of terror that 8ritain0 Brance0 8e"'ium0 5o""and0 Portu'a" and other !hristian nations "et "oose on ?us"ims in different countries of )frica is unsurpassed in the histor of racia" pre.udice. +heir cu"ture (as destroed0 their economic mi'ht (as broken0 the (ere depri&ed of education. -o one (as a""o(ed to recei&e education un"ess he either adopted !hristianit or of "eapt took a !hristian name in p"ace of his ?us"im name. ?ost of the )fricans appointed to the arm and ci&i" ser&ice (ere !hristians. +he resu"t is that in man ne(" independent countries of )frica (hose popu"ations are predominant" ?us"im0 the Fo&ernment is in the hands of the !hristians0 (hi"e the ?us"im ma.orit has been simp" rendered he"p"ess. 2&en (here ?us"ims occup positions of authorit the !hristians en.o such po(er in the arm and ci&i" ser&ice that ?us"ims find it difficu"t to run the 'o&ernment. +he 6uestion0 therefore0 arises (h shou"d nit the peop"e (ho ha&e been &ictimi7ed a"" o&er the (or"d0 and 0 (ho continue to be &ictimi7ed0 because the profess Is"am0 unite to'ether to protect themse"&es on the basis of the same re"i'ion that "ed to their bein' &ictimi7ed due to tire re"i'ious pre.udice of the !hristians and the <e(s: Is the bandin' to'ether of the oppressors for perpetratin' their crimes0 more dep"orab"e or the or'ani7in' of the oppressed to defend themse"&es : >ne is (onder-struck at the peop"e (ho are opposin' the union of. the ?us"im States on the 'round that such a 'roupin' on the basis of re"i'ion is unsound. >ne is (onder-struck that .oinin' hands in the name of !ommunism is (ise and acceptab"e= makin' co"or a ra""in' force is add .ustifiab"e= on" unitin' in the name of Fod and 5is re"i'ion is a fo""D +he "o'ic of this ar'ument is simp" beond oneMs comprehension. In m opinion the ?us"ims shou"d not on" ra"" to'ether to so"&e their re"i'ious0 cu"tura" and economic prob"ems and shou"d not on" cooperate (ith each other for their cu"tura" and materia" pro'ress= the shou"d a"so .oin their hands to stren'then their defense b concerted efforts. In addition0 the shou"d tr to poo" their resources to de&e"op armament industr so that the ma not remain dependent on Russia or )merica or 8ritain for the supp" of arms. Chater Two" The Tas/ before the Muslim Summit
The Muslim world is faced with many challenges of colossal magnitude( ;ne of these is that of secular nationalistic $hiloso$hy( The message of Muhammad) the last Messenger of Allah .$eace &e u$on him/ to all human &eings was to serve one ,od and to live together righteously as &rethren( The contem$orary man) however) tends to worshi$ many gods &eside .often) instead of/ the one true ,od) the Creator of the universe( This has destroyed the &ases of the faith that human &eings constitute one &rotherhood( Strangely enough) the age in which man was a&le to su&due s$ace) the age in which $hysical distance have &een virtually annihilated) and when 1ast and West) North and South have almost ceased to &e meaningful terms) that same age has witnessed man5s utter ina&ility to transcend mentally the &arriers of race) language and geogra$hy( It is in this very age that man5s in&orn narrow'mindedness was e!alted into a res$ecta&le $hiloso$hical doctrine'the doctrine of nationalism( This doctrine has %e$t the nations of the world $er$etually divided) and has $romoted sus$icion) hatred) and hostility instead of trust) sym$athy and friendshi$( This doctrine) com&ined with a materialistic outloo% of life) has $lunged the( world into two world wars in the short s$an of three decades( No wonder) having tasted its &itter fruits) the Western world is tending to discard it as out'dated and dangerous for the future of man%ind( Tragic indeed is the fact that in many of the Muslim countries) a grou$ of $eo$le has &een trying to sell this very secular nationalism as the $anacea of our ailments( The $ro$agation of this ideology has &een carried out with the &lessings of our former colonial masters who save in nationalism the germs that could disru$t the unity of the Muslim ummah) 7uring the First World War) the Ara&s and the Tur%s were instigated to fly at each other5s throats) none of them reali<ing that nationalist feelings had &een deli&erately wor%ed u$ as $art of a dia&olical cons$iracy to undermine the $olitical strength of the Muslims( how that the Muslims have regained their right to sha$e their destiny) the enemies of the Muslims are once more &usy $reaching nationalism which) they ho$e) will $revent the Muslims from forging strong &onds of unity( Nothing scares the world $owers) Monism and the inci$ient #indu im$erialism as the s$ecter of Islamic revival and Muslim amity( "nce the Muslims' who num&er around *++ millions 'close their ran%s) it would mean an end to their aggrandi<ement and e!$loitation of the Muslim countries( The Dionists %now only too well that the Muslims unit) the end of Israel would &e 3ust at hand( EThis fear is shared )&y those who are dreaming of $re$onderant #indu dominance and influence over Asia and Africa( ' The im$erialist $owers are aware that this unity would ma%e it im$ossi&le for them to $lay with the destiny of Muslim countries) as they leave &een doing in the $ast) &y $lacing one stooge into $ower here and another there( The hostile a criticism) therefore) with which the recent move towards Islamic unity has &een greeted in a section of the Western and Communist $ress is 0uite understanda&le( What is less understanda&le is that the head of a Muslim State has chosen to come out in o$en o$$osition to the idea of Muslim unity( It is difficult to &elieve that any Muslim can &e so gulli&le as not to reali<e as to who stands to &enefit and who stands to lose &y the $er$etuation of the $resent disunity of the Muslim world" the Muslims or their enemies( The Muslims have e!$erienced &oth the &loc%s( These e!$eriences have made it crystal clear that each of the world dowers has its own aye to grind grad their gestures of friendshi$ are merely designed to further their own interests) #ence while the Muslims should welcome friendshi$ and co'o$eration from whichever country it might come) they should maintain vigilance towards the world $owers who are always on a loo%'out to e!$loit our $resent state of &ac%wardness and disunity( In tact) this ma%es it all the more necessary for Muslims to come together so that the strength of each will &e the strength of all( This alone is the road through which flee Muslims will &e a&le to retain their inde$endence) $lay a healthy and constructive role in world affairs and &ring a&out their much'cherished renaissance( In the chaos that engulfs the $resent'day Muslim world) the call for an Islamic Summit has raised new ho$es( I altars) with my other &rethren in all $arts of the ) Muslim world) the e!$ectation that a large num&er of heads of Muslim states will $artici$ate in it and something tangi&le will come out of it( I am $articularly ho$eful that my own ( country) which has consistently cham$ioned the idea of Muslim unity and has seen tangi&le manifestations of that unity during its recent 'conflict with India) will $lay a $ositive role in ma%ing this Summit a success( In order that this Summit may have a su&stantial im$act on the future of the Muslim world) it seems necessary to %ee$ in mind that our attention should &e focused not merely on creating a &loc of Muslim countries) &ut should also try to come into gri$s with the fundamental $ro&lems which face the contem$orary Muslim world( In my own hum&le o$inion) the following $ro&lems deserve the attention of the leaders of the Muslim world" 8( The very e!istence of Islamic culture is menaced &y the intrusion on a terrific scale) of foreign cultural influences( We have flung our doors wide o$en not only for the sciences and technology .which we do indeed need/) &ut also to those unhealthy as$ect5s of Western culture which are gradually de$riving our life of Islamic orientation( Unless we ta%e care of our cultural identity) the future of the Muslim world is doomed( F( Another $ro&lem which is closely related to the a&ove is concerned with the reorientation of educational $olicy( We have at $resent two different and conflicting systems of education) &oth) of which suffer from serious draw&ac%s ;ne of these fails to $re$are $eo$le to shoulder the $ractical res$onsi&ilities of worldly life) while the other fails to $rovide any religious guidance) and moral orientation( These conflicting systems of education have $roduced $eo$le with fundamentally different) outloo%s which has resulted in a dangerous internal conflict in the Muslim society( What we need is an integration of the healthy elements of &oth) leading to the emergence of a unified system of education( G( An ancillary $ro&lem is that of organi<ing and fostering research &y $ooling the resources of all the Muslim countries( Scientific and technological research should &e organi<ed with a view to meet the needs of the Muslim society and to ma%e them a servant of the Muslim culture and tradition( Another $lane of wor% is the organi<ation of research on the living issues of the Muslim society) $articularly the $ro&lems $roduced &y the challenge of modernity( We must evolve our own uni0ue a$$roach to all the $ressing $ro&lems 'that &eset us an a$$roach &ased on the) tenets of the Hur5an and Sunnah and not one in &lind imitation to the ideologies of the day( =( The Islamic Summit must also consider setting u$ of heavy industry and armament factories in the Muslim countries for the defense of the Muslim world( Unless heavy armament factories are set u$ in the Muslim countries) they will have to rely on outside sources( While some of (the Muslim countries can $rovide la&or and technical %now'how) there are other Muslim countries which are rich in foreign e!change and other necessary resources .Saudi Ara&ia) for instance) seems to &e $ossessed of iron de$osits of good 0uality in a&undance/( I( In order to strengthen the &ases of Islamic unity and $romote greater understanding among the Muslim countries) ways and means should &e devised to $o$ulari<e our common Islamic language'Ara&ic( This wilt develo$ greater communication &etween Muslim countries and a &etter a$$reciation of each other5s $ro&lems and difficulties( *( In order to create a cordial atmos$here) the mutual $ro$aganda war &etween Muslim countries should $ut to an end( 9( The Muslims should 3ointly set u$ a &ody which could ar&itrate) ad3udicate and hel$ the Muslim countries solve their mutual $ro&lems and dis$utes( When an International Court of 3ustice can &e set u$ at the #ague) why should the Muslim countries not esta&lish such an organi<ation to solve their dis$utes and smooth out their internal strains and stresses >( It also seems advisa&le to $romote the esta&lishment of a Muslim World Biews Agency( The $resent state of affairs is de$lora&le( Muslims of one country are to a great e!tent in dar% a&out what is going on in other Muslim countries( The media for whatever news we get are the news agencies which have &een set u$ &y interested foreign countries( Similarly them should &e a net'wor% of radio communication so that there may &e a $ositive media of direct contact &etween the Muslim world(( :( The $ro&lem of develo$ing closer economic ties &etween the Muslim countries also merits serious attention( Muslim countries should give first $riority in im$orting goods to their sister Muslim countries( 8+( The $ass$ort and visa restrictions &etween Muslim countries should in the first instance &e eased as a) result of a common $olicy formulated &y the rulers of all the Muslim countries of the world and efforts should &e treads to finally eliminate them altogether( 88( The $ro&lem of Muslims of Africa should also receive due attention( In several countries in Western ar!G Central Africa the Muslims arc in numerical ma3ority) and are yet de$rived of $olitic'@ influence( 2e$t &ac%ward in education &y the im$erialist $owers) these Muslim ma3orities have &een rendered ineffective( If these Muslims are not ta%en care of) the Muslim influence in the African continent will continually decline( Similarly the $ro&lems of ste$$ing u$ systematic efforts towards the $ro$agation of Islam in Africa should &e ta%en u$ in right earnest( 8F( Muslim minorities in several countries of the world are &eing su&3ected to intolera&le $ersecution and in3ustice( In some of the countries) life) $ro$erty and honor of the Muslims are not at all secure( In other countries concerted efforts are &eing made to destroy their distinct cultural identity( In short) their right to live) and to live as Muslims) is &eing denied( If the Muslim countries were to ta%e u$ the matter 3ointly) there is no reason why this $ro&lem cannot &e solved( 8G( 6ast) &ut not the least) is the e!tremely im$ortant $ro&lem of Muslim students who are studying a&road in non'Muslim countries and are) therefore) e!$osed to all %inds of unhealthy influences( The result is that &efore they return to their res$ective countries) a ma3ority of them has already undergone a metamor$hosis with the result that their moorings in their own culture are ru$tured and their usefulness tea their own $eo$le is reduced( Muslim states should $lan to esta&lish their own hostels at im$ortant educational centers( These hostels should not only $rovide accommodation and halal food to the Muslim students studying a&road) &ut should also ma%e arrangements for their moral and s$iritual training) their ideological orientation and for healthy recreations( We can also $lan to esta&lish) on the $rinci$le of division of wor% and s$eciali<ation) certain" Institutes of Advanced 6earning in different Muslim countries so that our students may go to them far advanced education in all im$ortant fields of study and thus our de$endence on foreign countries in these fields may also &e minimi<ed) if not eliminated( These are some of the $ro&lems which &eset the Muslim world( The heads of Muslim states should come to gri$ with them( ;urs is a multi'faced $ro&lem and it must &e faced in all its as$ects( If the 1uro$ean countries which lac% a unifying ideology) can gradually move towards the goal of United 1uro$e and some of then can even develo$ their common mar%et) common $lanning and some %ind of common $arliament and common control why the Muslims cannot &ecome united to solve their common $ro&lems and meet the e!ternal challenge that threaten them all) although they &elieve in ;ne ,od) ;ne -ro$het) and ;ne 4oo%(