News & Comment
Muslims are One Ummah

News

"MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli said, "When conditions are ripe, and history becomes too tight for the region, the National Pact (Misak-ı Milli) will awaken, and no power will stand against the right to say '82' Kirkuk, and '83' Mosul immediately after '81' Düzce." [Translator's note: Turkey is divided into 81 provinces with Düzce having the last number '81' - thus Bahçeli indicates adding Kirkuk and Mosul as new provinces to Turkey again] (News agencies)

Comment

Barzani's referendum agenda in Northern Iraq once again provoked nationalist sentiments. Others took their side in the issue, some out of Turkish nationalistic reflexes, and some out of Kurdish nationalistic reflexes. Also, the agreement between US-led Turkey, Russia and Iran to realize the plans upon Idlib according the Astana meetings with the aim to "end the Syrian revolution", with Turkey conducting land operations and Russia conducting air operations, was interpreted as Turkey taking side of the oppressed. Fact is that the Muslims of Syria have been calling for the Turkish army without Russia and Iran for almost 7 years. During their most oppressive times, they called for the Muslims closest to them. Yet the armies did not move. Instead now, Turkey conducts cross border operations, bowing to the order of the USA and the cooperation with Russia and Iran.

All the processes throughout the period caused an increase in nationalistic ideas. MHP chairman Devlet Bahçeli used a number of rhetoric inciting nationalistic-patriotic emotions. For example, he said that Kirkuk and Mosul should become provinces of Turkey, or that Turkey must protect Iraq's and Syria's territorial integrity.

And the CHP proved its lack of projects by repeating Mustafa Kemal's words of "peace at home, peace in the world."

Without doubt nationalism is one of the reasons for why this Muslim Ummah, that is One Ummah, is shattered, ruined and in midst of conflicts. Systematising this concept according their own perception in the 19th century, the Western powers aimed at the Uthmani Khilafah. They first incited the nationalistic patriotic propaganda on the Islamic soils in Serbia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Greece a hundred years ago, and then planted these seeds of mischief within the Ummah in form of Arab-Turk, Turk-Kurd strife. This mischief was an active element in the fragmentation of the Ummah.

This custom of ignorance, which regards its own race and nation superior to others, dragged humanity into a swamp throughout any time, and it still does so. Islam has prohibited racism, nationalism, patriotism, and uprooted these concepts from us. The goodness and superiority within individuals and societies can only be measured with their grade of compliance with their believes, their systems and purpose of life, and their grade of adherence to the commands and prohibitions of Allah.

(وَإِنَّ هَذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَأَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَاتَّقُونِ)

“And indeed this, your Ummah, is one Ummah, and I am your Lord, so fear Me.” [Al-Mu'minun 52]

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

«مَنْ قَاتَلَ تَحْتَ رَايَةٍ عُمِّيَّةٍ يَدْعُو إِلَى عَصَبِيَّةٍ أَوْ يَغْضَبُ لِعَصَبِيَّةٍ فَقُتِلَ فَقِتْلَةٌ جَاهِلِيَّةٌ»

“Whoever fights under the banner of the blind, becoming angry for 'asabiyyah, or calling to 'asabiyyah, or assisting 'asabiyyah, then dies, he dies a death of jahiliyyah” And he (saw) said:

«أَنْتُمْ بَنُو آدَمَ وَآدَمُ مِنْ تُرَابٍ، لَيَدَعَنَّ رِجَالٌ فَخْرَهُمْ بِأَقْوَامٍ، إِنَّمَا هُمْ فَحْمٌ مِنْ فَحْمِ جَهَنَّمَ، أَوْ لَيَكُونُنَّ أَهْوَنَ عَلَى اللَّهِ مِنَ الْجِعْلَانِ الَّتِي تَدْفَعُ بِأَنْفِهَا النَّتِنَ»

“You are all the children of Adam and Adam was made of clay. People should give up their pride in nations because that is a coal from the coals of Hell-fire. If they do not give this up Allah (swt) will consider them lower than the lowly worm which pushes itself through dung.” [Tirmidhi]

The Islamic Ummah is a big family. Each member, each race of this family is precious. There is no difference between them. The difference lies only in complying with Islam and piety towards Allah. So, our principles should not be insisting on 100 years old errors, but on becoming an Ummah again. Therefore the agenda of Muslims should be to work for the re-establishment of the Khilafah Rashidah (righteous Caliphate) upon the Method of Prophethood, in order to reunite as one Ummah under one Khalifah, one flag, and in one state.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir
Musa Bayoğlu