The Muslim world has little role in shaping today’s world. Discussions of a “world order” and “new world order” might sound modern, but world orders have existed throughout human history, with dominant powers of each era shaping them according to their will. Around 3500 BCE, the world order was laid out by the powerful empires of Babylon and later Assyria. In ancient Egypt, the pharaohs set a world order no other kingdom dared to challenge. The emperors of Rome and Persia imposed their respective world orders in a bipolar system that lasted until the early 7th century CE.
In the early 7th century, Islam emerged from the deserts of Arabia as a powerful force, overturning the dominant empires of the bipolar world. For the next eight hundred years, Muslims shaped the world’s order. They laid the chessboard of global influence, creating a unipolar world order that remained in place until roughly the 16th century. The contributions of Muslims in knowledge, literature, and science sparked the European Renaissance, bringing European society from darkness into an era of enlightenment.
In the Middle Ages, Europe took a dramatic leap forward due to the Renaissance. Istanbul, the capital of the Byzantine Empire and a center of knowledge, art, and power, was conquered by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. As a result, non-Muslim scholars fled to Europe with books by Muslim and other scholars. At that time, it was a grave sin for anyone other than Christian clergy to possess the Bible. Most Christians were unaware of the contents of their religious texts. As these scholars moved to Europe and brought religious and other works with them, these books became accessible to the public, allowing them to study and learn. Thus, knowledge spread, and the Renaissance blossomed. With the spread of knowledge, Europe, once in darkness, transformed dramatically, initiating the “Advancement of Learning.” This led to the Protestant movement, and over time, the grip of religion on society loosened, with religion and state gradually separating. Europe, which had until then been an agricultural economy, started focusing on increasing production and selling surplus produce. Innovative methods were developed to boost productivity, sparking a movement in European society. Scientific thinking flourished, and alongside a boom in agricultural production, Europe also turned its attention to textile machinery.
Following the agricultural revolution, Europe moved toward an industrial revolution. Factory workers, alongside the elite, began to earn wages, improving their living standards and purchasing power. European scientists worked tirelessly to make the industrial revolution a success. Inventions transformed societies, and the discovery of gunpowder altered warfare. Face-to-face battles diminished, and firearms became the primary weapon. During this period, European traders began venturing to Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Australia, replacing Arab traders and amassing great wealth.
By the 18th and 19th centuries, nearly every country in Africa and Asia was under European colonial rule. In the 20th century, Europe was engulfed in two world wars, but Muslims bore the heaviest losses. The Ottoman Empire, which spanned three continents—Europe, Africa, and Asia—sided with the Central Powers against the Allies. The Central Powers’ defeat led to the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. For Muslims, the fall of the Ottoman Empire in World War I was the greatest loss in their history.
The post-war world was shaped by the victorious Allied powers, who established what they called the “world order.” This order was designed to subjugate weaker nations, particularly Muslims. As part of this plan, the Ottoman Empire was dismantled in a way that it could no longer challenge Europe. Arabs rebelled against the Ottoman Muslim rule. Palestinian Muslims sold their land to Jews, enabling the establishment of Israel. If Palestinian Muslims had not supported the Jews and the West, this outcome might not have been possible.
After World War II, the dominant Western powers laid out a framework that has prevented Muslims from rising. Western colonial powers back Israel, manipulating Muslims to suit their own agendas. In India, Muslims face discrimination, while Kashmiri Muslims are subjected to oppression and humiliation. Internal conflicts and sectarianism have weakened the foundation of Muslim societies. Over the past three or four decades, Pakistan has been in a state of conflict. Countries such as Iran, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, Nigeria, and even Turkey face instability and a near-constant state of war. Due to the lack of peace, Muslims are wasting their energy while outsiders impose their agendas.
Muslims must recognize that their greatest priority right now should be to achieve peace. May God grant Muslims the understanding to realize the urgency of the times, to avoid conflicts, and to build strong nations. If this transformation occurs, the future could belong to Muslims.