The islamic civilization quest
The Islamist movement as a whole has come a long way since the demise of the last collective governing entity, the Ottoman Caliphate. Sure the sick man of Europe as once called was no longer strong enough to protect all lands and interests under its governance, but it still maintained institutions which could be improved or restructured to function better and served to protect Muslims from foreign greed.
A Muslim Arab Bedouin, in the first days of Islam was once invited to the Emperor of Persia. Ribei Ibn Amer was asked by the Emperor what has brought you? Ribei was then to answer with words to be immortalized by history; “Allah has sent us to take you out of worshiping people to worshiping Lord of (all) people, and from the constriction of this world of to the vastness of this world and hereafter, and from the oppression of religions to the justice of Islam.”
Almost all Islamists quote this saying today, even “Liberal Islamist” Abdl-Moneim Abu-AlFutuh, while running for presidency in Egypt and being interviewed on a TV show watched by millions in Egypt.
Worshiping people as Ribei mentioned is not restricted to the literal meaning rather it includes servitude, submission, dependence upon and accepting legislation of kings (or dictators) who challenge Allah’s dominion.
This is why when Prophet Muhammad once invited a tribe in Iraq to Islam one of its leaders replied: “Oh Muhammad what you call us upon is what of Kings hate”
The first Caliphate as espoused in early Islam did not last 100 years before disintegrating into the dynastical rule of Umayyads and others which witnessed revolts and resistance against to bring about governance based on popular choice and acceptance of governing authority.
A Muslim Arab Bedouin, in the first days of Islam was once invited to the Emperor of Persia. Ribei Ibn Amer was asked by the Emperor what has brought you? Ribei was then to answer with words to be immortalized by history; “Allah has sent us to take you out of worshiping people to worshiping Lord of (all) people, and from the constriction of this world of to the vastness of this world and hereafter, and from the oppression of religions to the justice of Islam.”
Almost all Islamists quote this saying today, even “Liberal Islamist” Abdl-Moneim Abu-AlFutuh, while running for presidency in Egypt and being interviewed on a TV show watched by millions in Egypt.
Worshiping people as Ribei mentioned is not restricted to the literal meaning rather it includes servitude, submission, dependence upon and accepting legislation of kings (or dictators) who challenge Allah’s dominion.
This is why when Prophet Muhammad once invited a tribe in Iraq to Islam one of its leaders replied: “Oh Muhammad what you call us upon is what of Kings hate”
The first Caliphate as espoused in early Islam did not last 100 years before disintegrating into the dynastical rule of Umayyads and others which witnessed revolts and resistance against to bring about governance based on popular choice and acceptance of governing authority.