Union and Unity Will Strengthen the Turkish–Islamic World

It is a requirement of the moral values revealed by Allah in the Qur’an that Muslims should act in a spirit of union and unity. Muslims must sincerely strive to be united in consideration of that fact.

There are various tensions and disagreements in the Turkish-Islamic world today, conflicts persist and unease and tension are on the rise. The fact that the requisite spirit of unity and union is absent from the Turkish-Islamic world both prepares the groundwork for various problems and also makes it more difficult for existing difficulties to be brought to a permanent conclusion. In order for this to come to an end and for Muslim and all other lands to attain peace and security, it is essential for a solid union to be established in the Turkish-Islamic world. Muslims must act in the knowledge that they are brothers, as Allah reveals in the Qur’an, and must be one in love, respect and honesty, like the members of a family.

Our Almighty Lord’s commandment in the Qur’an, “Those who disbelieve are the friends and protectors of one another. If you do not act in this way there will be turmoil in the land and great corruption” (Surat al-Anfal: 73) is for Muslims to be one another’s guardians, in other words protectors and friends, and to act in unison. Almighty Allah reveals that unless this happens, there will be terrible confusion and unrest in the world. For that reason, Muslims must live in accordance with the spirit of brotherhood and friendship revealed in the Qur’an, and achieve a state of solidarity and union if the sufferings in the world are to be brought to a complete end. The current conditions clearly show that urgent need for Muslims to unite. Either the Turkish-Islamic world will unite, a climate of peace and well-being will emerge, security and peace will be built and happy times ensue, or else the current troubles and sufferings will continue.

The Answer to the Current Problems Is to Act in Unity and Unison

The times when Islamic civilization illuminated the whole world and represented a role model for everyone in terms of science, art, architecture and commerce were those times when Muslims acted in unity and unison. Many leading Islamic scholars in the 10th and 11th centuries and after, such as Ibn al-Haytham, al-Jabr, Avicenna and many others earned great admiration in the field of science, while great artists such as Mimar Sinan in Ottoman times earned the admiration of the whole world in art and architecture. At the root of the way that Muslims, who adopted the morality of the Qur’an, brought compassion, reason, science, art, beauty, cleanliness and well-being everywhere they went during those centuries and that the Islamic world was the most modern and contemporary civilization lay the climate of peace and security provided by the spirit of unity. The Turkish-Islamic world now needs to reacquire that power, radiance and abundance.

But for all kinds of activity in that direction, there needs to be a spirit of brotherhood among all Muslims and the unity of the Turkish-Islamic world has to be established. If a reconciliatory and peace-loving culture prevails among Muslims, one that treats differences with understanding, uses its strength and energy for Islam and the benefit of Muslims and humanity alone, and supports pluralism, then the Islamic world can build one of the greatest civilizations of the 21st century. Otherwise it will be very difficult for fragmented, divided Muslims to have the strength even to defend their own values. The fact is that it is a requirement of the moral values of the Qur’an that Muslims intellectually defend their values together when confronted by a negative attitude in terms of human rights or freedom of belief, life or ideas. It is clear that an intellectual campaign waged in union and unity will be highly effective and swiftly achieve the desired result.

Muslims Must Look to Common Values, Not Differences

The fact that there was Islamic Union in the past is one of the main pieces of evidence that it can be re-established again today. It is most important for Muslims to be optimistic on this subject, to encourage such a union as far as their means permit, and to strive for the unity and brotherhood of the Islamic world. Muslims must be instrumental in their Muslim brothers enhancing their enthusiasm and fervor and in their desiring friendship and brotherhood. In particular, opinion formers, intellectuals and other eminent figures must act as role models in this through their behavior, speech and writings.

It’s important that the desire felt for union and togetherness be supported by concrete measures. All believers must regard one another as brothers in the Hereafter and see one another’s positive sides rather than their errors. Differences are no reason for division or keeping one’s distance, and should be regarded as color, cultural diversity and beauty. People should feel love, compassion, understanding and affection for other people, love their brothers, and use a praise-filled and respectful language regarding them. Muslims must always bear in mind the verse in which our Lord says that believers are one another’s brothers:

The believers are brothers, so make peace between your brothers and have fear [and respect] of Allah so that hopefully you will gain mercy. (Surat al-Hujurat: 10)

All Muslims believe in the same One and Almighty Allah, strive for His approval, mercy and Paradise alone, sincerely obey the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), who was sent as a blessing to the world, and abide by the same Book. Their common aim is for all people to live by the moral values of the Qur’an.

What could be easier than for Muslims, who all share the same aims, to love one another and act as one? All we need do is show the same moral virtues of the Islamic morality, such as love, compassion, altruism, understanding and forgiveness to our Muslim brothers from different schools as we do to the people around us. Let us not withhold the compassion we must display toward people who are ignorant of Islamic moral values and thus are unable to live by them from our believing brothers who may hold different opinions. Let us embrace them with love and understanding, as we do everyone else. (http://www.turkishislamicunion.com)

Muslim Unity Must Be Built on Love and Sincerity

True love and sincerity that stem from love and fear of Allah are some of the greatest blessings bestowed on believers. This blessing must reflect the relationship and dialogue among believers. The union to be constructed by Muslims must be founded on sincerity and true love. We must not forget that one of the worst scourges to afflict people in the End Times is lovelessness, and the harshness, lack of understanding, coldness and ruthlessness that stem from it. Believers love one another because they know they love Allah and His Messenger. They respect one another because they know they fear Allah and obey His Messenger. The mere fact that they believe is sufficient reason for them to love and respect one another. An atmosphere of family warmth, vivacity, honesty and sincerity must therefore prevail where Muslims meet and consult one another. In the Qur’an, the mutual love and devotion of those Muslims who migrated with our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and of those who welcomed them is described as a role model for all believers:

Those who were already settled in the abode, and in belief, before they came, love those who have emigrated to them and do not find in their hearts any need for what they have been given and prefer them to themselves even if they themselves are needy. It is the people who are safe-guarded from the avarice of their own selves who are successful. (Surat al-Hashr: 9)

Today, as well, Muslims must love one another with great sincerity, like the Companions of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). At the heart of the Turkish-Islamic Union must be the love and compassion of our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), which are a role model to everyone, and the spirit of the Companions. It is this spirit that transmits Islamic moral values from Mecca and Medina to the whole world. Companions’ mutual love, devotion, solidarity and spirit of union gave them strength and power, increased the productivity of all they did and made them successful in all they undertook. Today, when Muslims act with the same solidarity, altruism, loyalty and devotion, when they are bound to one another “like well-built walls,” then by Allah’s leave they can overcome all difficulties with the strength and force our Lord will bestow on them. When it behaves with the love and sincerity enjoined in the Qur’an there is no problem the Islamic world cannot solve.

It must not be forgotten that one of the obstacles to Muslims being united is pride, one of satan’s snares, and that this vice must be avoided. Almighty Allah reveals in a verse that He does not love the proud, “... Allah does not love any vain or boastful man” (Surat al-Hadid: 23). Pride is an evil that can lead to tensions among believers and thus distance them from one another, reduce their love and prevent them feeling compassion and affection. It ill becomes sincere Muslims to waste time on personal calculations and petty worldly interests when the Muslim world is facing such troubles and difficulties. Every Muslim must seek refuge in Allah from such an error, do whatever auspicious things pride wishes to prevent and thus not permit it to constitute an obstacle to unity and togetherness among believers.

The Whole World Is Waiting for Turkey to Unite Muslims Together

The last Turkish-Islamic Union was the great and glorious Ottoman Empire. The Turkish-Islamic Union under the Ottoman rule that was shaped by the moral values of the Qur’an is an excellent example of how Muslims live together in peace, comfort and security when they abide by the spirit of unity and union. Many Western thinkers and statesmen have identified a vacuum that has persisted for a century in the former Ottoman lands in particular and agree that the only possible solution is the resurrection of the Ottoman model, in other words, a Turkish-Islamic Union based on compassion and justice.

With its historic legacy, the Ottoman Empire, Turkey served as spiritual leader of the Muslim world for hundreds of years. For that reason, it still attracts the love and interest of all the Muslims in the region. In addition, with its experience, developed foreign relations, qualified work force and intellectuals, Turkey would appear ideally suited to lead the way to the unification of the Turkish-Islamic world. Many sections are united in pointing to Turkey as a candidate for this noble undertaking.

Turkey has a historic obligation to lead the way to the unification of the Turkish-Islamic world. However, in order for that responsibility to be discharged properly a model needs to be set up that will act as a model for the whole Islamic world. In other words, the desire for union must not be limited to words alone. It is therefore of great importance for opinion shapers, intellectuals and the leaders of non-governmental organizations in Turkey to come together and show how this union can be put into practice.