The need for a unified scholarship and leadership

Author: Ismail Nizam

Islam– the strongest Ummah

Islam in its tender days, when our holy Prophet (saw) started preaching, was very weak. Islam was just able to survive itself. However, as days passed by, our prophet (saw) started succeeding gradually. Islam slowly, but surely became the superpower of the time. Islamic state established in Medina by the Prophet (saw) was the strongest politically, socially and economically.
The main reason why Islamic Ummah gained the above status was the unique leadership skills of the Prophet (saw). He was the leader of all affairs. He was the religious leader as well as the political leader. However, he showed the best democracy the world has ever seen. He consulted his Sahabah in all the matters including administration and religion. He maintained a proper controlled over the affairs in line with the Islamic teachings.

Present day Islamic Ummah

The present day Islamic Ummah is very weak socially, politically and economically. The primary reason for this fall down of Islamic Ummah is lack of leadership. Islamic Ummah is divided into several nations and each leader of nations prefers national interests over Ummah’s interest for political advantages. However, Islamic leaders have done enough folly over the history. It is now time for them to erect themselves against the intellectual attacks of the West. If they are to play that stupid game of international politics, they better step down from the offices.
In the whole Islamic world, there is not a single leader genuinely striving to serve the Ummah. On the contrary, Islamic leaderships are driven by the material incentives of the Western governments.
Islamic scholars are given a lower status throughout the Islamic world. They are even tortured in some parts of Islamic world. However, Ummah must now stand in its way. We must resort to our past to get lessons from the Prophet (saw) about running an Islamic state. Under an Islamic state, scholars and leaders are a single body. Leaders must be scholars and nothing unfavorable in Islam should be done for political interests. Religious interests should be placed over all other interests, whether political or economic. The reason is that “Islamic” actions are always positive politically and economically. Islam cannot be compromised for anything. However, we see many Islamic leaders sell Islam for political gains. This must alert every Muslim and must try to do something about it!!!