MUSLIM UMMAH: YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND  TOMORROW

TOMORROW 1995------ 2025 AND BEYOND
PERIOD OF SECOND LIBERATION ELSEWHERE IN THE MUSLIM WORLD
PERIOD OF ESTABLISHMENT OF ISLAM IN THE WEST
 
 
“The independence of the decolonized Muslims (and non-Muslim) countries has remained
is why almost all these countries are engaged in their second liberation struggle against th
surrogates imposed upon them by former colonial powers. This second liberation struggle
economic, political and cultural imperialism will probably prove more tough and take longe
fight against direct colonialism”. Impact International
“Islam is a powerful but still an undirected force in politics. As a possible factor in internatio
present prognosis is not favorable. There have been many attempts at a pan-Islamic policy
made much progress.
One reason for their lack of success is that those who made the attempt have been very u
still leaves the possibility of a more convincing leadership, and there is ample evidence in
countries of the deep yearning for such a leadership and a readiness to respond to it.
The lack of an educated modern leadership has so far restricted the scope of Islam and in
movements form being serious contenders for power. But is already effective as a limiting
become a powerful domestic political force if the right kind of leadership emerges.
In Iran, clearly the right kind of leadership did emerge—right, that is, in that it was able to e
remarkable outpouring of popular, evolutionary enthusiasm to overthrow and utterly destro
and to establish a new Islamic order in its place. How this new religious leadership will fare
retaining political power remains to be seen”. Bernard Lewis in his book “Islam and the We
 
Our yesterday was black and bleak, our today is bloody. Inshallah our tomorrow will be bri
Muslim Nation has undergone a tremendous change in the past seventy years because of
(swt). In spite of some setbacks, this change is definitely a positive change. The future will
ever. The coming 25 to 30 years will be the most challenging and most exciting for Islam a
as if Allah (swt) is setting a stage for Islam. It is up to us to seize the moment and play our
and collectively, specially, Muslims in the West in general and Muslims of United States of
particular.
Allah knows better as to what will happen to Muslim Ummah by the year 2025.But Allah (s
Quran-ul-Hakeem, that good days will always follow bad days. So let us try to peep in the
will go in reverse order.                        
Elsewhere in the Muslim world specially Turkey
 Iran
Saudi Arabia
The West and specifically USA
Our geography is not going to change. Numerically we will be 2 billion. Economically fifty p
masses will be well developed. Economies of Malaysia, and Indonesia will be booming. W
benefits of the 70 percent of energy sources which are in our lands. Militarily Pakistan and
nuclear powers. All the dictators will vanish. There will be Islamically oriented regimes in E
Tunisia, etc. There will be a Palestinian State where the Islamists will be fighting with the s
will have Autonomy. Turkish people will overthrow their old constitution. In Central Asia, th
will be in full swing. War of liberation will be waging in Xinjiang, China.
 
Saudi Arabia will become a constitutional monarchy.
 
In Iran the doctrine of Villayat-E-Faqhee will be discarded. United States will establish diplo
Iran.
 
In North Western Europe and England Islam will be established.
 
These are my assumptions. Let us see what the Press is telling.
News papers are predicting that by the year 2030 the world population will be 8.5 Billion. It
know according to P.C. Alexander’s article in Deccan Chronicle in 1800 the world populatio
billion but it took 130 years to add the second billion—30 to add the third billion—15 to add
12 to add the fifth and just 11 years to add the sixth.
 
So far as United States of America is concern the press is concerned about men, money, m
material. The census department projects that the United States population will grow from
to 383 million by the middle of 21st century. That is 128 million more people will live in Am
black,more brown, more yellow than white. It would look a lot different, more roads, more h
schools, more hospitals, more jails—less open space, less wilderness and lot less peace a
capitalistic society the only thing worst than death is running out of money first. In an article
death”, it is mentioned that in 1900, according to national census statistic estimates, there
million Americans over age 65 (1:25). By the end of 1993, 23 million (1:10) were over age
estimates show that in 25 years (2030) I in 6 American will be in this category. And the fas
segment of the US population is the over 85 age group. Due to this rapid change in demog
retirees never planned for their retirement funds to last 25 or 30 years.
On the moral issue of birth to unmarried women George F Will wrote an article “A straight
calamity”. He pointed out that fifty years ago 5% of American births were to unmarried wom
change in the 1960s. By 1970 it was 10%--since then the increasing rate has produced a v
almost 1% a year for 21 years. It is predicted by the year 2020 – 50 % of births to all races
wedlock.
 
It is told that the World Energy Conference predicts that in 30 years by 2020 the energy ne
be 75% higher than what is today. The West will rely on the Gulf for 2/3rd of its needs comp
It is very significant to know that;
PRICE OF ONE BARRELL OF OIL IS $22
REGULAR PRICE OF ONE BARRELL OF COKE IS $130
PRICE OF ONE BARRELL OF PARRIE WATER IS $ 175
Those were the predictions in 1994. Since then in the last 16 years –many things happene
predicted, some unpredicted most unexpected. We are 1.5 billion.
 
Economies of Malaysia, Indonesia and Turkey are robust. Oil producing nations are reapin
Pakistan became nuclear much earlier than I thought. The plight of all the dictators is right
Palestine the reverse occurred, the Islamists won the election, they still fighting for stateho
problem has not yet solved. In the last decade a new self respecting and confident Turkey
star is born. A new Muslim leader has emerged, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, prime minister of
Almighty God protect him and his family. Under his leadership a new constitution will be w
What was said about Saudi Arabia and Iran is yet to be fulfilled.
Most unfortunate and tragic event of nine eleven happened. United States waged an unne
and we remained silent. Two new nations East Timur and South Sudan were carved out o
we remained silent.
 
Regimes of Iraq and Afghanistan were overthrown violently. The United States of America
regimes including Iraq and Afghanistan in the world either by direct action or covert operat
overthrow of the queen of Hawaii in 1853. We did not have the courage to say to our admi
the world hates America. But Patrick J Buchanan wrote “We are not hated for who we are.
what we do. It is not our principles that have spawned pandemic hatred of America in the I
our policies”.
 
Islam has established in North Western Europe and England. There are 16 million Muslims
( 3.2%).Total number of Muslims in Europe as a whole in 2007 was about 53 million (7.2 %
Copenhagen and Birmingham is Muslim. 10% of London and Paris is Muslim. 5% of Belgiu
are 1500 mosques in England. Muslims have created a place for themselves in every walk
few Lords in the House of Lords and a dozen members of House of Commons. You see M
Razia Iqbal, Zainab Badawi, Adnan Nawaz, Ali Maqbool on BBC. Once, cricket team’s cap
Prince Charles knows about Islam more than an educated Muslim. The Islam and Muslim
put on his website “Is Charles a secret Muslim?”
In France the number of mosques doubled in 20 years from 1000 to 2000. Mr. Charles
turning in his grave because a mosque is built in Tours, where, he claimed that, he stoppe
advance in Europe in 732.
In Germany there are 2600 prayer areas out of which 1200 are called mosques. 141 m
minarets.
Belgium has 350 mosques as of 2005. Out of 21 members of Municipal Council of Brus
the European Union, 10 are Muslims!
Switzerland has 114 mosques catering the need of 400,000 Muslims. Recently they ba
construction of minarets.
In Canada there were 579,740 Muslims according to 2001 census.
 
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY ISLAM HAS BECOME REALLY GLOBAL.  EAC
HOUSEHOLD IN THE WORLD HEARS ABOUT ISLAM 24/7.
MUSLIM NATION IS A NATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE. 60% MUSLIMS ARE BELOW T
YEARS.
 

UNITE STATES OF AMERICA:

It was the Muslim vote which put Bush Jr. in the White House in 2000. In 2008 Muslims he
Obama to find out that how helpless is the President of the United States against the Jewis
The prediction about US population is coming true 2010 census show that American popu
George Will was not wrong. The number of US births in 2007 set a record of over 4.3 millio
of them to unwed mothers. There are 5 million Muslims in America 65% immigrants and 35
mainly concentrated in ten states (80%). There are 1462 Islamic centers/mosques.
So here we are. Almighty God established us in the only super power of the world. These
exciting times for Muslims to live, no doubt—full of challenges but pregnant with opportunit
is our third encounter with the West. In previous two USA was not included.
We must take lessons from the first two encounters. Both the times it was our failings that
advance in Europe.
In the first encounter in 732 the Muslim commander Abd Al-Rahman Al-Ghafiqi (He was fro
martyred while fighting. The Muslim army consisted of Persians, Berbers, Yemenis, Spania
these soldiers could not agree on a commander—they withdrew. Michael Hamilton Morgan
“The Lost History”, “The Franks have won. The outnumbered, poorly equipped Franks hav
of Al-Ghafiqi, whose men have withdrawn because they could not agree on a new comma
history. About the same incident British Encyclopedia writes that the Muslims troops had to
because the Berbers had revolted in North Africa.
Following the first encounter by roughly 700 years, the second encounter started in the las
fourteenth century. The Ottoman Turks entered Europe from the East, occupied Serbia in
in 1394. Sultan Bayezid I gave a humiliating defeat to the Frankish army in 1396 at Kosovo
earned the soubriquet 'Yildrim','Thunderbolt'. He continued his push towards the heart of E
Constantinople under seige from 1394-1402. In 1402 Tamerlane attacked him from behind
withdraw from Europe..................
Tamerlane lane attacked him from behind—Bayezid had to withdraw from Europe to face T
Tamerlane defeated Bayezid I, captured him, put him in a cage, made Bayezid’s wife danc
entertain his generals. This is our history.
On both the occasions our advance in Europe was derailed because of our divisions and d
ultimately we were driven out of Europe.
In this third encounter we are established for the first time in history in Western Europe and
be driven out again? I do not think so. Those days have gone. Or will be put here in Ameri
camps as the Japanese were put after the Pearl Harbor incident? I doubt. The greatest po
get drowned and dissolve in this predominant, pervasive alluring Western culture. We will
melting pot and our story will go to history books. The press writes that Islam (and we boas
fastest growing religion in the West. But no body knows and nobody talks about as to how
generation Muslims are just Muslim for name’s sake. The efflux is greater then influx. The
is to keep our progeny on the right path.
Allah (swt) has established us in this great country, the only super power of the world. Dec
have a global impact. We have many challenges to meet.
The challenge is to muster up a political clout that the media dare not demonize us and de
The challenge is to become a catalyst between our government and the Muslim world from
from to bring a change there.
The challenge is to create a place for ourselves in the public square—to get a place on the
platform from where we can persuade our government to not only  sit in the world as a mili
stand tall morally right—to tell our government that national interest is not just to have a co
cheap oil, national interest is to fight for the truth, for human rights and justice for all.—to h
where we can say to our government not to prop up puppet democracies in the Muslim wo
Muslims do not want puppet democracies. Muslims are not monolithic. Let them develop th
democracies—to have a platform from where we can say to stop blind support of Israel. St
standard. Do not use veto, instead put sanctions on Israel. It is high time that Palestinians
own state--to have a platform from where we can say loud and clear to stop name calling;
such thing as Militant Islam, Mystic Islam, Political Islam and Radical Islam. Islam is Islam
Yes, a Muslim can be militant, mystic, radical or fanatic. American Muslims are not militant
terrorist or fanatic. We are peace loving, law abiding, tax paying citizens—we have to have
where the immigrant Muslims will say loud and clear that we made this country our country
Muslims will say we are the sons of the soil, part of the American soul We the American M
and indigenous, will make this country a better country.
We are going to live here and we are going to die here. We are not selfish people. We are
want equality for all, justice for all, who ever he may be, an atheist, a Budhist, a Christian,
Muslim. We hold the constitution of the USA, not only because we are the subjects of the l
greatness. All Islamic values are embedded in it.  We want our administration, also, to hold
We have to have a news paper of a national caliber. We do not have a TV station. There a
in this country, maximum in the world. The first think tank was the Brooking Institution foun
Air Force set up Rand Corporation in 1946 to think about air power. India has the third larg
tanks in the world. Quran-Al –Hkeem repeatedly asks, to think, to reflect and to ponder. Do
to this demand? We do not have a single think tank, so for as I know. The challenge is to h
 
These are all lofty goals, to achieve them we have to have our house in order and the hou
run.
Look what happened during the last one year in Baltimore Washington metropolitan area.
organization was going to or went to the court because two so called Islamic scholars had
second Islamic organization was going to the court because two groups clashed with each
group went to the court because the people who were running the organization did not wan
This is not the story just happening here only. The story is the same more or less in every
We have to have a hard look as to how our organizations are run, how our children are tau
people who own the pulpit. We have to have a paradigm shift.
We must abandon the bi-polar management of our organizations and adopt un-polar mana
Islamic model. We must stop marginalizing the 50% percent of our working force, our wom
have an equal share in running our organizations. It is up to our women folk to demand the
Douglas said “power concedes nothing without a demand, it never did, and it never will”
We must change the ritualistic education of children, where the Quran and life of our Proph
the periphery, to a system where the teaching of Quran in its entirety and life of our Prophe
proper context should have a central position. We have to establish the institution of zakat
Our deen gives us a golden half an hour every week, our Friday sermon. That tool, that tre
properly used by the owners of the pulpit. These people are in the driver’s seat. The driver
destination safely by seeing through the wide open windshield in front, by looking in to righ
mirrors and by seeing through the rear window. Most of them they just drive by seeing thro
window.
There are three purposes of Friday sermon Remembrance of Allah (swt), rhe reverence fo
(pbuh)m and relevance to the world we live in.
All of them definitely talk about the first two the third is always missing. The audience say d
stories but steer us. Do tell us old fables but open up new frontiers for us. Just becoming a
enough to survive in this world. No body gives direction to our young generation. No body
participate in every walk of life in this country, to have broad based education.
Nations are not built by just producing physicians and engineers. We have to have artisans
architects and astronauts, doctors and diplomats, educationists and entrepreneur geologis
politicians, poets and playwrights.
Friday sermons have become routine ritualistic rigmaroles when there is a hunger among
kept engaged and to get energized. I am quite sure that our preachers know Islamic histor
know the American history (government’s as well as people’s version).They must know the
country. They must read books on current topics and at least one national news paper eve
 

American Muslims have to struggle and strive in two spheres namely s

—what I call internal and external struggle. We have to work on both the fronts simultaneo
struggle is the need of the hour, absolutely essential and most vital. The essence of Islam
of a God conscious and a God fearing personality.
A good Muslim and a devout Muslim can not be melted In the melting pot, but he can beco
mosaic. He adds a beauty and a grace to that mosaic.
A devout Muslim is a true secularist—a good Muslim is a best citizen of any country, is an
community to any country. To become devout, one has to struggle with oneself. When retu
expedition the Prophet had declared:
 “we are back from the lesser jihad to greater jihad”.
A companion asked, what is the greater jihad O Prophet of God? He answered “it is fightin
My dear brothers and sisters, elders and youngsters, this is the time to hold fast to our dee
a massive jihad-e-akbar.
To become a better Muslim from our previous self.

Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and work righteo
that He will, of a surety grant them in the land inheritance.
Quran does not talk in terms of majority or minority. It gives you the glad-tiding of vicegere
To secure our secular demands, if we cannot create place for ourselves in the public squa
table, we should join with the ones who have a place. There are hundreds of lobbying grou
hands with the ones who will cater to our needs. There are three groups of our interest.
1. The first group is working for the political refinement at home such as Common Caus
Citizen. They are working to have term limitations on the politicians and campaign fin
 2. The second group the Council for the national Interest is working toward a fair and b
policy in the Middle East.
3. The third group is working on moral issues such as permissiveness, homosexuality,
alcohol abuse. They are Concerned Women of America and Mothers against Drunk
continue to work in various interfaith dialogue groups.
ASSIMILATION IS TABOO IN ISLAM BUT INTERACTION IS AMUST IN IS
 
In spite of all our short comings things are happening
 
4/5th of the Prophesy of Muhammad (pbuh) is fulfilled and we are in the final stage. He said
your Deen is Prophethood and mercy and it will last for whatever Allah has allotted it to las
away.
And then there come to pass Caliphate patterned after the Prophethood and shall last for w
allotted for it to last before Allah lifts it away.
And then there come to pass despotic monarchy and it shall last for whatever Allah has all
before Allah lifts it away.
And then there come to pass tyrannical rule and it shall last for whatever Allah-has allotted
Allah lifts it away.
And then there will be Caliphate patterned after the Prophethood which deals with people
the Prophet, and Islam shall spread its rule over the earth…
And the skies shall not withhold a drop of rain but pour it down abundantly—and the earth
an atom of its produce and blessing but blossom forth with it’
And finally The Promise of Allah is bound to happen,

“They want to blow out and extinguish the light of Allah—but Allah shall see
reaches its fullness, how so much the kafiroon may abhor it.

It is He who sent forth His messenger with guidance and true religion to manif
religions, how so much the mushrikeen detest it.”
 
The question is what are we doing towards this end? Are the American Muslims fulfilling th
specially the immigrant Muslims.
Allah (swt) brought us to this great country which has a constitution in which all the values
which we talk about. We belong to the top 20%^ of the American people economically, pro
educationally.
Allah (swt) says in Quran al-Hkeem repeatedly that He does not put a burden on someone
bear that burden. We will not be absolved of our responsibility just by becoming a pious M
asked what we did to invite towards good and forbid evil and to establish social justice. Let
barrowing a phrase from President Kennedy. Ask not what Islam can do for you. Ask what
Islam, Akhir-o-Dawana-oAlhamdolilahi Rubulalameen.