The concept of the 'nation' state is alien to muslims and was imposed on the muslims/arabs by the french and british primarily after WW1; just review the old maps..
The first muslims were from the arabian peninsula and Islam spread from their through conquest (Jihad) by armies dispatched by the Caliph, one after the other,; however it does not mean nations were forced to become muslims; the system of Islam was applied; those who remained non muslims were able to do so; their citizen ship was confirmed through the payment of the Jizya; the state guaranteed their security and safety as a matter of duty.
Hence non-muslism thrived under the Islamic rule; so much so that when the european cursaders staggered into Al-sham; they were shocked to see that their fellow christian bretheren were ready to fight against them on the side of the muslims...
It is true that the Islamic state had moments of turbulence due to the shortcomings of some of the muslims; however it was insignificant compared to the advancements being made both culturally and scientifically; the Islamic Civilization was centuries ahead of the europeans who were living in the dark ages *(literally!).
It was thus natural for the Islamic state to grow and expand until it extended from Portugal, to Russia to China to India. The remarkable expansion is down to the fact that the conquered people became the conquerors hence the Islamic Army was made up of all types of people who shared a common belief and vision.
Through slackness of the muslims and the hatred harboured by the west manifested in its attempt to weaken and destroy the Islamic State; the muslims suffered decline and over the last 2-3 centuries the muslim lost ground both geopgraphically and intellectually to the west.
The concepts of nationalism, arabism were sewn in the minds of the muslims and over time these seeds flourished leading to the arab revolts against the Ottaman Caliphs/Sultans. These revolts were engineered by the british and french who yearned to break the strength of the muslims and Islam. They adopted a divide a rule policy.
The Ottoman Caliphate was weak ; a sick man of Europe, through neglect and mismanagement and this allowed the west to colonise the muslim world directly and forcibly. The Russians did the same on the northern fronts. The Ottomans through their hat in with Germany in WW1 hoping that alliance will be able to save them but it was not to be.
The British and French rejoiced and took the spoils of war; imposed their own agents as rulers over the muslims lands and created new states across the muslim world.
The concept of the 'nation' state is alien to muslims and was imposed on the muslims/arabs by the french and british primarily after WW1; just review the old maps..
The first muslims were from the arabian peninsula and Islam spread from their through conquest (Jihad) by armies dispatched by the Caliph, one after the other,; however it does not mean nations were forced to become muslims; the system of Islam was applied; those who remained non muslims were able to do so; their citizen ship was confirmed through the payment of the Jizya; the state guaranteed their security and safety as a matter of duty.
Hence non-muslism thrived under the Islamic rule; so much so that when the european cursaders staggered into Al-sham; they were shocked to see that their fellow christian bretheren were ready to fight against them on the side of the muslims...
It is true that the Islamic state had moments of turbulence due to the shortcomings of some of the muslims; however it was insignificant compared to the advancements being made both culturally and scientifically; the Islamic Civilization was centuries ahead of the europeans who were living in the dark ages *(literally!).
It was thus natural for the Islamic state to grow and expand until it extended from Portugal, to Russia to China to India. The remarkable expansion is down to the fact that the conquered people became the conquerors hence the Islamic Army was made up of all types of people who shared a common belief and vision.
Through slackness of the muslims and the hatred harboured by the west manifested in its attempt to weaken and destroy the Islamic State; the muslims suffered decline and over the last 2-3 centuries the muslim lost ground both geopgraphically and intellectually to the west.
The concepts of nationalism, arabism were sewn in the minds of the muslims and over time these seeds flourished leading to the arab revolts against the Ottaman Caliphs/Sultans. These revolts were engineered by the british and french who yearned to break the strength of the muslims and Islam. They adopted a divide a rule policy.
The Ottoman Caliphate was weak ; a sick man of Europe, through neglect and mismanagement and this allowed the west to colonise the muslim world directly and forcibly. The Russians did the same on the northern fronts. The Ottomans through their hat in with Germany in WW1 hoping that alliance will be able to save them but it was not to be.
The British and French rejoiced and took the spoils of war; imposed their own agents as rulers over the muslims lands and created new states across the muslim world.