Nation's Identity

The Muslim World extends on a vast area that include many cultures, languages, tastes, and customs that are different from one another to the extent that some of them see that variation is the base and not the exception. In fact, this variation does not constitute an obstacle before Islamic identity that make Muslims a consistent unit, no matter the difference of their genders, colors, and languages. Allah (Glory be to Him) says in His Book: "Truly, this, your Ummah [Shari‘ah or religion (Islâmic Monotheism)] is one religion, and I am your Lord, therefore worship Me (Alone)." [Surat Al Anbiya': 92].

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "You see the believers as regards their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

Moreover, the charter of peace which the Prophet (peace be upon him) wrote between Al Muhajirin (the Migrants) and Al Ansar (the Supporters) from one side and the residents of Medina from the other side after the document of declaring the unity of the Muslim nation.

According to the expression of Ahmad Al Qadidy, the thing which gathers the Muslim world is the rescuer from error. It is the vivid spirit that is glowing from Sarajevo in the heart of Europe to Timbukto in the heart of Africa where Muslims are active in the heart of USA. And from the Islamic culture institute in Beijing to the center of Islamic studies in Washington. And from Istanbul to one thousand societies active in the cities west Europe. They are nostalgia, ambitions, and impatience that shake conciseness and reveal secrets in a perfect unity and terrific Islamic spirit, no matter the difference of colors and nationalities.

The nation in the Islamic concept is an entity that gathers all Muslims. Thus, the concept of the Muslim nation is more comprehensive than the concept of the Muslim world because it encompasses all Muslims all over the world.

In other words, the concept of the Muslim world is geographical where it is an entity includes people and land, whereas the Muslim nation is an entity that only includes people. Namely, there is a relation of generality and specialization between them, the Muslim world is the nation but the Islamic nation is not the Muslim world.

Having finished this idiomatic tour, the important question about the identity of the Islamic nation remains; where it is heading to: independence or dependency?

However, we confirm that this nation enjoyed a pure Islamic monotheism which preserved the bonds of unity; where the far and the close bear witness to that.