The Paradigm Shift of Holy Land Arabia- Muslim World as a Whole Must Take Notice
By
Rashid Samnakay, New Age Islam
4 July 2022
Saudi
Arabia Kingdom Came Into Existence In Mid Eighteenth Century, Purely As
Political Activism By Abdul Wahhab And With The Help Of The British, To Oust
The Ottoman Out Of Arabia
Main
Points:
1. Generally
the media and Muslims' in particular refer erroneously to Saudi Arabia as the
birth place of Islam.
2. The strict
interpretation of Islam, not only of Wahhabism but also the Salafism, the
ancestors of the times of the Messenger has taken a paradigm shift.
3. Conversion
of non-Muslim to Muslims is emblazoned across Muslim Media when a celebrity
converts, but there is hardly any mention of the traffic the other way.
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It is
common to refer to a place on earth as the original specific birth place where
the Person who originated the specific Ism/ philosophy was born.
Generally
it is noticed that the media and Muslims' in particular refer erroneously to
Saudi Arabia as the birth place of Islam. Erroneously, because they treat Islam
as a Religion, like every other Church organised, priestly propagated and
administered theology; and where the Messenger Muhammad was borne, in the mid
sixth century CE. Whereas Saudi Arabia Kingdom came into existence in mid
eighteenth century, purely as political activism by Abdul Wahhab and with the
help of the British, to oust the Ottoman out of Arabia. The Religious theology
of Abdul Wahhab, which was used to muster the Arabs under its banner for this
purpose is called Wahhabism.
The
additional emphases or stamp “Muhammadur Rasullullah” helped the cause
enormously by adopting it on the flag of the regime as Laaillaha Illallah
Muhammadur Rasullullah”; not given in Quran. Yet it embedded in concrete
the Vatican of Religion of Islam in Saudi Arabia. This was, however long
established as the Qiblah--Focus of Islam for prayers facing towards it and the
annual pilgrimage place, for the simple argument that the messenger Muhammad
was born there.
( A young
American Muslim writer twitted that she has stopped writing about
boy-meets-girl novels, instead would like to send them into space and let them
argue which way is the Qiblah!)
This same
strategy was later used in Sudan too, to rid itself of colonial rule; under
Mehdism in mid nineteenth century to defeat the Egyptian-British under military
command of General Gordon of Khartoum, who is also referred to as Gordon Pasha
and by few other accolades.
To use such
religious activism is the modus operandi of all Muslim activism even today,
where Islam in its various religious forms is used to suit the purpose and
Messenger Muhammad and his birth place Makkah as the Qiblah/focus.
The above
is argued here as being misguided and as contrary to the scripture Quran's
teaching. A few articles in this vein have been presented on this forum.
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Also
Read: Let’s
Redeem the “Benefits” of Hajj!
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The issue
here is the much touted drive by the young Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, Mohammad Bin Salman, commonly referred to as MBS to “Modernise” the
Kingdom allegedly in line with modern understanding of Islam!
This move
of the Crown Prince must have put the heat under the Muslim Clergy the world
over. The strict interpretation of Islam, not only of Wahhabism but also the
Salafism...that is, going back to the drawing board of the Salaf... the
ancestors of the times of the Messenger has taken a paradigm shift. The salient
point however being the aspect of the shifting economic and political paradigms
and consideration of the Kingdom's future.
Economic
shift from the declining oil requirements and to the very existence of the
Kingdom. Sustainable and alternative energy sources and looking just across the
borders ... the demise of the mighty Shah of Iran. (In this context The deposed
King Farooq of Egypt had once said that there will remain only five kings...
one of Britain and four of the playing cards! It is to be seen if he is right
in his prophecy?).
MBS perhaps
is living in a more healthier circumstance; as the immense income from the
Vatican Islam, practices and now tourism is not going to diminish any time
soon, as the other side of the coin of this issue is the much touted “fastest
growing Religion of Islam”! Much touted because there is hardly any researched
statistical evidence of it. Conversion of non-Muslim to Muslims is emblazoned
across Muslim Media when a celebrity converts, but there is hardly any mention
of the traffic the other way.(interesting point to consider is that in the
recent Australian Census, those declaring themselves as non-religious has
sharply increased. Muslims should not take solace in assuming that it refers
only to Christians and other religions only). However that should not be taken
as there is decline in morality and dilution of human values.
Therefore
MBS's drive can also be seen to be ready to capture tourism trade that this
shift will bring. The construction of five and mega stars hotels, not to
mention the so called biggest clock in the world, right in the heart of the
Islam's Vatican, is the evidence of that preparedness for the economic future.
Quite a few
Muslim countries have declared Islam as their State Religion, far more than
other non-Muslim countries. Hence, Arabian entrepreneurship cashing in on human
frailties of holy spirituality has been often referred to here and it is not
difficult to analyse it in conjunction with the teaching of Quran. The entire
religious enterprise, going back centuries soon after the passing away of
Muhammad the Messenger has drained the Muslim world of its “Intellectual
Thinking Faculties” meant for the benefit of humanity for its progress as a whole;
is usurped and submerged in the ritualistic spiritual Religion of Islam of
which there are many versions. Since then for most of the time, the Arabian
version has been enduring. The pious high moral ground that has been the
hallmark of that endurance is now under threat of “liberalism “and the Clergy
will find the heat unbearable.
Similar
scenario, of the past struggle of power blocks, such as the State and the
Church is not new and Muslims have to take notice of it to strike a path that
is appropriate to the changing times and norms of its followers in view of the
diaspora in particular.
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Also
Read: Trackings to the Spiritual Holy-woods
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On the
personality cultism of the Messenger Muhammad the extremist too will be
uncomfortable with the changes taking place in the holy land. The Holy
Messenger being an Arab, born in Arabia, was more than enough to construct his
prophetic mission in peninsular Arabia and for Arab enterprises. And so the
saying that translates as: “You may criticise God, but God forbid you say a
word against Muhammad”, may have to be diluted, particularly for the diaspora
in Europe! And it must be so, because it is the Muslims who chose to make their
home there voluntarily knowing, or should know that the religious values there
are different to theirs and are changing.
The common
denominator of the Muslim world is of course the Person and persona of the
Messenger Muhammad of Arabia; at the exclusion of the all previous Messengers
who form essential part of Iman- the Faith as given in Quran. Yet for the
Messenger Muhammad exclusively, the 'Mujahideen' will go to any length
to protect his name and honour, as has been demonstrated by recent events,
notwithstanding any provocation real or imaginary. The Muslim diaspora must
remember that the Previous Messengers are Messengers revered by the locals too
but not necessarily treated as that.
It will be
an interesting scenario for the younger generation to witness the changes
initiated by MBS followed in his step by other Muslim majority countries and
the dilemma of the organised Muslim Churches and their Clergy – the Ulama!
It is now
the urgent turn of the free thinking scholars to prepare the younger generation
for the eventuality to fit in the ever changing demographics and to create the
“thinking” for the peaceful world...to quote the scripture:
“Lee
A'malee Walakum A'amalukum”---Basically saying “Live and Let Live!
----
A
regular contributor to New Age Islam, Rashid Samnakay is an Indian-origin
Engineer (Retd.) based in Australia for over forty years.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-society/holy-land-arabia-muslim-world-wahhabism/d/127398
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