Islamic System: A Unified Front Against Divisive Ideologies

Communist and Capitalist ideologies, despite being opposed to each other, stand united against the Islamic way of life. Together, they accuse the Islamic system of causing division and sectarianism in the world. However, the reality is that socialism and capitalism, in alliance with nationalism, first pushed Europe and then the Middle East towards division and destruction.

Nationalism plunged Europe into two world wars, where nations with shared faith fought bloody battles against one another in the name of race and nationhood. In World War I (1914-1918) alone, over 20 million people were killed, while World War II (1939-1945) claimed more than 70 million lives. The Balkan Wars, where people who had coexisted for centuries turned into enemies due to nationalist fervor, are a clear example of this. Similarly, in the Middle East, nationalism created a deep rift between Arab, Turkish, and Kurdish peoples.

Socialism, under the guise of equality, not only established a tyrannical capitalist dictatorship but also fueled social chaos. Dictators like Lenin, Stalin, and Mao sacrificed millions of lives on the altar of their ideologies. During Stalin’s reign, between 1936 and 1938, seven hundred thousand people were executed in the “Great Purge.” Under Mao’s “Great Leap Forward,” more than 40 million people perished due to famine. Another evidence of socialism’s inhumanity is that every socialist dictator eliminated any alternative leadership within their own party. Countries like Afghanistan were thrust into endless wars due to this ideological struggle, claiming over two million lives and plunging the entire region into despair.

This is why imperial Russia and capitalist Britain and America were allies in spreading destruction during World War I. Later, socialist Russia and nationalist Nazi Germany joined hands in wreaking havoc in Europe, although their power-hungry ambitions eventually led them to turn on one another. This, in essence, is the inevitable outcome of such ideologies.

In contrast, Islam has always advocated for unity and justice. This ideology seeks to unite Muslim nations on a foundation where justice prevails and exploitation is resisted.

This is why the revival of the Islamic system has always posed a significant challenge to imperial powers, whether socialist or capitalist. Consequently, imperialist forces have consistently tried to suppress Islamic unity, as it serves as the greatest obstacle to their imperialist agendas. In Egypt, the communist-backed regime of General Nasser brutally oppressed the Muslim Brotherhood in an attempt to crush the popular Islamic movement. Similarly, General Sisi, a puppet of the American capitalist system, is now following the same pattern. In Syria, whether under capitalist France or socialist Bashar al-Assad, the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamic revivalist movements have been targeted for oppression.

Both history and the present reveal that ideologies like nationalism, capitalism, and socialism have provided the grounds for imperialism to divide and exploit the masses as they wish.

In contrast, the concept of Islamic unity offers a comprehensive and universal vision. Islam transcends race, ethnicity, and language, placing emphasis on justice and moral values. In the Farewell Sermon, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ explicitly declared that no Arab is superior to a non-Arab, nor is a non-Arab superior to an Arab. This principle lies at the heart of Islamic unity, which promotes cohesion rather than division.

Syed Abul A’la Maududi reintroduced Islam as a system and a way of life. Remarkably, Maududi’s revival of the Islamic system occurred at a time when Muslims were politically subjugated. All material, financial, and military powers of the world were either aligned with nationalist capitalism or predatory socialism. Yet, through his God-gifted pen, Maududi convinced people with arguments that the Islamic system and ideology present an alternative narrative capable of rescuing not just the Muslim world but all of humanity from chaos.

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Allah granted Syed Maududi such acceptance that even his opponents, whether socialists or nationalists, acknowledged the profound impact of his ideas on society. It is precisely for this reason that his adversaries vehemently oppose him and distort both facts and his ideology to undermine him. The truth remains that Maududi merely presented Allah’s system to humanity without compromise, and the light of Allah was destined to spread.

Ultimately, it is time for Muslim nations to embrace their true Islamic identity, liberate themselves from ideologies like nationalism and socialism, and adopt the principles of Islamic justice and equality to guide the world towards peace and progress.