The concept of Ummah is alive and well within general Muslim population, whether they are in the West, East, or the middle. I know it, I have seen it, I have experienced it. Nobody can tell me that it was a dream and not a reality. Some forum-members who are teenagers, and those in early twenties have no concept or idea of the practical outcome of this idea. Therefore they are more prone to take a nationalist approach. I just wish they could stop and reflect before they would allow their itchy fingers do the talking.
Taking this concept of Ummah to a logical political conclusion is something that is difficult. It would take a few generations once Muslims on the whole resolve that it be done. There are a lot of issues that have already been pointed out by posters and I will list them:
1. Extremism
2. Racism
3. Tyranny
4. Economic disparity
5. Sectarianism, linked to #1. Extremism
6. The role of 'Western' countries
Expanding upon this would make it a very long post and I could write a book about this subject. Since such can not be done here, I shall only provide pointers.
We have seen EU form over the last 2-3 generations. We could copy this model.
We could begin by a few countries forming a club and espousing the following values:
1. Constitutionalism & forms of representative government that truly reflect people's choice.
2. Anti-Sectarianism stance. No sect can be allowed to suppress and oppress others.
3. Elimination of border disputes between members.
4. Adoption of welfare state model, with some common rules derived from Quran & Hadith.
5. Freedom of speech bound with common decency.
Each of the above would require tremendous intellectual, educational, and institutional efforts. But countries like Malaysia, Turkey, Pakistan, and Indonesia can begin before others since they each have wide support for Constitutionalism & welfare state model & Freedom to criticize government.
None of the Middle Eastern countries can qualify upon these criteria. Some are just now starting with representational system of governance and need time to mature. Some are not even beginning on this path.
Once there is broad agreement over the essentials, there could be a beginning just like EU begun. Once there is a parliament of eminent Muslim experienced in the norms and workings of constitutional representational government, they could elect a President / Prime Minister / Khalifah / Emir / etc... for a limited term and with limited powers. Given a reasonable budget and a control over a small highly trained military to diffuse internal conflicts and guarantee peace, there could be a paradigm shift on a fundamental level. If this model succeeds in delivering goals of better governance, suppression of conflict, end to 'Western' meddling, disaster response, peace mission efforts, and ensuring prevalence of justice, we could call this a success. We could use this institution to address many of today's shared problems within Muslims and within Humanity at large.
This institution must not mean aggressive wars, support for Muslim minorities for extra-special treatment, or rule of a particular sect. Any expansion in influence must come from education about real benefits of such a system.
One can never go back to any of the earlier models of Islamic unity. They had their reasons to exist in their times with unique problems. We can not blindly copy them. In fact we must learn from their mistakes and failures.
OIC is just a lame organization which doesn't benefit anything like the Arab league which is even more laughable. Only solution to revive Islamic unity.
- Go back to the Quran and the Suunah
- Get rid of the Shias. What did Salah'din Ayyub taught us?
- Get rid of the tyrants and military regimes
- Cut Nationalism
- Avoid allying with the West
That's the key. Unfortunately, Muslims nowadays are brainwashed in the West and ignoring the bloodshed caused in the Islamic territories that were being occupied by the West, who's more important in defence; The Ka'ba or the shedding of a single Muslim?
That's all, case closed.
Brother, I am not a Shia, but your views about Shias are very disturbing. We could go ahead and have a region wide religious civil war, lose 40% of our population, go back into stone age and then find out once again what it is to be directly ruled over by strangers.
Each and every sect has their opinions and arguments on some sort of an interpretation of Quran and Sunnah - even Shias. As long as there is no abuse of religious personalities (Sahaba), we should be able to deal with differences.