Topic:

“Reasons for Downfall of Muslim Ummah and

their solution in the light of Quran and Hadith”

SUBMITTED BY:
SHERAZ GULL B.Com
ZEESHAN NAWAZ B.Com
SHAHBAZ SHOUKAT B.Com
MUHAMMAD SOHAIB HASHMI BSc (A&F)

SUMITTED TO:
SIR ALI HAMEID
“Reasons for Downfall of Muslim Ummah and their solution in the
light of Quran and Hadith”

The Rise of Muslims after Holy Prophet (SAWW):

 Rashidun Caliphate: (632-661 AD)

Rashidun Caliphate which means “Rightly guided” is a collective term comprising of first
four caliphs after Prophet Muhammad (SAWW)

 Caliph Abu Bakar (R.A): Abu Bakar (R.A) became caliph in 632 AD and died in
634 AD. His Caliphate reigned for two years. This period was too short to make an
impact on history but extraordinary achievements were made during these two years.
Rebels were put down in the war of apostasy, Unification of Muslims and conquests
of greater parts of Iraq and Syria were the marvels that took place during these years.
Quran was compiled for the first time during these two years.

 Caliph Umar (R.A): Umar (R.A) reign was of ten years (634-644 AD) under his
leadership, the empire expanded at an unprecedented rate. The former Byzantine
states of Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon were conquered by the Muslim armies.
Shortly afterwards the Muslim army attacked the Sassanid Empire in Iraq and
gradually conquering more and more of Sassanid Empire over the next years. Within
few years Muslims also conquered Egypt, Anatolia, Armenia and North Africa. Umar
(R.A) built political structure that would hold together vast empire and established
advance administration for the newly conquered lands.

 Caliph Usman (R.A): Usman (R.A) reigned for twelve years (644-656 AD) as
caliph, during the first half of his reign he enjoyed a position of the most popular
caliph among all the Rashidun, while in the late half of his reign he met increasing
opposition. Usman (R.A) continued the wars of conquest started by Umar (R.A)
The Rashidun army conquered North Africa from the Byzantines and even
raided Spain, conquering the coastal areas of the Iberian peninsula, as well as the
island of Rhodes and Cyprus. Also coastal Sicily was raided in 652. The Rashidun
army fully conquered the Sassanid Empire, and its eastern frontiers extended up to
the lower Indus River. Usman's (R.A) greatest and most lasting achievement was the
final compilation of the Qur'an.
  Ali (R.A) caliphate (The rise of Umayyad Dynasty): Ali’s (R.A) reign was of 5
years (656-661) and was the most difficult one as He was faced with multiple
rebellions. During his reign first Fitna started as A'isha, Talha, Al-Zubayr and the
Umayyad, especially Muawiyah I and Marwan I, wanted Ali (R.A) to punish the
rioters who had killed Usman (R.A). This led to first Islamic civil war called the
battle of Camel

 Umayyad Dynasty (661-750 AD):

After the assassination of Ali (R.A) Muawiyah became the fifth Caliph, establishing the
Umayyad Dynasty, named after the great-grandfather of Usman (R.A) and Muawiyah
“Umayya ibn Abd Shams.”Under the Umayyad’s, the Caliphate grew rapidly in territory,
incorporating the Caucasus, Transoxiana, Sindh, the West and most of the Iberian
Peninsula (Al-Andalus) into the Muslim world. At its greatest extent, the Umayyad
Caliphate covered 5.17 million square miles (13,400,000 km2), making it the largest
empire the world had yet seen, and the fifth-largest ever to exist in history. Each province
had a governor appointed by the caliph. Most Muslims were against its hereditary system
of choosing caliphs.
 Abbasid caliphate (750-1258 AD):

In 750 AD, Umayyad Dynasty was ended by a family of Mecca origin called The
Abbasids. They were the descendent of Prophet (SAWW)’s Uncle Abbas ibn Abd al-
Muttalib. Each member of Umayyad dynasty was killed except one who ran to Spain
where he established Umayyad dynasty of Spain. Abbasid Caliphatetime was marked by
scientific, cultural, and religious prosperity. Islamic art and music also flourished
significantly during their reign. Their major city Baghdad began to flourish as a center of
knowledge, culture, and trade. This period of cultural fruition ended in 1258 AD with
the sack of Baghdad by the Mongols under Hulagu Khan.

 Ottoman Empire (1299-1923) and Mughal Empire (1526-1857):

 The Ottoman Empire was a regime that lasted from 1299 to 1923AD. At the height of
its power, in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the empire spanned three
continents, controlling much of Southeastern Europe, Western Asia and North Africa.
The Ottoman Empire contained 29 provinces and numerous states, some of which
were later absorbed into the empire, while others were granted various types of
autonomy during the course of centuries. The empire also temporarily gained
authority over distant overseas lands through declarations of alliance with the
Ottoman Sultans.

 The Mughal Empire, was an Indian-Islamic imperial power that ruled a large portion
of the Indian subcontinent which began in 1526, invaded and ruled most of South
Asia by the late 17th and early 18th centuries by forming alliance with Indian
Maharaja, and ended in the mid-19th century. At the height of their power around
1700, they controlled most of the Indian Subcontinent -- extending from Bengal in the
east to Baluchistan in the west, Kashmir in the north to the Kaveri basin in the south.
Its population at that time has been estimated between 110 and 130 million, over a
territory of over 4 million km2 (1.5 million square miles).

Muslim Decline & Future Prospects

Rise-downfall, downfall-rise, this is the cycle humans saw since the beginning of the
human race. History has proven that whenever a nation was cursed or destroyed, the
reason was the men of knowledge of that nation, who invested in their own as well as
their whole nation’s destruction. Allah (SWT) has described the destruction of the nations
who met humiliated end because of their evil deeds and their forgetfulness of the deen of
Allah.

Al-Quran 43: 8
“Then we destroyed men stronger (in power) than these— and the example of the
ancients has passed away (before them)”

Allah (SWT) destroyed them because their pride over their own selves made them
disbelieving Allah (SWT) and rejecting his prophets.

Al-Quran 54:51
“And indeed, we have destroyed your likes, then is there any that will remember (or
receive admonition)?”

These nations were destroyed because they disobeyed. Some were dishonest and some
were indulged in illicit relationships that too out of nature, so they met a horrible end.
What do we see in Muslim nation today? Are not we the people who are dishonest, have
all the evils in us? Being Muslims and having clear cut warnings in our holy book, we
should have been the nicest people but instead Muslims chose the way of destruction for
themselves and for their coming generations.
Prophet Muhammad (SAWW) prophesied that Muslims of later ages will be more in
number but will be the most humiliated among the others. How true, we are the most
humiliated people today because we are called terrorists, illiterate, backward, greedy of
power and riches etc. We have won many titles from the kufaars who were our enemies
once and now our masters. This is all prophesied by the way. The reasons of the downfall
of the Muslim nation are many, countless, but the major ones are:

Muslims had their own social, economic judiciary and political system of khilafat, which
was established by Muhammad Rasoolullah (SAWW) and the system was further
advanced by kulfae rashideen (rightly guided successor). After 40 years, the system of
khilafa was derailed, and changed into kingship, though the rulers continued to call
themselves khalifas. In order to understand the causes of decline of Muslims, one has to
know the fundamentals of khilafa, as follows: -

 The government is established according to the commandments of Quran, with Allah

being the supreme and sovereign ruler of the state. Man cannot be the sovereign.

 All power belongs to the system, not to the ruler. Khalifa is merely an agency to
conduct the affairs of the state, by the framework given in Quran. When people obey
this system, they do not obey any person they really obey Quran, the word of god.
 The khalifa is the central authority, on political as well as religious front. It is his
responsibility to meet social, economic and political needs of the people. In Islam the
religion and the state cannot be separated.

 It is the responsibility of the Islamic system, to create the conditions within the state,
where equal opportunity is provided for the psychosocial development of every
individual, on the Quranic line.

Reasons Of Muslim Downfall

 The Greed Of Power

In the greedy of power, the Muslim rulers never understood that they are human beings
with limited mental and physical capacity. They killed millions or other Muslims to rule
the area and to be the biggest kings. Some of them even married the Non Muslims to rule
bigger areas. We have examples or the kings of the Muslims from Arab, Turk and Asian
regions. They, instead of joining hands against the Non Muslim powers, even helped
them to get rid of the Muslim competitors. Even with the division of power and inter
hated Muslim Ummah, crusaders could never win any battle against Muslims.

Al Quran 40:39
“Truly, the life of this world is nothing but a (quick passing) enjoyment, and verily, the
Hereafter that is the home that will remain forever.”

When this lesson is forgotten, the balance is lost, and one begins to consider the luxuries
and comforts of this life as the be-all and end-all.

 The Disunity
The second most important reason for the downfall of the Muslim ummah is the disunity.
Muslims are divided into sects and sub sects and even their subsects. They have divided
themselves on the basis of their understanding of religion sometimes and sometimes they
were fooled by the evil minded people who took the disguise of Islam to mislead the
Muslims. They never tried to think if they are been fooled. They followed blindly their
scholars and masters. Today, Muslims proudly own sects and curse the ones they do not
like. They deviate from the message of Allah clearly.

Al Quran 3:105
“Do not be like those who splintered (into sects) and differed (among themselves), even
though clear proofs had already come to them. It is they, for whom there exists the
severest (most awful) punishment.”
This is what Allah (SWT) has said about those who divide themselves in sects and then
curse each other, is there anyone to take guidance from Quran and Sunnah? Muhammad
(SAWW) prophesied about the division of Ummah into sects only because Ummah did
not believe in Allah and pay head to what his messenger (SAWW) said much.

 Running For Riches

The third reason for downfall of ummah is the greed of money. This can be tucked back
to the kings of Turk, Asia and Arabs a thousand years ago. These kings and amirs did not
ever try to take guidance from Quran; instead, they accumulated wealth by looting it and
by deceiving others. This is also a clear cut deviation from Quran.

Al-Quran 2:195
“Spend your wealth for the cause of Allah. Do not, by your own doings, put yourself in
harm’s way. Do the right thing. Of course, Allah loves the righteous.”

Allah (SWT) said to spend wealth so that the due share of those which is given as part of
our rizq can reach them, but we see the trend of money accumulation today whose
foundation was set by our ancestor.
If we read our history (the later history when the righteous rulers were no more), we will
see how unjust the rulers were and how unjustly they gathered wealth to keep themselves
powerful. This trend is found to date. Just see the powerful expropriating the rights of the
poor people, we pay taxes and the rich people eat those taxes, those big tummy rich
people. Today, a son kills father and siblings kill each other for the wealth. This is what
Allah (SWT) said us to do;

Al- Quran 4:029

“Oh you who believe! Do not devour each other’s wealth unfairly _ (through force or
fraud). Rather, enter into (a legitimate) trade (and deal fairly) with mutual consent and
agreement. Do not kill (destroy) each other. Indeed Allah is full of mercy for you!”

 Disbelief In Allah And His Messenger (SAWW)

Apparently, everyone will say, no we believe, we are Muslims. But when it comes to set
a practical example, very few Muslims strive. The forth major reason of the down fall of
Muslims is the deviation from the right path in every aspect. This is the mother of all the
other reasons of downfall. We see all the vulgarity, disbelief, deviation from Islam,
innovation in religion and other diseases in the Muslim society today. People do not take
Allah as their lord instead they believe in a Peer baba or some imam or scholar and
associate their loyal-ness to a man like them.

Al-Quran 3:032
“Say, “Obey Allah and obey the messenger!” But if they turn away (beware), Allah
does not like the unbelievers.”
Is the trend of the modern Muslims not Anti Islamic, anti Quranic and like dis-believers?
It certainly is.

 Political Decentralization
Tauheed is the most essential element of Islam. It does not mean only the oneness of
Allah. It also means one nation under one Allah. Muhammad Rasoolullah (SAWW)
established the Islamic state according to Quran. He was the head of the state, performing
the political and religious duties simultaneously. After his demise, it was the rightly
guided khalifah who followed the footsteps of the Rasool, with single central authority
(markaziah). Subsequently the system was changed to the dictatorial system, where
power belonged to the individual rulers, not to the system. Now these rulers were not
interested in the religious affairs of people, they took control of the foreign affairs,
treasury, defense and trade and left rituals of salat, saum, hajj, zakat, marriage, divorce
etc. So the single centralized authority was divided into political and religious wings. The
rulers invented the laws to serve their aims and goals and distanced themselves from the
guiding principles of Quran. They did not care for immediate and delayed deleterious
effects of decentralization of the ummah.

Al-Quran 6:159
“As for those who divide their religion and break up into sects, thou hast no part in
them in the least: their affair is with God: He will in the end tell them the truth of all
that they did.”

 Psychological Change In Ummah

Under the Islamic khilafah, there is a complete freedom for people to express themselves.
As a matter of fact, Islam gives the ultimate freedom because Quran forbids enslaving of
the people; even the Rasool does not have the authority to subjugate people. Public is
encouraged to surrender to the system not to the khalifah. In dictatorial system, people do
not have freedom to think and speak against the state. If anyone does dare to speak, he
just disappears, never to be found. So people become fearful and un-concerned with
affairs of state. As a result of this, people learn hypocrisy, and suffer from fear complex.
This is why the nation of 1.6 billion people is facing the crisis of altruistic leadership.
Muslims are suffering from sickness of hypocrisy for the same reason. They address each
other as brother, but act contrary. For the same reason, Muslim states do not trust each
other and are plagued with conflict after conflict, purposely created by outsiders, to keep
them tangled in their internal disputes. Both rulers and mullahs are unconcerned with the
future of the nation, as long as they can maintain their respective seats of power. Majority
of us do not even react with our tongues, leave alone the constructive action. Is this the
practice of Islam? Is this the Muslim brotherhood? According to Quran internal conflicts
are the azabun-aleem (severe punishment). Today ummah is caught in a vicious cycle of
internal division, conflict, and weakness. This cycle must be broken by following
measures.
All the troubles we Muslims are seeing today are only because of our own deeds. We
have strayed and now we wonder around in a world where we are the most insulted
nation. Allah does not take care of those who do not take care of themselves. We cannot
blame our fates, but our nafs.

Al-Quran 13:11
“For each one are successive [angels] before and behind him who protect him by the
decree of Allah. Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they
change what is in themselves. And when Allah intends for a people ill, there is no
repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any patron.”

Solutions

1. Re-establishment of Central Authority:

As we have discussed that the cause of Muslim fragmentation is because of the loss of a
sacred central authority of khalifah, we must make a sincere effort to reestablish the
khilafah. It must be according to Quranic principals. Otherwise, it will be a failure. To
achieve this goal is a herculean task, but can be done, not impossible. Peaceful approach
should be taken, through diplomacy, disciplined dialogue and tolerance. In order to
succeed step number two must be taken.

2. Create Unity:
Unity can only be created through the message of Quran. If one descends below the level
of Quran, where human thoughts come into play, the gap widens. No point in discussing
the past, look forward, towards ultimate goal. Past is past, cannot be reversed. People in
the past made their decisions depending on their circumstances and we have to make
decisions based on our circumstances, and the circumstances demand unity. Highlight our
similarities, rather than be fixed on our differences. Further unity can be created by step
number three.

Al-Quran 3:103
“And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be
not divided among yourselves;”

3. Learn Arabic Language:

Bulks of the Muslims today are non Arabs, living outside the Arab lands, which neither
speak nor understand the language of Quran and Prophet Muhammad. All Muslims must
learn to read write and speak Arabic language for effective communication. If we can
master English, French, Spanish and German, there is no excuse not to learn Arabic. This
should be in addition to their other regional languages.
4. Education: -
Present system of education is given to us by colonial powers, secular system of
education, which orientates us towards capitalistic mentality. It teaches us, myself first,
while Islam wants us to meet the needs of others first. This system of education
transplants western mind on the eastern shoulder. It must be replaced by Islamic system
of education. Allama Iqbal’s philosophy of khudi must be reassessed and practically
implemented in the new system of education. This will infuse the ruh of Islam among the
younger generation, which will be more community orientated.

Source: Sahih Bukhari 13, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi

“None of you has faith until he loves for his brother or his neighbour what he loves for
himself.”

5. Elimination Of Priesthood:
In Quranic Islam, there is no place for priesthood or mullaism. The word maulvi, mulla,
and maulana is not used with the names of companions of Prophet. This means these
titles are the invention of ajmi Islam. Priesthood is strong arm of Zoroastrianism, Iranians
of that time brought with them mullaism and introduced into the Quranic Islam, during
abbasi period. At present, if one carefully looks around, the newer sects are produced by
these maulvis, through the process of personality worship. Therefore, those madarsas that
produce mullas should be curtailed and gradually abolished, so that further divisions in
the nation can be eliminated.

Source: Sahih Muslim

Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “…and the best speech is the Speech of Allah, and
the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace be upon him), and the worst of
all affairs are the newly invented matters (in the religion)”

6. Develop Islamic Economy: -

Muslim economists and scholars should develop models of lariba (interest free) economy.
Central Islamic bank and regional Islamic banks should be developed to finance these
projects. Banking should be part of lariba Islamic economy.

Al-Quran 3:130
“O ye who believe! Devour not interest involving multiple additions, and fear Allah
that you may prosper.”
7. Media:
In order to present Muslim point of view, entry into the media is of utmost importance.
Through this vehicle all negativism against Islam should be challenged. TV, radio,
magazine and newspapers must be established. Movies have a very powerful impact on
people. So far Muslims have neglected this powerful mean of impacting the public. This
should be pursued.

8. Hajj:
The word hajj is from hujjat, which means to discuss and find the solution to the
problems. At this annual event, must discuss the problems and find the solutions for the
problems facing the ummah. Annual program must be spelled out in front of the ummah
and in the subsequent year the goals achieved throughout the year should be presented at
the next hajj. This is the place where unified policy of the Muslim world must be charted
out. It should become United Nations of Islam. This should be in addition to present
rituals of hajj.

9. Protection of Rights of Muslims Minority:

Muslims, living in Darul-Harb, are facing severe discrimination in education, jobs,
physical insecurity; they are denied religious and political rights. An effective policy
should be charted out to deal with the governments of the offender countries. Our
resources, our trade should be shared with those countries, only if they are willing to
change their policy towards their Muslim subjects.

10. Dialogue with Non Muslims:

Since the collapse of communism, all the cold war is shifted toward Islam. West is
suffering from fever of islamophobia. People from other religion are made to believe that
green menace is coming after the red menace is dead. This prejudice is the result of the
hate literature, produced by enemies of Islam. People from other religion must understand
Muslim point of view. Through interfaith dialogue and through positive literature about
Islam, their fears must be conquered, and sincere friendship must be established with
world. Fair minded, justice believing Christian scholars should be encouraged to present
real Islam and promote the understanding between the two communities.

Conclusion
In the end we will say to the Muslims, if such a plan can be developed, and dedicated
efforts are made, the abysmal fall of ummah will stop and rise will not be too far away.
To rest of the world we will say, after all, Muslims are a significant number of one
human family progress of Muslims, will be the progress of the whole human family. At
this time when globe is progressing toward one world government, the dream of world
peace will remain a dream, unless the world policy is based on justice, freedom and
equality, which Muslims are denied so far.