One Umma Muslims Actions example essay topic

ISLAM IN ERA OF GLOBALIZATION A primary question imposes itself. Do we (muslims) represent an umma in the contemporary world? What is meant by the question is not the umma as known in the political geography asa nation recognized by international law, but the umma is meant here as a concept of universal communal based on self awareness of the concerned entity about its identity on side, and the acceptance of the distinctive identity of the muslims on the other side. Muslims are supposed to be a doctrinal or ideological universal community, united through the entire world by their faith in thinking, feeling and action. They all believe in and they are all committed to Islam and its values of doing good and spreading it. However the concrete reality is that natural barriers such as geography and ethnicity in addition to political, economic and cultural barriers, under colonialism and post colonial era have obstructed the supposed unity of the umma.

Nevertheless, the challenges and dangers muslims have been facing in the contemporary world ought to revitalize the awareness of unity and integrity of the muslim communal body. From another angle, the entire world is witnessing an era of globalism through its speedy communications, and transportations with all its negatives and its positives. This may be an opportunity for the muslims to surmount the barriers and gain some kind of unity at least in their thinking and feelings. The negatives of globalism may add to the challenges, which they must face together, within the limited effective armament muslims may have in the contemporary world.

Feeling as one "Umma " We have to feel genuinely as one umma in a rational mature well organized way so that our relationships work together in coordination and harmony within oneself. Muslims do not live in a. They live in a world full of people with various backgrounds. An umma consciousness ought not to engulf or negate other muslim existential relations in the contemporary world. Islam being the message of "The Lord of the Universe"-allows and urges constructive natural relations between muslims and whomever they come across for whatever legitimate purpose. Through Islam we must make the best of our potential abilities.

The identity of the muslim individual, group and umma can be perceived and universally recognized through truthfulness, honesty and helpfulness rather than through poaching, talking, and publishing about faith and its acts of worship. The umma has to support any victims of aggression or oppression. This is the basic element of the universal mission of the muslim umma To think as one umma muslim specialists in various fields e.g. science and technology, law, literature and art, have to exchange their knowledge and experience within themselves and with their colleagues all over the world. Professional unions and associations should have effective universal interrelations, structural links and meetings. Muslims must assure their role in the contemporary civilizations as they assured through the medieval world. Universities in muslim nations should have conferences, joint projects and student exchange programs with universities all over the world.

The muslim inter-state organization fro education, science and culture have to reflect capably and effectively how the muslim umma think, and to provide a bridge between muslim thinking and the contemporary world. As an umma muslims should practice ', not in the sense of finding practical solutions but to have anew comprehensive vision of shari'a and its goals and objectives, and of jurisprudential development and its influences by changes through times. Islamic Academic Institution of Education and Research through out the world are urged to coordinate their efforts to bring about a contemporary vision of the dynamic open ended shari'a. Such reconstruction and reconstitution would prove its visibility and productivity in areas such as political activity, women's role, economics and arts in the contemporary world.

The umma has to be constructively engaged in dialogues with the existing faiths, and to let others know about Islam and muslims. Direct interfaith dialogue is essential for mutual fruitful understanding and constructive interaction. The discussion should deal with contemporary spiritual, psychological and social problems of the believers of every faith. Acting as one Umma Muslims actions should support what they feel and think as one umma that lives in the contemporary world with its Muslim and non-muslim populations. The Quran cares about the "Children of Adam" in their entreaty and down not restrict muslim concern to muslims only.

As an umma muslims should have their constructive efforts with their neighbors and the entire world. Do muslims genuinely feel that they are an umma of conscience, virtues and goodness and their message to the world is to spread what is good? As the Quran says:" And let it be from among you a community that invites to all that is good and enjoins of what is right and favorable (of the human nature and common sense), and forbids the doing of what is wrong and reject able (by the human nature and common sense) and it is they who attain to happiness and success" (Al-Imran: Verse 104) It is essential for the muslim umma to feel its diversity among unity and to feel the diversity of humanity, and be conscious of the particularities and characteristics of the various components of the umma. Dealing with "the other" is the cornerstone of human relations", the other" in gender, ethnicity, faith and other acquired earnings, material and intellectual. Besides they have to feel the qualitative material and socio-cultural changes in the contemporary world and the dynamism of the message of Islam.

Thinking as one Umma The muslim umma has to think about the spiritual, intellectual and material needs in the contemporary world, in light of permanent guidance of Quran and umma. The creator has conferred dignity in its comprehensive source on all human beings. In light of Quranic verses:" WE have conferred dignity on all children of Adam, and have born them over land and sea, and have provided for them sustenance out of the good things of life and favored them over most of OUR creation" (Al-Isr a: Verse 70) Muslims have to secure and defend human dignity within the whole umma and the entire world so that GOD'S justice prevails. Human rights have to be secured by the umma, for "the other" who may be related to a different ethnic minority or religion.

As muslims demand the security of human rights of muslim minorities, that live among non-muslim majorities in other nations, the rights of non-muslims among muslim majority nations must be secured. Rights pertaining to family, freedom of faith and religion; health, education, political and socio-economic rights. They should be un hesitant supporters of religious and ethnic minorities and all victims of oppression and exploitation. Conclusion It goes without saying that each country with a muslim majority should be a role model for defending and securing human rights. We as an Umma have a long way to go through in order to assure itself within itself and the complex contemporary world. Whatever the long way it starts with a few steps in the right direction.

Let us set ourselves as an umma in the right direction with regards to feeling, thinking and acting, starting from individual groups and going through the whole umma. Deeds should represent our ideals, since they are the obvious and concrete expression of our identity, beliefs, and concepts. Europe fostered in modern times an ideology of nationalism and the struggle for it has been able to provide during the recent decades the "Euro-community" as an enlightening, conceptual and practical model of persistent hard worked for unity. Analysis of an article written by DR. Hame ed Anwar in 'Islam Today' published 1998.