Belief in Allah’s destiny has historically been a source of growth and progress for Muslims. Relying on this belief, they made some of the greatest discoveries and inventions. However, at a certain point in time, this reliance on destiny in all matters contributed to the retreat, isolation, and seclusion of Muslims from the fields of progress and material advancement.
Paul Schmitt, a German orientalist, writes: The nature of a Muslim is to submit to the will of Allah, to be satisfied with His judgment and destiny, and to be completely submissive to Allah. This obedience has had two different effects: In the early era of Islam, it played a crucial role in wars; it was the reason for the continuous victories and successes of Muslims and for the spread of the spirit of self-sacrifice among Islamic soldiers. However, in recent times, this same obedience has contributed to stagnation, casting a shadow over the Islamic world, leading to isolation and seclusion, and keeping it away from global events.
Despite being a non-believer, Schmitt understood well the difference between the belief in destiny held by the righteous predecessors and that of contemporary believers. In this sense, the apparent faith in Qaza and Qadar, along with misconceptions surrounding it, should not be the reason for the backwardness, incapacity, and material failures of Muslims.
2. The Planning of Jews and Crusaders
The second avenue through which secularism spread in the Islamic world was the carefully orchestrated plans and programs devised by Jews and Christians, the two sworn enemies of Muslims. These adversaries have consistently fought against Islam and the Islamic community throughout history, utilizing every tool and force at their disposal to mount attacks against Muslims.
Initially, these enemies of Islam launched and meticulously planned crusades against Muslims. These battles represented a clear manifestation of the deep-seated enmity that Europeans held towards Muslims. They were deeply intertwined with Europe’s existential philosophy and its political, social, and civil structures, occurring during a time when Europe was in its infancy and its cultural characteristics were beginning to take shape.
As a result, the Crusades left a profound impact on the character and psyche of the European nations, provoking a wave of ignorant bigotry that shaped their societies in a manner unparalleled in the past or likely to occur in the future. For the first time, Europe experienced a sense of unchanging unity, transcending borders between countries, nations, and social classes. However, this newfound unity was directed against the Islamic world.
It can be claimed without exaggeration that Europe was revitalized by the spirit of the Crusades. The thought process underpinning “Western Civilization” emerged from this period, becoming the singular goal that all European nations strove to achieve. This Western civilization became, in essence, the true adversary of Islam.
The outcome of the Crusades was the unprecedented elimination of the Islamic state in Andalusia. Subsequently, Europeans sent various armies, disguised as explorers and inventors, to eastern lands with the intent of eradicating religiosity among Muslims. The first action taken by the English in India was the abolition of Islamic law; similarly, Napoleon’s first order of business in Egypt was to suspend Islamic law in favor of French law. Furthermore, the response to Jewish-Crusader plots in Turkey involved abolishing Islamic Sharia law, leading to the secularization of the Turkish government.
All of this indicates that the primary objective of the Crusaders’ military and intellectual assaults was to alter the beliefs of Eastern peoples, of which Muslims constituted a significant portion. Until this goal is achieved, their relentless attacks will persist.
John Bull Rowe highlights this phenomenon, stating: “Millions of Europeans were stationed in the ports of the East, and their primary task was to change Eastern beliefs; to accomplish this goal, they had to destroy the East!”
He further emphasizes: “The destruction of the Ottoman Empire was indicative of the widespread invasion initiated by Europeans against the Islamic state. From the Philippine Islands to the heart of Africa, Europeans expanded their domination over Muslims and their concepts of existence, dictating their lifestyles, thoughts, plans, and programs.”
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