The World Wars and Global Rivalries as the Foundation of Progress in Today’s Powerful Nations (Part Three)
And as for Islamic History:
The Noble Prophet (PBUH) established the religion of Allah (SWT) in a region that was so desolate and insignificant that even the two mighty empires of Byzantium and Persia, situated on either side, had refrained from occupying it out of disdain. However, through the sacrifices the Messenger of Allah (SWT) made in transforming society and founding a divine government, the Arabs were prepared for a comprehensive transformation in all aspects of their lives. Not only did they adorn themselves with Islamic beliefs and practices, but they also set out—according to the divine command—to save the world from ignorance and destruction.
With the revelation of the command for Jihad, the Muslim government in Medina quickly gained remarkable strength and began expanding. It was then that the Quraysh acknowledged their defeat in the face of the rising power of the Muslims, especially when the Noble Prophet (PBUH) extended the call of truth beyond the Arabian Peninsula. He sent letters inviting rulers and leaders outside the peninsula—such as Khosrow (Kisra), Heraclius, Muqawqis, al-Harith ibn Abi Shamir al-Ghassani, al-Harith al-Himyari, and the Negus (al-Najashi) of Abyssinia—to embrace Islam. As a result, all of them accepted Islam except for the Roman Emperor, who too desired to accept but refrained out of fear of his own people.
The Muslims, who were once the most oppressed class in Mecca, succeeded in a short time in establishing a government in Medina that rapidly developed and grew stronger militarily. When Mecca was being conquered, Abu Sufyan had traveled to Medina to gather intelligence on the state and strength of the Islamic army. He ended up embracing Islam. At that time, he was walking with al-Abbas (MABH) when he witnessed battalions of the Islamic army, composed of diverse tribes, marching past. The sheer number and grandeur left Abu Sufyan in awe. He asked al-Abbas to introduce the tribes to him until the turn came for the Muhajirun and Ansar, among whom was the Prophet (PBUH) himself. This group was referred to as “al-Katibah al-Khadra” (the Green Battalion) due to how the warriors had armored themselves so thoroughly that only their eyes were visible. Their numbers were so large—over 10,000 ready warriors—that it dazzled the eyes of all who saw them.
In the Battle of Tabuk, despite their strength, the Romans—realizing the resolve and might of the Muslims—chose to avoid conflict, returning to their lands and denying their previous plans to unite against the Muslims.
In a short time, the Muslims prepared a massive force to convey the divine message to other nations, then mired in ignorance. During the reign of al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik, Musa ibn Nusayr, one of the generals and conquerors of the Muslim army, was sent to Africa. There he encountered the Berbers, a tribe no empire had ever subdued. Yet, through Musa’s efforts and despite six rebellions, the Berbers eventually accepted Islam and became part of the Muslim army marching toward Hispania (Spain), being a brave and combative people.
Musa’s military strategy was to first send his servant Tariq ibn Ziyad with an army to fight. Once Tariq had secured a region, Musa would follow with his own forces, bringing the area under the Caliphate and appointing governors while taking pledges of allegiance for the Caliph. Accordingly, in the series of African conquests, Musa sent Tariq to Spain.
Tariq ibn Ziyad, in less than a year, conquered Cordova (Qurtuba), Malaga (Balqa), and Toledo (Talitila). When Musa—then the governor of all of Africa—heard this news, he immediately marched toward Spain with an army made up of Arabs and Berbers. Unlike Tariq, Musa took a different route and along the way conquered cities like Marda and Saragossa (Saraqsta). During the conquests of Musa and Tariq, the entire Mediterranean Sea was surrounded by provinces of the Islamic Caliphate.
The European historian Reno wrote:
“At that time, Christianity was facing the most severe threats. When one reflects on what would have happened had discord not arisen among the Arab conquerors, the fate of Europe would have been completely different. One trembles with fear and anxiety at the thought.”
After the conquest of Spain, Musa ibn Nusayr planned to capture Galicia, whose capital was called Saint Jacques. However, just then, Mugheeth al-Rumi, an envoy from the Caliph al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik, arrived with an order commanding Musa to cease further advances and return. Musa was displeased by this untimely order, as Galicia was the only remaining unconquered city in Spain, and his plans for conquest were serious. He requested Mugheeth to delay his return until he captured Galicia in exchange for sharing its spoils, to which Mugheeth agreed.
Thus, Musa continued his advance until he reached the Atlantic Ocean. The Arabs and Berbers settled in these areas, and the influence of Islam spread throughout Spain.
Eventually, when another messenger from al-Walid came to rebuke Musa for his delay, Musa was forced to leave Galicia. He appointed his son Abdul Aziz ibn Musa as the ruler of all Spain in the city of Seville (Ishbiliyah) and, along with Tariq ibn Ziyad, returned to Damascus with 30,000 captives, countless treasures, and spoils.
Musa, at that time, was eager for further jihad and conquest. He was deeply saddened that the Caliph had stopped him from fulfilling his aspirations. Nevertheless, he hoped to one day continue and conquer the rest of Europe.
Conclusion:
From all the above, we can deduce the following:
Islam is a religion intertwined with politics. It is the only religion that, beyond its worship, transactions, and moral teachings, organizes all aspects of human life, including domestic and foreign affairs, according to divine law. Thus, Islam encompasses two types of politics:
1. Domestic policy, which is the internal organization of the Ummah according to divine law.
2. Foreign policy, which is embodied in Jihad—the only legitimate method of conveying the divine message to non-Muslim nations.
Just as Jihad is a mandatory duty on all Muslims, it is also the spirit of the Islamic system. When Muslims abandoned Jihad and tried instead to spread Islam through preaching, advice, and other missionary methods, they not only neglected a divine obligation but also discarded the foreign policy of Islam, leading to a fundamental shift in their condition. Allah took away their honor—i.e., the Islamic Caliphate—and allowed the disbelievers to dominate them.
Quranic Verse: “ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمْ يَكُ مُغَيِّرًۭا نِّعْمَةً أَنْعَمَهَا عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا۟ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ ۙ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ” Translation: “That is because Allah would not change a favor He had bestowed upon a people until they change what is within themselves. And indeed, Allah is Hearing and Knowing.” (Surah Al-Anfal, 8:53)
Final Conclusion:
Thus, it is not unfounded to claim that the foundations of modern advanced nations were laid through world wars and global rivalries. After thirteen years of intellectual and political struggle in Mecca, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) established an Islamic state in Medina, formulating the Covenant of Medina, implementing Shariah internally and externally. He presented the disbelievers with three options:
1. Embrace Islam, and everything will be preserved for you.
2. If not, surrender your authority to Islam, for sovereignty belongs only to the religion of Allah.
3. Or else, combat—to eliminate corruption from the world and elevate the word of Allah, which was the primary mission of his Prophethood.
This combat continued, and during his ten years in Medina, according to the well-known account, the Prophet (PBUH) led 27 battles and dispatched 38 military expeditions. He did not turn Medina into a center of civilization but rather a hub for the vision of conquering civilizations. During his lifetime, he conquered the entire Arabian Peninsula. This method continued until, under Caliph Umar al-Faruq (MABH), the two great empires and centers of civilization of that era were conquered.
This strategy of advancing Islam continued under Muslim rulers, spreading the light and peace of Islam throughout the world, ushering in a time when the world lived in safety and security.
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