The Unity of Muslims — Page 5
5 The question is whether any Muslim state or alliance can compete with these world powers in wealth, military strength, trade, and commerce. Can any Islamic country claim to have a comparable number of tanks, bombs, war supplies, production facilities, and businesses as these nations? The power of Muslims in comparison to these countries is negligible. Therefore, it is clear that a speech on ‘’ must focus on building cohesion so we can become powerful and gain the respect we deserve. The Arabic term ittihād , derived from wahdat , means to adopt solidarity. It implies that various entities have decided to merge into a whole, losing their individuality. A salient feature of Arabic is that the entire philosophy behind a concept is encapsulated in one word. As a cognate in Urdu, ittihād has lost its meaning. When uttered in Arabic, a listener who knows its context instantly perceives the speaker’s position: Muslims are divided into various independent sects, but with planning and resolve, they can rally for particular objectives. Therefore, a call for unity among Muslims means that the Islamic world will adopt coherence and harmony despite its divides that stretch across nations and individuals.