Saudi Arabia and Turkey Strong Ties based on Islamic Religious Identity



Background
The Muslim Ummah has been fragmented into different nation states having different foreign policy positions. Some have been with the United States and others had been with the (previous) Soviet Union.

Though Turkey passed through many decades of parting from Islamic identity and rule accepting nationalism and secularism, now there has been a great trend toward Islamic sentiment and identity. This process was slow and long passing through different stages from a minor and weak Islamic Party to the ruling and Strong Party. The AKK party has always made their Islamic tendencies obvious and clear.
As for Saudi Arabia, religion has always been the basis of its identity and politics since the establishment of the first Saudi state more than three centuries ago. This has the case particularly, when the Arab nationalism sprang and tied itself with secularism. Saudi Arabia has put forward a strong and fierce fight against it. Saudi Arabia became a refuge for hundreds of Muslims from different Arab countries who professed nationalism and secularism. This is exactly what Al-Shammary said:" Saudi Arabia was founded on the Islamic Shari ah as the source of its legislation"
Saudi Arabia in its fight against nationalism believed that it is a concept alien to Islam because it calls for unity based on family and tribalistic ties, whereas Islam binds people together on the Aqeedah and Emaan. That is, belief in Allah (swt) and His Messenger (saws).

The One Ummah
One of the unique features of Islam is that it is a religion of unity - even more, it is a uniting faith, with the full meaning of this word.  The Arabic word Ummah is some-times translated as nation, or community.  It comprises those individuals who have something basic common among them. 
The Arabic word Ummah is some-times translated as nation, or community.  It comprises those individuals who have something basic common among them.  All the messengers and Prophets of Allah be-longed to the same Ummah because they had the same creed, religion, and message.
Islam binds the hearts of all believers and joins us in one Ummah.  It protects us against weakness and disunity, and against failure and loss
وَإِنَّ هَذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَأَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَاتَّقُونِ

Verily this Ummah of yours is a single Ummah, and I am your
Therefore serve Me (and no other)" (Qur'an 21:92).

The unity of the Muslim people is represented in Islam by the concept of the “ummah.” Originating as a unifying classification to describe the community of the Muslim faithful in the Arabian Peninsula during the life of Muhammad, ummah in modern times represents the communal unity of all Muslims globally. Islam teaches egalitarianism, meaning that all Muslims are equal, regardless of culture, nationality or gender.

The unity of the Islamic ummah is a reality proclaimed in the Qur’an, and Sunna. It is one of the key strengths of the ummah at many levels, from the cultural to the political.
In order to achieve the unity of the Muslim Ummah, Islamic education is the process. This process starts from reforming oneself to family and to the society. It consists both the revealed and acquired knowledge. The former is the one directly learned from the Qur’an as explained by the Prophet Muhammad in his ahadith (sayings). The latter is the one learned from the different creatures of Allah on earth, which are indeed the expression of His omnipotent.

In light of the above facts both countries are encouraged to strengthen and enhance their relations, in all strategic spheres by continuous communications at the highest level as well as on different levels academically socially and economically.
As Dr. Al-Shammary puts it: "Finally, it is of utmost importance to "a balanced Saudi – Turkish relationship and secure their political, economic and religious interest against all seditious attempts that aims at spoiling their rising amicable relations."

Conclusion:
Basis for future ties
As Dr. Abdulla Al-Shammary puts it, "The importance of Saudi – Turkish relations is based on religious, historical ground and common destiny." (Turkish -Saudi bilateral relations: A Saudi perspective. http://www.abdullahalshammari.com/en/Articles.aspx?id=1))
Turkish leadership since the rise to power of the AKK party has a prevailing Islamic character. Which leads me to say few words about the Islamic bond.
We should realize that working towards the unity of the ummah is the duty of all Muslims, which should be collective work that needs all our efforts. We should realize the dangers of disunity in our communities, because division and disunity will weaken the ummah and open the door to our enemies, which could lead to total destruction


تعليقات

المشاركات الشائعة من هذه المدونة

تلخيص كتاب منهج البحث التاريخي للدكتور د. حسن عثمان

الكلمات النورانية: وتحمل الكل

الإسلام وتعلم اللغات الأجنبية