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
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