1914: The Shaping of the Modern Muslim World - Dr. Yasir Qadhi
Dr Yasir
Qadhi is a Pakistani-American Muslim preacher. He starts off by
telling us regarding the major events that set the stage for the
modern Muslim world. The year of 1914 was a landmark year of sorts in
terms of abolishment of the Islamic Caliphate and the division of Muslim lands
into the modern countries of the Middle East. During 1914, the whole world
was ruled by the British Empire while the US was not the world power. the
assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian
Empire led to the war that ends all wars and the collapse of
many of the globe’s superpowers. A group of Serbian nationalist killed
Archduke.
The Ottoman sultan at
that time turned into Sultan Mehmed V (1909-18). The Ottomans were
technologically very backward. Many Ottoman lands began to fall to
the Allied Forces. The “Allied Forces” of the Russians, the British, French,
Italians and USA, versus the “Central Powers” of the Germans, the
Austro-Hungarians, the Bulgarians and, crucially for Muslims, the
Ottomans. World War one was largely fought within Europe, as it was very
much a European issue. Germany surrended and war ended officially on 11 November
1918. It was largest conflict, around 10 million soldiers died. At the end of
the war four of the world’s largest empires were decimated; the
German Empire, the Russian Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and of course,
the Ottoman Empire. World war had severe consequences around the world. It
ended up with million deaths and a lot of bloodshed.
The Ottoman Empire was one of the mightiest dynasties in world history. This Islamic-run superpower ruled large areas of the Middle East, Eastern Europe and North Africa for more than 600 years. The chief leader; Sultan, was given absolute religious and political authority over his people. While Western Europeans generally viewed them as a threat, many historians regard the Ottoman Empire as a source of great regional stability and security, as well as important achievements in the arts, science, religion and culture. Sultan Mehmet V ruled the Ottomans from 1909 through to 1918.The Empire had lost Bosnia and Albania before the Great War began and the economy was in rags, whilst European nations were colonizing various lands in their military ascendancy. The British had provided this support through much of the 1800s until the relationship broke down in 1880, leading to a partnership with the Germans instead. This partnership eventually grew very strong, symbolized by the famous Orient Express in 1889; a luxurious direct train between Germany & Turkey. Various Ottoman lands began to fall to the Allied Forces in quick succession. In 1915, the British invaded Iraq and by March 1917 they marched to the former Abbasid capital, Baghdad – taking down the Ottoman flag and raising the British flag. Later that year General Allenby, who was based in Egypt which was under British protection at the time, launched a series of campaigns into Gaza and Jaffa and eventually marched into Jerusalem victorious on 9th December, ending four centuries of Ottoman rule of the Holy City and fulfilling his promise to capture it “before Christmas”. Large cities continued to fall; Damascus in October 1918 and eventually Istanbul on 13 November. By now, three of the great capitals of Islamic history were held by the Allied Forces, as was Jerusalem. This was amongst the lowest points that the ummah had witnessed throughout its history.
The Ottoman Empire was one of the mightiest dynasties in world history. This Islamic-run superpower ruled large areas of the Middle East, Eastern Europe and North Africa for more than 600 years. The chief leader; Sultan, was given absolute religious and political authority over his people. While Western Europeans generally viewed them as a threat, many historians regard the Ottoman Empire as a source of great regional stability and security, as well as important achievements in the arts, science, religion and culture. Sultan Mehmet V ruled the Ottomans from 1909 through to 1918.The Empire had lost Bosnia and Albania before the Great War began and the economy was in rags, whilst European nations were colonizing various lands in their military ascendancy. The British had provided this support through much of the 1800s until the relationship broke down in 1880, leading to a partnership with the Germans instead. This partnership eventually grew very strong, symbolized by the famous Orient Express in 1889; a luxurious direct train between Germany & Turkey. Various Ottoman lands began to fall to the Allied Forces in quick succession. In 1915, the British invaded Iraq and by March 1917 they marched to the former Abbasid capital, Baghdad – taking down the Ottoman flag and raising the British flag. Later that year General Allenby, who was based in Egypt which was under British protection at the time, launched a series of campaigns into Gaza and Jaffa and eventually marched into Jerusalem victorious on 9th December, ending four centuries of Ottoman rule of the Holy City and fulfilling his promise to capture it “before Christmas”. Large cities continued to fall; Damascus in October 1918 and eventually Istanbul on 13 November. By now, three of the great capitals of Islamic history were held by the Allied Forces, as was Jerusalem. This was amongst the lowest points that the ummah had witnessed throughout its history.
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