Outlines:
1) Introduction; Early contact between Islam and Christianity ( Prophet’s letter to the Chief of Rome, Heraclius)
2) Crusade wars
3) Colonialism
4) Disbanding the Caliphate
5) Cultural imposition
6) Oil war
7) Lack of exchange of views
8) American war on terror (Attack on Afghanistan, Iraq etc.)
9) Islamic fundamentalism
10) The recent phenomenon of ISIL
11) Issue of Palestine, Kashmir
12) Positive effects of exchange of views
13) Solutions
14) Conclusion
The first formal contact between Islam and Christianity was initiated by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) through his letter to the Chief of Rome, Heraclius, urging him to embrace Islam. From then onward, the relationship between Islam and Christianity remain patchy due to the battles that Muslim and Roman Empire fought against each other. After the industrial revolution and renaissance in the West, the conflict between Islam and Christianity took the shape of confrontation between Islam and the European West. The obvious reason is that European countries turned into more secular democracies resulting in the decline of the role of Church. This war for religious, cultural and political dominance is still raging on in the world with both sides attacking each other indiscriminately.
The Rashidun Caliphate also fought many wars against the Roman Empire, resulting in more mistrust. The Umayyad dynasty under the Caliph Muawiyah (r.a) even threatened the heartland (Constantinople) of Byzantine Empire by surrounding it, though the attack did not succeed it created a fear of Muslim dominance among the common consciousness of West. This history was repeated when the start of the 11th century saw the rise of emotions amongst European Christians to liberate Jerusalem from the Muslims. This series of battles ended in the rapprochement of ties between the two communities under the auspices of two great military minds of all time; Salah Uddin Ayub and Richard, Lionheart.
This goodwill existed for some time but soon faded away with the rise of new world realities. Muslims turned weaker and weaker at the expense of European expansion into the Muslim territories. Till the dawn of 18th century, most of the Muslim areas were under the control of European colonial powers including the Indian Subcontinent. Europeans started to impose their own culture and moral values upon the Muslim world in the guise of modern education, modern cultural dress code and modern Music and many other such things which resulted in the revolt from the Muslims.
The suppression of these revolts in violent manners from European colonial masters and further tightening of the noose in response produced more hatred among the common Muslims. The disbandment of the Ottoman Caliphate at the hands of Allies proved to be the last nail in the coffin of some goodwill that existed between West and Muslims.
After the 9/11 terrorist attacks on World trade center, America and NATO invaded Afghanistan and Iraq. The majority of Muslims thought it to be an attack on the Islamic world and on Islam itself. Some people in the Islamic world called it the renewal of Crusade wars whereas others called it a war to rob the natural resources that the Muslim world has. The indiscriminate killing of the people under the carpet bombing of America gave rise to a new phenomenon called the Islamic fundamentalism. The fundamentalist leaders inspired a whole lot of Muslim youth on the basis of their ideology of defeating the Crusaders and the revival of Golden Islamic era (Caliphate). The fundamentalists even started justifying the killing of innocent people by issuing fatwas, an Islamic verdict, as a tool. This led to an all-out war between the Western hegemonic powers and the Islamic militants, catching innocents in the line of fire.
The rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIL) further complicated the relations between the west and Islamic world. The Western bombardment on the areas under the control of ISIL and the retaliatory bomb blasts of the fundamentalists in the commercial centers of Europe led to a new era of mistrust and confrontation. The bombardment and fighting in Iraq and Syria resulted in a huge wave of Arab migrants moving towards West, giving rise to anti-Muslim rhetoric and insecurity among Europeans. Another reason for this hatred was the western support in toppling Gaddafi in Libya, Assad in Syria and America arms supply to the Saudis against the Yemeni Houthis.
The violent battles between Muslims and Christian-majority Roman Empire, Crusade wars and the war between West and Islamists do not reflect the overall picture. In spite of the wars that Muslims and Europeans fought against each other, followers of both religions went into alliances many times during the course of history. The second Caliph of Muslims, Umar ibn Khattab, went on the back of a camel to struck peace truce with the Christians of Jerusalem.
This resulted in peace for all irrespective of the religions or races but the most celebrated one was the alliance of Hazrat Amir Muawiyah (r.a) with the Christians against the Christian-ruled Byzantine Empire and Umayyad dynasty in the Cordova, which provided the much-needed fuel for warm relations. Similarly, the goodwill and relations that existed between Salah Uddin Ayubi and Richard, the Lionheart, is another unforgettable part of our history. The exchange of views under the Muslim rule in Cordova, Spain and during the Crusade wars inspired many generations of the Western, resulting in the 1800th-century renaissance in the Europe. Last but not the least, the popular demand for democracy in the Muslim world is western inspired.
The rise of digital age should be a major medium for both West and Muslims to understand their views and to have friendly relations. The social media and internet are already reducing the distance between the common people of west and Islamic world but we also need to start cultural exchanges and exchange of views on the top level of political and religious leaders. There should be interfaith conferences in both the West and the Islamic world to create goodwill among the people and an understanding of their religions.
The public should be educated about the common points that the Christianity and Islamic have and even Judaism can be included in these discussions. America and NATO instead of bombing Muslim countries should talk to them, which will sideline the fundamentalists in the Islamic world. Longstanding issues such as Kashmir and Palestine should be solved and Muslim world should be given their due representation in the Security Council decisions. This will create goodwill among the masses of West and Islamic word leading to a permanent peace and order.
The early battles between the Western Christianity and the Islamic world and the modern war on terror conceived by Muslims as a war on Islam produced high tensions and hatred for each other. It is time for both the sides to talk to each other and try to understand the complexes and difference of opinions on both sides but more ominous falls on the Europe because of their never-ending war in the Islamic lands. They should stop supporting the dictators in the Muslim countries and let the people decide to choose according to their will. The west should also play a neutral role on the issues faced by the Muslim world including Palestine and Kashmir.
1) Introduction; Early contact between Islam and Christianity ( Prophet’s letter to the Chief of Rome, Heraclius)
2) Crusade wars
3) Colonialism
4) Disbanding the Caliphate
5) Cultural imposition
6) Oil war
7) Lack of exchange of views
8) American war on terror (Attack on Afghanistan, Iraq etc.)
9) Islamic fundamentalism
10) The recent phenomenon of ISIL
11) Issue of Palestine, Kashmir
12) Positive effects of exchange of views
13) Solutions
14) Conclusion
 |
| Clash of civilizations |
The first formal contact between Islam and Christianity was initiated by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) through his letter to the Chief of Rome, Heraclius, urging him to embrace Islam. From then onward, the relationship between Islam and Christianity remain patchy due to the battles that Muslim and Roman Empire fought against each other. After the industrial revolution and renaissance in the West, the conflict between Islam and Christianity took the shape of confrontation between Islam and the European West. The obvious reason is that European countries turned into more secular democracies resulting in the decline of the role of Church. This war for religious, cultural and political dominance is still raging on in the world with both sides attacking each other indiscriminately.
The Rashidun Caliphate also fought many wars against the Roman Empire, resulting in more mistrust. The Umayyad dynasty under the Caliph Muawiyah (r.a) even threatened the heartland (Constantinople) of Byzantine Empire by surrounding it, though the attack did not succeed it created a fear of Muslim dominance among the common consciousness of West. This history was repeated when the start of the 11th century saw the rise of emotions amongst European Christians to liberate Jerusalem from the Muslims. This series of battles ended in the rapprochement of ties between the two communities under the auspices of two great military minds of all time; Salah Uddin Ayub and Richard, Lionheart.
This goodwill existed for some time but soon faded away with the rise of new world realities. Muslims turned weaker and weaker at the expense of European expansion into the Muslim territories. Till the dawn of 18th century, most of the Muslim areas were under the control of European colonial powers including the Indian Subcontinent. Europeans started to impose their own culture and moral values upon the Muslim world in the guise of modern education, modern cultural dress code and modern Music and many other such things which resulted in the revolt from the Muslims.
The suppression of these revolts in violent manners from European colonial masters and further tightening of the noose in response produced more hatred among the common Muslims. The disbandment of the Ottoman Caliphate at the hands of Allies proved to be the last nail in the coffin of some goodwill that existed between West and Muslims.
After the 9/11 terrorist attacks on World trade center, America and NATO invaded Afghanistan and Iraq. The majority of Muslims thought it to be an attack on the Islamic world and on Islam itself. Some people in the Islamic world called it the renewal of Crusade wars whereas others called it a war to rob the natural resources that the Muslim world has. The indiscriminate killing of the people under the carpet bombing of America gave rise to a new phenomenon called the Islamic fundamentalism. The fundamentalist leaders inspired a whole lot of Muslim youth on the basis of their ideology of defeating the Crusaders and the revival of Golden Islamic era (Caliphate). The fundamentalists even started justifying the killing of innocent people by issuing fatwas, an Islamic verdict, as a tool. This led to an all-out war between the Western hegemonic powers and the Islamic militants, catching innocents in the line of fire.
The rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIL) further complicated the relations between the west and Islamic world. The Western bombardment on the areas under the control of ISIL and the retaliatory bomb blasts of the fundamentalists in the commercial centers of Europe led to a new era of mistrust and confrontation. The bombardment and fighting in Iraq and Syria resulted in a huge wave of Arab migrants moving towards West, giving rise to anti-Muslim rhetoric and insecurity among Europeans. Another reason for this hatred was the western support in toppling Gaddafi in Libya, Assad in Syria and America arms supply to the Saudis against the Yemeni Houthis.
The violent battles between Muslims and Christian-majority Roman Empire, Crusade wars and the war between West and Islamists do not reflect the overall picture. In spite of the wars that Muslims and Europeans fought against each other, followers of both religions went into alliances many times during the course of history. The second Caliph of Muslims, Umar ibn Khattab, went on the back of a camel to struck peace truce with the Christians of Jerusalem.
This resulted in peace for all irrespective of the religions or races but the most celebrated one was the alliance of Hazrat Amir Muawiyah (r.a) with the Christians against the Christian-ruled Byzantine Empire and Umayyad dynasty in the Cordova, which provided the much-needed fuel for warm relations. Similarly, the goodwill and relations that existed between Salah Uddin Ayubi and Richard, the Lionheart, is another unforgettable part of our history. The exchange of views under the Muslim rule in Cordova, Spain and during the Crusade wars inspired many generations of the Western, resulting in the 1800th-century renaissance in the Europe. Last but not the least, the popular demand for democracy in the Muslim world is western inspired.
The rise of digital age should be a major medium for both West and Muslims to understand their views and to have friendly relations. The social media and internet are already reducing the distance between the common people of west and Islamic world but we also need to start cultural exchanges and exchange of views on the top level of political and religious leaders. There should be interfaith conferences in both the West and the Islamic world to create goodwill among the people and an understanding of their religions.
The public should be educated about the common points that the Christianity and Islamic have and even Judaism can be included in these discussions. America and NATO instead of bombing Muslim countries should talk to them, which will sideline the fundamentalists in the Islamic world. Longstanding issues such as Kashmir and Palestine should be solved and Muslim world should be given their due representation in the Security Council decisions. This will create goodwill among the masses of West and Islamic word leading to a permanent peace and order.
The early battles between the Western Christianity and the Islamic world and the modern war on terror conceived by Muslims as a war on Islam produced high tensions and hatred for each other. It is time for both the sides to talk to each other and try to understand the complexes and difference of opinions on both sides but more ominous falls on the Europe because of their never-ending war in the Islamic lands. They should stop supporting the dictators in the Muslim countries and let the people decide to choose according to their will. The west should also play a neutral role on the issues faced by the Muslim world including Palestine and Kashmir.
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