The truth is that the realm of disbelief stands as a united front, whereas Muslims are divided. They attack one another, or remain silent while others face destruction—yet this was the very opposite of what Iqbal had envisioned.

I am one to guard the Muslim shrine

From the banks of the Nile to the city of Tabkhaq

How many aspirations have turned to dust! Now, the Houthis of Yemen are emerging as a new challenge. Compared to Iqbal’s era, there are far more Muslim countries today, and the collective Muslim population has reached two billion. There are 57 Muslim nations; out of 195 total United Nations members, they constitute nearly 30 percent of the world’s countries. If they were to unite and trade with one another, they could become economically more powerful than any other bloc.

Islam is a rapidly spreading religion.

Islam is a rapidly spreading religion in America, Canada, and Europe. That represents the strength of human resources. Allah Almighty has also bestowed abundant natural mineral resources.

Let’s talk about oil first.

Let us first discuss oil. Arab countries hold 43 percent of the world’s oil reserves, and Iran is also rich in crude oil. Natural gas is abundant in Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Algeria; Qatar holds 85 percent of the world’s liquefied gas reserves through to 2030. Gold is found in abundance in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Algeria, and Pakistan, while phosphate is plentiful in Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Jordan.

Aluminum in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia

Aluminum is found in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Indonesia; copper and zinc in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, and Indonesia; and steel in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Mauritania, and Turkey. Kazakhstan holds the world’s largest uranium reserves, while chromium is found in Niger, Turkey, and Kazakhstan. Indonesia possesses the world’s largest nickel reserves; additionally, Pakistan and various other countries have resources such as metals, stone, silver, potash, and salt. Palm oil production and agricultural irrigation are extensive. Allah Almighty has bestowed countless blessings upon the land and seas across the Middle East, the Gulf region, North Africa, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia.

Member of the OIC

All these countries are members of the OIC; although the OIC has established numerous institutions and expert groups related to these sectors, there is no single information agency where you can access all the latest information at the push of a button.

Regarding the Muslim world, the Muslim world

The Muslim world is also highly formidable in terms of military training, modern technology, and lethal weaponry.

Globally, in terms of military standing, Türkiye ranks 9th, Indonesia 13th, Pakistan 14th, Iran 16th, Egypt 19th, Saudi Arabia 25th, the UAE 54th, Algeria 27th, Bangladesh 37th, and Malaysia 42nd.

The only Muslim nuclear power

Pakistan holds the distinction of being the only Muslim nuclear power, yet the Islamic world as a whole lacks a NATO-like alliance; there is no unified defense pact among all Islamic nations. Saudi Arabia had formed a 41-nation defense coalition.

Do not hold tightly to the rope of Allah.

Today is Sunday—a day to engage in conversation with your sons, daughters, grandchildren, daughters-in-law, and sons-in-law over lunch. Our younger generation also harbors many grievances regarding the failure of Muslims to hold fast to the rope of Allah. They are particularly concerned about why there is no trade among Muslims and why there is no unified Muslim currency. On Sundays, I also encourage community interaction: after the Asr prayer, meet with your neighbors. Gather at someone’s home or sit together in the local mosque. Familiarize yourselves with each other’s issues, and resolve whatever disputes you can amongst yourselves—do not wait for the government to intervene.

Young people of Muslim countries

The fundamental question that arises is this: young people from Muslim countries—particularly Pakistanis and Palestinians—are moving to non-Muslim nations and contributing to their economies, education systems, and healthcare sectors. Why cannot their intelligence, talent, and potential be harnessed for the economic and scientific advancement of the Muslim world?

Foreign exchange reserves of Muslim countries

Muslim countries possess substantial foreign exchange reserves. Yet, there is no movement afoot—nor do research institutions offer recommendations—on how to harness the natural, mineral, and human resources of these nations to enhance the Muslim world’s economic potential, military strength, and political cohesion, or to ensure a dignified per capita income for Muslims.

Current Chairman of the OIC

Who is the current Chairman of the OIC? Did he issue any policy statement regarding the recent grave wartime situation in this high-ranking capacity? The current Chairman is Adama Barrow, President of the African nation of The Gambia—a country where the call to prayer (Azan) resonates from mosques. It is a low-income nation with half its population living below the poverty line and a total population of just 2.9 million; its foreign exchange reserves stand at $508 million. The 15th Islamic Summit Conference was held in the Gambian city of Banjul, and the chief executive of the host country serves as the head of the OIC.

Obstacle to the development of the Muslim world

What hinders the economic, scientific, educational, social, and military progress of the Muslim world? The wealthiest nations among them are monarchies: absolute monarchies in Saudi Arabia, Muscat, and Brunei; and constitutional monarchies in Morocco, Jordan, Malaysia, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Presidential systems exist in Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Algeria, and several Central Asian countries. Parliamentary systems are found in Pakistan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Bangladesh. Iran has a presidential democracy, yet it features a Supreme Leader (Rahbar-e-Mu’azzam) who holds supreme religious authority.

See more : Why are Muslims not united

Elected monarchy in the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates has a selected monarchy, while Tunisia and Mauritania have mixed presidential systems. In many Muslim countries, merit is disregarded, and the rule of law is not applied uniformly; life for the common person is not as easy as it is in European nations, and the courts lack real authority. Among non-Muslim countries, there are significant Muslim populations: 200 million in India, 10 million in the US, 2.2 million in Canada, 30 million in China, 60 million in Russia, and 24 million in Europe.

Muslim rulers

Just consider this: if Muslim rulers were truly committed to upholding Islamic traditions and the policies of the Rightly Guided Caliphs—and were united in thought and voice—they could dominate the global political landscape.

Palestinian, Kashmiri—generation after generation.

Palestinians and Kashmiris should not remain targets of Israeli and Indian aggression generation after generation, nor should Muslim nations remain beholden to the United States and Europe. The United States is Israel’s patron and does not countenance Muslim unity; since 1963—and indeed even earlier—it has been toppling the revolutionary leaders of the Muslim world. Having begun with Iqbal, let us conclude with a verse from his Shikwa and Jawab-e-Shikwa.

The Sacred Sanctuary is one, Allah is One, and the Quran is one;

It would have been a truly great thing had the Muslims, too, been one.