In fact, the unity of Muslims is evident in things we often overlook.
THERE is an old fable about a donkey that starved to death because it couldn’t decide whether to eat hay from the left or the right. Although this story is absurd, it often comes to mind when we talk about the “disunity” or division within the Muslim community.
How easy it is for Muslims worldwide to fall into the same narrative: “We are not united!” This dramatic call, full of tears, sometimes feels more like a soap opera than a critical reflection.
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However, let’s unpack this myth in a more relaxed yet serious manner. Is it really true that Muslims are as divided as many claim?
Shaykh M. A. Kholwadia, in his opinion piece for Al Jazeera, invites us to open our eyes (and perhaps our minds) to the fact that unity already exists within the Muslim ummah, although not in the utopian form of Pan-Islamism as envisioned by the Ottoman Caliphate.
We often hear people say, “We must unite!” But what do they really mean? Some may imagine a world map without borders, with all Muslim lands united under one flag. Romantic? Maybe. Realistic? Almost certainly not.
In reality, the unity of Muslims is evident in aspects we often overlook. Rituals like the five daily prayers, fasting during Ramadan, and the tradition of sacrifice during Idul Adha all demonstrate a commonality that transcends political, cultural, and even linguistic boundaries. Yet, these aren’t the most “Instagrammable” moments.
Who would post a picture of a congregation performing Fajr prayer with the caption, “Look how united we are in prayer”? It’s not something that gets shared widely on social media.
Shaykh Kholwadia reminds us that the narrative of “disunity” is actually a poisoned gift from colonial powers. Imagine someone comes into your house, takes your land, and then says, “You guys are not united, that’s why your land was easy to take.”
Ironical, right? This is the same fate that Muslims have suffered. The artificial borders drawn by colonizers continue to be a source of conflict today. Yet, let’s applaud the fact that despite being bombarded with propaganda for hundreds of years, Muslims have preserved the same traditions.
The pilgrimage to Mecca, prayers recited in the same Arabic language, and solidarity with Palestine are all proof of unity among Muslims—even if it doesn’t look like the pan-Islamism dreamt of by Ottoman history enthusiasts.
One of our biggest mistakes is considering diversity and differences as problems. However, as Shaykh Kholwadia emphasizes, Islam was always meant to be inclusive from the start.
Differences of opinion within schools of thought? They aren’t signs of division; they’re a wealth of intellectual diversity. But let’s be honest: sometimes, these differences become the basis for endless arguments.
For example, when we argue about the position of the hands during prayer—on the chest or below the navel—our enemies may be laughing, saying, “Look, they’re fighting over hand positions!” We’ve spent hundreds of years arguing over the qunut prayer, but what’s been achieved?
Shaykh Kholwadia provides an inspiring example of how the Deobandi scholars in India rose after their defeat in the 1857 Rebellion against the British. Instead of crying over “disunity,” they chose to rise up.
The result? Educational institutions like Darul Uloom Deoband became beacons of Islamic knowledge in the Indian subcontinent.
We, as Muslims today, need to learn from them. Instead of getting caught in lamentation without solutions, we should focus on what we can build together—from education to the economy, from technology to social solidarity.
So, let’s stop being the “hungry donkey.” We have plenty of reasons to believe that Muslims are actually more united than we think. Our differences are not enemies, but blessings, and we don’t need the flag of pan-Islamism to demonstrate our strength.
As a community that believes in the greatness of Allah, perhaps it’s time we shift our focus from lamenting to taking action. As Shaykh Kholwadia reminds us, unity is not about conformity, but about the courage to move forward despite our diversity. So, what’s your next step?
Ma’had Tadabbur al-Qur’an, January 17, 2025
* Cak AT – Ahmadie Thaha, Columnist
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