Muslims once ruled the world for over a millennium, from Andalusia in the west to the borders of Russia in the east, leading through knowledge, guiding through civilisation, and wielding unmatched power. But today, the tide has turned—marked by weakness, fragmentation, a voice without influence, and a global order where Muslims hold no effective sway. What is needed is not surrender to despair, but persistent effort, enduring patience, mutual counsel in truth, and above all: an understanding of history and awareness of God’s wisdom in events, for affliction is not random but a refinement and test.
Earth’s history bears witness to this perpetual motion; the Pharaohs’ civilisation, which filled the world with renown and dominion, faded into obscurity, while Rome, which once commanded the globe, left only ruins. The Persian Empire, which rampaged unchecked, crumbled before the laws of change, and even the Tatars, who shook the earth and crushed entire kingdoms, could not withstand time’s flux and shifting days. All this proves that decline is neither accidental nor mere coincidence, but a cumulative outcome of human actions and submission to nature’s impartial law.
God’s Law in the Rise and Fall of Nations
What befalls the ummah today is no anomaly in human history, but part of a natural cycle to which all nations and civilisations submit. This is “God’s law on earth,” where peoples ascend to peaks of glory and strength, then embark on a path of decline after years of elevation and pride. No civilisation is eternal; alternation is a universal principle, and power never remains in one hand forever.
The Law of Alternation Through History
History’s pages overflow with evidence of this reality. The Roman Empire, which extended its dominion over the ancient world, establishing laws and erecting grand monuments, one day became a mere relic. Likewise, the Persian Empire, a beacon of science and art, saw its might dissolve and its state fragment. These mighty nations, which seemed destined to endure eternally, fell and decayed in a natural rhythm of ascent and descent, becoming lessons and admonitions for those who follow.
Causes of Decline: Between Human Action and Natural Laws
This decline does not arise from nothing; it has roots in human conduct on one side and natural laws on the other. Injustice, corruption, internal strife, and abandonment of founding principles all signal the beginning of the end through human deeds. Yet this deterioration is also woven into nature’s pattern of renewal and change, where nothing stays constant—strength consumes itself, and the summit marks the start of the slope.
From Glory to the Path of Revival
Muslims governed the world for more than a thousand years, serving as the driving force in science, thought, and governance. They offered humanity a unique civilisation that illuminated dark ages. Now, circumstances have shifted and positions reversed. The solution lies not in lamenting ruins, but in grasping this divine law and acting accordingly. The road to revival inevitably passes through diligent perseverance, resilience amid hardships, and exhortation to truth and patience. Most crucially, it demands a conscious reading of history to extract insights and comprehend God’s wisdom in its events and vicissitudes.
Hope in a New Dawn
However long the night, dawn must arrive. However deep the darkness, the break of day is certain. The turning of days from one state to another is the eternal law governing this universe. Spring will return, and branches will bloom anew. This is no mere wishful thinking, but a truth grounded in the same divine principle that led to decline. Just as downfall was a natural consequence of its precursors, revival will be the inevitable outcome for those who seize its causes. Morning is bound to appear, as it is a divine promise and cosmic law.
Ahmad Suhaib Nadvi
Al-Emam Gazette
Email: info@al-emam.org
Al-Emam Al-Nadwi Education & Awakening Center
New Delhi, India
