Islamic Unity is a world view that aims to establish unity, solidarity and solidarity among Muslims all over the world and to make Islam dominant in all economic, political, social and cultural areas of societies. As a search for a solution to get rid of backwardness in the face of the Western world, it started to be voiced and discussed loudly and again by the Ottoman, Indian and Egyptian intellectuals in the second half of the nineteenth century. This idea, in brief, is based on the theses that envisage Islamic unity based on the fact that Islam is a religion that will determine the way people view the world in the face of modern developments, has a universal political and social content that can be dominated in all areas of life, and perceives all Muslims as brothers and sisters.

The late Ottoman thinkers and writers of the 1330s defined Islamic Unity as follows: 'It is the unification of efforts to protect, strengthen and educate the ideas of ittihad (unity) that exist among Muslims in anticipation of a freer future. Islam is not a sect but a social religion, an international brotherhood, a spiritual general nationality."[1]

In recent years, the fact that many Islamic countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine have been subjected to various invasions and attacks by Western exploiters, thousands of innocent Muslims have been massacred by trampling on Islam's great lands, and the increase in terrorist incidents and a series of negative developments in our society have caused the ideal of Islamic Unity to be brought to our agenda in a sociologically serious way. Theoretically, the idea of Islamic Unity, which is of great importance for the future of the Islamic world, has significant obstacles both inside and outside in many intellectual, political, moral, social and cultural fields. Due to their importance, these obstacles are analysed in separate sections as internal diseases and external factors.

Islamic unity is unity of belief and brotherhood of faith. It is the fulfilment of the requirements of the brotherhood of faith. Believers are only brothers and whatever is necessary for brotherhood must be done.

Believers are only brothers. Therefore, Islamic unity is unity of heart, unity of ideas and unity of ideals. And this is possible within freedom. Where there is no freedom, there can be no unity of opinion, unity of heart or brotherhood. Islamic unity is solidarity and solidarity. It is political, economic and cultural unity. It is cooperation in science and technique. It is sharing underground and aboveground resources.

Islamic unity is unity of goal and ideal, unity of science and culture, unity of action and activity, and political and economic unity. Unity of goal and purpose results in locking on the same target. Unity of knowledge and culture leads to common thinking. Unity of activity ensures coexistence. Political and economic unity means unity of power.

Islamic unity is the command of the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah. Allah Almighty "Cling to the rope of Allah, all of you. Do not be divided...!"[2] With the verse, He has ordered this unity clearly and explicitly. Our Prophet (s.a.v.) has hundreds of recommendations on this subject. Islamic unity means unity of common belief, contemplation and knowledge. In this regard, Bediuzzaman says, 'Tawhid-i iman of course demands tawhid-i kulûb. Even wahdat-i faith necessitates wahdat-i içtimaiyya.' He says.[3]

Islamic unity is a requirement of religious unity. It is a requirement of religion. It is the realisation of the command of the Prophet (SAW) and the establishment of the brotherhood of faith. The Prophet (SAW) advised the believers as follows: "I swear by Allah, Who is in the power of my soul, that you will not enter Paradise unless you believe. You have not truly believed unless you love one another. Shall I tell you what you will love one another when you do it? Spread peace among you!"[4]

"The likeness of the believers in loving one another, having mercy on one another and compassion for one another is like the likeness of a body. If one limb of the body is disturbed, the other limbs share in its suffering and suffer from sleeplessness and pain."[5]

"Do not harbour any suspicion, for suspicion is the most false of words. Do not seek each other's faults. Do not compete with each other, do not envy each other, do not be hostile to each other. Do not turn your backs on each other. O servants of Allah, be brothers." "The Muslim is the brother of the Muslim. He does not oppress him and does not betray him, does not deprive him and does not insult him. It is enough for a person to insult his Muslim brother as a sin. A Muslim's blood, property and honour are forbidden to another Muslim and he is obliged to protect them and cannot touch them."

"It is not lawful for a Muslim to sulk with his brother for more than three days. Allah does not look at your forms and moulds, but at your hearts. Taqwa is the fear of Allah and is in the heart. The Arab has no superiority over the Persian. The honour is in taqwa. The most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is the one who fears Allah the most."[6]

"Do not despise anything from Ma'ruft, from goodness, even if it is to greet your brother with a smiling face! When you buy something, do not forget to give a handful to your neighbour in need!" [7]

Islamic unity is economic co-operation. It is the utilisation and sharing of economic underground and aboveground resources. Islamic unity is political unity. Our Prophet (PBUH) ensured political unity in Medina with the "Medina Convention" . As a model, Asr-ı Saadet has been a model for many political formations. It has been a source of inspiration for Muslims throughout history. This, of course, will continue to be a source of inspiration for Islamic countries.

In history "Unity of Islam" it has not been easy for the ideal to be fully realised. After the struggle of Jalalettin Harzemshah and Mamluks against Genghis and Hülagu, Saladin-i Eyyubi and Kılıçarslan against the crusaders, this ideal dominated the world of knowledge and ideas of Muslims and became a great need. Finally, the ideal of Islamic unity led many Islamic nations to unite around the Ottoman Empire. After the conquest of Istanbul, many Tevaif-i Mülûk states were united to the Ottoman Empire. Because the belief of the Muslims that the unity of the Muslims would be achieved around the Ottoman Empire earned "the praise of the Prophet to the commander and soldier who conquered Istanbul", and this ensured the trust of the Muslims in the Ottoman Empire. Therefore, those who were devoted to Islamic unity said, "It is better to be a soldier in the Ottoman Empire than a bey in my state". Yavuz Sultan Selim's realisation of the "Ideal of Islamic Unity" ensured the loyalty of Kurds, Arabs and Persians to the Ottoman Empire. Later, this ideal also ensured the loyalty of the African conqueror Barboros Hayrettin Pasha to the Ottoman Empire. Unity-Islam is not the product of a dry cause and an empty claim.

It is not correct to say that nothing has been done on the road to Unity-Islam. After the Ottoman Empire, Muslim countries first came together on 8 July 1937 at the Sadabad Palace in Tehran by signing the "Sadabad Pact" between Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan. This pact was dissolved in 1979 after the regime change in Iran. On 22 March 1942, the Arab League was established. However, since this was a union based on race, it was not strong and effective.

On 24 February 1955, the Baghdad Pact was established between Turkey and Iraq. On 23 September 1955, Pakistan and on 3 November 1955, Iran became members of this pact. Britain and America also strengthened this pact. The aim was to prevent Russia's expansionist policies. On 14 July 1958, there was a revolution in Iraq. On 24 March 1959, Iraq officially announced its withdrawal from the Baghdad Pact. On 18 August 1959, the name of the Baghdad Pact was changed to "Central Treaty Organisation" or CENTO. On 27 May 1960, there was a revolution in Turkey. This organisation, which lasted for 20 years, came to an end on 12 March 1979 with the secession of Pakistan and Iran.

On 21 August 1969, after the arson of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Islamic Conference Organisation (OIC) was established in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, in September 1969 with the gathering of 50 Islamic countries. Turkey became a full member of this organisation at the Istanbul summit in 1976. Today, 57 Islamic countries are members of this organisation. However, although it is the largest organisation of the Islamic world, it has not become an effective power and has not been able to show an important international presence.

In 1991, after the collapse of Russia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan gained their independence. The Republic of Turkey was caught unprepared for this situation and therefore could not act as a big brother to these brothers. It could not establish a unity with them.

On 15 June 1997, a new economic alliance was established in Istanbul with the gathering of the heads of government of Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt and Nigeria. Under the leadership of Turkish Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan, this organisation, which was understood as an alternative to the G-7 (USA, Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Germany, Italy, Japan), the 7 richest countries in the world, and called D-8, does not seem to be very effective today.

Since the unity and solidarity of Muslims is the commandment of religion and the dream and ideal of all Muslims, it will always continue in the hearts of Muslims. If not today, this unity will definitely be achieved tomorrow. However, this unity must arise from a need and a sincere philosophy of serving all humanity, so that it is in accordance with Allah's consent and "religion/Qur'an being mercy to all humanity". For this reason, it will be the result of a service race away from competition, benefit sharing and power struggle. It is a matter that should be far from grudges, interest sharing and revenge feelings. For this reason, the ideal of Islamic Unity must not be subjected to all kinds of interests and political conflicts. Otherwise it will fail.

Today, the largest organisation of Islamic countries is the OIC (Islamic Conference Organisation), which was established in 1969 and has 57 Islamic countries as members. However, the reason why it cannot pursue an effective policy in the world is that the giant countries such as the USA, England, France, Russia and China, which are the most effective members of the UN, do not want to give opportunity and opportunity to the "Union of Muslims". In addition, the OIC does not have a strong leader country that determines the policies of the OIC, does not have a security council and an effective military power like the UN, and does not have a strong economy like the G-7. The most important reason is that it is not based on "scientific and intellectual foundations" so as not to be a tool for the political and economic interests and conflicts that I have specifically mentioned above.

Since Islamic unity is a union of religion and brotherhood, it is not an obstacle to regional unions such as the Turkish Union, the Arab League and the European Union, nor to international unions such as NATO and the UN. It is also not an obstacle to unions such as the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Assembly established in 1992.

Today, the Islamic world is going through a period similar to the period of the Mongol invasion and the attacks of the Crusaders. The end of this period will be the beginning of Islamic Unity. Because 'time does not move in a straight line' and therefore 'history repeats itself'. The Genghis and Hülagü sedition wiped out the Khwarzemshahs and burnt Baghdad to the ground; but it also wiped out the "Hashashashi/Ismaili Terrorist Organisation" created by Hasan Sabbah.

Islamic Unity is "Musharah and Shura". Allah Almighty says, "The affairs of the believers in the world are by consultation and shura."[8] . This verse commands shura as a basis. Bediuzzaman sees Muslims' acting with shuras as 'the key to their happiness in the life of Islam'. Just as mankind has created this civilisation by taking good ideas by means of "telhuk-u efkar" through centuries and through history, it will create the "Islamic Civilisation" by acting with common sense through meşveret and shuras. For this reason, 'The miftah of the fortune of Asia is meşveret and shura.' 'The discovery of the Asian continent and its future is meşveret and shura.' Individuals should make this consultation with each other, as well as tribes, nations and continents. The most important starting point that will untie the shackles of one and a half billion Muslims today is

The two most important members of meşveret-i legitima, which is the basis and foundation of Islamic unity, are 'the Arabs and Turks, who have given their hearts to Islam, which is the essence and spirit of our true nationality, and who have served Islam for centuries, are two true brothers. Islam makes these two nations a single tribe. They should be a good example for other nations by helping each other spiritually and materially. (Hutba-i Şamiye, p. 350)

As a result, Islamic unity is not the unification of states and the unification of borders. Nor is it the dream of a single state. Islamic unity is unity of religion and belief, of purpose and ideal. It is a unity of ideas and ideals. Islamic unity is not a political formation, nor is it a political approach. Islamic unity is the realisation of the principle 'Believers are brothers; non-Muslims are equal in humanity'.

In this website, the subject of Islamic Unity has been examined scientifically in all its aspects and the subject has been tried to be better understood by quoting from books, treatises and articles written recently on this subject. The latest version of the constitution of the OIC (now the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation), which aims to achieve Islamic Unity, has been translated from the Arabic text and included here as a section. The real aim is to transform the Islamic Union into a fully effective and authorised institution and a 'Union' by expanding and changing the current status of the OIC from 'Cooperation'. For this purpose, a section titled 'Draft Articles of Association of the Islamic Union' has been prepared. Those who wish to express their opinions and make proposals on this section can send them to our e-mail address. Today's Islamic countries with all their aspects and potentials have been analysed in a separate chapter and the power of the Islamic Union has been tried to be revealed.

Today, more than ever, the Islamic world is in need of the establishment and operation of the Islamic Union as an effective and authorised institution. For this, every Muslim should do his/her duty without delay and the issue should be constantly kept on the agenda. We have prepared this website to serve this goal and purpose. We are trying to complete the missing sections. The articles on our site can be taken and used without disturbing the integrity of text and meaning.

Tawfiq is from Allah.

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[1]  Ittihad-ı islâm, Celal Nuri, H.1331.

[2]  Surah Al-Imran, 3/103.

[3]  Mektubat, Bediuzzaman.

[4]  Muslim, Iman, 93; Abu Dawud, Edeb, 142; Tirmidhi, Isti'zan, 1)

[5] Bukhari, Edeb, 27; Muslim, Birr, 66.

[6] Bukhari, Nikah, 45, Edeb, 57, 58, Feraiz, 2; Muslim, Birr, 28-34; Abu Dawud, Edeb, 40, 56; Tirmidhi, Birr,18

[7]  Tirmidhi, Et'ime, 30)

[8]  Surah al-Shûra, 42/38.