THE IDEA OF THE MUSLIM WORLD Book Review - UIII Library Podcast | Moch Dimas Maulana

UIII Library Center

7 Mar 202306:21

Summary

TLDRIn this episode of the Triple IU Library podcast, a master’s student from the Faculty of Islamic Studies reviews Jamil Aydin's book, *The Idea of the Muslim World: A Global Intellectual History*. The book challenges the concept of a unified Muslim world, arguing that it is a modern political construct rather than a historical reality. Aydin explores how this narrative emerged in the 19th century through political ideologies like Pan-Islamism and colonial racism. The review highlights the book's opposition to the clash of civilizations theory and its relevance to modern global discussions about Islam and the West.

Takeaways

📚 The podcast is hosted by a Master's student from the Faculty of Islamic Studies at the Indonesian International Islamic University.
📖 The episode reviews the book *The Idea of the Muslim World: A Global Intellectual History* by Jamil Idin, published by Harvard University Press in 2017.
👨‍🏫 Jamil Idin is a professor of international/global history at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, with a focus on the historical processes shaping identities like Muslim, Asian, and African.
🌍 The book questions the concept of the 'Muslim World' and whether it is a real, unified entity, noting the diversity of languages, cultures, and political interests within the Muslim community.
🕌 Historically, the idea of a unified Muslim world never existed until the 19th century, and it emerged as a political narrative during the European colonial period.
🗓️ The concept of pan-Islamism, popularized by Sultan Abdul Hamid II in the 1870s, is seen as a response to European colonialism and led to the development of Islamophobia in the West.
⚔️ Jamil argues that the idea of a unified Muslim community was politically motivated, serving geopolitical purposes on both the Muslim and Western sides.
🤝 The book refutes the concept of a 'clash of civilizations' between Islam and the West, as promoted by scholars like Samuel Huntington, emphasizing that these conflicts were more about politics than theology.
📢 The rise of Islamist groups today is also discussed, with the book urging readers to view these movements as part of a broader political context rather than religious conflict.
📚 The book is recommended for both academic and non-academic audiences and is available at the Triple IU Library.

Q & A

What is the title of the book being reviewed in the podcast?
-The title of the book is *The Idea of the Muslim World: A Global Intellectual History* by Jamil Aydin, published by Harvard University Press in 2017.
Who is the author of the book, and what are his academic credentials?
-The author, Jamil Aydin, is a professor of international or global history at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He is interested in historical processes that shape international racial and civilizational identities such as Muslim, Asian, and African identities.
What is the main focus of Jamil Aydin's book?
-The main focus of the book is to question the existence of a unified 'Muslim World.' Aydin argues that the notion of global Muslim unity is a modern construct and was historically non-existent.
What argument does Jamil Aydin make about the 'Muslim World' narrative?
-Jamil Aydin argues that the 'Muslim World' is an illusion, a fabricated concept created by political actors in both the Muslim and Western worlds, beginning in the 19th century. It was not a historical reality but emerged as part of geopolitical objectives.
How does Jamil Aydin challenge the notion of a unified Muslim world?
-Aydin challenges the notion by pointing out that Muslims have historically lived in different regions, spoken various languages, and had distinct cultures, traditions, and political interests. There was no global Muslim unity, even during the peak of Islamic empires.
When did the idea of the 'Muslim World' start to emerge, according to the book?
-The idea of the 'Muslim World' emerged in the 19th century, particularly after 1878, during a time of European colonization and the decline of Muslim empires like the Ottoman Empire.
What role did pan-Islamism play in the development of the idea of a 'Muslim World'?
-Pan-Islamism, promoted by Sultan Abdul Hamid II of the Ottoman Empire in the 1870s, played a significant role in promoting the idea of a unified Muslim community. This idea sought to rally Muslim support against European colonizers.
What is the significance of the historical event in 1878 mentioned in the book?
-In 1878, Sultan Abdul Hamid II promoted pan-Islamism to unite Muslims after the Ottoman defeat by Russia. This effort strengthened the narrative of a global Muslim unity, which also contributed to the rise of Islamophobia in the West.
How does Jamil Aydin's book challenge the concept of a 'clash of civilizations'?
-Aydin's book opposes the idea of a clash of civilizations, such as those proposed by scholars like Samuel Huntington and Bernard Lewis. He argues that the narrative of conflict between Islam and the West is more about political power struggles disguised as religious or civilizational differences.
What conclusion does Jamil Aydin draw about the relationship between Islam and the West?
-Aydin concludes that the grand narrative of a clash between Islam and the West is false. The conflict is rooted in political and geopolitical interests, rather than a fundamental religious or civilizational divide.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Triple IU Library Podcast and the Book Review

The host introduces themselves as a master’s student at the Indonesian International Islamic University and welcomes the audience to the Triple IU Library Podcast. In this episode, the host reviews a book titled *The Idea of the Muslim World: A Global Intellectual History* by Jamil Idin, published by Harvard University Press in 2017. Jamil Idin is a professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, whose research focuses on international and civilizational identities, such as those in the Muslim world and East Asia. The book presents new perspectives on the roots of contemporary world order from the viewpoint of non-Western actors.

05:01

🌍 Exploring the Concept of the Muslim World

The book addresses the idea of the 'Muslim World,' questioning its existence and reality. Jamil Idin begins by stating that many people, both Muslims and non-Muslims, believe in global Muslim unity. However, in practice, Muslims have diverse languages, traditions, cultures, nationalities, and political interests, challenging the concept of a unified Muslim world. Through history, Islam has never seen a truly global Muslim unity. The book raises questions about when and how this idea emerged and why it continues to be a prominent narrative today.

🕌 Origins of the Idea of the Muslim World

Jamil Idin argues that the idea of the Muslim world is an illusion, a politically constructed concept. It was developed either by Muslims through the idea of Pan-Islamism in the 1870s or by Western powers through empirical racism and Islamophobia for political purposes. Before this, Muslims did not imagine a unified community. The idea emerged in the 19th century when European colonial hegemony and Muslim decline set in, following centuries of conflict and fragmentation among Islamic dynasties. Idin provides historical evidence, such as divisions within the Umayyad and Ottoman empires, to support his argument.

📜 The Rise of Pan-Islamism and Western Islamophobia

The idea of Pan-Islamism, which promotes a unified Muslim community, began in 1878 under Sultan Abdul Hamid II. This idea arose in response to the Ottoman defeat by Russia and was reinforced by fatwas from Muslim clerics encouraging resistance against Western powers. However, Idin explains that Pan-Islamism and the resulting Islamophobia were used by political actors to serve their own objectives. The book demonstrates that the narrative of a 'Clash of Civilizations' between Islam and the West is a myth, rooted in political and geopolitical interests.

⚔️ Debunking the 'Clash of Civilizations' Myth

Jamil Idin concludes by stating that the narrative of an Islamic-Western clash is a falsehood designed to further political agendas. He contrasts his view with theories like those of Samuel Huntington and Bernard Lewis, who argued for the inevitability of civilizational conflict. Instead, Idin aligns with scholars like John L. Esposito, who view the rise of Islam not as a threat but as an expression of Muslims’ contributions to global civilization. This book is especially relevant in today's context of rising Islamist movements and is recommended for both academics and the general public. The host concludes the podcast by encouraging listeners to visit the Triple IU Library for more insightful reads.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Muslim World

The 'Muslim World' refers to the concept of a unified global Muslim community, both in a religious and political sense. The video questions whether such a unified Muslim identity exists or if it is a modern construct. It explores how this idea has evolved, particularly in relation to the contrast between Islam and the West. The script suggests that the notion of the 'Muslim World' is more of an imagined narrative rather than a historical reality.

💡Pan-Islamism

Pan-Islamism is the political movement aimed at uniting Muslims under a single Islamic entity, often as a response to Western imperialism and colonialism. The script mentions how Sultan Abdul Hamid II promoted pan-Islamism in the late 19th century, particularly after the decline of the Ottoman Empire, to foster a sense of global Muslim unity. This movement is described as a catalyst for both internal Muslim solidarity and external Western fears, such as islamophobia.

💡Colonization

Colonization refers to the control or governing influence of a nation over a dependent territory. In the video, colonization is described as a critical moment in Islamic history, leading to the fragmentation and decline of Muslim powers. It highlights the role of European colonialism, particularly in the 19th century, as a turning point for Muslim societies, who began to see themselves as a unified 'Muslim World' in response to Western domination.

💡Islamophobia

Islamophobia refers to prejudice or hostility toward Islam and Muslims, often manifesting in discriminatory practices. The video discusses how islamophobia emerged in the West, particularly in response to the idea of pan-Islamism. This fear of a unified Muslim threat has shaped political narratives and continues to impact Western perceptions of Islam in contemporary times.

💡Empirical Racism

Empirical racism, as mentioned in the video, refers to the systemic racial prejudices developed during Western colonial rule, particularly through the use of science or empirical evidence to justify racial hierarchies. The script connects this to how Western powers viewed the Muslim world, using the concept to reinforce their control and to promote divisions between the West and the Muslim East.

💡Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire was one of the most powerful Islamic states, ruling large parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe from the 14th to the early 20th century. The video refers to the Ottoman Empire's role in shaping the notion of a 'Muslim World,' especially during its decline when Sultan Abdul Hamid II promoted pan-Islamism to rally global Muslim support. This historical context is key to understanding the political motivations behind modern Muslim unity.

💡Clash of Civilizations

The Clash of Civilizations is a theory that human conflicts post-Cold War would be cultural rather than ideological or economic, often centered around conflicts between the Islamic world and the West. The video critiques this theory, particularly the works of Samuel Huntington and Bernard Lewis, suggesting that the conflict between Islam and the West is not cultural but political, using theology as a mask for geopolitical interests.

💡Islamic Dynasties

Islamic dynasties, such as the Umayyads and the Ottomans, represent historical Muslim empires that ruled various parts of the world. The video discusses how these dynasties were often fractured and at odds with one another, challenging the modern narrative of a unified 'Muslim World.' These internal divisions are used as evidence against the idea of a monolithic global Muslim community.

💡Geopolitical Interests

Geopolitical interests refer to the strategic goals of nations or empires to expand or maintain power over certain regions. In the video, the concept is central to understanding why the idea of the 'Muslim World' was constructed, with both Muslim and Western actors using it to further their own political objectives. This includes the Western imperial powers and Muslim reformers who each sought to manipulate the concept for influence.

💡Sultan Abdul Hamid II

Sultan Abdul Hamid II was the 34th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, known for promoting pan-Islamism as a strategy to maintain Muslim solidarity in the face of growing Western pressures and Ottoman decline. The video explains how his promotion of a unified Muslim identity was part of a broader political effort to resist Western imperialism, particularly in the late 19th century when the Ottoman Empire was weakening.

Highlights

The podcast introduces Jamil Aydin's book 'The Idea of the Muslim World' as a key piece of intellectual history, published by Harvard University Press in 2017.

Jamil Aydin is a professor of global history at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, with research focusing on international racial and civilizational identities such as Muslim, Asian, and African.

The book challenges the existence of a unified 'Muslim World,' a notion that has become a global narrative yet lacks historical support.

Aydin critiques the idea of Muslim unity by highlighting the linguistic, cultural, and national diversity among Muslims across the world.

The historical reality, according to Aydin, shows that Muslims lived under various dynasties and never truly experienced a global unity.

The concept of the 'Muslim World' began to emerge in the 19th century, driven by European colonization and Muslim political actors such as pan-Islamism in the 1870s.

Aydin suggests that the idea of a unified 'Muslim World' is a constructed narrative for political purposes, both by Muslims and Western powers.

The book recounts events from the 7th century through the 20th century to illustrate the absence of a singular Muslim geopolitical entity.

Key historical examples include Ottoman Muslim rule supported by the British over Christian subjects, indicating fluid alliances beyond the East-West dichotomy.

In 1878, the pan-Islamism promoted by Sultan Abdul Hamid II marked the beginning of a narrative that strengthened Western Islamophobia.

Fatwas issued by Ottoman clerics encouraging revolt against colonial powers like Russia, France, and Britain further fueled this notion of Muslim unity.

Aydin argues that the idea of a clash between Islam and the West is a politically motivated myth, opposing the civilizational clash theories by thinkers like Samuel Huntington.

The book positions itself in line with scholars like John L. Esposito, who argue that the rise of Islam should not be seen as a threat but rather as a contribution to global civilization.

The narrative of Islam as a unified geopolitical community versus the West, Aydin argues, has perpetuated mutual suspicion and hindered cooperation between East and West.

The podcast concludes by recommending the book as essential reading for academics and non-academics, especially in the context of rising Islamist movements in the modern world.