It was in 1919 that Muslims of India under the leadership of Ali brothers arose for a cause to rescue the caretaker of the Muslim Ummah the Ottoman Caliphate. The Caliphate was already vulnerable, weakened by colonialists, and was at the verge of destruction. The reasons behind the weakening of Caliphate were many including; intellectual decline, failure in industrial development, communication gaps and improper response against enemies’ plot. On the other hand Muslims in general and the Muslims of sub-continent in particular realized the significance of Islamic State i.e. Caliphate, therefore Ali brothers started first Muslims’ political movement in the subcontinent i.e. Khilafat movement to rescue the declining Caliphate.
The Khilafat movement was weakened with in because of the violent incidents committed by Congress although they assured Ali brothers to be non-violent in struggle. This troubled the pace of the Khilafat movement and disappointed Molana Muhammad Ali Johar. The final blow was made to that Khilafat movement when Kemal Ataturk announced the abolishment of Caliphate on 3rd March 1924 accordingly 28th Rajab 1342 in lunar calendar. The abolishment of Caliphate at that time put an end to the Khilafat movement is the sub continent.
However in the absence of Caliphate, there were extensive changes that were brought so easily in the Muslims lands whether it was the establishment of Israel in the midst of killing and forcing Muslims to leave the Palestinian land or occupation of other Muslim lands. Ottoman Caliphate ‘The Sick Man of Europe’ was so ethically upright and sincere with Muslims that instead of accepting Zionist proposal of huge money, the Caliphate secured Muslims of Palestine and did not allow the Zionists to buy one inch of the land of Palestine. On the contrary present reality of Muslim Rulers is evident from the truth that they are willing to offer anything when they see huge sums of dollars.
After years later on when Khilafat was destroyed different political movements arose in the world for reestablishment of Caliphate.
Now when the Muslim Ummah is suffering badly with foreign occupation and foreign interventions, and there is no political authority to sincerely put up their case in the world, the global call of Caliphate has reawakened with full passion and enthusiasm once again. The awareness of Islamic laws as viable solution to practical life is spreading massively. Additionally the political regimes in the Muslim world have failed Muslims whether it is democracy, dictatorship in Pakistan or Monarchy (One man show) in the Arab world. People are now fed up with these political manipulations to benefit the western neo-colonialists. Change of faces in these political systems is now unacceptable. The Arab uprisings are also an example of it where people are still demanding Islam as a system of life. The call of the reestablishment of Caliphate has once again reawakened in the Muslim world including Pakistan.
The article is authored by Engineer SM Waqas Imam.