🌍

Shahid Bolsen: Muslim Unity

Nov 13, 2024

Muslim Unity and Western Influence

Introduction

  • Speaker addresses the concept of unity within the Muslim Ummah.
  • Identifies how some use the call for unity as a divide-and-rule tactic.

Division and Unity

  • Claims that some overstress division to perpetuate it.
  • Suggests the narrative of division is similar from non-Muslims and serves Western interests.

State of the Muslim World

  • Argues that the Muslim world is more united now than it has been in decades.
  • Highlights decreasing Western influence in the Muslim world as a factor in reducing division.

Examples of Unity

  • Muslim countries are mending relationships and strengthening ties (e.g., Iran with Saudi Arabia, Egypt with Turkey).
  • Partnerships in BRICS as evidence of unity and anti-Western stance.

Criticism of Muslims in the West

  • Some Muslims in the West fail to recognize or acknowledge the unity.
  • Western Muslims are accused of aligning with Western narratives, amplifying divisions.

Western Tactics

  • The West uses media and propaganda to incite distrust in Muslim leadership.
  • Attempts to redirect Muslim anger towards their own leaders instead of the West.

Power and Sovereignty

  • Muslim leaders are gaining sovereignty and independence from Western influence.
  • Economy and alliances within the Muslim world are growing.

Perception of Muslim Leaders

  • Western Muslims are criticized for undermining Muslim leadership.
  • The speaker argues that Muslim leaders are better than Western leaders despite imperfections.

Strategic Moves by Muslim Leaders

  • Muslim countries are strategically isolating the West and reinforcing their own power.
  • There is a global movement to reclaim control from Western powers.

Critique of Western Influence

  • Western education and media have instilled certain biases and bad habits.
  • Criticism of reliance on violence and protest as the only means of change.

Call to Action

  • Encourages Muslims to support their leaders, understand the geopolitical strategies in play.
  • Discourages public criticism that aligns with Western divisive tactics.

Conclusion

  • Stresses the importance of global Muslim unity and solidarity.
  • Recommends aligning with Muslim leaders and being proud of their achievements against Western imperialism.

Powerful Quotes

if you're interested in understanding the speaker's criticism of Western influence, the quote "Because they're not doing it with Kalashnikovs in balaclavas, some of you can't see what's happening." really captures the point that Western-influenced thinking often reduces actions to violence.

if you want a more general call to action, then "Don't let them turn you against your own. Don't fall for that trap." is very powerful and directly challenges the listeners to consider their own position.

Justification to Being Dumb/Diabolical

The speaker uses the terms "dumb" or "diabolical" as a rhetorical device to emphasize the absurdity of criticizing Muslim leaders while failing to recognize their actions. There are several quotes that contribute to this argument:

  • "Only two types. Just two types of people. They're either enemies. or they're idiots. Because how dumb do you have to be, honestly, to be sitting over there in the West, cut off from two billion Muslims..." This sets up the dichotomy between the two options and introduces the idea of being "dumb" due to ignorance or willful blindness.
  • "...and you want to alienate yourselves and you want to take a tone of enmity against those Muslim powers, against the Muslims who run our countries, who control our economies, who command our militaries, and who hold actual power. You want to cut yourself off. and you want to incite us against basically our own real world assets." This reinforces the idea that criticizing these leaders is self-destructive and demonstrates a lack of understanding of power dynamics.
  • "It's just like Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said in the Quran. They wouldn't add anything to you except for weakness. And that's all they are doing." This quote connects the idea of being "dumb" with the idea of being harmful to the Ummah, as the speaker argues that those who criticize Muslim leaders are essentially weakening the community.
  • "When you attack our leaders publicly, when you spread animosity towards them, you're giving the West exactly what they want. A divided people. A people with no stronghold. You're making yourselves weaker. and you're doing their work for them." This quote further connects the act of criticism with the act of aiding the West's divisive strategy.

The speaker uses these quotes to paint a picture of those who criticize Muslim leaders as either intentionally working against the Ummah or simply too ignorant to understand what's happening. The term "diabolical" suggests a deliberate intent to harm, while "dumb" highlights a lack of knowledge or understanding.