Will the Islamic World Rise Again? A Reflection from the Perspective of Global Power History

When discussing the rise and fall of global powers, Muslims inevitably encounter a critical question: How can the Islamic world once again emerge as a dominant global force?

History records that Muslims once stood as global superpowers under the leadership of the Khulafa ar-Rashidun, the Umayyads, the Abbasids, and the Ottomans. These empires were not merely political entities, but also economic powerhouses and centers of intellectual civilization.

However, the current landscape has dramatically shifted. The Islamic world today appears fragmented, lagging behind in economic development, technological advancement, and geopolitical influence. What, then, is the root cause of this decline?

Many cite the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) referring to al-wahn—the love of worldly pleasures and fear of death—as the primary reason. While this diagnosis holds spiritual weight, history reveals a deeper, structural failure: the inability to adapt strategically to the major transformations that reshaped the modern world—the Maritime Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, and the Scientific Revolution.

As the global economic center shifted from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, Western nations seized control of global trade routes, built vast colonial empires, and surged ahead through industrial and technological advancements. The Islamic world, bound by outdated systems, failed to keep pace with these transformative changes.

We often emphasize the need to strengthen the “Islamic spirit” (the software), but without corresponding strength in economic, industrial, and technological foundations (the hardware), it is difficult—if not impossible—for any civilization to reclaim a dominant position.

China offers a compelling case study. After enduring what it calls the “Century of Humiliation,” China rose again by reinforcing its industrial and technological base. Likewise, Turkey, as one of the earliest Muslim-majority nations to modernize its defense and industrial sectors, exemplifies how resurgence requires a synergy of spiritual values (software) and modern capability (hardware).

Nevertheless, one fact remains unchanged: no single Muslim nation today possesses the scale and capacity to compete alone with global powers such as the United States or China. Therefore, unity and strategic cooperation among Muslim countries is not merely an ideal—it is an essential condition, albeit a difficult one, for reclaiming global prominence.