A research institute that aims to empower Muslims toward the realization of a unified Islamic civilization for the benefit of the Umma and humanity at large.
Ummatic Solidarity is the need of the time – Shaykh Dr. Omar Suleiman | Ummatics Conference 2024
@omarsuleiman504
We are proud to present Shaykh Dr. Omar Suleiman's keynote speech in which he explores the critical importance of unity within the global Muslim community today in
The majority of “Islamic education,” as practiced today, is fundamentally based on a secular perspective of education.
Islamic education is often reduced to the narrow understanding of Sharia, excluding sciences, social sciences, and other specializations, leaving their content
Gaza: The Umma Beyond the Crisis
The current conflict in Gaza has demonstrated that Muslim Ummatic sentiments are alive and vibrant. Muslims from around the world, including those residing in non-Muslim majority countries, have taken to the streets to support their fellow Muslims
❝Less well known is the fact that around 8,000 Bangladeshi young people volunteered to fight for Palestinian liberation after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982.❞
Excerpt from Islam Beyond Borders: Building Ummatic Solidarity in the 21st Century.
Read on:
Old Bangladeshi stamps eulogising Al-Aqsa and Palestinian resistance fighters.
Proud that the Muslims of my motherland have always stood in solidarity with their Palestinian brothers and sisters.
You’ll find similar expressions of Palestine solidarity in every Muslim country.
Before modern nation-states, Muslims could freely travel from Sarajevo to Cairo, Istanbul, or Mecca and Medina. There were no borders. We must first overcome this notion mentally in order to unify.
Please join us for our next colloquium on Wednesday, June 22 featuring Dr. Asim Qureshi. Dr. Qureshi will present on his essay, ‘The Case against Islamism’ (2022), with responses from Dr. Shadi Hamid, Dr. Khadijah Elshayyal, and Dr. Usaama Al-Azami.
How have modern Muslim nation-states circumvented governmental accountability and prevented ummatic unity?
1. Rentierism: the reliance on oil and gas exports, with little to no taxation, contributes to corruption and a lack of accountability from constituents.
The stage at the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) is set. We are excited to get started on what will be a series of significant discussions on the topic of the Ummah, such as:
Is Muslim political and economic unification a realistic objective?
Ummatics is proud to announce the 2024 Annual Conference: Towards an Ummatic Future to be held July 24-25
"Ummatics" is an emerging concept in Muslim sociopolitical discourse but one that seeks to revive age-old ideas and practices. This conference aims to explore the "what",
Muslims have a unique covenant with Allahﷻ Replacing loyalty to Allah and the believers with that to nation-states and riba-based economies only leads to a double humiliation: humiliation in this life and in the next.
Launching the Ummatics Institute's 2023 Inaugural Conference: Umma Beyond the Nation-State: Imagination, Solidarity, Praxis" with the opening ceremony and keynote presentation. We look forward to a productive and fulfilling conference, insha'Allah.
On behalf of the Ummatics Institute, Eid Mubarak! We ask Allah ﷻ to shower His blessings on the Umma.
We are excited to announce that registration is now open for Ummatics' First Annual Conference: "Umma Beyond the Nation-State: Imagination, Solidarity, Praxis" to be held June
On the emergence of a "theology of domination" in the 20th century—from Dr. Ovamir Anjum's discussion on Rebellion in Islam with
@freemonotheist
. Full interview on Blogging Theology:
Contemporary Islamic Finance: Halal Pork Soup
@jamelakbar
explains that the wealth accumulated within a capitalist framework taints attempts to create an Islamic economy. What we often call Islamic finance is, in reality, a conventional capitalist system with an injection of
Dr. Ovamir Anjum on the end of the East-West dichotomy: "A few elites in every country have become billionaires and the masses of humanity everywhere are dispossessed—dispossessed not only of meaningful wealth and prospects, but of their humanity, of meaning, of respect, of
April Colloquium
Qas Al-Haq: An Alternative to Capitalism, Nation-State
with
@jamelakbar
Theorist and Professor of Architecture
Human life on Earth is unsustainable if humanity continues along the same path. The dominance of the nation-state, coupled with capitalism, results in
Today marks 100 years since the Muslim ummah has been without a caliphate. The loss of the Ottoman Caliphate after the First World War sent convulsive waves of shock and lament throughout the lands of Islam which, notwithstanding some discontinuities, the Muslim world had been
On the emergence of a "theology of domination" in the 20th century—from Dr. Ovamir Anjum's discussion on Rebellion in Islam with
@freemonotheist
Full interview on Blogging Theology:
Announcing the Ummatics Institute’s Seminar on Ummatic Political Analysis (SUPA)
An 8-week seminar with the goal of empowering engaged Muslims with the essential skills and methodologies for conducting concise, meaningful, and impactful political analysis, engaging effectively
It is only when we look beyond models of unity such as the nation-state that we can truly be ummatic.
@khanfarw
speaks at our latest colloquium: Gaza: The Umma Beyond Crisis
Watch the full colloquium here:
❝Why coin a new term 'Ummatics'?
Why not just speak of Islamic politics?
Because words are crucial in both understanding and obscuring ideas, and as Muslims taking charge of our language is a first step towards taking control of our destiny...❞
University of Oxford Middle
Are Muslims already ummatic in their ways of thinking and being, and in what ways is this apparent? A thread:
1. Most Muslims are transnationalist in their outlook and express solidarity with their coreligionists through everyday interactions, conversations, and prayer.
For our March colloquium (3/15 @ 1:00 PM EST), we welcome Dr. Salman Sayyid, who will be discussing his book, Recalling the Caliphate: Decolonization and World Order, and relating it to the Ummatics' context. Register here:
In our previous colloquium, we discussed the role media plays in the development of Ummatic sentiment among Muslims worldwide. We discussed the challenges caused by the rise of Islamophobia and censorship.
In this Colloquium, we will focus on the agency of the Muslim public in
Call For Mentee and Mentor Applicants | Ummatics Mentorship Program
Many students aspire to pursue PhD studies and academic careers in the humanities and social sciences. However, some of these motivated students have the skills and aptitude but lack the resources and
" We believe that the umma is already ummatic, meaning Muslims do already have a strong sentiment for other Muslims naturally everywhere. But institutionally, we live in a world that does not allow expression of those beliefs, morals and virtues "
Full lecture:
❝An ummatic joint citizenship would theoretically solve the problem of refuge since displaced people would automatically be equal citizens in any region of the Muslim world.❞
❝Geographical borders which restrict the movement of refugees, Muslim or non-Muslim, are antithetical
Hundreds of Indonesian university students stormed a refugee shelter, forcefully evicting Rohingya refugees and demanding their immediate deportation. Footage showed Rohingya women and children being forced to sit on the ground in tears. At the same time, the mob trampled over
Imam Dr. Omar Suleiman
@omarsuleiman504
shares his poignant reflections on ummatic solidarity and consciousness, punctuated by his recent visit to Bosnia.
.
@profjkaminski
concludes: "For Muslims to reclaim ummatic agency, it is time to think outside the box" which includes "theorizing and eventually forging new paths that go beyond the confines of the nation-state as we currently know it." Read the paper:
New series
Dr. Israr Ahmed: Life & Thought
With Dr. Ovamir Anjum and Dr. Yousuf Raza
A four-part series offering an insight into the legacy of a heavyweight Da'ee of our time, the late Dr. Israr Ahmed.
Dr. Yousuf Raza is a consultant and psychiatrist pursuing his PhD in
CALL FOR ESSAYS: The Ummatics Colloquium website is seeking essays (of approx. 1500 words) that articulate the imperative, urgency, and challenges of an ummah-centered imagination for Muslims. Essays may emphasize religious, social, or political dimensions.
The Ummatics Annual Conference 2024 in Kuala Lumpur was a great success, a rich program filled with enlightening talks from scholars and academics who are passionate about the critical issues of the Umma today.
Stay tuned for the recordings.
May Colloquium
Part II: Qas Al-Haq: An Alternative to Capitalism & Nation-State
with Dr. Jamel Akbar, Theorist and Professor of Architecture
Following the resounding success of last month’s talk, we are thrilled to welcome back
@jamelakbar
for another insightful session. Dive
"Love with the attempt to obey." -
@DrShadeeElmasry
True success in reestablishing the Khilafah begins with hearts enraptured with Allah and His messenger. Without this foundational love and commitment, all philosophies are futile. When this condition is met, Allah provides
Dr.
@AsimCP
on the popular use of the term ‘Islamism’ and why we should abandon it:
“The term is simultaneously violent and meaningless in its operations. It’s violent in its impact on our lived reality, and also meaningless because it’s so amorphous in its nature and use.”
We are pleased to announce the Ummatics Institute's first research publication by Dr. Joseph Kaminski
@profjkaminski
titled, "Irredeemable Failure: the Modern Nation-State as a Nullifier of Ummatic Unity."
For the last 18 months, the Ummatics Colloquium has proudly organized 10 events that brought together a range of international scholars to earnestly and critically discuss a variety of ummatic topics.
One of the great shifts we have seen in recent times is that Israel is losing its monopoly over the narrative on Palestine, and it is losing it precisely because of a new generation of Palestinians who are confronting it and the Umma who has been instrumental in amplifying the
Yesterday we stood against the two-party nightmare and nearly won, falling short by only 528 votes, I received 15,119 and the Labour Party’s Wes Streeting 15,647. He had all the money and party machinery behind him. We built a beautiful people-powered movement.
To stay updated
We look forward to resuming our monthly Ummatics colloquium. On May 7, we will welcome Dr. Khairudin Aljunied
@KAljunied
(Associate Professor at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, National University of Singapore) who will be discussing his recently published book,
❝A word loaded like no other, “caliphate” summons deep memories and desires for some and ominous fears for others. For some fourteen centuries, notwithstanding some discontinuities, the Muslim world had been synonymous with the caliphate.
The loss of the Ottoman Caliphate
❝Muslims now live in nation-states, most of which are ruled by non-representative potentates, self-appointed kings, and presidents who come to power with 95% votes.
These states remain unmoved by the heart-wrenching suffering of believers in Palestine, Kashmir, East Turkestan,
In summary, Muslims are being violently attacked or ethnically cleansed by nation-state backed non-Muslims in:
-Myanmar
-Kashmir
-Sri Lanka
-China
-India
-Palestine
-The Philippines
-Elsewhere
But you think Islam is violent?
Dr. Asim Qureshi
@AsimCP
: the use of the word 'Islamism' has colonial roots and produces a false political dichotomy, which allows the use of religious discourse in order to maintain the status quo of despotic nation states. Full paper (and summary) here:
Sami Hamdi,
@SALHACHIMI
, provides insights into the intricacies of Muslim nation-states, initial ummatic aspirations, oft-forgotten historical significances, and challenges to and deviations from their inceptions.
Istanbul Seminar:
Is Palestine a Muslim Issue?
This Friday. in collaboration with AKDAV Dr Ovamir Anjum will be presenting on the issue of Palestine, with a focus on responsibilities of advocation.
Is it an Islamic cause, or a wider global one?
Friday November 17th, at 6:00 PM.
❝Anyone who can contribute financially should do so. Those who can provide medical care, write an article, or offer media support are obligated to do so. Every individual who has the ability to contribute is not exempted except by their actual contribution.❞
Shaykh Muhammad
❝Muslims now live in nation-states, most of which are ruled by non-representative potentates, self-appointed kings, and presidents who come to power with 95% votes. These states remain unmoved by the heart-wrenching suffering of believers in Palestine, Kashmir, East Turkestan,
Dr. Asim Qureshi
@AsimCP
: the use of the word 'Islamism' has colonial roots and produces a false political dichotomy, which allows the use of religious discourse in order to maintain the status quo of despotic nation-states. Full paper (and summary) here:
On institutional variety within Islamic history and the caliphate as representing “continuity to the Prophet [peace be upon him] and Muslims globally”— from interview with
@freemonotheist
on Blogging Theology:
❝The Palestinian cause has been boosted by high-profile celebrities and politicians voicing their support. In 2021, former Prime Minister Imran Khan joined millions of Twitter users who promoted a campaign to express messages of support for Palestinians attacked by the Israeli
However, Islam is intended to shape the Muslim perspectives on all aspects of life, including science, social science, and all other fields. A Muslim architect should inherently consider urban design from an Islamic perspective, ensuring environmental preservation, privacy
Classical Texts on Imamate, Sharia Governance and Politics: A Series of Annotated Translations
A key aspect of ummatics is the theorization of politics and the political in a way that reflects Islamic normative theory and incorporates the empirical insights of modern political
"The Ummatics Institute’s research program over the next several years seeks to achieve the following interconnected goals:
i ) Expand its reach across a broad range of Muslim scholars and experts globally
ii ) Develop relevant areas of knowledge and technique, drawing on
I am a strong supporter of a modern Caliphate. A Caliphate represents the collective political will of Muslims. But we must be careful when positing it as a 'solution' to Gaza. A Caliphate could not confront Israel and the US by its mere presence.
The Muslim Umma today is marked by a paradoxical situation of great possibility and massive dispossession. Muslims are more numerous, educated, connected, and resourceful than ever before—and deeply divided, among other factors, by the borders of the (post-)colonial nation-state.
About Ummatics.
What defines Ummatics and its tangible contributions? Why does such an organization hold relevance and purpose in today's landscape?
A thread 🧵
1/7
Our next colloquium will be held next Wednesday, 11/30 and will feature
@profjkaminski
who will present his first paper for the Ummatics Institute, titled "Irredeemable Failure: The Modern Nation-State as a Nullifier of Ummatic Unity." Register here:
We sincerely thank
@oxfordMec
for graciously hosting Dr. Ovamir Anjum to speak about Ummatics, and all those who attended. We look forward to staying in touch.
Ummatics is currently seeking applications for Research and Outreach Assistants. Aspiring academics are especially encouraged to apply. Full description and application here:
Pakistan was founded upon a promise and commitment to the Islamic faith, but today's manifestations in the country are a steep departure from what Islam stands for.
Dr Israr believed that this failure is only to be expected, as Allah in the Qur'an speaks about a people who, when
وَلَا تَحۡسَبَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَـٰفِلًا عَمَّا یَعۡمَلُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَۚ إِنَّمَا یُؤَخِّرُهُمۡ لِیَوۡمࣲ تَشۡخَصُ فِیهِ ٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرُ
“Do not think ˹O Prophet˺ that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them until a Day when ˹their˺ eyes will stare in horror.”
New Publication:
Islam: A Revolt Against the Meta-Order
By Ali Harfouch
@asharfouch
❝ Tawhīd entails the affirmation of the absolute oneness and uniqueness of God, the absolute, necessary creator whose act of perpetual creation generates and sustains all that is in the world,
In an attempt to shed light on the thoughts, emotions, and faith-based responses of Muslims around the globe,
@yaqeeninstitute
surveyed 1800+ English-speaking Muslims.
❝Globally, Muslims are in agreement that the assault on Gaza has awoken the Muslim spirit and united the
❝In essence, the Abraham Accords force Muslim-majority states to play the game and embrace the secularized, nation-state identity as their primary unit of identification. To join them is to formally and definitively shed one’s transnational Islamic identity as their primary
The Abraham Accords aim to normalise relationships with Israel 🇮🇱 & Muslim countries. Bahrain 🇧🇭, United Arab Emirates🇦🇪, Morocco🇲🇦 & Sudan 🇸🇩 have signed.
Astonishingly in Dubai they are lighting the 9 candles for
#Hannukah2023
. Jews sit in restaurants wearing kipas too.
Hat
New publication: announcing the first of a series of publications on Classical Texts on Sharia Governance and Politics (a series of annotated translations):
"Shāfiʿī Jurists and Legal Theorists on the Imāmate," authored by Shaykh
@YousefWahb
This short piece presents five
❝It was under these circumstances that the Prophet was given the keys of Syro-Palestine (al-Shām) and he saw its red palaces when he struck the boulder obstructing the digging of the trench. And he was given the keys to Persia and shown the white palace of Madāʾin when he struck
A Miracle of RasullAllah ﷺ
THREAD
Jabir رضي الله عنه reported:
On the day of the battle of Al-Khandaq (the Trench), we were digging the trench when a very hard boulder came in our way.
We need to think about why Israeli violence is described in clinical, detached terms, while the same is untrue of Palestinian violence, and about Western media coverage about Palestine, including what language gets used to describe the events in Palestine.
It is incumbent upon
With such a comprehensive understanding of Islamic education, the mindset of a Muslim graduate would bridge the gap between Sharia and secular specializations; Sharia would become the foundation from which they comprehend the world, develop new theories in different fields and
December Colloquium | Waqf: Muslim Civil Society vs. the Nation-state
Civil society organizations played a key role in Islamic political history vis-à-vis the central ruling authority, providing essential services to the public and sometimes acting to check and balance the power
❝Governments of non-Muslim countries facing Muslim opposition – whether the Russians in Chechnya, India in Kashmir, Israel in Palestine, and China in the Xinjiang region – they enthusiastically embraced the war on terror doctrine for their counterinsurgency and weaponized it
The majority of contemporary work on Islam's vision of society and polity invest into the topic from decolonial and anti-western perspectives. The Islamic vision on these debates is far greater than this traditional otherness. Islam proposes its very own comprehensive system for
Dr. Salman Sayyid: “The hegemony of liberalism and liberal thought has become so deeply developed that we cannot think beyond its term, its limits when we try and think politically, and that has monumental consequences."
“Verily, this Umma of yours is one Umma, and I am your Lord, so worship Me” (21:92)
Ramadan Mubarak from the Ummatics Institute. We ask Allah ﷻ to shower His blessings upon and strengthen the Umma and enable us to achieve true unity and solidarity for His sake.
"Whoever wants to cry about the state of the Islamic Ummah, let him sit at home and cry until his bed gets wet. This world does not have mercy on the weak and does not grieve those who cry. You have to stand up, have a project, and have a role. Don't waste your time and give
In this thread, we highlight some quotes from Asim Ayub's (
@Asim_TAA
) paper:
“Late Ḥanafī Authorities on the
Imamate”
This paper is part of our series: “Classical Texts on Imamate, Sharia Governance and Politics”.
1/6
Ummatics is proud to announce the 2024 Annual Conference: Towards an Ummatic Future to be held July 24-25
"Ummatics" is an emerging concept in Muslim sociopolitical discourse but one that seeks to revive age-old ideas and practices. This conference aims to explore the "what",
The Umma as both a spiritual and geopolitical reality transcending borders is the greatest source of our protection as a collective.
@khanfarw
speaks at our colloquium Gaza: The Umma Beyond the Crisis. Watch the full colloquium here:
From
@DrKElshayyal
on the deployment of the term 'Islamism' in the UK counter-extremism industry: 'Islamism' is "considered undesirable and potentially destabilizing to a project of a loyal and deferential Islam to the nation-state.”
Yesterday, Ummatics Research Operations Manager
@UthmanB
joined Dr.
@YasirQadhi
and Imam Tom Facchine for a discussion on "Establishing the Khilāfah: Between Theology and Pragmatism." Watch here:
He is recognized for his efforts to develop the first recognized Masters' level degree program on Islamic education within the UK higher education system. His significant contributions include the book “New Directions in Islamic Education: Pedagogy and Identity Formation,” and he
Consequently, Muslim students graduate facing a dichotomy: become an Islamic scholar with a limited focus on Sharia, mainly on fiqh and aqeeda, or become a professional or scientist, distancing themselves from the Shariah they studied, which appears irrelevant to their fields.
The Ummatics Institute is delighted to welcome Dr. Abdullah Sahin to our June Colloquium to speak on the topic of 'Redefining Islamic Education towards an Ummatic Identity'.
The discussion and subsequent Q&A session will be moderated by Dr. Usaama Al-Azami.
Register:
❝Only in times of crisis, such as the Israeli occupation of Palestine, would the pan-Islamic sentiment find a vent.
In the era of statism (1940s–80s), the Islamic movements mobilized the masses to take the helms of various states. They often failed, and where they succeeded,
Gaza: The Umma Beyond the Crisis
The current conflict in Gaza has demonstrated that Muslim Ummatic sentiments are alive and vibrant. Muslims from around the world, including those residing in non-Muslim majority countries, have taken to the streets to support their fellow Muslims
❝ By the forenoon (after sunrise).
By the night when it darkens (and stands still).
Your Lord (O Muhammad ﷺ) has neither forsaken you nor hates you. ❞
Surah Ad-Duhaa, verses 1-3
The Holy Qur'an
❝What are Muslims to make of these colonial inheritances? On the one hand, nationalism remains a powerful force and a powerful idiom that Muslims invoke both consciously and unconsciously – it is difficult to speak of Palestine, or Kashmir, without using a nationalist framework.
On the left, Gazans, today, under Israeli guns.
On the right, Kenyans, 1950s, under British guns.
Do you see? For some of us, these images, these postures, are in our genetic memories. We know what they are. Colonialism. Imperialism. Genocide.
We are excited to announce our next colloquium featuring Dr. Jonathan Brown to be held on Saturday, August 26, 2023 (11AM EDT). Dr. Brown will be discussing his new book Islam and Blackness.
In his book, the bestselling scholar examines the claims that Islam is antiblack. He
Dr. Ahmed El Shamsy
@a_el_shamsy
discusses the history and role of print as a modern phenomenon in the Islamic tradition, from his book Rediscovering the Islamic Classics. Full colloquium video here: