By Mehwish Mustaqeem
Senior columnist
There are about 60 Muslim countries in the world. The population of the world. The population of Muslims in the world is about 125 crore (1.25 billion) ie. every fifth person in the world is a Muslim. But the sad fact is that they are not united. The result is that they do not enjoy a leading status in the comity of nations the superpowers like America use them for their interest. Some of the countries like Pakistan and Iran are nuclear powers. Middle east countries like Saudi Arabia are very rich in oil. Countries like Malaysia and Indonesia are giants in technology.Some muslims areas like Afghanistan and Iraq are under the control of America.A large part of Kashmir is held by India.So the unity of the muslims the entire world over is the need of the hour.Only unity can bring them the glory that the world of Islam once enjoyed.Their will then be a third world block of muslim countries that may be as powerful as capitalistic block or individual world power like communist china.The muslims are united in the religious field.They believe in one God one Prophet one book.But they are divided in sects.They should work to develop internal unity by doing away sectarian differences.They should follow the teachings of the Holy Quran and follow the teachings of the Holy Quran and follow the examples of the Holy Prophet (SAW).The muslim countries should try to make joint arrangements for their defence like NATO.Almost all of them are surrounded by powerful enemies.They can become a world power if they all come to have a joint defence system.They should let the world know that in case of attack on one muslim country the enemy will have to face the joint force of the muslims.Modern age is the age of science.The muslims should follow a unform policy in this field.They should pay special attention to research and invention.They need great scientists who can invent new weapons of war for their defence.They need modern science laboratories where they can carry out advanced scientific research.For this they should have scientific education of the highest order.The muslim countries should co operate in the economic field as much as possible.It means that they should have common industrial and trade policies.The muslim countries may easily use each other resources for setting up factories and industrial plants.The raw material of one country can easily be used by another.In case of some catastrophe in one country all muslim countries should help that country.Politically the muslim countries should have common policies.They should support each other in the world bodies like UNO or they may have a common wealth of muslim states.A secretariat of muslim states is no doubt functioning.It arranges summits or conferences of muslim states in central muslim cities.It also tries to bring them closer in the political economic and cultural fields.But the decisions taken by this body are not so effective.So there should be a more powerful central muslim organization with wider powers to bring their disputes to an end.The people of one muslim country should try to learn the language of another.As in UNO they should adopt three language that is arabia english and national language as means of communication.They should have a common gazette to popularize and make known their decisions and policies.There should be a free exchange of soldiers writers teachers scientists and students between them.The radio television films newspapers and magazines the mass media can play a useful role in bringing muslims closer.The muslims have been a super power in the world.The reason was that they had a strong faith in the Quranic injunction O you who believe! endure outdo all others be ready and observe your duty to Allah in order that you may succeed(3:200).They can regain that glory of the past if they are united if they work hard in all fields to outdo others if they are united in their aim and duty to Allah.
