MAN IN GOD’S WORLD

I n today’s deeply polarized world, where religious identity is often a line of division, Islam is frequently viewed through the prism of political ambition and conflict. Yet this is far removed from the Islam that emerged fourteen centuries ago. At its heart, Islam was—and remains—a call to God, to moral responsibility, and to salvation in the Hereafter. Somewhere along the long arc of history, however, that purpose became blurred. Islam was recast, not as a divine path to inner reform and eternal success, but as a project for political dominance. The Prophet Muhammad did not come to raise empires; he came to nurture souls. His mission was not to subdue through force, but to persuade through reason, compassion, and moral example. Over time, however, the focus of many Muslims shifted. Statehood, territorial expansion, and military strength came to be regarded as religious imperatives. This ideological change rebranded Islam from a faith grounded in mercy into a movement too often associated with confrontation. As political interpretations of Islam took centre stage, the faith’s original spiritual mission receded into the background. The Prophet’s model of patience, humility, and wisdom was overshadowed by reaction and fervour. The Muslim community ceased to be seen—and to see itself—as the bearer of a universal message, and became instead another participant in the struggle for worldly power. This misreading of the faith has fuelled decades of estrangement and conflict—both between Muslims and the wider world, and within the Muslim community itself. It is time to return to the Quranic vision of Islam: a religion of mercy, reflection, and personal transformation. The priority must once again be introducing the peaceful message of Islam rather than imposition, salvation rather than supremacy, and love rather than rivalry. Islam is not in need of conquering lands; it is in need of conquering hearts. Let Islam be restored to what it was always meant to be: a path to salvation, not a banner for political conquest.  ISLAM MISUNDERSTOOD From a Message of Salvation to a Struggle for Power By Iqbal Ahmed Oomeri