Europe under Muslim rule - Part III
Dr.Mohsin Farooqi
Spread of Islam in Europe
As regards spread of Islam, I quote here an excerpt from "The Social Structure of Islam by Reuben Levy, Prof. of Persian at the Cambridge University.
"It was rarely that they (Muslims) enforced Islam upon their newly acquired subjects, to whom, as a rule, they proved as tolerant masters except in Hungary where Ottoman occupation was purely military and Islam never took hold. The inhabitants of conquered lands, whether form political motives or out of conviction, eagerly embraced the faith (Islam) of the dominant race. Indeed the Muslims of Bosnia, Bulgaria and Albania came to be known as highly fanatical devotees as the factor dividing them from their fellow countrymen though they were of the same blood."
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is situated in the Mt. Caucasus region on the coast of Caspian Sea. Its area is 40,000 square miles. It used to be a part of the Azerbaijan province of Iran. However, Russia conquered it in 1813. It became independent in 1992 after the fall of Soviet Union.
Baku city with a population of 1,200,000 is the capital of the country. It has vast deposits of oil, besides natural gas, iron ore, Alunite, Copper, Limestone, clay and salt.
Baku is connected with neighbouring states and Iran through three railway lines. Oil is transported to foreign countries through a pipeline which through Georgia, Armenia and Iran. There are cotton and silk units, besides fruit canning, fish, and meat processing industries in the country. Tea and rice are also included among the major crops.
Azerbaijan came under Islamic influence since its conquest by Muslim forces during the rule of Ottoman Ghani (RTA). The Muslims are 93.4 per cent of the total population of 7,676,953, according to the 1999 census.
Kazakhstan
Located in the east of Russian Federation, it is spread over an area of 2,766,603 square kilometres. In 1975, its population was 12,850,000. The Muslims were 68 per cent of the total population. Area-wise it is the largest state after Russia and is extending from Caspian Sea to China. Its area is almost equal to that of India as the latter is spread over area of 3,280,000 square kilometres.
Four rivers, Ili, Ural, Sir Darya, and Irtysh, passe through the country irrigating lands at a large scale. Its capital is Alma Ata (meaning father of apples) which is a beautiful garden city lying at the foot of a mountain. Two other known cities are Balkjash and Karaganda.
Kazakhistan has vast deposits of coal, oil, iron, tin and copper. Fish canning and livestock are important industries. It is also known as the Apple County as its apples are famous throughout Russia for their colour, size, aroma and taste.
It is centre of Russian film Industry. Other industries are textiles, flour, sugar and meat-packing.
Kazakhs are great fighters, 34,000 of their soldiers had been awarded various military medals.
In the World War II, 49 of them were awarded the title of "Hero of Soviet Union." Nuclear weapons of the Soviet Union were used to be stored in Kazakhistan.
It was an independent country when Russians started an organized aggression in 1713 and conquered it in 1819. It was made a part of Turkistan. In 1920, it was granted an autonomous republic status. In 1936, it was made a Union Republic.
Under the Soviet regime, Muslim religious affairs were in the control of the Muslim Religious Board for central Asia and Kazakhistan with its headquarters in Tashkent.
Kirghizistan
Kirghizistan is located in Central Asia in the north of Kazakhistan on the east Chinese province of Sinkiang (Chinese Turkistan). Its area is 76,640square.miles and population is 4,291,000, according to 1989 census. Bashkek is its capital. The people are nomadic with strong tribal traditions. In 1975, its population was 2,933,000. The Muslim percentage was 92 per cent.
The economy depends upon livestock. Grains, cotton, sugar beets are major crops while Kenaf (jute like) hemp, apples, grapes and tobacco are also produced. The state is a major source of coal supplies to Russian industries. Seventy per cent of the state production based on industry that produces many consumer and industrial goods.
The Kirghizistan University had been founded in 1951 as a poly technical institute in Bashkek.
Efforts are being made to settle the nomadic people. In 1975, there were 47 districts and eight big towns. The most important highway is the Great Kirghizistan Highway which connects Bashkek and Kashghar in China, and Osh in southern Kirghizia. Branch lines connect Osh with Central Asian railway and trans-Siberian railway. More than 17 hydro-electric stations have been developed in the state which came under Russian rule in 1868. In 1917, it was granted national autonomy, while in 1926 it was made an autonomous republic. In 1936, it was elevated to the status of a Union Republic.
Tajikistan
Located in Central Asia in the south of Afghanistan, Tajkistan is spread over 13,448square.kilometres. According to the 1975 census, its population was 2,900,000. It neighbours east China, north Kirghzia and west Uzbekistan. Being situated on Pamirs Range, it is Called "Roof Of the world".
A vast majority of the population is Msulim. Persian is the official language. Apart from mountains, there are fertile valleys of River Vaksh, Syr Darya, Zerzvshan and Ferghana. Its capital is Dushanbe. Cotton and sugarcane are the major crops, while cattle breeding is the main occupation of the people. Hydro-electricity is the main source of income which they want to export to Pakistan and India. The heavy industry located in the state and the neighbouring countries is based on its rich mineral deposits. Fruits, lead, cotton, silk and zinc are the main exports.
Up to 1928, it was a part of Emirate of Bokhara and Turkistan. It was conquered by Soviet Union after bloody battles. In December 1929, it was made a Soviet Republic. However, in 1991, it became an independent country and a member of the UN and the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC).
Islamic volunteers have initiated a movement to remove the government. A few thousand people have been killed in the skirmishes.
Turkmenistan
It is located in the west of Russia, in the south of Afghanistan and Iran, in the east of Uzbekistan, Its area is 489,884square.kilometres. Its population was 2,158,000 in 1975 as the Muslims constituted 90 per cent of it. Its capital is Ashkhabad. About 85 per cent of the area is desert known as Kara Kum (black sands) but there are fertile valleys of the Amu Darya, the Tejdan and the Murgav rivers on the shores of Caspian Sea. Its agricultural products are cotton, grain and oil-seeds, minerals include oil, coal, sulphur, barite, and lime. It has huge deposits of gas which it wants to export to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
Turkmenistan is interested in building a highway from Ashkabad to Gwadur in order to connect itself with a seaport. A plan in this regard has been prepared by Pakistan and Turkmenistan. But, due to Afghan crisis, its implementation is being delayed. Gwadur is being developed as a big port to serve the commercial interests of Central Asian states. The state was conquered by Russia during 1869-1885. In 1925, it was made a republic. The countryside has been provided with radio, telephone and cinema houses, and libraries and schools. Extensive irrigation system including Kara Kum canal project has been taken up to extend agriculture to the desert area.
Uzbekistan
It is located in the north of Kazakhistan and in the south of Afghanistan. Its area is 410,979square. kilometres and population is 20 million having 88 per cent Muslim majority, according to 1989 census. Its capital is Tashkent.
Russian forces occupied Tashkent in 1865, Samarqand and Bukhara in 1868. In 1934, Russians got a firm control over the area. In December.1923, Uzbek Republic was formed.
In 1930, the irrigated area was increased. In 1955, a 200 kilometres long canal linked the Zeravshan river with Kashka river. The largest water reservoir in Soviet Union known as Kuttakurgan is situated in Uzbekistan.
It produced 67 per cent of the cotton grown in Soviet Union and half of the rice, fruit orchards, silk worms and grapes of the total production of the former Soviet Union. Wheat and maize are also cultivated.
Industrial development has been achieved in the field of ginning, textiles, leather, farm machinery, chemical fertilizers, coal, gas and oil refining. A major gold field has been explored. Abundant resources of copper, silver, petroleum, iron and lead etc. have also found.
For the first time the message of Islam was conveyed by Ubaidullah bin Zaid in 674 AC (74 A.H.). The second attempt was made by Qutaibah bin Muslim who established Islam firmly in Bokhara. The first Muslim governor appointed was Nasar bin Sayyar who controlled a number of rebellions against the Arab rule. Up to 892 A.C., the whole of Centra Asia was conquered and Bokhara became the capital of a very big province. In 1121 A.C., Arsalan Khan Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم bin Suleman constructed a big education centre namely school of Meer Arab. A minaret of the institution still exists.
Turkey
South east corner of Europe and western extremity of Asia, Turkey is located over 780,580 square kilometres. According to the 1992 census, its population was 5,9640,000. The Muslim percentage was 99 per cent. Its capital is Ankara with a population of 1,500,000, while the second big city Istanbul 2,500,000. Its agricultural products are wheat, barely, maiz, potatoes, fruits, cotton, sugar beet and tobacco.
Turkey under the leadership of Ottomans had the most chequered history from 1330-1912. For nearly 550 years, Eastern European countries, South Russia as well as Middle East and North Africa were within their empire which was one of the biggest empires of the world. The decline started in 1878 and completed in 1922. Turkey now has a very small portion of Europe known as Eastern Thrace.
The main reason behind the downfall of Turkey and other Muslim countries is that they have ceased to think themselves as Muslims and started identifying themselves as Turks, Kurds, Arabs, Syurians, Egypians, Iraqis, Libyans, Algerians, Punjabis, Bengalis, Sindhis, and Mohajirs. The Natin of Islam is the wealthiest in the world from money, natural resources and manpower point of view. Kazakhistan and Pakistan possess the technical know-how and have developed nuclear weapons. But the nation is devoid of a visionary leadership. Therefore, we belong to the most backward people of the world. Having a manpower of more than one billion people and possessing atomic bombs and missiles we cannot defeat Israel with a population of only 4,400,000 Jews. Turkey has a Kurdish problem, Kurds do not accept Turks as their leaders. The problem also existed in Syria, Iraq, and Iran. The Kurds want their own independent state.
The newly independent six Central Asian states are looking towards Turkey for political and economic leadership. But the question is:
"Is Tureky in a position to deliver the goods?"
Turkey is still predominantly an agricultural country as two-thirds people depend upon land for living. They produce wheat, barley, maize, rye, rice etc. It also produces the best tobacco, the chief export of Turkey. The second item is Raisin. Sheep and cattle are raised in the countryside. Iron ore is produced in north-eastern Turkey. The country is the largest exporter of chrome. There are two steel miles which produce iron to meet in domestic requirements.
There are textiles, woollen and cotton fabrics, silk and paper mills. It has 13 sugar factories. Country's power requirements are met through hydro as well as thermal sources.
Kosovo
Since long the super powers of Europe, Britain, France and Russia were instigating rebellions and conspiracies against Ottoman Caliphate. Turkey was declared "Sickman of Europe" and the problem was designated as "Eastern Question" with the objective to expulse Turkey from Europe
Since 1878, Turks started withdrawing from Eastern Europe. The European powers were demarcating and re-demarcating boundaries of new countries based on power politics and vested interest. People of Kosovo being Muslims and Albanians wanted to be amalgamated with Albania or to remain independent. But despite their protests, they were merged with Serbia, later on with Yugoslavia. Since then the struggle for freedom was continuing. In order to check it, Kosovo was given regional autonomy but to no avail.
In 1990-91, regional autonomy was withdrawn, use of Albanian language was banned and mass unemployment of Kosovars was started. Consequently, a militant struggle by the Kosovar Liberation Army was initiated. To crush the struggle, the Serbian army let loose the state terrorism. More than a million people migrated through jungles, on foot, on horse-carriages and tractors to Mecedonia, Albania, even Montenegro and Bosnia.
European powers and later on the UN interfered and started bombardment Serbia so that Serbia may be compelled to withdraw from Kosovo. After 43 days of bombardment, Serbia agreed to withdraw form Kosovo and hand it over to the United Nations.
Now Kosovo is under the UN administration working for rehabilitation of the people, building houses, roads and institutions, trying to create friendly relations between Kosovo's and Serbs. The future of the state is yet uncertain. As a majority of the population has migrated to neighbouring areas, the country is giving a deserted look.
http://www.jamatdawa.org/english/art...islam_iiii.htm