Pan-Islamism

الجامعة الإسلامية

In the second chapter Arslan treats Pan-Islamism as a religious and political movement grounded in a shared feeling among Muslims against European expansion. He traces its roots to the Wahhabi call and to Jamal al-Din al-Afghani, mentions propagandists such as Ali Pasha, and describes how religious movements from India to Central Asia, East Asia and North Africa were linked. He records the wave of Muslim pride at Japan's victory in 1904, and argues that the bond is social and moral as much as religious. He notes that the movement's influence declined as nationalism grew. This is the author's account, not a neutral assessment.

Overview

In the second chapter of the book, Shakib Arslan presents the idea of the "Islamic union" (al-jami'a al-islamiyya) as a religious-political movement built on a shared feeling among Muslims in the face of European expansion. This is a presentation of the author's conception, not a neutral assessment of the movement. ¹

Its origins and instruments

Arslan traces its origins to the Wahhabi call and to the call of Jamal al-Din al-Afghani, and mentions advocates such as Ali Pasha. He describes the cooperation of religious movements in India, Central Asia, East Asia, and North Africa. He presents the effect of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904 in the rejoicing at Japan's victory. ¹

He holds that it rests on a social and moral bond more than on religion alone, and he counts the press and communications among its instruments. ¹

Its course

Arslan acknowledges that the movement took multiple and conflicting courses, and that its influence declined when nationalism advanced. ¹

A further source is needed: each campaign he mentions needs its own source, and the words of Ali Pasha and the Japanese episode are reported second-hand.

Pan-Islamism

At a glance

Overview

Its origins and instruments

Its course

Sources

Ideas