100 Years since the Abolition of the Ottoman Caliphate: A Legacy of Colonialism and Secular Capitalism

It has been a century since the abolition of the Ottoman Caliphate, a monumental event that reshaped the Muslim world and reverberated across global geopolitics. In the wake of World War I, amidst shifting sands of colonial ambitions, the decision to dismantle the centuries-old institution laid the groundwork for a tumultuous century defined by conflicts, wars, and the rise of secular capitalist rule. 

Lord Balfour’s intervention and the subsequent division of the Muslim world into nation-states underscored the colonial agenda, drawing lines in the sand that would sow seeds of discord and perpetuate cycles of subjugation. The imposition of artificial state identities, divorced from historical and Islamic contexts, set the stage for enduring conflicts and geopolitical manoeuvrings. 

However, the significance of the past century transcends the absence of a caliphate. It speaks to the rise of secular capitalist rule, a paradigm that has wrought havoc not only in the Muslim world but also in the streets of the Western world. 

In the secular capitalist realm, innocence is sacrificed at the altar of a sexualized society, where materialism eclipses moral values and societal norms erode under the weight of consumerism. Both parents are shackled to the demands of the marketplace, relegating children to the impersonal care of breakfast clubs and after-school programs. 

Moreover, the chasm between the ruling elite and the masses has widened to unprecedented levels, as wealth accumulates at the summit while the populace grapples with the stark choices between sustenance and survival. Trust in politicians and politics evaporates in the face of systemic inequality and entrenched privilege. Secular capitalist hegemony has engendered a society polarised along the fault lines of race, religion, gender, and wealth, where security is a luxury afforded to the few and survival hinges on navigating a labyrinth of self-interests. 

The abolition of the Ottoman Caliphate was not merely a historical event but a calculated move by colonial powers to extinguish the beacon of intellectual and moral leadership that emanated from Istanbul. The Ottomans posed a threat to the established order, offering an alternative vision of governance rooted in justice, equity, and compassion. 

As we reflect on the legacy of the past century, it is imperative to recognise the colonial machinations that precipitated the demise of the caliphate and the ensuing era of secular capitalist dominance. The absence of a unified Muslim leadership is not a testament to the failure of Islam but rather a testament to the enduring legacy of colonialism and the insidious grip of secular capitalism. 

In reclaiming the narrative, we must strive not for a return to the past but for a reimagining of the future—a future defined by the Islamic caliphate which is characterised by justice, solidarity, and the pursuit of collective well-being. Only then can we transcend the spectre of colonial rule and usher in an era of true liberation, where humanity is guided not by the dictates of self-interest but by the imperatives of justice, compassion, peace and security.