For over a century, the Muslim world has been divided into nation states, borders, and political systems that often leave Muslims weak, divided, and unable to protect each other. From Palestine and Al Aqsa to conflicts across the Muslim world, many are asking a difficult question about unity, leadership, and the future of the Ummah.
In this episode of our Expert Question Series, we sit down with Dr. Ovamir Anjum, Professor and Endowed Chair of Islamic Studies in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Toledo. He is the co-editor of the American Journal of Islam and Society and recently appointed editor-in-chief for the review board at the Yaqeen Institute. His areas of research include Islamic history, theology, political thought, and Islamic intellectual history.
Dr. Anjum is the author of Politics, Law, and Community in Islamic Thought: The Taymiyyan Moment (Cambridge University Press, 2012) and Ranks of Divine Seekers: Translation of Ibn al-Qayyim’s Madarij al-Salikin (Brill, 2020), the first two of four volumes.
In this conversation, we explore the concept of Khilafah, Muslim unity, nation states, Islamic governance, economics, sanctions, and the role Muslims in the West play in the future of the Ummah. This is a deep discussion about the past, present, and future of the Muslim world and whether unity is the key to solving many of the problems Muslims face today.