Jawed Anwar

LISTEN, where is this voice of the “Ummah” rising from? Lend an ear. After the abolition of the Caliphate, the Muslim Ummah was fragmented into nation-states, and its collective cry was stifled. No national leader or military chief ever addressed the Muslim Ummah as a unified entity. The term “Ummah” remained confined to scholars and the common people. National leaders never spoke of Muslims or the oppressed beyond their country’s geographical boundaries, and if they did, it was mere lip service. Only during the era of the Khilafah did the practical concept of the “Ummah” exist, when the Khalifa was considered the representative of all Muslims. Now, the suppressed voice of the Muslim Ummah is rising once again.

A fresh breeze of dawn has emerged from Iran. The Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, in a recent address to the Muslim Ummah, referenced verse 126 of Surah Al-Imran: “And victory is only from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.” Drawing on Quranic verses, he urged the Ummah to uphold unity, steadfastness, and reliance on Allah’s help to confront oppression with resolve.

Allama Muhammad Iqbal, who had a profound understanding of Western politics and its machinations, foresaw an Islamic revolution in Iran before his passing in 1938:

“If Tehran becomes the Geneva of the East,
Perhaps the fate of the world may change!”

Iqbal placed no hope in Geneva (the United Nations) but envisioned a new Geneva in the East, led by Muslim Iran. Is today’s Iran capable of leading the Muslim Ummah? The answer is: Yes, absolutely.

Regrettably, Pakistani Ulema made no effort to understand Iran’s Islamic Revolution. This revolution was born from the peaceful struggle of Ulema and the masses. While Pakistan’s Islamic revolution would have had a Sunni character, Iran’s revolution was viewed through the lens of sectarian prejudice. Middle Eastern monarchs saw it as a threat to their power and fanned the flames of Shia-Sunni discord. The West exploited fear of Iran to stoke Arab nationalism, orchestrated an attack on Iran through Iraq, and cultivated a cadre of sectarian scholars backed by petrodollars.

In Pakistan, Shia-Sunni violence was instigated by international agencies. Masajid and imam bargahs were attacked, and walls were scrawled with slogans like “Shia Kafir.” However, due to the vigilance of Pakistan’s religious and political leadership, this bloodshed did not escalate further. The efforts of Qazi Hussain Ahmed and Maulana Tariq Jameel, in particular, were highly notable.

Pakistan’s deeni (religious) leadership has a long history of unity and consensus. In 1951, 31 prominent ulema (scholars) presented a 22-point consensus program for establishing an Islamic system in Pakistan, which included all schools of thought, including Shia. This program was a slap in the face to those rulers who challenged scholars, claiming that sectarian and religious differences made a political Islamic system impossible in Pakistan. At every turn of history, after every new trial, Pakistan’s scholars from all groups made unanimous decisions and passed collective resolutions. A recent example is the fatwa against Israel issued a few months ago, signed by all Sunni and Shia scholars and all schools of thought.

Maulana Sayyid Abul A’la Maududi was in contact with Imam Khomeini and fully supported him. He survived only a few months after Iran’s revolution. Had he lived longer, he could have effectively countered the Western challenges. Iran also introduced reforms in its religious doctrines, but these were overlooked due to prejudice.

After the 1980 Iran-Iraq War, Iran did not engage in direct warfare but supported Palestinians through its allied groups. The 12-day war of June 2025 proved that Iran is ready to lead the Muslim world. It possesses faith, ideological and military weaponry, technology, economic strength, and training capabilities. Despite Israeli attacks damaging the IRGC and nuclear facilities, Iran responded with strategic patience and a disciplined strategy, launching 550 ballistic missiles and 1,000 drones that broke Israel’s backbone. An attack on a U.S. base in Qatar forced America to back down. Ayatollah Khamenei’s political grip strengthened, and Iran demonstrated its military prowess on a global stage. Donald Trump acknowledged Iran’s capabilities at a NATO summit, a testament to its leadership strength.