Muslim Nationalism DBQ

Muslim leaders in North Africa and India saw the needs for nationalism in the Muslim areas and took on the issue of westernization as they saw right. A portion of Muslims wanted to welcome western ideas. And others didn’t want western ideas around, they thought they needed to be one in their own nations, not in the Nations of the west. Some saw westernization as a flawed idea or solution, and used parts of westernization that would help them the most, and still allow them economic freedom. Most of the world was near required to westernize, during the Industrial Revolution.

To compete with the new technology coming out in the world, and the new way of living. The rest of the world had to deal with and change in favor of the new technology and knowledge. The western portion of the world was “smarter,” and had stronger military power, and were more successful, economically. Not paying attention to these new technologies and ideas, would no benefit the Muslim community. Syed Ahmad Khan knew this and made the argument that the prophet of Muhammad said Muslims should find knowledge even if they need to go to places far away such as China. He was referencing the fact that Europeans were far more successful. He is biased on this subject because his argument wouldn’t make sense to a crowd of say, British people or French people, as they do not get the references to the prophet or these Islamic teachings. But, another person had said, that the people of Egypt should definitely be proud and content with their nation for how it is and they should go to nationalism and try to escape the pressure of Westernization. Ahmed Ben Bella Bella, military lead of the Algerian National Liberation Front stated that the two societies of Europe and the societies of the Muslim nations were hardly different in any way. He makes the argument that both the teachings of old Greek Philosophers and their ideas. The Indian Muslim leader Abul Kaham Azad had called the western societies ignorant on the subject of religion. And at the same time calling people who were traditional, troubled or harassed by religious beliefs or irrationalities.

This displays how much he enjoyed and gave credit to the thought of European philosophy and teachings and Europe’s peoples. His point of view is bias on this subject, because European influence has been very heavy in India for a very long time, he more than likely grew up around European teachings and the influence of Europe. A portion of leaders in the Muslim society wanted to stay away from the idea of westernization. A nationalist in the nation of Egypt had noted that the Europeans were far more militarily advanced then they could hope to be.

The only real reason he wanted better weapons and technology was because he didn’t the English people to be Egypt any longer then they already have been. Taha Husayn was really pushing for their independence in the economic area, and that he really wanted to defend the Suez Canal from any enemies or people trying to harm the Egyptian people. His opinion on this subject is bias, because the English have been in Egypt really taking control of it and not giving the freedom that Egypt might of really wanted. If he had lived in France I highly doubt he would care that the English people were oppressing the Egyptian peoples.

Moufdi Zakaria thought of the people of Europe as an interruption of the Muslim societies and they really seem to pushing the division of the Muslim community. This portion of Muslims wanted to stay together and strong by the teachings of their religion. They wanted to stay united by their language, and by their country or location. The Muslim leaders all were in desperate need of nationalism, without that it is very likely that North Africa and India, would be ruled by the European way of life, its teachings, its populace even, and maybe even the religions in Europe.

Another document that would of helped understand the situation would have been an account or letter, or journal from a European military leader, or European King or ruler taking a side of the issue of Muslims accepting or declining the idea of nationalism in their society. The leaders in these 6 documents really interpret their definition of nationalism by how much they would want to accept the new advanced, and successful European way of life, and the European teachings even.