Realpolitik has the reputation of being an amoral approach to politics, but it is an approach that can also be used, and perhaps the most effective approach, for achieving long term moral outcomes sought in Islam

SHOW MOREApologies for the long delay between the last podcast and today's episode.  Here I just wanted to clarify what I mean when I talk about the US, and why the collapse in the West does not mean we are off the hook.

The rise of the Ummah as an economic, political, and cultural global power is inevitable.  We should begin laying the groundwork for ensuring that this rise proceeds smoothly and successfully by building bridges across the Global South – in the private sector and in civil society.

In this episode I am commenting on a recent conversation between #DouglasMurray and #JordanPeterson about Murray's latest book, "the War Against the West".  It is a conversation that reveals the two men's profound and blinding biases, and by extension, the biases of "the West" itself, from which it seems nearly impossible for the West to extricate itself.  What Murray is describing is not a war against the West, but a war against the West's lies about itself.

SHOW LESSThe #MuftiMenkiftar in #UAE with an Israeli rabbi provides a good opportunity to explore the topic of normalization of relations between Muslim and Arab countries with Israel.  In my opinion, normalization is most properly understood, not as a betrayal of the #Palestinian cause, but as another form of confrontation with the #Zionists.  You can agree or disagree, like it or hate it; but it is a strategy for potentially gaining influence over Israel's policies and behaviour; and the approach we have adopted for the past 75 years has not resulted in any tangible benefits for the Palestinians or the fate of Jerusalem -- quite the contrary.  If we are serious about #Palestine, we have to analyze approaches objectively, and weigh their potential for achieving positive outcomes.  When I criticized Mufti Menk, it was for his disingenuous and manipulative, gaslighting "clarification" about the iftar event, it was not for the event itself.  Politics is a pretty ruthless and ugly affair, and often requires highly unpleasant and distasteful, upsetting decisions...there are almost no easily digestible approaches to the Palestinian situation, and you should not get involved if you don't have a strong stomach.

The arena of conflict, resistance, opposition, and confrontation against colonialism, imperialism, and crusaders, is today, the arena of the private sector.  We have to develop private sector strategies for building partnerships, alliances, and solidarity between Muslim nations, and across the Global South.   We need to study trade patterns and relationships to pinpoint opportunities for shifting the balance of power in the world.  In this podcast I discuss the idea of "Broker Nations" as a potential strategy for strengthening the Muslim world economically, and containing others.  Consider this as a session of brainstorming, and please offer your own ideas and feedback below.

Generally speaking, it is unhelpful to rely on abstract conspiracy theories to understand the coordination of powerful global actors and their role in world affairs. While it is true that there are individuals and institutions that possess disproportionate power in the world, it is important to analyze their true degree of influence, and the extent to which they do, or even can, deliberately control policy and outcomes.  However, we do know that Iblees is real and operates in the world according to an explicit agenda.  It is reasonable to assume that Shaytaan concentrates considerable effort in influencing the most powerful people in global politics and economics, and on multiple other levels of society, all in pursuit of a particular goal.

The American proxy war in #Ukraine against Europe is a masterclass in geopolitical chess, simultaneously set to weaken #Russia, #Europe, and #China.  The US is looking ahead to the inevitable rise of the Muslim countries, and preemptively eliminating any alternative economic collaborators or partners that could provide an alternative to alignment with America.  We have to think long-term -- beyond our own lifetimes -- so we can pursue a direction that will serve the best interests of our #Ummah in the future.

It is important to remember the long catalogue of crimes that constitute American foreign policy, and the euphemistic way these policies have historically been presented and justified; particularly now that this same brand of hyperbolic propaganda is flooding the media over the issue of #Ukraine.  There is no conspiracy here, just the rational pursuit of interests as defined by the most powerful players on the global scene, and we, as Muslims, should be astute enough to recognise what is actually happening, and call it out for what it is.

In this episode I try to summarize the ramifications of the war in #Ukraine and more significantly, the collective mobilization of the West against #Russia.  What are the prospects for Russia and #China, what can we expect in #Europe, and what might all of this mean to the Muslim world?