The Military Strength of the Muslim world

Saudi Arabia recently announced the “Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism” and this alliance consists of 34 Muslim countries including Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt. Unfortunate this alliance which consists of strong Muslim countries will not be used to defend the true interests of the Muslim Ummah, rather it will be used as a tool to further the interests of the US and its allies. If the Islamic Military Alliance was a genuine Islamic alliance and its purpose being to defend Islamic causes, then why is it not used to liberate Masjid Al Aqsa?

The combined armed forces of the Muslim world present considerable strength which has not been highlighted deliberately so that the Muslim world remains disunited as pathetic weak countries. The combined armed forces of the Muslim world possess the following strengths:

• Largest army in the world

• Control of half of the world’s oil and many other natural resources

• Control of key strategic naval straits (A third of the world’s oil travels through the straits of Hormuz which is between Iran and UAE) and airspace

• Largest land mass

• Nuclear weapons

• One of the largest air force and navy

A number of Muslim countries such as Pakistan, Indonesia and Turkey have developed parts of their industry that has allowed them to make technological advancement in the military area.

Pakistan has been successful in developing defence hardware such as cruise missiles which are capable of carrying nuclear warheads, aircrafts, the famous Al-Khalid and Al-Zarrar tanks and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles).

The Turkish Aerospace Industries has been producing fighter aircraft under license including the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft for the Turkish Air Force. Many of the F-16s built by Turkish Aerospace Industries were also exported to other countries. The Turkish Aerospace Industries also manufactures the following hardware:

• Panels for the Airbus 319/320/321 aircraft

• Wing tips and flight deck panels for Boeing 737 aircraft

• Rear doors and engine cowlings for Eurocopter EC135 helicopters

• Nose landing gear doors for the Boeing 747

• UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle)

Turkey will be developing its own aircraft carrier by 2021 and its own fighter jet by 2023.
Turkey has also developed various military vehicles such as the Altay MBT (Main Battle Tank).

Iran has developed the Saeqeh-80 single-seater fighter jet. The Indonesian Aerospace Company (IAE) has been designing and developing parts for various aircrafts and it currently produces the NC212 (transport aircraft) under license. Currently a number of Muslim countries possess air defences and these air defences constitute of various ground-to-air missiles (GTAM), jamming devices, radars and many other aspects which are required for an effective air defence. Air defences are used in conjunction with the air force with the purpose of protecting a nation’s borders and airspace.

Saudi Arabia has a large stockpile of modern military hardware, a capably army and has expertise in aircraft maintenance.

There are airbases dotted all over the Muslim world and this is an advantage that the Khilafah "Caliphate" Rashidah (Caliphate) upon the method of the Prophethood will have from its inception. The airbases will provide the Khilafah "Caliphate" Rashidah with an opportunity to deploy aircrafts and ground forces anywhere within the Khilafah "Caliphate" at a moment’s notice. If there were to be natural disasters, the airbases will also be used for relief operations.

If the Muslim armies were to unite under one leader, this army would be the largest army in the world with an army of over 3 million soldiers and this army of the Khilafah "Caliphate" Rashidah could easily walk into Palestine and liberate the blessed land.

The Muslim lands have many strengths and advantages. One key advantage that the Muslim world has is control over strategic international airspace and naval straits. The Muslim world is situated in a strategic place within the world, it links the east with the west thus one of the reasons why the US and Europe want to control the Muslim world.

During the time of Sultan Muhammad Al Fatih, the Muslims had control over the straits of Bosphorus and ships of other nations could only pass through the Bosphorus if the Islamic state gave its permission. In the same way the future Khilafah "Caliphate" Rashidah will have control over key strategic straits such as the Bosphorus and Hormuz and control over strategic airspace that comes under the lands it controls; hence the Khilafah "Caliphate" Rashidah will decide which nation may travel through its straits and fly over its airspace. As a result the US and its allies will not have bases or ports within the Muslim world thus this will end the military control the US and its allies have had over the Muslim world throughout the 20th century. The US and its allies losing military control over the Muslim world would mean that the US and its allies would not be in a position to attack the Muslim world from within as they do currently and it would also mean that the US and its allies would have to launch strikes from their own territory which will be a lot more harder and costly for the US and its allies.

The Muslim world has the military capability and ingredients to become a super power; however it lacks leadership. The “Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism” needs to utilise the strengths of the Muslim armed forces and re-establish the Khilafah "Caliphate" Rashidah. The true “Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism” will fight genuine terrorism which is to liberate the Muslim world from the European powers, US and the Jewish entity.
Allah Taa’la says:

((وَالَّذينَ كَفَرُواْ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاء بَعْضٍ إِلاَّ تَفْعَلُوهُ تَكُن فِتْنَةٌ فِي الأَرْضِ وَفَسَادٌ كَبِيرٌ))

“And those who disbelieve are allies to one another, (and) if you (Muslims of the whole world collectively) do not do so (i.e. become allies, as one united block with one Khalifah - chief Muslim ruler for the whole Muslim world to make victorious Allah's Religion of Islamic Monotheism), there will be Fitnah (wars, battles, polytheism, etc.) and oppression on earth, and a great mischief and corruption (appearance of polytheism).” [Surah Al Anfal: 73]

The above ayah commands the Muslims to be united under one single leader i.e. the Khalifah and it is only the Khalifah who will truly utilise the strength of the Muslim armed forces for the causes of Islam.

Written for the Central Media of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Abu Salahuddin