Raid of the Mongols

Once again the popular Al Kauthar Institute delivered a powerful and inspirational 2 day conference on 12th and 13th February. 'Raid of the Mongols' was a relevant history lesson attendees should never forget.

Charismatic Sheikh Isam Rajab took students on a gripping tour from 13th century Afghanistan through to the toppling of the Abbasid caliphate and the destruction of Baghdad in 1258AD.  The Ummah was confounded as its corrupt leaders fled, cities stormed and its books of scholarship discarded into the rivers of the city by the violent Mongols who now controlled most of the Muslim world.  Muslims lost faith, believing that the end of the world was nigh.

Yet a message of hope came from all the destruction.  Mahmoud ibn Mamdoud, named Qutuz or ‘ferocious dog’ by Mongols, lead a key turning point in history when he squared up to the Mongols at ‘Ayn Jalut.  He prepared his strategy, invested in people, listened to scholars and formed alliances with the Christians.  Most of all, he lead by the Sunnah and was humble before Allah on the battle field.  Victory was granted and from that point on, Muslims turned back to their forgotten faith and principles, ousting the Mongols from the Muslim world.  In an unusual twist of history, some occupying Mongols actually converted to Islam and gradually the situation calmed and the Ottoman empire was formed.

A wonderfully pertainent course in which parallels with the modern world and the disparate state of the community were drawn.  Students were advised on the need for self-discipline, hard work and reliance on Allah to have success as our ancestors did in promoting a world of progress, education and civilisation.