After the defeat and apparent demise of the Ottoman Empire, the new Republic of Turkey was established under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal in 1923. Kemal’s vision for the transformation of the fledgling republic of Turkey included modernization, westernization, and secularization. This agenda did not set well with many Muslims. The dilution of Islamism with western influence stirred a pious Egyptian Muslim named Hassan al-Banna in 1928 to found what is still known as the Muslim Brotherhood. In al-Banna’s mind it was time to revive the ‘Ottoman Empire’ and reinstate the Islamic caliphate.
After WW I al-Banna forged relationships with several German and Italian leaders who shared common ideologies. The foundation of the Muslim Brotherhood was greatly influenced by these leaders and ideologies.
The Muslim Brotherhood is presently the largest Muslim organization in the world with many offshoots operating in more than 80 countries. Three such influential offshoots that are very active in America today include the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), and the Muslim Students Association (MSA) just to name a few.
While the republic of Turkey had its origin with westernized aspirations contrary to the agenda of the defeated Ottoman Empire, the present situation appears to be open to change. Turkey’s present Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is a Muslim. Erdogan raised eyebrows recently when he stated that the term ‘moderate Islam’ is offensive and that ‘Islam is Islam’. Therefore, the future direction of the Republic of Turkey is in question.
According to Islamic literature, however, the future of Turkey has already been determined and recorded centuries ago. Present Islamic author Adnan Oktar (pen name Harun Yahya) sums up numerous Islamic hadiths with these words:
“The establishment of the Turkish-Islamic Union will be the salvation of everyone, of people of all faiths, all nations and all opinions, not just of the Islamic world. This union will bring love, brotherhood, friendship, plenty and abundance to the world. The Turkish-Islamic Union to be established under Turkish leadership will be instrumental in the world attaining an entirely new beauty…and in the construction of a powerful and deep-rooted civilization. By Allah’s leave, the establishment of the Turkish-Islamic Union is an absolute certainty. This is the destiny ordained by Allah. One of the main proofs that the Turkish Nation will fulfill this historic responsibility is the way that in the hadith about the end times our Prophet…makes particular reference to Istanbul and to Turkey. As revealed by the Prophet…Hazrat Mahdi will be active in Istanbul, will construct the Turkish-Islamic Union by bringing the dispersed Turkic states back together…”
Yahya goes on to state, “The foundation of the Turkish-Islamic Union will take place without a drop of blood being spilled…”
To paraphrase Yahya’s dissertation, Islam’s coming savior will re-establish the Islamic Caliphate in present day Turkey. The caliphate will be re-established peacefully without any bloodshed.
Summarizing, the Roman Empire has really never been dissolved. Its eastern leg survived in the form of Byzantium until 1453 AD when it was overtaken by the Ottoman Turks. The capital of Constantinople (Istanbul), however, was maintained during the Ottoman reign. The Republic of Turkey subsequently designated Ankara as their capital. And while the Ottoman Turks were defeated in WW I when they sided with Germany, Islamic literature states that the final Islamic caliphate will be re-established in Turkey under their coming Mahdi, i.e. savior.
Much can be learned by studying Islamic literature relative to Turkey’s prominent future.
“…And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast…having seven heads and ten horns.” Revelation 17:3
“Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven…” Revelation 17:9-12
Perhaps Islamic prophecy has identified the seventh mountain (kingdom) in the above scripture: 1) Egyptian, 2) Assyrian, 3) Babylonian, 4) Media/Persian, 5) Greek, 6) Roman, 7) Ottoman Turks …Republic of Turkey…Turkish – Islamic Union.
To be completed next week.