Distorted historiography

Distorted Historiography and the Crisis of Muslim Identity: Finding a Way to Rebuild Confidence

History is the mirror of a nation's soul. A nation that forgets, distorts, or becomes dependent on the interpretation of its history, its identity gradually becomes gray. The Muslim Ummah today is in such a crisis—where our history is unknown to us, our past glory is covered in fog, and our confidence is damaged. This crisis is not just historical ignorance, but it is a deep cultural, mental, and intellectual subjugation—which began with the distorted interpretations of Orientalists, but today has become a mental prison of Muslim society itself. In this discussion, we will explore how distorted history has broken the confidence of Muslims, how to fight against it, and how it is possible to pave the way for Muslims to rebuild their lost identity.

History is not just the events of the past, but it is one of the means of influencing the present. If a nation can be made to believe that they were never civilized, that they have only a history of war and barbarity, then they will not be able to stand confidently in today's world. Orientalists and historians of Western colonial powers have done this work in a well-planned manner. The knowledge, science, philosophy and social policy of Islamic civilization—which laid the foundation for the European Renaissance—have been erased from textbooks today. The 'Dark Ages' is the period in Europe when Muslims were at the peak of knowledge, while at that time the universities of Islamic Spain, Baghdad, Cairo, Bukhara enlightened scholars all over the world. Yet today such an image is presented as if Muslims were just a medieval, backward group drowning in superstition.

This distorted image, on the one hand, forms the basis for the self-gratification of the Western world, and on the other hand, creates a sense of sadness and selflessness in the Muslim world. When a Muslim student sees that Islam is not mentioned in his textbooks, or that it is mentioned in a biased manner, he begins to believe that his religion or history has nothing to be proud of. He gradually learns to consider Western history, Western thought, and Western civilization as ideals. And from here, intellectual slavery is born—where the Muslim individual or society ridicules its own identity, and considers the domination of others as the path to liberation.

To stand against this mental slavery, the first thing that is needed is a revival of self-reflection. Muslims need to know that their history is not just a spiritual movement, but the history of building a complete civilization. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was not just a missionary, he was a statesman, a social reformer, and a guide to a human revolution. The reign of the Rashidun Caliphs, the administrative and intellectual structures of the Abbasid and Umayyad eras, the knowledge-centered development of the Ottoman and Mughal empires—all these are parts of Islamic history, which are almost forgotten today.

The history of science and knowledge of Muslims in particular is a great story of glory. Starting from Al-Khwarizmi to Ibn Sina, Ibn Haytham, Al-Biruni, Imam Ghazali, Ibn Khaldun—these names are not only a source of pride for Muslims, but also invaluable gems of world science and sociology. Yet today we do not know, do not read, and do not teach this history. ‘Greco-Roman civilization’ is taught in European colleges, but the Golden Age of Islam is limited to only two to four pages in the curriculum of Muslim countries.

The work of restoring this history must begin from the family, mosque, madrasa, and school levels. Muslim children need to be taught that their ancestors not only prayed and fasted, but they also built societies, judged, established universities, discovered astronomy, performed surgery, and wrote literature. This awareness will sow the seeds of self-pride in children, which will build their self-identity and confidence.

Muslim scholars, historians, literary figures, and media personalities will have to play a special role in this revival. They should write new books in response to distorted history, create new curricula, and present truthful analysis in the media. We should use platforms like social media and YouTube to highlight the history and self-identity of Muslims worldwide. Like Western civilization, we can also make movies about our heroes, make documentaries, and reveal the true history to our viewers.

However, the struggle to regain this self-identity will require not only emotion but also logic. An impartial review of the books written by orientalists that are still dominant in various universities is needed. An alternative academic framework must be created for Islam—where Muslim thinkers, historians, philosophers, and scientists interpret history from their own perspective. Instead of blindly following the West, we must develop the courage to stand up confidently based on our own standards and originality.

Ultimately, confidence never comes as an external gift; it is born from knowing our roots, from loving our own history. If Muslims develop an interest in knowing their own history correctly, then no one can call them a 'second-class civilization' anymore. This awakening of self-identity can be the basis for the renaissance of the Muslim Ummah.