panIslamism

Pan-Islamism is a transnational political and religious ideology that seeks to promote the unity and solidarity of the Muslim world beyond national, ethnic, or linguistic divides. It envisions the Muslim ummah as a single political-cultural community connected by shared faith, law, and values, and it often calls for coordinated action in diplomacy, economics, and defense. In some formulations, pan-Islamism also imagines or favors some form of central Islamic leadership or a unified framework to defend Muslim interests or restore a perceived historical prestige.

The movement emerged in the 19th and early 20th centuries amid the decline of Muslim empires and colonial rule. Thinkers such as Jamal ad-Din al-Afghani and Muhammad Abduh argued for Muslim unity as a counterbalance to Western domination. The Khilafat Movement in British India (1919–1924) popularized pan-Islamist rhetoric in mass politics by defending the Ottoman Caliphate. Throughout the 20th century, pan-Islamist ideas persisted in various ideological currents and influenced Islamist movements, state rhetoric, and transnational religious networks.

Variants range from nonviolent cultural-religious solidarity to explicit calls for political union or a restored caliphate, and they are not confined to a single program. Contemporary manifestations include transnational religious networks and political discourse among Islamist actors, as well as forums and organizations that emphasize Muslim cooperation. While some institutions promoting Muslim solidarity are intergovernmental, such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, they are not inherently pan-Islamist, though they reflect broader cross-border Muslim solidarity.

Critics argue that pan-Islamism can blur diverse Muslim identities and loyalties, potentially undermining national citizenship or secular governance. Proponents contend it offers a framework for collective defense, cultural renewal, and moral unity within the Muslim world.