Glory of Islamic nation can be lost due to leadership's negligence

The glory of an Islamic nation could eventually disappear if its leaders forget and neglect the fundamental values that pose as vital instruments to achieve that glory, said the Regent of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah.

Raja Nazrin drew attention to the fate of two historical locations, Samarkand in Uzbekistan, and Istanbul in Turkey during the glorious days of the Ottoman Empire, in reminding the people that such glory could end due to the negligence of the leaders.

"The glory of Istanbul (during the Ottoman Empire), famed as a major trade centre and passage, as well as a growth centre for knowledge and where various religions also flourished, ended due to internal leadership conflict which caused political instability.

"Other factors included the failure to adapt to the technological advancements in sea transportation, which was much more efficient than the land routes, thus affecting the economic prosperity that they once enjoyed for a very long period of time."

He said this at the opening of the 183rd Conference of the Perak Islamic Religious and Malay Custom Council, here, today.

Raja Nazrin said the glorious era of the Ottoman Empire started to face various challenges, which led to its downfall when there was economic and political stagnation due to the weak leaders who became too comfortable with their success.

"The empire's leadership continuously failed to adapt to the demands of the reality of modernisation that was happening in the European continent in terms of new technological innovations, political reformation and the rise of intellectualism.

"Any effort to carry out modernisation in the Ottoman Empire was strongly opposed by its leaders, armed forces and conservative public."

He said the scenario was among the observations recorded by a 14th century scholar and sociologist, Abdul Rahman Ibn Khaldun, who opined that when society attained much wealth, their character would often change.

Raja Nazrin said to build an impenetrable shield against destructive culture, the people (Muslims) needed to return to the divine revelations contained in the Quran and practise a culture of advising one another for the good of society.

Earlier, on behalf of the Perak State Islamic Religious and Malay Custom Council, Raja Nazrin received plantation and business zakat (tithe) totalling RM7,489,253.88 from five agencies.

The five were Lembaga Tabung Haji which gave RM2,923,240.01, Perak Bank Rakyat (RM2,068,225), Felcra Berhad, Perak Region (RM1,604,012.80), state Farmers Organisation (RM623,776) and Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (RM270,000).