@Omar del Sur
Islam makes the most theological sense and it has the most holistic approach to life, however, I wouldn't want my Nation to join non-African States in any form of union -- unless we were also very developed.
This should really be a different thread. Why don't you make a thread on this? I don't want to make the OP because I want you to be the one to frame your viewpoint.
What I saying was really geared towards people who already believe in Islam. But of course I am happy to try to address concerns about Islam although I honestly feel very unworthy. But I do my best insha'Allah.
This concern of yours with- no disrespect intended- is not something that is specifically African. It can be seen with white nationalists, I've heard a Spanish nationalist say something similar and it is something you can see amongst some black and African nationalists.
Again without meaning any disrespect- I believe it is a form of extremism. Extremism isn't just violent ISIS type extremism but it can take forms such as worshipping a human as God.
In this instance- and this is common with many nationalists... now that I think of it I even heard a Mexican nationalist express a similar viewpoint... the concern is- Islam will take precedent over racial/ethnic interests.
Yes, yes it will. If you have to choose between race and Allah, you have to choose Allah. And this is the case with Christianity as well and many extreme nationalists argue against Christianity on this basis.
It could be sex. It could be money. It could be social status. It could be racial/ethnic/tribal interests. Whatever it is, you must never put it or anything before Allah. And once you do that, I'm convinced you have made it an idol.
Everything belongs in its proper place. There's a place for food. For money. For sex. For tribal/national interests. Every halal thing is fine in its proper place. But when you elevate it beyond its proper place, this is going to extremes.
And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.
-Surah Adh-Dhariyat 51:56
There is nothing wrong with loving your heritage. But we were created to worship Allah. Everything else comes second. لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ. That is tawheed. That is the basis of Islam.
Anyways, it is following Allah that makes nations great and it is turning away from Allah that makes nations fall.
Pure nationalism is a modern phenomena that has to do with post-"Enlightenment" secularization. Look at Hitler. Trump. Nasser. Chávez. None of them brought success. Look at Ba'athism, look at Syria. Look at all the civil wars. Pure nationalism's history is a history of failure. No one is your friend or enemy just because they share or don't share your skin color or racial/ethnic origin. How often is it that the person you have to fight is someone who looks like you.
