The Ottoman state was the last Islamic Caliphate, uniting diverse Muslims under one banner at its height. Despite its dominance in world politics and the unique order it created, its details are often overlooked by Muslims. Originating as a small beylik in Asia Minor, the Ottoman dynasty rose to power after conquering Constantinople (Istanbul) in the fifteenth century, influencing both West Asia and Europe. By the sixteenth century, it reached a 'golden age' as a Caliphate but was depicted as a declining dynasty by the eighteenth century and labeled the 'sick man of Europe' by the nineteenth century. The dynasty was abolished in 1924, giving way to the Turkish Republic. Much of Ottoman history has been shaped by ideological narratives within academia and the nation-states that emerged from its domains.
 
In this CIK Talk, inspired by a paper published by the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research, Dr. Yakoob Ahmed argued that "Collective Amnesia" was deliberately fostered to consolidate modern nation-states. He explored why it is crucial for Muslims to invest in studying Islamic history, especially Ottoman history, to reclaim our past and forge a better future for the Ummah. 

Dr. Yakoob Ahmed

Dr. Yakoob Ahmed is a graduate from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, where he completed his Ph.D. in Late Ottoman history with a focus on Ottoman Constitutionalism and the role of the Ottoman ulema. He is currently a staff member at Istanbul University’s ilahiyat (theology) faculty, where he specializes in teaching Islamic history, Ottoman history, Islamic civilization and modern Islamic thought. Dr. Yakoob is a regular columnist for TRT World and also has guest-appeared in a host of podcasts and written for various academic and Muslim intellectual platforms. His interests include late Ottoman history, the history of nationalism and the nation-state in the Muslim world, collective memory construction, Islamic studies and Turkish politics.