{"id":1009,"date":"2026-06-20T17:58:35","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T17:58:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sunsitejo.com\/en\/?p=1009"},"modified":"2026-06-20T17:58:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T17:58:37","slug":"where-did-iran-fail-and-where-did-the-arabs-and-what-of-the-turkish-model","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sunsitejo.com\/en\/where-did-iran-fail-and-where-did-the-arabs-and-what-of-the-turkish-model\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Did Iran Fail, and Where Did the Arabs? And What of the Turkish Model?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Necessity of Historical Accountability<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The miserable state we find ourselves in today, the current trajectory of events, and the unfolding destruction and shame brought upon the nation must compel us to review our positions and recognize our historical responsibilities and errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Iranian Project: Sectarianism vs. Renaissance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the outset, the Iranian project could have been a renaissance for both Iran and the Islamic world, had it been free from the sectarian mindset that reinforced racism and superiority, effectively turning sectarianism into a religion. This mindset made establishing a normal relationship with the Arab world impossible because, from the perspective of that doctrine, such a relationship contradicts the faith itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The form of Shiism that appears on the surface to be a devotion to the Household of the Prophet (Ahl al-Bayt) is actually built on the premise that Arabs betrayed the Prophet and his family and remain their enemies. In this view, Arabs are seen as a group of hypocrites with no true connection to Islam. This narrative\u2014which is, in truth, part of Jewish intrigues\u2014coincided with Persian nationalist and “Shu’ubiyya” tendencies. These tendencies viewed Arabs as the people who destroyed and subjugated the Persian Empire, despite being perceived as “despised barbarians.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prior to the Islamic Revolution, this tone of superiority was evident during the Shah’s reign, who frequently expressed contempt for Arabs. At that time, Iran moved toward Western-style secularism, attempting to sever its ties with Islamic heritage. This attempt failed due to the deep-rooted nature of religion in Iranian society. Regrettably, the Islamic Revolution\u2014which seemed like a response to the people’s desire to reconnect with Islam\u2014did not work to erase these feelings or bridge the gap to establish a relationship of brotherhood and respect with Arab peoples. Instead, Iran viewed Arabs as a target for hegemony, using the spread of Shiism as a tool for influence. Sectarian education aligned with nationalist sentiment, and together they became the compass for Iranian policy. The root of this is a dread of integration or melting into the Arab cultural surroundings\u2014a fear that reinforced Persian nationalism and made it appear as a matter of life or death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Arab World: Weak Nationalism and Internal Division<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, the collective Arab national sentiment was weak from the start. This is because Sunni Islam is not built on hostility toward anyone. Furthermore, the Arab nation realizes it will not vanish or fade away because of its link to Islam, which guarantees the survival of its language and culture. When nationalist movements began to gain momentum after the revolution in Egypt, Sunni religious movements resisted them, viewing them as a threat to Islamic brotherhood and seeking to brand this sentiment as apostasy (Takfir).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Undoubtedly, the resistance to Arab nationalism aligned with the desires of the enemies of Arabism and Islam in the West, especially as historical evidence reveals their support for, or at least satisfaction with, these anti-nationalist movements. With the weakening of the Arab nationalist current, Arab states began to retreat into themselves, focusing on narrow interests and attempting to preserve their “statelet” (Qutri) borders. This made them easy prey for Western influence. Contradictions arose that led to inter-Arab wars, long-standing enmities, and a lack of trust between Arab countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While traditional Sunni thought has the merit of being closer to the reality of religion and a humanitarian perspective free from racism\u2014not based on Arab superiority or hatred of others\u2014it nonetheless played a role in weakening Arab nationalism and manipulating the Arab system. This was especially true after it occasionally became a tool in the hands of the West, supporting Western policies and declaring Jihad for Western interests. In other cases, it became a mouthpiece for individual Arab regimes wishing to maintain their sovereignty at the expense of the collective Arab system and common security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Misuse of Sunni Principles and the Palestinian Cause<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunni thought contains great, established principles that lead to global peace by focusing on human brotherhood within the scope of Islam and rejecting racism, regionalism, and narrow affiliations. It emphasizes social peace, which includes the prohibition of rebelling against the ruler\u2014or the system of government in general\u2014and the necessity of obedience in matters that do not involve sin against God. However, the Arab state systems exaggerated the exploitation of this principle to consolidate their legitimacy and shield themselves from accountability. This led to occasional explosions and the emergence of movements that mandated rebellion after redefining “sin” and distorting principles\u2014such as their arguments regarding the ruler’s Islamic credentials and the criteria for judging them. Ultimately, however, these extremist movements failed to distort Sunni Islam and its principles among the general public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regarding the Palestinian cause specifically, as a part of the Arab system, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) worked to turn it into a localized “national” issue, acting as if it were a government or an Arab regime like any other. In doing so, it absolved the Arab system of its responsibilities, even though the Israeli danger looms over everyone and does not concern Palestine alone\u2014as is becoming starkly clear today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the Islamic resistance movements in Palestine, they attempted to derive legitimacy from religion to rebel against the Palestinian leadership. They allied with Iran on a seemingly religious basis, relying on the beautiful principle in Sunni thought calling for Islamic brotherhood. For Iran, however, this is primarily a center of influence and a pressure card in Iranian politics. One cannot deny that a sense of Islamic brotherhood exists in the Iranian-Palestinian relationship, but Shia ideology cannot allow for a full and true brotherhood in the long term; the most the relationship between Arabs and Iran can reach is a state of dependency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lebanese Crisis and the Former Syrian Regime Contradictions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Lebanon, the Shia were once involved in the struggle against Israel within the framework of the PLO, away from sectarianism. However, with the Iranian Revolution and the arrival of Imam Musa al-Sadr in Lebanon, segregation began. Armed movements emerged to serve primarily as arms of Iranian influence, deriving their legitimacy from resisting Israel. Conversely, other Lebanese groups do not form a unified national project, let alone a desire to integrate into Arab nationalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Sunnis, Druze, and Palestinians tried to make Lebanon part of the Arab system, the Christians\u2014particularly the Maronites\u2014saw themselves outside of Arab nationalism. They began to act in isolation from their Arab surroundings, believing their interests lay with Israel and the West. As for Syria, in order to extend its influence over Lebanon, it supported the isolationists and prevented their collapse when they were near total defeat. The former Syrian regime, which claims to be an Arab nationalist system dreaming of Arab unity, ignored the fact that this behavior completely contradicted the Arab national interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal was not to uproot Christians, of course, but Arab states should have worked to consolidate unity among the Lebanese people on a collective Arab nationalist basis. Instead, Arab states sought to tear the Lebanese fabric through their influence and money. Lebanon is now in a deplorable state, facing a crisis that is difficult to escape. Currently, it lives between a system that claims a desire for sovereignty and national revival\u2014despite being completely incapable and lacking the components of sovereignty without engaging in Arab nationalism and receiving Arab support (which is currently non-existent)\u2014and a conflict with Iranian influence that hides behind the guise of resisting Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Turkish Model and the Ottoman Legacy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey benefited from Sunni thought, which believes in Islamic brotherhood, and ruled Arab lands for four centuries. It led the Islamic world into wars that were sometimes futile and contradicted the reality of Islam. Islam does not demand the conquest of peoples simply because they are non-Muslim, as the Ottomans and Mongols in the East believed. The result was that the lands conquered by the Ottoman Empire not only failed to convert to Islam but developed a deep hatred for it due to the Turkish invasion and the lack of Islamic ethics that could have spread and rooted the faith\u2014as was the case with Muslims after the fall of the Persian Empire. During those four centuries, Arab nationalism diminished; in the final century, the Ottomans grew bold enough to attempt the “Turkification” of Arabs. Naturally, these centuries entrenched ignorance and poverty in the Arab world, leaving it weak and an easy target for the West, which partitioned it as the legacy of the “Sick Man of Europe.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Turkey managed to save itself from falling under European colonial rule, a wave of hostility toward Islam emerged. It exhibited the “imitation of the victor by the vanquished” syndrome mentioned by Ibn Khaldun. Turkey tried to define itself as a European state and attempted to uproot itself from its history, which is inseparable from Islam\u2014given that Islam was the true factor in forming the Turkish nation. Turkish nationalist movements even appeared based on the hatred and contempt of Arabs. Although the Turks bear historical responsibility for the defeat of Muslims and the fragmented, weak Arab reality, they began to show hostility toward Arabs instead of recognizing this responsibility. They established long-standing relations with the usurping entity, Israel, which seized land that was historically under Turkish rule for four centuries\u2014making them fundamentally responsible for its fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kurdish Dilemma and the Path to Cooperation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, due to the merits of Sunni Islam, Turkish nationalist movements could not entrench hatred toward Arabs as part of the religion, as happened with Shia Islam in Iran. With the disappointments from Europe, which refused to allow Turkey to become part of its system, Sunni Islam helped reconnect Turks to Islamic brotherhood. Finally, an Islamic party reached power after decades of secular-nationalist obstruction\u2014from the military coup and execution of Adnan Menderes to the dissolution of Necmettin Erbakan’s party and the attempted coup against Erdogan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The truth is that the primary obsession in Turkish policy is the Kurdish file, which has undoubtedly been used by the West to split the Islamic ranks in Turkey, the Arab countries, and Iran. While it is a duty to grant Kurds their rights and preserve their identity and culture\u2014recognizing the historical injustice they have suffered\u2014a trend of hatred toward Arabism and even Islam has begun to grow among them. This is not in their interest, nor the interest of Islamic unity. The Kurdish file significantly directs Turkish policy toward the Islamic world and distracts Arabs, Turks, and Kurds from the necessity of joint cooperation. The Muslim peoples must solve this dilemma for the progress of the Islamic world; otherwise, it will remain an obstacle to the collective Islamic cause. This is especially vital as Kurds are subject to campaigns attempting to remove them from the Islamic Ummah and blaming Islam, Arabs, Turks, and Persians for their oppression\u2014noting that many alleged grievances are manufactured, and there is a Kurdish tendency seeking control beyond their borders and beyond their rightful entitlements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Call for Unity and Moral Reform<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Turkish position, while possessing the potential to enhance Islamic cooperation, is preoccupied with the Kurdish file on one hand and the duty to resist the hatred of Arabs on the other. Secularists who mimicked the West during the independence period forgot that they are indebted to Arabs for everything concerning the Turkish nation, which would not have emerged or flourished without the Islam brought to them by Arabs. Nor could they have settled in Arab lands or gained global legitimacy without Arab consent and the perception of them as brothers. As this hatred fades and a sincere desire for cooperation grows\u2014especially after the frustrations that should convince them they belong to their Islamic surroundings, not Europe\u2014we may approach a better future for Turkey and the Islamic world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short, Arab countries must realize that an Arab nationalism free from superiority or tribalism is an indispensable necessity for their revival. This nationalism is not directed against anyone and does not contradict the overarching Islamic brotherhood; rather, it strengthens it. Arabs are fortunate that the majority belong to Sunni thought, which does not hinder this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Iran, Iraq, and the eastern Arabian Peninsula, the Shia must realize that the Persian hatred of Arabs and the Arab Shia hatred of Sunnis is a primary obstacle to Islamic solidarity that must be uprooted through reason and wisdom. Similarly, Sunnis must silence the voices calling for the hatred of Shias under the pretext of insults to the Companions or the Mothers of the Believers. While these voices represent a small sector that has begun to fade, they tear the nation apart and serve the interests of its enemies. In Turkey, the sense of Islamic brotherhood and a sincere desire for cooperation with the Arab world must be strengthened\u2014not only as a duty between Muslim peoples but because Turkey bears a historical moral responsibility for the current state of affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Arab nation must unite to stop being subject to humiliating American and Western influence. The Islamic peoples must unite and support one another for the benefit of all. Muslims must review their discourse and silence the voices calling for division in the name of religion, for these voices are nothing but the trumpets of Satan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Necessity of Historical Accountability The miserable state we find ourselves in today, the current trajectory of events, and the unfolding destruction and shame brought upon the nation must compel … <\/i>Continue reading …<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunsitejo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1009","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunsitejo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunsitejo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunsitejo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunsitejo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1009"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sunsitejo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1009\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1011,"href":"https:\/\/sunsitejo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1009\/revisions\/1011"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunsitejo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunsitejo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunsitejo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}