The Sykes-Picot Agreement: How the West Divided the Muslim World

Understanding the Sykes-Picot Agreement: A Betrayal of the Muslim Ummah

What Is The Sykes-Picot Agreement & How It Split The Ummah?

The Sykes-Picot Agreement was a secret treaty made in 1916 between Britain and France during World War I. It outlined how Muslim countries, especially in the Middle East, would be divided between the western powers after the war. The agreement split the Middle East into zones of influence controlled by Britain and France, ignoring the interests and hopes of the Muslim population. This is why we see so much western influence in the Muslim world.

How did this agreement split the Ummah?

1 – Artificial Borders: The agreement imposed artificial borders on Muslim lands, splitting historically unified regions like Shām and Hijāz. 

2 – Fragmentation of the Muslim Ummah: The division of Muslim lands goes against the Islamic principle of unity among believers. It weakened collective strength and solidarity among Muslims by creating divided nation-states under Western influence.

3 – Suppression of Islamic Movements: In the wake of the agreement, many Western-backed regimes viewed Islamic movements and calls for Sharī’ah as a threat to their authority. This led to the arrest, exile, torture or silencing of many leaders who sought to re-establish Islamic law and governance.

4 – Western Control and Exploitation: The agreement allowed Britain and France to control key resources, especially oil, and to shape the political landscape of the Middle East for their own economic and strategic interests, sidelining Islamic values and development.

The Sykes-Picot allowed the West to impose political control over key regions. Countries like ‘Irāq, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon were placed under British and French mandates, giving the West long-term power over these territories.

In summary, the Sykes-Picot Agreement is seen as a betrayal by Muslims because it caused division and put Muslim lands under foreign control, leading to lasting instability and conflict in the Muslim world. The evils of democracy and secularism were imposed on Muslims, and anyone who raised the flag of Tawhīd and Sharī’ah was attacked. 

Why do I, as a Muslim, need to know this?

❖ It is important for Muslims to understand the Sykes-Picot Agreement and similar actions because it shows how Western powers planned, divided, and weakened the Muslim world.

❖ Recognizing the historical manipulation by the West helps Muslims resist ongoing foreign influence and exploitation, strengthening their efforts to rebuild political, social, and economic independence based on Islamic principles and justice.

“They claim to bring civilization, but their civilization is built upon the corpses of the oppressed. Their bombs and bullets speak louder than their words of ‘progress.” – Omar Mukhtār

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2 Rabi‘ Al-Akhir 1446H – 5 October 2024

Abū Ismā’īl