The ‘Muslim divide’ is about power, not piety

 Unity will only shift from a theological ideal to a political reality when leaders begin prioritising stable governance, economic fairness and basic human dignity over their political survival.

From Moaz Nair

Whenever you scan the headlines, a heart-breaking reality stares back: several Muslim-majority nations are trapped in devastating wars and armed conflicts. These crises range from full-scale international warfare to intense civil strife and localised insurgencies.

Tragically, from Iran, Iraq and Syria to Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Somalia, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Muslims are often locked in conflict with other Muslims. This deep friction naturally prompts a difficult, uncomfortable question: can the Muslim world ever truly achieve unity?

On paper, the global ummah is bound by the most foundational of principles: belief in one God and the guidance of the Quran.

Yet, the reality on the ground is starkly fractured. It is easy for casual observers to look at this discord and assume that Islam itself is the root problem.

But if you pull back the curtain, it becomes clear that these conflicts are rarely about theology. Instead, they are driven by the exact same catalysts that spark wars anywhere else on earth: politics, money and human greed.

The truth is, most internal conflicts in the Muslim world are old-fashioned power struggles. Factions, regimes and politicians compete for control, territory and resources, plain and simple.

Consider the Sunni-Shia split. While it dates back to a seventh-century political disagreement over who should succeed Prophet Muhammad, these communities lived side-by-side in relative peace for centuries.

The divide only becomes weaponised today because authoritarian regimes and militant groups exploit it to manufacture an “us versus them” mentality.

Leaders routinely wrap their political ambitions in religious rhetoric because it remains a highly effective tool to manipulate the masses, justify violence and safeguard their power. This has been the norm in many failed Muslim states.

This dynamic plays out on a massive scale through regional chess games. Major powers like Saudi Arabia and Iran have long been locked in a geopolitical rivalry, turning vulnerable nations like Yemen and Syria into proxy battlegrounds.

Compounding the issue is that many modern borders in the region are fragile, artificially cutting across deep ethnic and tribal lines. When a central government collapses – as seen in Iraq or Libya – it creates a power vacuum that local armed groups immediately resort to violence to fill.

Coincidentally, many of these conflict zones are endowed with rich oil and gas reserves, making them highly attractive to foreign powers.

These natural resources are a double-edged sword: while they should guarantee prosperity, mismanagement leaves many states impoverished, even as the wealth draws predatory external interests. When warring domestic factions face defeat, they readily invite foreign intervention. Superpowers then step in under the guise of aid, though their true drivers are their own economic and strategic interests in the region.

Ultimately, a shared religious identity is not enough to sustain stability when states are hollowed out from within.

You cannot talk about unity without addressing daily survival. When high poverty, a lack of economic opportunity, systemic corruption and oppressive governance collide, they create a recipe for desperation. If citizens cannot build a decent life through peaceful or democratic means, sub-state conflicts and insurgencies become inevitable.

The path forward for the Muslim world is about repairing broken systems. Unity will only shift from a theological ideal to a political reality when leaders begin prioritising stable governance, economic fairness and basic human dignity over their political survival. - FMT

Moaz Nair is an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT