Thread by @TalhaGulbargavi

#Thread #OTD Sultan Abdülhamid Khan II was born, The reformist "founder of Modern Turkey" Sultan ruled & kept ailing #OttomanEmpire strong fr 33 yrs. One f the Global Icons of Muslim Ummah in Modern era, seen as one of the Caliphs who tried to return Caliphate to Islamic roots.

Among the #Ottoman sultans, #Abdülhamid used the title of #caliph the most. He encouraged Islamic Identity, telling Muslims living under European powers to unite into one polity. He attempted to expand Islam by sending religious teachers as far away as South Africa and Japan.

Sultan emphasized the Empire's "Islamic" character, reasserted his status as the Caliph, and called for #MuslimUnity behind the Caliphate. He succeeded briefly in reasserting Islamic power. This threatened several European Colonial Powers Like Austria, Russia, France, & Britain.

Did He Succeed?
The #Ottoman Order (In 1899 on a request from the United States government) as Caliph to #TausugSultanateSulu (located in the #Philippines) resulted in #Tausug people heeding Sultan and surrendering.

For the first time, Many Communities such as Indian Muslims, Berbers, Tatars, Albanians and other Muslims started to accept Ottomans as caliphs and that too with Socio-political authority, not just nominal figureheads.

building edu Infrastructure, reducing the national debt, & embarking on projects aimed at revitalizing the infrastructure. The elements of His Strategy of implementing ideological reforms while building a welfare state can be seen even in modern Turkish politics, & elsewhere

Apart from his Islamic mindset, 2 things stood out in Sultan Abdul Hameed's Life which made him one of the most liked caliphs in almost a millennia. 1 was his Love & respect towards Prophet Muhammad PBUH, 2nd was his resistance in Palestinian matter.

He commissioned #HejazRailway in 1900 that connected Damascus with the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The railway took eight years to build, and the tracks finally reached Medina in 1908.

While the Medina station was established, each hammer was covered with felt cloth to respect Prophet Muhammad's soul. Similarly, to avoid excessive sound, the trains' wheels were also covered with felt cloths (Soft used as carpets etc, and are good sound absorbents).

It's Said that he ordered work around Medina to be done with extreme care and as much less noise as possible so that it does not cause disturbance to Prophet Muhammad PBUH, and the Zaayerin.
His Order was due to the Adab that comes from Surah Hujurat, Ayah 2.

Whn Sultan introduced electricity to Madinah in 1325AH, he beautifully lit up the Prophet’s Masjid first. He had such Adab that he placed electricity in Madinah before his own palace in Istanbul. The first chandeliers & generators were sent by The Nizam of Hyderabad, India.

Some of stories regarding the his love for Prophet Muhammad PBUH have been well documented, and immortalised through Media.
For example, This Clip From Payitaht abt his emotional behaviour on The Prophet PBUH Calling him "our Hameed" in a man's Dream.

There is another story where he threatened to go to war against France over a Drama which reportedly, insulted and abused Prophet Muhammad PBUH forcing the french govt to close it down.

Another Distinct feature of His Caliphate was resistance to the zionist schemes & preservation of Al-Aqsa. In 1871, Ottomans declared 80% of Palestine as state property. After his ascension Sultan increased preventive measures against the Jewish settlement in Palestine.

In 1883, he restricted sale of #Palestinian lands & decided to take strategic territory himself. in 1900, Sultan restricted Jews' stay in Palestinian territory to 30 days. He further prohibited the sale of territories to foreign Jews in the #Ottoman Empire, including Palestine.

#TheodorHerzl, leader of #Zionists, offered to pay the Ottomans' foreign debts and to provide propaganda for the Ottoman Sultan in Europe in exchange for opening Palestinian lands to Jewish settlement and transferring governance to the Jewish people.

Despite such a big offer he was unable to even secure an audience with Sultan #Abdülhamid II. The sultan declined this offer with the famous saying: "I won't sell anything, not even an inch of this territory because this country does not belong to me but to all Ottomans/Muslims.

It was the issue that cost him his throne.. In a letter from Sultan, who belonged to the #Shadhili Tariqa to Shadhili Sheikh Abu'Shamat #Mahmud, in Sept. 22, 1913, He said: "I quit being caliph because of the oppression & threats by the Young Turks.

This group insisted that I approve the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine. I rejected this proposition. They finally offered 150 million British gold pieces.

I rejected this as well and I told them: 'I would never agree with you even if you offer not 150 million British gold but all the gold in the entire world. I served the Muslim community for more than 30 years. I did not let my forefathers down.

Following my final response, they agreed on my dethronement and sent me to #Thessaloniki. I pray to Allah, I did not accept to establish a new state on Palestinian lands on the Ottoman State and the Islamic community."

Sultan's Life ws similar in sm aspects to TIPU Shaheed, Both pious Muslims, Intelligent & brilliant-minded rulers who ruled @ a difficult time, yet left an immortal mark on history. Both wer Undone mainly due to Internal Politics & treachery f some Muslims rathr thn Foreignpowers

Both great patrons of art, promoters of education and infrastructure, and Muslim Identity, focused on welfare state and tried to arrest the slide but failed and paid price, one with deposition and one with shahadat. leaving people to wonder what if..

Sultan Abdul Hameed However was fighting bigger battles on a much larger level. He was the upholder of 1400 years old tradition of Muslim Rule & last symbol of Unifed Muslim Power. His removal ended A Vital Muslim concept, which hs not returned despite 120 years of efforts.

He passed away on Feb. 10, 1918. for The Muslims all around the world, he is a key reason for the Nostalgia and respect towards the Ottoman caliphate and the last one to genuinely attempt to Unify the Muslim Ummah.. May his Soul rest in peace and may his sins be forgiven.

on 31 August, His reign Began, so on that Day, @DeccanDigest published a couple of videos explaining his significance..
instagram.com/reel/Ch6Rd7dAW…

Part 2.
instagram.com/reel/Ch9TVJ6gr…