This is with reference to the article “Stopgap arrangements will not help Mideast” (June 21) by Harun Yahya. What the writer has tried to convey makes perfect sense. No sane person could disagree with the views expressed in the article. Realpolitik requires people (or leaders) to enter into alliances for temporary gains or to ward off a particular situation. There is no harm in it, as it is part and parcel of world politics. However, Muslims should think differently. Muslims are a nation different from all others that exist in the world. To better understand the concept of nationhood in Islam, one should refer to the Qur’an and Hadith. The gist of the Islamic teachings is that we are one body and are brothers to each other. Muslims, ideally, should not care about the nationality of his Muslim brother. Keeping in view this concept, Muslim countries should strive to form an alliance of their own — an alliance of brotherhood, the road map of which has already been set out around 14 centuries ago.

I hold no contempt for the western concepts of nationhood but I think Muslims don’t need to adopt those concepts because we have more comprehensive and beneficial ideals. The alliance of Muslims should not be perceived as a threat to any nation but as a means for the Muslims to achieve prosperity and to tackle various issues facing the Ummah.

As long as we are divided, we will continue to lag behind in every sphere of life. If Muslim countries enter into a strategic alliance based on the teachings of Islam, they will definitely excel in every field of life.