Muslims, We need to Teach our Youth Islamic History

How to Reclaim our Historical Narratives

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

In Western classrooms, textbooks often omit Islamic history. Most people are unaware of Islam’s historical context, including its leaders, the rise and fall of its empires, and its eventual spread. Despite this lack of understanding, Islam remains a frequent subject of debate in mainstream discourse. This unfortunately allows some Western media outlets and the far right to perpetuate a narrative of Islam as inherently violent, its expansion as forced, and the religion as a regressive Christian heresy destined to oppress its billions of worshippers.

Exposing the Narrative

Some narratives portray many leaders in the Muslim world as the source of all evil, suggesting democracy must be instilled by force to liberate populations from their own beliefs. The mention of a caliphate in the Muslim world is often presented as a source of terror. This perception has been used to justify Western governments exerting foreign control through military intervention, controlling populations, removing leaders, installing puppet governments, and usurping resources — all in the name of removing ‘radical’ Islam — and securing Western foreign policy interests. In Europe, the far right roams the streets warning of ‘no-go zones’ and a ‘clash of civilisations’, propagating the idea that Western values are disappearing under the influence of a medieval and barbarous religion with a history supposedly mired in blood.

Since 9/11, this has been the environment in which most Muslims have lived, thus producing insecure, weak, and shamed individuals who are tired of constantly having to defend themselves and justify that they are not inherently violent. But how many reference our history to refute these claims? How many speak from a position of certainty and historical understanding, rather than just an emotional reaction born from insecurity? Today the Muslim world cries out for leadership — blind to the giants in its past.

Discovering our Heroes

How often do we recall the heroes and great civilisations that spearheaded advancements in literature, exemplified by the renowned Mu’allaqat; medicine, through groundbreaking work like Ibn Sina’s; art, in the intricate beauty of Islamic calligraphy; history, with insightful chronicles such as Al-Tabari’s; and mathematics, notably the development of algebra — all preceding the Western Renaissance? How often do we discuss the Islamic world’s age of innovation, when Baghdad flourished as the world’s wealthiest city, brimming with treasures and the esteemed House of Wisdom, whilst Europe remained in the Dark Ages?

How often is it discussed that European settlers flocked to the Muslim world for trade, before the era of colonisation when these resources were forcibly seized? Reading historical accounts from credible Islamic writers like Ibn Athir or Ibn Kathir shows Islam did not primarily spread by the sword; rather, our caliphates often spread justice through the application of the Sharia — principles of comprehensive religious laws intended to ensure stability and welfare in society for all faiths, though demonised by the far right today as draconian laws.

Our heroes commanded justice. Salahuddin, known to the West as Saladin, was famed for his honour and noble personality. When Nur al-Din Zengi died, historical writer William of Tyre described him as a just prince, valiant and wise. The Umayyad Caliph Umar ibn Abdul Aziz was so just that the Jewish population wept at the loss of their respected ruler. Under our caliphs, religious rights were protected, and women, orphans, and the needy were looked after. Our scholars were honoured, knowledge flowed freely, championing innovation and religious thought. Today, we often accept accusations that Islam has always repressed women and massacred minorities in the name of religious superiority.

Our History is Our Truth

In reality, the West has rewritten its history to suit a globalised, multicultural age haunted by the ghosts of colonisation. They have no right to attach a violent lens over the Muslim world, when their history swims in blood. Today, university students are ripping down statues of colonial slave owners desecrating their public spaces. Students are realising that historical figures they were taught about in classrooms were not as inclusive and honourable as they thought.

We Muslims don’t have to lie about our heroes — their justice spoke for itself. Today the Muslim world cries out for leadership — blind to the giants in its past. We don’t know their names. Yet we dare to express dismay at a lack of unity. The Muslim community should be more protective of our history and eager to share it with the youth.

It is our responsibility to teach it, to take control of the narrative, and to ensure it is taught in every mosque, Islamic centre, and university. Muslims should not complain about Islamic civilisations being omitted from Western history books — why do we expect to be included in the first place? How can we make other civilisations custodians of our past, giving them the liberty to omit and embellish what they please?

If Muslims want to produce heroes amongst the youth, then provide an outlet for their Islamic learning. It is a problem when Muslim youth grow up with the same secular entertainment — cartoons, music, and TV as everyone else, which shapes their aspirations and identities. Why do we berate our children as being wayward and self-indulgent when no other lifestyle has been offered? We don’t provide our youth with Islamic role models to emulate.

Teaching the Next Generation

There shouldn’t be a Muslim child on the streets who doesn’t know of the four rightly guided caliphs, Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, Nur al-Din Zengi, Salahuddin, or Saifuddin Qutuz. Ironically, Disney spends billions on costly remakes a year, creating live-action adaptations of fairy tales and other stories to provide children with heroes. For Muslims, we don’t need to invent heroes; they’re already there, but they’re not known.

Our Islamic history is not just a record of the past—it’s our story, our identity, and our responsibility. We can no longer be passive. It’s time to take ownership by creating our own curriculums, designing engaging resources, and building spaces where our youth connect deeply with their heritage. Through books, media, and meaningful programmes, we can, insha’Allah, nurture a generation rooted in knowledge and ready to lead the Ummah forward.

Our history is the ummah’s identity If we don’t know it - then who are we?

May Allah grant us wisdom, passion, and sincerity in preserving and teaching our history, and may He raise from among our youth future scholars, leaders, and changemakers—Ameen.

For those who wish to explore further, please find the attached transcript PDF and an additional PowerPoint titled "Why We Should Learn Islamic History" as an additional resource.