© Abdal-Hakim Murad The ummah’s greatest achievement over the
past millennium has undoubtedly been its internal intellectual
cohesion. From the fifth century of the Hijra almost to the
present day, and despite the outward drama of the clash of
dynasties, the Sunni Muslims have maintained an almost unfailing
attitude of religious respect and brotherhood among themselves.
It is a striking fact that virtually no religious wars, riots or
persecutions divided them during this extended period, so
difficult in other ways. The history of religious movements
suggests that this is an unusual outcome. The normal
sociological view, as expounded by Max Weber and his disciples,
is that religions enjoy an initial period of unity, and then
descend into an increasingly bitter factionalism led by rival
hierarchies. Christianity has furnished the most obvious example
of this; but one could add many others, including secular faiths
such as Marxism. On the face of it, Islam’s ability to avoid
this fate is astonishing, and demands