This paper examines the role of Turkish Islam in the dynamics of Muslim world. Today, the majority of the Muslim society suffers from clash due to the differences in denominations, nations, and ideologies. The vicious cycle of sanguinary collisions between Sunni and Shiites continues throughout Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Even within the same Sunni denomination, the clash between Kurdish, Arabs, and Turk continues throughout large portions of Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. The recent armed protests of ISIS result the combination of both cases. North African Islam nations started a protest, the Arab Spring, in order to transfer power from dictatorial government to civil government, but they encounter a colder weather rather than spring as they expected.
Problems of Muslims do not stop at the inside issue. Today, the active Islamic organizations form the Islamic society in both inside and outside of the society, and this phenomena expand problems of Muslims globally. This study finds that the possibility of Muslims for them to admit other religion, culture, and ethnic differences and coexistence is not only an Islamic concern, but also concern for non-Muslim countries. Researchers show that Muslim nations wish to have democracy, individual rights, and economic stability that does not deviate from Islam principles. This paper chose Turkish Islam among the Muslim world to show that such possibilities of Muslims are realistic and able to fulfill. Turkish Islam does what most Muslims wish to have; they do not give up Islamic principles while pursuing political stability and economic development by incorporating with the modern day. By looking at the case of Turkish Islam, this paper also suggest to other Muslims that it is possible to embrace Islamic principles while forming a political stability and economic development by incorporating with the modern day, and give assurance that is the best action to take for Islam and Muslim.
In order to support this, this paper addresses four points. The first is the harmony of Islam and modernity that is formed in the Turkish Islam. Turkish Islam embrace modernism by “Islamization of modernity.” Instead of giving up the principles of Islam or rejecting modernity. Secondly, AKP party’s start as a political Islam and seizure of power through popular vote to its success show other Islam nations that “Islamic Democracy” is possible. Third point is the possibility of correspondence of Islam and capitalism. Turkish Muslim leaders have sublimated economic activities as dedication to Allah and created “Islam Protestant.” As a result, Turkey has become one of the fastest nations to grow and develop economically. Finally, Turkish Islam has shown that “Islamic pluralism” is possible to succeed. Turkish Islam leaders continue to debate in order to find ways to live within the boundaries of Islam foundations and practice individual rights. As a result, Turkey today is the most vigorous and free Islam country. Turkish Islam suggests other Islam nations a model through such experiences.