Masood Ashraf, USA
Throughout Islamic history, some of the most tragic downfalls have not come merely from external enemies but from within – from betrayal. From the fall of Baghdad to the collapse of the Ottoman Caliphate, from the betrayal of Salahuddin Ayyubi to the resistance against Tipu Sultan, Muslim history is marked by painful moments when unity was shattered not by superior foreign strength but by internal treachery. While betrayal exists in all civilisations, why does it sting deeper in the Muslim world? The answer lies in the spiritual, historical, and ideological fabric of Islam – a faith that calls for unity, loyalty, and collective purpose.
One of the earliest and clearest examples of betrayal within the Muslim community came from Abdullah ibn Ubayy, the leader of the Munafiqun (hypocrites) in Medina. Though he outwardly accepted Islam after the Prophet Muhammadsa migrated to Medina, he secretly resented the Prophet’ssa leadership. His duplicity was exposed during the Battle of Uhud (625 CE) when he and about a third of the Muslim army withdrew from the battlefield, undermining the unity and morale of the Muslims at a critical moment.
Another deeply painful episode occurred during the caliphate of Hazrat Uthman ibn Affanra. Despite his generosity, piety, and closeness to the Prophetsa, Hazrat Uthmanra faced growing unrest fuelled by false propaganda and political ambition. Some among the rebels who pledged to protect him turned against him. Ultimately, he was assassinated in his own home while reciting the Holy Quran – a victim of betrayal from within the Muslim ummah. This tragedy not only ended his righteous rule but also triggered the first major civil strife in Islamic history – the fitnah – that led to enduring divisions.
Salahuddin Ayyubi, the liberator of Jerusalem and the embodiment of Islamic chivalry, faced betrayal not just from Christian crusaders but from Muslim rulers themselves. As he tried to unify the Muslim world against the Crusader states, certain Muslim factions aligned with the enemy or refused to support him. His efforts were repeatedly hindered by internal rivalries, showcasing that treachery from within can often do more damage than a declared enemy.
One of the darkest chapters in Islamic history is the fall of Baghdad at the hands of the Mongols. However, this catastrophe was facilitated by betrayal. Ibn al-Alqami, a high-ranking Shia minister in the Abbasid court, is often cited as a traitor who conspired with the Mongols and weakened the city’s defences from within. Though historians debate his motives and actions, the perception of betrayal magnified the pain of the event. Baghdad’s destruction was not just a military loss; it was a spiritual wound.
Tipu Sultan of Mysore was one of the few Muslim rulers in India who fiercely resisted British colonialism. Yet, his downfall was not solely due to British might. He was betrayed by fellow Indian rulers, including the Marathas and the Nizam of Hyderabad, who sided with the British for their own political gain. It was this betrayal, not just military defeat, that led to the end of his brave resistance. The sting lies in knowing that unity could have changed the course of history.
Another figure etched in infamy is Mir Sadiq, who played a pivotal role in the downfall of Tipu Sultan. During the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, as British troops launched a decisive assault on the fortress of Srirangapatna, Mir Sadiq deliberately withdrew his troops and opened a side gate to the British, sabotaging Tipu Sultan’s defence from within. This act of treachery ensured that Tipu Sultan was left vulnerable and ultimately martyred in battle. Much like Mir Jafar, Mir Sadiq’s betrayal wasn’t just a tactical error – it was a conscious sellout of his own people.
Perhaps no figure embodies the Muslim world’s anguish over betrayal more than Mir Jafar. In 1757, during the Battle of Plassey, he sided with the British East India Company against the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj ud-Daulah. In exchange for British support in his claim to the throne, Jafar withdrew his forces at a critical moment, leading to Siraj’s defeat. This single act paved the way for nearly two centuries of British rule in the Indian subcontinent. Once again, a lust for power overrode loyalty to faith and nation.
In the early 20th century, the Ottoman Caliphate – symbolic of Muslim unity – was dismantled following World War I. Arab leaders, notably influenced by British promises of independence, rebelled against the Ottoman authority during the Arab Revolt. T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) played a key role in mobilising Arab tribes against the Ottomans. The betrayal of a shared Islamic identity for the mirage of Western support led to fragmentation that echoes to this day.
One particularly painful betrayal came from Meccan leaders, notably Sharif Hussein of Mecca, who was swayed by British promises of Arab independence. He led the Arab Revolt against the Ottomans, encouraging tribes across the Arabian Peninsula to rise up. Instead of gaining sovereignty, these regions were carved into British and French mandates, marking one of the most geopolitically consequential betrayals in modern Muslim history.
In the 21st century, the story of betrayal continues. In Afghanistan, foreign invasions were made easier by divisions among various factions. The fall of Kabul in both 2001 and 2021 was facilitated not merely by external force but by internal power struggles and a lack of unified resistance. The repeated inability of Muslims to unite under a single leadership has led to suffering, displacement, and chaos. While betrayal in Muslim history is often seen through the lens of imperial conquests and colonialism, its echoes are tragically heard even today. In the face of aggression against Gaza, where innocent civilians, including women and children, face relentless bombardment and siege, many Muslim-majority governments remain silent or inactive. Rather than standing in unified moral opposition, some have chosen political expediency or self-interest, repeating the same patterns that have plagued Muslim unity for centuries.
Similarly, when Iran was targeted in recent escalations, the lack of a cohesive and principled response from the broader Muslim world once again revealed deep fractures. These moments of silence, when words and action were most needed, reinforce the enduring legacy of betrayal, not just by individuals, but by institutions and governments that fail to uphold the values of justice and solidarity.
Of course, betrayal is not unique to Muslims. In British history, the infamous case of Guy Fawkes (1605) is remembered for his attempt to betray the Protestant English crown. Similarly, Julius Caesar’s assassination by Brutus in Roman history is a classical symbol of betrayal. In more recent history, Benedict Arnold’s treason against the American revolutionaries during the U.S. War of Independence shows that no society is immune. Yet, these betrayals are remembered more as political acts, while Muslim betrayals often feel like a betrayal of faith and collective identity.
The reason betrayal cuts deeper in Muslim societies is that Islam places a profound emphasis on ummah – the idea of a united global Muslim community. The Quran instructs believers: “And hold fast, all together, by the rope of Allah and be not divided.” (Surah Aal-e-Imran, 3:104) The Prophet Muhammadsa warned against division and urged believers to obey righteous leadership. Therefore, betrayal is not just political treachery – it is a spiritual deviation, a violation of divine trust.
In light of these painful chapters of Muslim history – marked by betrayal, disunity, and foreign domination – Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa, the current Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, has repeatedly warned Muslims to unite. In his Friday sermon on 13 June 2025, he declared: “Muslim nations must wake up and unite!”
This statement encapsulates the lesson history has been shouting for centuries. Unity is not optional – it is survival. Huzooraa has emphasised that without internal reform and collective solidarity, Muslim nations will continue to be manipulated and defeated by external powers. His warning echoes the Quranic message and the lived experience of Muslim history.
In that sermon, Huzooraa further elaborated: “If Muslims do not abandon their disputes and if Muslim governments do not unite under a common voice and purpose, then they should remember that they will continue to suffer humiliation and hardship. Islam is a religion of peace and unity, but the world cannot see this when Muslims themselves are divided and fighting. Only when the Muslim world is united can it earn the respect of others and bring about true reform.” (Friday Sermon, 13 June 2025, alislam.org)
This echoes the earlier message of the Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, who taught that until those who are divided in Islam do not accept the Promised Messiah, they cannot be saved and they cannot be united. Allah the Almighty revealed to the Promised Messiahas that he should “gather together all Muslims who are on the earth in one religion.” (Friday Sermon, 28 August 2020, alislam.org)
While betrayal is a universal phenomenon, its consequences in Muslim history have been especially severe due to the loss of unity and spiritual cohesion. Each historical case of this nature illustrates how internal betrayal – motivated by ambition, fear, or sectarianism – devastated Muslim political and spiritual integrity. The pain of betrayal in Muslim history stems from a deep sense of what could have been – of victories turned to defeat not by the sword of the enemy, but by the dagger of a brother. While the West also has its share of traitors, the centrality of unity in Islam, both doctrinally and historically, makes betrayal not just a loss but a spiritual wound. Learning from history, Muslim nations today must heed the call of unity and spiritual brotherhood. Only then can they escape the repeating cycle of betrayal and rise with dignity. These are not merely theological statements but calls to heal centuries of division, reminding the ummah that without unity, based on righteousness and leadership rooted in divine guidance, history may tragically repeat itself.