“This is a bold move Badshah” said Rajaram “Are you sure you wish to proceed? “
Ahmad Shah glanced at Rajaram“ There is a reason why I am Badshah and you are a General Rajaram. You lack ambition. Our plans will go ahead as ordered”
The eunuch Arbaaz Khan whispered “Ah yes…of course you are a great and intelligent man however even the great must be reminded of their flaws lest they think themselves gods and no longer men. You are weakening your position terribly with these new reforms, how can you fight a war when you could lose power any day?”
Kareem Hassan spoke up “He is not weakening his position! For too long now have Muslims lived under foreign rule. Do you know why this has occurred? Because Islam is divided! Separated by Sunni and Shia, Kurd and Baluch, we have forgotten what truly binds us and instead fallen prey to our petty squabbles. Because of this Islam is weak and now suffers foreign invasion. In the south we have the French who rule over the Muslims of Hydreabad. In the north we have the Russians who rule Central Asia. Meanwhile the corrupt Ottomans oppress their people and the treacherous Byzantines invade. This is unacceptable! How can Dar-Al-Harab be fulfilled if Dar-Al-Islam is divided? No Islam must unite!
Ahmad Shah stood and nodded “Kareem is correct. In the year 750 the great Umayyad Islamic Caliphate fell, they had grown corrupt and weak. They had forgotten their duty as Muslims. Thus the Abbasids who put Islam back on its proper path replaced them. The Great Leader Saladin may he rest in peace, struck terror into the hearts of the Frankish Crusaders and drove them from the Holy Land. It is in such a position we find ourselves in today. The Ottoman Empire has grown weak and corrupt; it has forgotten what Islam truly is. Thus I am left with no choice Dar-Al-Islam must be united under our rule. The Ottoman’s have proven their weakness once more infidels occupy the Holy Land, not only that they also occupy lands across the world. This must not be allowed.” He gazed seriously at the people in the room
Arbaaz Khan who was looking at Rajaram for his reaction spoke “Badshah all you say is true, yet how will we carry such a magnificent feat off? What your are proposing, the abolishment of the semi-autonomous regions, the creation of the Sabh, these are radical, the people will revolt.”
Ahmad Shah glanced at Rajaram “No” he said smirking “They will not revolt, and do you know why? Because they will love the Badshah.”
Kareem Hassan and Arbaaz Khan faces were creased with thoughtful frowns.
Rajaram continued, “ The people, simple minded as they are will feel they are represented. The Sabh will be made up of completely elected representatives, elected by the people. The voting rights will be granted to men of twenty-one years of age. These representatives will have the power to make laws and represent the people. Over the Sabh is the largely ceremonial Manshabh made up of the appointed nobility who will ensure the ignorant masses do not make any unwise choices. At the very top of this pyramid is the Badshah who hold supreme authority still; he may veto any laws that displease him, he may dissolve the Sabh and call for new elections as he wishes. The people however feel that they are represented and that they have power, which indeed they do, but not that much. Thus the people being satisfied will love the Badshah for the greater freedom they have, the protection of the law, the far more effective civilian bureaucratic structure to deal with their problems in particular the large Hindu and Sikh populaces as well as other majority and minority groups who may have a tendency to rebel. They will have no complaints”
Kareem Hassan croaked in awe “This is brilliant Badshah! Dar-Al-Islam will finally unite!”
“Indeed it will,” said Arbaaz Khan stroking his beard lightly “Yet there is one more thing that needs to be considered.”
Ahmad Shah held up his hands “I know what you will say Arbaaz. I too have considered it.”
“I declare myself Successor to Prophet Muhammad (May he Rest in Peace) and Caliph of All Islam. May the Dar-Al-Islam unite under my rule! Let the call for Jihad go out, Dar-Al-Harab shall join us and Dar-Al-Kufr shall fall.May our soldiers fight as fiercely as the Ansar and die as martyrs. Soon the world will know the fury of the forces of Islam on a rampage! I proclaim the creation of the Greater Islamic Empire. May Allah strike terror into the hearts of our enemies!
Allahu Akbar!
