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Usman Ghazi - A Champion of Empire and a Spirit of Faith and Courage
The founder of the great Ottoman Empire was not merely a warrior, but a man with vision, and his strength laid in his unshakable faith, deep spirituality and love for justice. In the Turkish series Kuruluş Osman, nicely portraying his life, here we see a great example of real leadership that is based on faith, patience and adherence to a great cause – Islam.
Faith and Vision -The Pillars of an Empire
Usman Ghazi was born at a period when the Muslim-world had become the scene of internal dissensions and it suffered, both from internal strife and from internal enemies. But even in that chaos, he dreamed of a state that would wave the flag of Islam and mete justice out to all.
A simple but forceful motto was to be his guiding principle — “Faith in Allah and service to Islam.”
He felt that power without piety is perilous, and hence knowledge and faith must go together.
Like Allama Iqbal’s philosophy of “Khudi,” Usman drew his strength from within — in his belief that he had a mission and that he was connected to Allah.
Leadership and Values: Wisdom & Social Justice
In Kuruluş Osman, the series demonstrates that Usman Ghazi had ruled with courage (shuja’at) and justice (insaaf). He did not consider them as subjects, but he treated them as brothers in the faith. Every subsequent decision he took was based on “Amr bil ma’ruf wa nahi anil munkar” — to enjoin good and forbid evil.
As he himself once told his friends (according to the accounts of Turkish history):
“What we have been commanded is not to rule over people, but to rule justly so that the law of God will be established,” he declared.
His term epitomised Islamic rule in which every legislation was based on Qur’an and Sunnah.
Knowledge, Faith and Discipleship
Usman Ghazi knew that winning the battlefield wasn’t enough – campaigns to educate minds and purify hearts commenced.
He founded madrasas, and invited scholars to teach the Qur’an, Hadith and philosophy.
He thought of education as a tool to awaken the Ummah, not simply an accomplishment in this world.
Just as Iqbal said:
“Ilm wo nahi jo sirf dimagh bhar de balkey, wo hai jo rooh ko zindah kar de.”
It was the same dream of Usman Ghazi – to create fearless, wise and God-conscious youth who would illuminate the world with Islam’s light.
https://www.youtube.com/@islamiceducation2352
Message for the Youth
Usman Ghazi’s legacy is quite educational for the youth nowadays.
He never feared challenges. He was bold because he had Tawakkul (trust in ) for his heart.
He considered a Muslim young man to be like the falcon (Shaheen) free, farsighted and forceful.
As Allama Iqbal beautifully wrote:
“Nahin tera nasheman qasr-e-sultani ke gumbad par,
You are one with wings, let the greatness of mountains be your dwelling place.”
These are words incarnate in Usman Ghazi —
he resided in the mountains and fostered what became a nation from nothing, whilst hoisting high the flag of Islaam.
Conclusion
The life of Usman Ghazi is a lesson for us, that faith bravery and knowledge; these are the three foundations of a strong Ummah.
Amid the world’s hostility and divisions of materialist society, his message is eternal —
stand fast in belief, lead with justice and live on purpose.
His story, like the ideal man proposed by Iqbal, is a reminder that every believer can indeed make an empire —
not of territory, but of values, knowledge and beliefs.
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