A Muslim’s Fascinating and Disturbing Encounter with the Vikings

By :Abu Zakariya

In 921, an Arabian nobleman, Ahmad ibn Fadlan, set out on a diplomatic mission from Baghdad to the Vikings on the Volga River, known as the “Rus.” They were Nordic Vikings who had set out on voyages of trade and plunder. Ibn Fadlan was sent by the caliph in Baghdad to explore the newly conquered areas under Islamic rule.

The account of Ibn Fadlan—a distinguished and refined Islamic scholar representing the upper echelons of Islamic society—is both fascinating and disturbing. It is particularly fascinating because it reveals to us the very apparent superiority of Islam and Muslims at the time. However, it is also very telling as to how the roles have now been reversed, and it imparts some very valuable lessons that can be gleaned from history.

The work itself reveals Ibn Fadlan as a keen and fair observer. His tone is neutral, and he does not try to color the account in any biased way. One could even say that it comes off as a bit humorous sometimes due to the awkwardness of such a cultured man having to endure the company of people as low and savage as the Vikings.

How British Colonialism killed 100 million Indians in 40 years

From :Al Jazeera

Recent years have seen a resurgence in nostalgia for the British empire. High-profile books such as Niall Ferguson’s Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World, and Bruce Gilley’s The Last Imperialist, have claimed that British colonialism brought prosperity and development to India and other colonies. Two years ago, a YouGov poll found that 32 percent of people in Britain are actively proud of the nation’s colonial history.

This rosy picture of colonialism conflicts dramatically with the historical record. According to research by the economic historian Robert C Allen, extreme poverty in India increased under British rule, from 23 percent in 1810 to more than 50 percent in the mid-20th century. Real wages declined during the British colonial period, reaching a nadir in the 19th century, while famines became more frequent and more deadly. Far from benefitting the Indian people, colonialism was a human tragedy with few parallels in recorded history.