Islam today is facing challenges from within and from the wider world. The critical problems are the fundamental tensions within Islam. The attitudes and criticisms common in the outside world can be ignored as misguided or hostile, but the tensions within Islam throughout the world must be confronted. In a simple geographical sense, Internally, Muslims are also divided on the basis of sects. It is irony of fate that sectarian violence in Muslim countries has caused deaths. Muslims can rule the world if they are banded together. Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ

“O you who believe[d]! Consciously revere Allah (as is His) right (that) He (should) be revered and (do) not die except [while you] (as) those-who-submit/Muslims.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:102)

Islam has to come to grips with its changing centres. The overwhelming majority of Muslims experience living standards that are hardly enviable. The immediate and most serious challenge faced by Muslim Ummah is disunity among them. Islam, in order to unite Muslims, has established a bond of brotherhood and equality. If Muslim countries are united and start to help one another, they would not require any sort of assistance from their Western clients. There are around 50 Muslim-majority countries with having Muslim population of more than 50 per cent. Allah says:

وَمَا تَفَرَّقَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ إِلَّا مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَةُ

“And not became divided those who were given the Book, until from after what came (to) them (of) the clear evidence.” (Surah Al-Baiyinah 98:4)

The daunting problem encountered by the Ummah, today, among others, is their lagging behind in education. But, they are poor, backward, illiterate, face atrocities and so on because they are not united as per Islamic teachings. Islam’s first generations produced knowledge and wealth that empowered Muslims to rule much of the world. But now almost half the world’s Muslims are illiterate. We must admit that many of these problems arise due to our weaknesses.

The following are the major contemporary challenges faced by Muslim Ummah:

1. Muslims must adopt all those ways which increase the love of Allah
2. Muslims equality between all people, black, white and yellow
3. Muslims must follow the consensus of the scholars of Islam
4. Muslims must focus on the major issues of Muslim Ummah
5. Muslims must love, respect and follow Muhammad (SWT)
6. Muslims must be civilized, open-minded and kind
7. Muslims should be positive and respectful
8. Muslims should love for the Sake of Allah
9. Muslims discuss a disputed matter
10. Muslims have the best code of life
11. Muslims effect a perfect balance between all
12. Muslims must be preaching and spread Islam
13. Muslims hold all diverse elements put together
14. Muslims should have forgiveness and tolerance
15. Muslims freed humanity from all racial prejudices
16. Muslims must be very careful in listening, reading
17. Muslims must follow the consensus of Islamic scholars
18. Muslims should not be spreading hate for other Muslims
19. Muslims must focus on education, technology and scientific values 
20. Muslims should acquire in-depth knowledge of both side’s points of view

Muslim investors appear happy to send their money into the non-Muslim economies, where greater profits are available and the political and social circumstances are much more settled. We should reproach ourselves for not successfully understanding its teachings and its messages. Economic frustration and unequal opportunities are fertile breeding grounds for dissent and protest. Equally important is the failure of most Muslim governments to confront the demands of general education. Allah says:

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ

“Only the believers (are) brothers, so make peace between your brothers, you consciously revere (Allah) and fear Allah so that you may receive mercy.” (Surah Al-Hujurat 49:10)

Muslims are facing numerous challenges that have caused serious damage to their overall development. The literacy rate among Muslims was higher and they had the world’s largest library and universities. They were economically rich and involved in enormous economic and business activities. Today they are not only disintegrated but also lag behind in education and research.

In the Muslim world today, we must recover the hallmarks of that civilization:

• Lack of Unity: Our unity is fragile and easily fragmented. As such, it should not be blamed for our failings.
• Information and Globalisation: The Muslims, by and large, are not behaving as true representatives of Islam, individually or collectively.
• Utilization of Resources: Indeed, some of us are rich and affluent. Yet poverty and other forms of deprivation are also an extensive and unfortunate part of the Muslim landscape.
• High Illiteracy Rates: Islam emphasizes the pursuit of knowledge. Even many of those who are educated suffer from unemployment and indignity.
• Restoration of Muslim Image: The challenge before the Muslim World today is to confront the ugly realities of our present situation and restore the image of Muslims and Islam.
• Lack of Peace and Stability: Our first prerequisite will be peace and stability. We cannot prosper or live in dignity without peace.
• Poverty Eradication: For the Muslim world to truly uplift itself, we must concentrate on capacity building. The Ummah must be equipped with the tools to succeed.
• Disinterest in Scientific Knowledge: The future of Muslims and Islam however, ultimately lies in working with others for mutual enrichment, not in conflict with them.
• Lack of Mutual Cooperation: The more fortunate among us that are politically stable and economically viable must nevertheless tend to out deficits, be they political, economic or social. We need in particular to improve governance in every sphere.
• Disinterest in Scientific Knowledge: The future of Muslims and Islam however, ultimately lies in working with others for mutual enrichment, not in conflict with them.
• Lack of Mutual Cooperation: Economically viable must nevertheless tend to out deficits. We need in particular to improve governance in every sphere.

Muslim world took into account not just budgets and research but also issues like the status of women in science studies and careers.  The era of Islam has in a way just started, not ended; it is not a spent force, but a living dynamic force, its future is as bright as its great historical past is glorious when it illumined the face of the earth at a time when Europe was still groping its way in the dark recesses of Medievalism.

Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:

• “Truly Allah loves the Muttaqin.“(Quran, 3:76)
• “Truly the religion with Allah is Islam.” (Quran: 3:19)
• “Guidance for those conscious of Allah.” (Quran, 2:2)
• “Then We will save the ones who had taqwa.“ (Quran, 19:72)
• “It describes reconciliation as the best policy.” (Quran: 4:128)
• “And say: ‘My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.” (Quran 20:114)
• “Have taqwa of Allah so that you might succeed.” (Quran, 3:200)
• “Do no evil nor mischief on the (face of the) earth.” (Quran 2:60)

Equally important is the failure of most Muslim governments to confront the demands of general education. There is a very real danger involved if Muslims are not critical enough of Western world perceptions and if they take things for granted. There needs to be an increase in criticism in light of Islam’s criteria. Without a heightened critical faculty Muslims are in danger of considering. Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَصَابِرُوا وَرَابِطُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

“O you who believe[d]! Be steadfast and [be] patient and [be] constant and consciously revere Allah so that you may (be) successful.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:200)

Unity among all Muslims must follow two things: Quranic teachings and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). All Muslims know the value and importance of uniting Muslims around the world. Islam means complete submission to the will of Allah. Delivering long and long speeches about the Unity of Muslim Ummah does not tire our leaders, Imams and scholars. Still, time is not gone; the leaders of oil-rich Muslim countries should spend more money to uplift the status of education of Muslims. Allah says:

فَتَقَطَّعُوا أَمْرَهُم بَيْنَهُمْ زُبُرًا كُلُّ حِزْبٍ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ فَرِحُونَ

“But they cut off their affair (of unity) between them (into) sects, each faction in what they have rejoiced.” (Surah Al-Muminun 23:53)

Muslims must focus on education, technology, science, moral and spiritual values, and economic and political stability in Muslim countries. Muslims must realize that emotional outbursts and thoughtless confrontation are no answers to the multidimensional challenges the Ummah faces today. In fact, as an Ummah with a mission, the right course of action for Muslims is dialogue, contact, participation, and cooperation at the global level.