- By: Dr. Muhammad Tayyab Khan Singhanvi – Ph.D.
The Abraham Accords are a diplomatic initiative that began in August 2020 with the establishment of formal relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, later followed by Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. Orchestrated under the leadership of U.S. President Donald Trump, the accords aimed to normalize ties between Israel and select Arab nations. This agreement has not only impacted the political balance in the Middle East but also sparked a deep ideological rift within the Muslim Ummah.
The accords were signed at a time when core Islamic and moral issues—such as the liberation of Palestine, the Israeli occupation, the status of Jerusalem, and the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque—were under intense global scrutiny. Traditionally, the Muslim world has maintained that recognizing Israel is morally and religiously unacceptable until Palestinians are granted their legitimate rights. However, the Abraham Accords challenged this principled stance, paving the way for several Muslim-majority nations to establish economic, trade, and defense relations with Israel.
Supporters of the accords argue that they could usher in peace in the Middle East and open diplomatic channels for addressing the Palestinian issue. They claim that by engaging with Israel, Arab states can apply pressure to make concessions toward the two-state solution. Additionally, collaboration in areas like economic development, technology, healthcare, and education is seen as mutually beneficial.
Conversely, critics view the agreement as a betrayal of the Palestinian people. Palestinian leadership, including Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas, categorically rejected the accords, arguing that such deals reward Israel for its transgressions rather than holding it accountable. They point to the ongoing construction of illegal settlements in the West Bank, Israel’s claim over Jerusalem, and repeated violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque. Under these conditions, extending a hand of friendship to Israel is seen not just as a moral failure but as an act of collective betrayal of the Ummah’s conscience.
The implications of the Abraham Accords are not confined to the Gulf States or Palestine alone; their repercussions are being felt throughout the Muslim world. On one hand, the agreements have deepened ideological divisions among Muslim countries, and on the other, they have provided Israel with an official entry point into the Muslim world. Israeli companies are now allowed to invest in the Gulf, defense and intelligence technology is being traded, and joint military exercises are also under consideration.
This situation has become a severe test of the collective integrity of the Muslim Ummah. One faction views the accords as a pragmatic necessity aligned with national interest and realpolitik, while another sees them as a grave injustice to Islamic principles, the sanctity of the first Qibla, and the sacrifices of the Palestinian people. This divergence is not only creating intellectual disarray but also weakening the foundational unity that once bound the Ummah together.
This leads to a pressing question: can lasting peace truly be achieved by sidelining the Palestinian cause and normalizing relations with Israel? Or is this merely a short-term political expedient that will ultimately isolate the Palestinians and further fragment the Muslim Ummah? Historical precedents suggest that peace deals made at the expense of Palestine have failed to deliver tangible improvements. The Camp David Accords with Egypt and the Wadi Araba Agreement with Jordan did little to better the Palestinian condition. Hence, the Abraham Accords are viewed by many as another link in the same chain.
Some Muslim scholars and analysts argue that establishing ties with Israel is not just a political matter, but a broader ideological and civilizational issue. Israel’s founding, its expansionist ambitions, its occupation of the first Qibla, and its aggressive policies toward Muslims render normalization not merely a diplomatic gesture but an ideological capitulation. From this perspective, the Abraham Accords are seen as detrimental not only to Palestinian interests but to the collective consciousness of the Muslim Ummah.
Another critical aspect of the accords is their linkage to global geopolitics and the role of the United States and its allies. America’s sponsorship of the deal aimed at reinforcing its Middle Eastern allies, curbing the influence of China and Iran, and boosting arms trade. Thus, the accords are not merely bilateral peace agreements but part of a grander global strategy in which Israel is being positioned as a “controlled regional power,” and Muslim nations are being drawn into a new geopolitical alignment.
When one considers the likely outcomes of the Abraham Accords, it becomes evident that they are a significant setback for the Palestinian cause. Israel now has little incentive to grant Palestinians their rights, as it can bypass them and directly engage with Arab and Muslim states for trade and diplomacy. This has led to the diminishing of the Palestinian struggle’s international visibility and urgency.
Furthermore, a sense of disillusionment, anxiety, and anger is brewing among the youth of the Muslim world. They witness the desecration of the first Qibla, the killing of innocent Palestinians, and, simultaneously, the normalization of relations between Muslim countries and Israel. This contradiction is fostering an intellectual and emotional crisis that could profoundly influence the outlook of future generations.
The Abraham Accords are a watershed moment that have jolted the collective conscience of the Muslim Ummah. Their implications are not limited to politics or diplomacy but extend to cultural, intellectual, and ideological dimensions. They confront the Ummah with a fundamental question: is it acceptable to compromise on beliefs, principles, and historical positions in exchange for short-term political gains, economic development, and favor with global powers? Are Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the sacrifices of the Palestinian people mere emotional slogans, or do they carry genuine moral and practical weight?
Though seemingly a decision among a few states, the Abraham Accords have consequences that affect the entire Muslim world. It is imperative that the Muslim Ummah collectively reflects on this issue, strikes a balance between emotion and interest, and continues to highlight the Palestinian cause on international platforms. Otherwise, there is a real danger that the Abraham Accords will further disintegrate Muslim unity and push into oblivion the historic responsibility of defending the first Qibla—a legacy that the Ummah has proudly carried for centuries.