Answer
Salam (Peace),
Thank you for contacting About Islam with your question. Please find the second and final part of the answer to your question below. Find the first part at the link here.
Now, let us move to the Islamic position towards globalization. Islam lays emphasis on the universal nature of its peaceful message. Allah says in the Quran:
{O you mankind! surely, We have created you from a male and a female, and made you nations and tribes that you may know each other; surely the most honorable of you with Allah is the one among you most careful [of his duty]; surely Allah is Knowing, Aware.} (Quran 49:13)
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also narrated that Allah says:
O My servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another. (Hadith Qudsi Reported by Muslim)
As a matter of fact, since Islam never adopted a Machiavellian approach towards life, it has never approved of exploiting others and devastating their lives, in order to gain benefits.
Even historical experience shows that Muslims tended to keep the wealth of nations within the Pax Islamica, in the boundaries of the regions where the wealth is based.
In many cases, the governance depended heavily on different ethnicities and beliefs, which contributed to the Islamic civilization.
Islam, since its revelation, has always considered the global dimension of its call and its potential in international relations. It considered globalization, in its cooperative sense, to be an indispensable and manifest aspect of human societies.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) was directed to address all of humanity with his message and to go beyond the political and geographical boundaries.
The Quran explains this in several verses:
{And We have not sent thee [O Muhammad] save as a bringer of good tidings and a warner unto all mankind; but most of mankind know not.} (Quran 34:28)
{And We have not sent you but as a mercy to the worlds.} (Quran 21:107)
{Blessed is He who sent down the criterion to His servant, that it may be an admonition to all creatures.} (Quran 25:1)
At the same time, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was ordered to convey the message to whoever wants to embrace it and never to force anybody to believe in it. The Quran says:
{And if your Lord had pleased, surely all those who are in the earth would have believed, all of them; will you then force men till they become believers?} (Quran 10:99)
{There is no compulsion in religion […]} (Quran 2:256)
Muslim scholars, during the Middle Ages, were keen to transfer the light of their knowledge to the entire world, even to the non-Muslims without discrimination.
Thus, Muslim mathematicians, architects, and natural scientists were inspiring the enlightenment, bringing Europe out of the dark ages.
Beside this “unconditional” engagement and contribution of Muslims to human civilizations of their different eras, early Muslims learned many things from other societies, such as administrative and military organization.
Aristotelian philosophy became the basis of the genius Muslim philosophy, which in turn was adopted by European Renaissance thinkers. All this global interaction took place with an open mind and a will to share that which benefits all of humanity.
Nowadays, Muslim scholars and scientists are spread all over the world, exchanging their experience with the others. In many circles of interfaith dialogues, alternative developmental strategies and re-framing global debates on democratic governance, Muslims are active and are defending their humanist visions.
They are struggling to bring about peaceful change in their societies towards democracy and respect of civil liberties. A struggle that is not always supported by the superpowers, which prefer stability of margins-center relations.
Actually, it is a long debate, which we can only refer to quickly as we are answering your profound question.
Many Muslims are active in these networks, as well as in participating in social summits and NGO forums to defend social and economic rights of oppressed and underdeveloped nations.
I myself, have participated, since 1994, in many conferences and platforms to represent the Muslim views in issues related to social rights, women rights, and family rights.
As I mentioned, many Muslims are active in the international networks of anti-globalization, though I have my own reservations on that term, as I would rather prefer to use the term alternative globalization, based on the ideas mentioned above.
I hope this helps answer your question.
Salam and please keep in touch.
Please continue feeding your curiosity, and find more info in the following links:
Why Do We Contextualize The Quran?
The Global Economic Crisis- Steps Every Muslim Should Take