Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes

Destiny Disrupted situates itself within the field of historiography, which seeks to offer a more balanced and inclusive understanding of world history by emphasizing non-Western contributions and narratives. The book emerges as part of a corrective movement against Eurocentrism, which has long dominated the academic and educational portrayal of historical events and developments.

Eurocentrism in historical discourse has often led to the marginalization of non-Western civilizations’ roles in contributing to global change and progress. This perspective has frequently assumed the superiority of Western ideas, values, and historical experiences while underrepresenting or misinterpreting the complexities and achievements of non-Western cultures, particularly those of the Islamic world.

In the past, history has often overlooked non-Western contributions due to various reasons, including colonial legacies, which prioritized the experiences and narratives of European powers and their descendants. Additionally, the national history focus, prevalent in the 19th and early 20th centuries, often centered on state-building processes and national identities, primarily within Western contexts. This approach has often overshadowed the interconnectedness and interdependence of global historical processes.

The trend to counteract Eurocentrism in historical narratives has its intellectual roots in various critical schools of thought that gained prominence in the 20th century, including poststructuralism and post-Marxism.