This One Decision Set the Muslim World Back 400 Years?!? The Hidden History of The Printing Press

Anchor Series #12 | 03/24/26 – How Colonization Shaped Modern Islamic Discourse Part. 3 In this lecture, Shaykh Yasir Qadhi takes a deep dive into one of the most fascinating yet overlooked chapters of Islamic history, the story of the printing press in the Muslim world. Why did the Ottoman Empire fall 400 years behind Europe in adopting this revolutionary technology? Was it really the scholars who banned it, or were there other forces at play? Shaykh Yasir introduces the concept of historiography and shows how the same historical event can be interpreted in completely different ways depending on where you stand. Using the examples of paper, the printing press, the fall of Constantinople, and even animal rights in Islam, he challenges us to move beyond simplistic slogans and think critically about Islam's relationship with modern ideas. A thought provoking lecture that is essential viewing for anyone who wants to understand the rise and fall of the Muslim ummah and what we can learn from it today. The Rise & Fall of the Muslim Ummah and the Printing Press - Dr. Yasir Qadhi:    • The Rise & Fall of the Muslim Ummah and th...   0:00-0:40 Highlights 0:41-2:40 Intro 2:41-5:25 What is Historiography 5:26-11:40 Paper & Islamic History 11:41-12:50 Printing Press in Europe 12:51-15:43 Ottoman Ban on Printing Press 15:44-18:11 Decline of the Muslim Ummah 18:12-19:51 Political Ban on Printing Press 19:52-23:37 Conquest of Constantinople(Istanbul) 23:38-30:13 Revisiting the Ban 30:14-31:59 Conservatism and Stagnation 32:00-35:43 The First Printed Magazine 35:44-42:46 Islam & Modern Ideas 42:47-45:03 Conclusion