Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes

In Destiny Disrupted, Ansary critically examines the Eurocentrism of mainstream historical narratives and counters it with an Islam-centric perspective. In the very beginning of the book, he challenges the conventional terminology used to describe the geography of the region that saw the birth of Islam. This region is frequently referred to as the “Middle East,” but Ansary suggests that a Eurocentric worldview anchors this term; he writes, “The phrase Middle East assumes that one is standing in western Europe—if you’re standing in the Persian highlands, for example, the so-called Middle East is actually the Middle West” (3). In this way, Ansary emphasizes the relativity and constructed nature of geographical and cultural centers, urging recognition of the subjective lens through which history is constructed and presented. Ansary decides to rename this region—the land that stretches from “the Indus to Istanbul”—the “Middle World” (3). By doing so, he takes power away from traditionally Eurocentric narratives, signaling that he will be offering an alternate account of history that centers the Islamic world.

In this light, Ansary’s analysis reflects an approach that critiques how language, terminology, and narrative frameworks can shape and even distort understandings of history.