“The extinction of race consciousness as between Muslims is one of the outstanding achievements of Islam, and in the contemporary world there is, as it happens, a crying need for the propagation of this Islamic virtue” -- Arnold Toynbee The crisis in the European Union (EU) over its constitution and economic budget has become a subject of great debate amongst Europeans. Non-Europeans too have taken a keen interest in the EU’ s predicament and have been eager to speculate on Europe’ s future.

Some predict Europe’ s demise, while others view the current crisis as an opportunity to modernise and transform the EU into a world power that is able to challenge American global hegemony.

Opinions of most Muslim commentators fall into these two camps. However, there are some important lessons to be learnt from the present crisis, which has escaped the attention of many commentators. These can be summarised as follows:

1. Islamphobia - a permanent barrier between Europe and the Islamic world The overwhelmingly decision by Dutchxx and Frenchxxi voters to reject the EU’ s constitution was in part fuelled by centuries old animosity towards the Islamic world. This is not the first time that Islamophobia has raised its ugly head, but it is the first time that ordinary Europeans have been given a chance to voice their fears of Islam via the ballot box.

The events of September 11, the bomb blasts in London and Madrid, and Turkey’ s desire to join the union has created a well of anti-Islamic feelings that permeates all sections of European society. Europe’ s premier media institutions and elitist politicians have exploited this sentiment to create a permanent wedge between Europe and the Islamic world.