The Best Presentaion About Islam In English
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Mohammed and the Rise of Islam 600’s A.D. loss of much of the Eastern Roman Empire to a new religious and political power
– Islam
Middle East, ca. 600 A.D.
Islam
Bedouin Arab named Mohammed born ca. 570 A.D. Merchant family, Hasimites Qurayshis tribe, who dominate Mecca
– controlling much of the religious pilgrim trade raised by relatives
-father and mother died by age six
-raised by an impoverished uncle
Mohammed formal education ?? We don’t know
– Normally only the Poets of the Tribes could read and write
commercial agent for a wealthy widow– Khadijah– supervising caravans from Mecca, north to
Jerusalem– contact with both Jews and Christians
Mohammed, con’t
He seems to have made an impression on his boss, because of his reputed honesty– married her and retired from commerce– to devote himself to religion– and to making society more fair and equitable
Mohammed, con’t
monogamous until his wife died eventually married nine wives and had
assorted concubines last marriage at 53 to Aishah, daughter of a
friend wives: widows of friends or political marriages
• Women alone is such a world were very vulnerable
Origins of Mohammed’s Teachings periods of unconsciousness are indicated:
explanations– revelations from Allah by holy trances, spoken to by Gabriel
– epilepsy or a similar neurological disorder?– mental illness or hallucinations ?
Mohammed’s explanation:– revelations from God– Very unpleasant and painful for him
The Quran
Record of revelations received during visions
Committed to writing c. 650 CE, compiled (Muhammad dies 632)– Under the third Caliph, Uthman ibn Affan
Tradition of Muhammad’s life: hadith
Nature of Revelations
diverse social, agricultural, medical, military,
astronomical, etc.
Historical Origins of His Ideas
Arab polytheism Hanifism: a belief in one God traced to Abraham, by
tradition Judaism Christianity: Orthodox, Nestorian, Arianism Manichaeism: a mixture of Zoroastrianism,
Christianity, Judaism, and so forth
Beginning of His Ministry
at about age 40, after a number of revelations began to preach publicly continued to receive revelations until death
– usually related to current problems or concerns– Religious, political, social, economic
Early religious career not particularly successful threatened the social, political, and religious
structure, with his doctrine of social equity threatened the economic basis of Mecca as a center
of religious pilgrimage particularly the Black Rock
– sacred to the chief deity of the Arabs run out of town, or at least encouraged to leave
– Went to the desert with his family and lived for about a year
The Hijra
flight from Mecca, to Yathrib (Medina)
-tradition: invited by the Jews of Medina 622 A.D. beginning of the Islamic calendar forms the umma (community) welcomed, then resisted Mohammed becomes an absolute theocrat
Muhammad’s Return to Mecca
Attack on Mecca, 630 -- jihad Conversion of Mecca to Islam Destruction of pagan sites, replaced with mosques
– Ka’aba preserved in honor of importance of Mecca– Approved as pilgrimage site
Jihad
holy war against Mecca ten year blockade a deal was made
The Deal
Mecca preserved as a holy city and place of pilgrimage– to preserve the economic prosperity
the Ka’aba preserved as the central shrine– idols and icons destroyed– story of its origins emphasized the role of
Abraham in its placement– pilgrimage as an act of faith, at least once in your
life
The Ka’aba in Mecca
The Religion: the Koran (Qu’ran)
the Koran (Qu’ran): contains much of Mohammed recounting of Allah’s teachings
written down by his followers after his death– from notes and memories, on “stones and
parchments” Short: 114 chapters
– arranged from longest to the shortest– not by subject or chronologically– length is the criterion of order for the text
The Koran, con’t
some “Old” and “New” Testaments stories– but sometimes the story seems a bit different to
Jews and Christians parables and fables political polemic and prophecy “non-religious” subjects
– not dissimilar to Jewish and Christian scriptures in some ways
Five Pillars of Islam
uniqueness of God– ‘There is no god, but God….’
prayer five times a day observe the month of Ramadan give alms to the poor pilgrimage to Mecca
– If possible, once in your life
Additional teachings
dietary laws no gambling or drinking no sexual irregularities, as defined by tradition and
custom no faulty weights or usury no infanticide elaborate rules concerning inheritance and property improvement in the status of women and children
Changing Status of Women
Qu’ran improves status of women– Outlawed female infanticide– Brides, not husbands, claim dowries
Yet male dominance preserved– Patrilineal descent– Polygamy permitted, Polyandry forbidden– Veil adopted from ancient Mesopotamian practice
Similarities to Judaism and Christianity monotheism (defined a bit differently) insistence on the responsibility of human beings final judgment and rewards angels and spirits practice of virtues: truthfulness, compassion, etc.
Differences
an emphasis on compassion and mercy alms giving moderate heaven conceived a bit differently no priests or sacramental system easy conversion: the Shahadah
– ‘There is no God by Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet.’
Islamic Law: The Sharia
Codification of Islamic law Based on Quran, hadith, logical schools
of analysis Extends beyond ritual law to all areas of
human activity– This is the basis the idea of an “Islamic
republic” for instance
Expansion of Islam
early victories backsliders (tribes) punished
– Apostasy = treason = death assaults on:
– the Byzantine (Roman) empire– the Persian empire
Spread of Islam
Dome of the Rock,
Temple Mount Jerusalem
Victories
Syria: 635 A.D. Palestine: 636 A.D. Persia: captured in one battle
– expansion into India– expansion to the borders of China
Egypt: help by local Christians North Africa: the Berbers
Expansion, con’t
Spain 711-720 A.D. Battle of Tours: October 732 A.D.
– Charles Martel Siege of Constantinople: 717-718 A.D.
– Leo III– Greek fire
beginnings of Christian reconquest of former Roman/Christian territory
Reasons for success
exhaustion of Rome and Persia– End of a 400 year war
nationalist sentiments in Egypt and Syria arguments among Christian factions speed and size of Moslem armies simplicity and uncomplicated nature of Islam acceptance of the Old and New Testament
– People of the Book
Consequences of Expansion
loss of the oldest and most central lands of Christendom
aided the ascendancy of the bishop of Rome virtual collapse of Zoroastrianism as a major religion radically altered the balance of power between the
Roman Empire and the East disruption of the Mediterranean economic community
Early Problems
Succession ?– Mohammed had no surviving male children– Daughter: Fatima– Son-in-law: Ali, child of his uncle
generated a permanent split in the Islamic community– Sunnis– Shi’as
Sunnis
considered themselves the “orthodox” followers of Mohammed
consider the Shi’as to be “dissenters” issue: who leads after Mohammed ?? the Caliph (or “leader”) went successively to followers
-Abu Bakr, then Oman
-then Uthman and
The Shia
Disagreements over selection of caliphs Ali passed over for Abu Bakr Served as caliph 656-661 CE, then assassinated
along with most of his followers Remaining followers organize separate party called
“Shia”– Traditionalists: Sunni
Abu Bakr
not particularly popular with the Muslim community
allowed raid, then invasions of Byzantine and Persian territory
subjugated any dissident elements or tribes
disposed of any “new prophets”
Success = strain
success introduced luxury and change– From original caliphs to the Umayyad caliphs
new ideas and new ethnic groups– with their own customs and heritage, to try to
assimilate rise of a sort of “revivalist element”
– Islam had strayed from its original path and purity– Muslims were being led back to paganism– caliphs were becoming idle, corrupt, tyrants
Uthman: the third Caliph
murdered: warfare broke out Ali: cousin and son-in-law of Mohammed originally passed over as too young contested the succession Uthman supported by the Umayyad clan
– early enemies of Mohammed– refused to accept Ali’s claims
Umayyeds
successful in the war Ali assassinated in 661 A.D.
– by the Kharijites beginning of the Umayyed dynasty
Policy toward Conquered Peoples Favoritism of Arab military rulers causes
discontent Limited social mobility for non-Arab
Muslims Head tax (jizya) on non-Muslims Umayyad luxurious living causes further
decline in moral authority
Sunnis
accepted the legitimacy of early caliphs “Sunni” : from an Arabic word
– “usage” or “custom”– implies: “precedent”
Shi’as
accepted Ali word means: “party”, “faction”,
“following”
Factions
Sunni and Shi’as dominant originally political
– Eventually the differences became dogmatic in emphasis
Shi’as become a party of religious dissent
Perceptions
Sunni: conservative, in favor of the “status quo”– consensus is the guiding principle
Shi’as: defenders of the oppressed, critics of privilege and power– obedience is required only as long as it can
be forced, and no longer
Umayyed empire
Atlantic Ocean to India Syria: center of the Islamic World eventually displaced by the Abbasids
– an Arab family claiming decent from Mohammed
The Abbasid Dynasty (750-1258 CE) Abu al-Abbas Sunni Arab, allied with Shia, non-Arab
Muslims Seizes control of Persia and Mesopotamia Defeats Umayyad army in 750
– Invited Umayyads to banquet, then massacred them
– Only Spain remains Umayyad– North Africa is disputed territory, ultimately
Fatamid
Nature of the Abbasid Dynasty
Diverse nature of administration (i.e. not exclusively Arab)
Militarily competent, but not bent on imperial expansion
Dar al-Islam Growth through military activity of autonomous
Islamic forces
Nature of the Abbasid Dynasty
Diverse nature of administration (i.e. not exclusively Arab)
Militarily competent, but not bent on imperial expansion
Dar al-Islam Growth through military activity of
autonomous Islamic forces
Caliph Harun al-Rashid (786-809 CE) High point of Abbasid dynasty Baghdad center of commerce Great cultural activity
Abbasid Decline
Civil war between sons of Harun al-Rashid Provincial governers assert regional independence Dissenting sects, heretical movements Abbasid caliphs become puppets of Persian
nobility Later, Saljuq Turks influence, Sultan real power
behind the throne
Formation of an Islamic Cultural Tradition
Islamic values– Uniformity of Islamic law in dar al-Islam– Establishment of madrasas– Importance of the Hajj
Sufi missionaries– Asceticism, mysticism– Some tension with orthodox Islamic theologians– Wide popularity
Cultural influences on Islam
Persia– Adminstration and governance– literature
India– Mathematics, science, medicine
• “Hindi” numbers
Greece– Philosophy, esp. Aristotle– Greek medicine
Cultural Importance of Islam
Development of these received influences
Distribution throughout the Muslim world Introduction and reintroduction of these
ideas to medieval Europe– Through Spain– Spanish Jews