Chapter 13

The Expansive Realm of Islam

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Muhammad and His Message

Born about 570 C.E. to merchant family in Mecca Orphaned as a child Marries wealthy widow ca. 595 C.E., works as

merchant Familiarity with paganism, Christianity and

Judaism as practiced in Arabian peninsula

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Muhammad’s Spiritual Transformation

Visions, ca. 610 C.E. Archangel Gabriel Monotheism – Allah Attracts followers in Mecca

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The Quran

Record of revelations received during visions Committed to writing ca. 650 C.E. (Muhammad

dies 632 C.E.) Tradition of Muhammad’s life: hadith

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Conflict at Mecca

Muhammad’s monotheistic teachings offensive to polytheistic pagans

Economic threat to existing religious industry Denunciation of greed was affront to local

aristocracy

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The Hijra

Muhammad flees to Yathrib (Medina) 622 C.E. Year 0 in Muslim calendar

Organizes followers into communal society (the umma)

Legal, spiritual code Commerce, raids on Meccan caravans for sake of

umma

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The “Seal of the Prophets”

Muhammad – the final prophet Accepted the authority of Abraham, Moses, and

Jesus Held in high esteem Hebrew scriptures and the

Christian New Testament Muhammad had been entrusted a more complete

revelation, one that communicated Allah’s plan for the world

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Muhammad’s Return to Mecca

Attack on Mecca, 630 C.E. Conversion of Mecca to Islam Destruction of pagan sites, replaced with mosques

Ka’ba preserved in honor of importance of Mecca Approved as pilgrimage site

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The Ka’ba

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The Five Pillars of Islam

No god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet Daily prayer Fasting during Ramadan Charity Pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj)

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Muslims at Prayer

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Jihad

“Struggle” Against vice Against ignorance of Islam

“Holy war” Against unbelievers who threaten Islam

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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

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The Caliph

No clear to successor to Muhammad identified Abu Bakr chosen to lead as caliph Led war against villagers who abandoned Islam

after death of Muhammad

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The Expansion of Islam

Highly successful attacks on Byzantine, Sasanid territories

Difficulties governing rapidly expanding territory

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The Expansion of Islam, 632-733 C.E.

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The Shia

Disagreements over selection of caliphs Ali passed over for Abu Bakr Served as caliph 656-661 C.E., then assassinated

along with most of his followers Remaining followers organize separate party

called “Shia” Traditionalists: Sunni

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Shi’ite Pilgrims at Karbala

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The Umayyad Dynasty (661-750 C.E.)

From Meccan merchant class Brought stability to the Islamic community Capital: Damascus, Syria Associated with Arab military aristocracy

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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

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The Abbasid Dynasty (750-1258 C.E.)

Abu al-Abbas, Sunni Arab, allied with Shia, non-Arab Muslims

Seizes control of Persia and Mesopotamia Defeats Umayyad army in 750 C.E.

Invited Umayyads to banquet, then massacred them

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Nature of the Abbasid Dynasty

Diverse nature of administration (i.e. not exclusively Arab)

Militarily competent, but not bent on imperial expansion

Content to administer the empire they had inherited

Dar al-Islam Growth through military activity of autonomous

Islamic forces

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Abbasid Administration

Persian influence Court at Baghdad Influence of Islamic scholars Ulama and qadis sought to develop policy based

on the Quran and sharia

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Caliph Harun al-Rashid (786-809 C.E.)

High point of Abbasid dynasty Baghdad center of commerce Great cultural activity

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Abbasid Decline

Civil war between sons of Harun al-Rashid Provincial governors assert regional independence Dissenting sects, heretical movements Abbasid caliphs become puppets of Persian

nobility Later, Saljuq Turks influence; sultan real power

behind the throne

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Economy of the Early Islamic World

Spread of food and industrial crops Trade routes from India to Spain

Western diet adapts to wide variety New crops adapted to different growing seasons

Agricultural sciences develop Cotton, paper industries develop

Major cities emerge

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Formation of a Hemispheric Trading Zone

Historical precedent of Arabic trade Dar al-Islam encompasses silk routes

Ice exported from Syria to Egypt in summer, tenth century

Camel caravans Maritime trade

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Banking and Trade

Scale of trade causes banks to develop Sakk (“check”)

Uniformity of Islamic law throughout dar al-Islam promotes trade

Joint ventures common

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Al-Andalus (Islamic Spain)

Muslim Berber conquerors from north Africa take Spain, early eighth century

Allied to Umayyads, refused to recognize Abbasid dynasty Formed own caliphate Tensions, but interrelationship

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Changing Status of Women

Quran 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

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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

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Al-Ghazali (1058-1111)

Major Sufi thinker from Persia Impossibility of intellectual apprehension of

Allah, devotion, mystical ecstasy instead

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Cultural Influences on Islam

Persia Administration and governance literature

India Mathematics, science, medicine

“Hindi” numbers

Greece Philosophy, especially Aristotle Ibn Rushd/Averroes (1126-1198)

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