Transcript Historic Contributions of the Islamic Civilizations

Islam
Islam is intimately connected with
the the Judeo-Christian tradition
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Muslims are strictly monotheistic.
They believe in the Judeo-Christian God.
Muslims believe that the Torah and the
Bible, like the Qur’an, is the word of God.
“Allah” is the Arabic word for God.
Christian and Jewish Arabs use the same
word to refer to God.
Muslims believe that people fall away from
God and that He sends a new “rasul” or
Messenger.
Muhammed was God’s final Messenger.
Muslims believe in all the JudeoChristian prophets—But Muhammad
is the Final Prophet
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Belief in the prophets before Muhammad is
a cornerstone of Islam.
 Muslims believe in all the Judeo-Christian
prophets and their respective stories.
- Adam
- Noah
- Abraham
- Ishmael
- Isaac
- Jacob
- Joseph
- Job
- Moses
- Aaron
- David
- Solomon
- Jonah
- John
- Jesus
Core Concept of Islam
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Islam means submission—submission to
the will of Allah
 Shari’ah or law of Islam expresses what
these terms are (more below)
 Although Islam has much in common with
the Judeo-Christian tradition, key
differences include the degree of God’s
involvement in the world (he’s not directly),
the role of reason in faith, and the idea that
the world is to be enjoyed.
Muhammad and the Qur’an
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Muhammad was born in 570 A.D. in Mecca
In 610, in the Cave of Hira, he received his first
revelation from the angel Gabriel.
In 622, he left Mecca for Medina. This date
marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar.
By the time he died in 632, Islam was a thriving
religion.
The revelations he received were compiled into
the Qur’an after his death.
Qur’an was copied down in an authoritative form
about 20 years after Muhammad died.
The Five Pillars of Islam
– Testimony
 Salat – Prayer
 Zakat – Almsgiving
 Sawm – Fasting
 Hajj - Pilgrimage
 Shahada
Shahada
“There is no god worthy of worship except
God and Muhammad is His Messenger.”
“La ilaha illa Allah; Muhammed rasul Allah.”
This declaration of faith is a simple formula
that all Muslims pronounce and accept.
Salat
Salat is the name for
the mandatory
prayers that are
performed five
times a day. They
are a direct link
between the
worshipper and
God.
Zakat
Muslims believe that all things belong to
God, and that wealth is therefore held
by people in trust. Zakat means both
‘purification’ and ‘growth’. Muslims
purify their possessions by setting
aside a portion for those in need. For
the most part, this involves a payment
of at least 2.5% of one’s capital every
year. Giving more is highly
recommended.
Sawm
Every year during the month of
Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn
until sunset. During this time, they
refrain from both eating and drinking.
Fasting is regarded principally as a
method of self-purification. It helps
make a person more sympathetic with
those who go hungry and it allows for
spiritual growth. The end of
Ramadan is marked by a festival
called Eid-ul-Fitr.
Hajj
The Hajj is the annual
pilgrimage to Mecca.
Every Muslim who is
physically and
financially able is
required to go at least
once in his/her lifetime.
2-3 million people go
every year.
The close of Hajj is marked
by a festival called Eid-ulAdha. Above is the Kaaba.
So How did Islam expand into a great world religion?
What social and governmental forms emerged in the
world of Islam
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Islam nearly conquered western Europe
first in the 8th century—defeated at Tours
in 732—and then in 1527 and again in
1683.
Jihad
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“Jihad” among extremists refers to “Holy
Wars” against the infidels or of Territorial
expansion.
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Among moderates, Jihad refers to
“Defense” of one’s faith; and or an “inner
struggle” to rid oneself of evil and submit to
Allah.
Emergence of Shia
Claim that ‘Ali’s descendents were the true
successors to Muhammad—Shia Ali is
party of Ali, Muhammad’s son in law.
 Shia community recognizes the Imans, the
successors to ‘Ali’s Spiritual Authority
 Recognizes Koran only, not Koran but
Sunna (traditional teachings) as
authoritative.
 Sunni recognize Quran, Sunna, and
Hadiths
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Caliph
Caliph or “Deputy” refers to the Islamic
rulers after the death of Muhammad.
 Abu-Bakr is first Caliph (632-624)
 The first four caliphs expanded the
kingdom still further.
 Caliphs have both religious & civil authority.
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Imams
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Spiritual leaders of Islam are the imams
 Imams are without sin and can interpret scripture
without error
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Innovation possible only through an imam’s
approval
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Belief in the Mahdi (guided one) - messianic figure
who will lead the world into a time of peace
Sunni and Shi’a disagree over the scope and power
of Imams: for Sunni, the Imam is a prayer leader;
for the Shi’a, the Imam is temporal leader—the True
Caliph.
Eras of Islamic Civilization
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570-632: Muhammad-Founder
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632-661: First four Caliphs: - Expansion in
Mideast—Sunni-Shia Split.
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661-750: Ommayad Dynasty-(Centered in
Damascus) Expansion in N.Africa & Spain
Eras of Islamic Civilization cont.
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750-1258: Abbasid Dynasty, Golden Age at
Baghdad
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1000s-1400s: Seljuks &Mongols
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1453-WW I: Ottoman Empire; &
Fragmentation
D162Muslim Exp.Map
The Umayyad Caliphate
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Flourish from 661 to 750
Centered in Damascus
Nearly took Constantinople (674-77) but
were deterred by Greek Fire
Captured Spain but were defeated by
Charles Martel at Tours in 732.
Weakness of Umayyads—only Arabs could
be Muslims—opposed by Abbasids who
accepted Muslims of all ethnicities
The Abbasid Caliphate
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Flourished from 750 to 1258
 Centered in Baghdad
 Great libraries, academies, and schools.
 Translated classical Greek scholarship into
Arabic—preserving it for posterity
 Achievements in Medicine, astronomy, and
Mathematics
 Muslim states in West break away from Abbasid
control beginning in 756.
 Seljuk Turks convert to Islam and conquer
Abbasids (1055) but allow Abbasids to continue to
rule
 Genghis Khans Grandson topples Abbasids in
1258
Ottoman Empire (1300-1918)
The Ottoman Empire would rival that of
China in size and economic power.
 But over time the Ottoman Empire would
be weakened until the twentieth century.
 Yet under Suleiman the Magnificent
(1520-1566) the Ottoman Empire expanded
into North Africa and Syria.
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Growth of the Ottoman Empire
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For nearly 300 years the Ottomans expanded
into the Balkans and to Persia.
 By 1683 the Turks controlled Hungary in
Europe to the Persian Gulf.
 Initial Ottoman conquest and expansion was
under their able leader Osman (1299-1326).
 Osman was a ghazi, or warrior, who was
determined to spread the faith.
F320Ottoman Map
Why Did The Ottomans Succeed?
 Ottomans
tolerated other faiths—
didn’t fight wars of religious
exclusivism
 Many in Old Byzantine Empire were
weary of corruption in Byzantine state
Key Events of the Ottoman State
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1389 – Defeat the Serbs at Battle of
Kosovo.
1396 – Crushed the Hungarians and
foreign knights at Nicopolis.
1402 – Tamerlane defeats the Ottomans
near Ankara.
1453 – Turks capture Constantinople by
Mohammed II.
1517 – Turks captured Cairo.
1529 – First siege of Vienna.
1683 – Second siege of Vienna.
Historic Contributions of the
Islamic Civilizations
 Rhazes
(d. 925): Medical expert of
the Abbasid Dynasty who studied
optics; Caesarian operations and
more.
 Most famous treatise On Small Pox
and Measles
Historic Contributions of the
Islamic Civilizations
• Avicenna (d. 1037): A Muslim scholar
of the Abbasid Dynasty who excelled
in both Medicine and Philosophy
• His Canon of Medicine was translated
into Latin in the 12th century and by
the 16th century was in its 35th edition.
Historic Contributions of the
Islamic Civilizations
 Aveorres
(d. 1198): Philosopher of the
Abbasid Dynasty who tried to
harmonize Islamc faith with
Aristotelian logic.
Distillation of Alcohol
• Developed about 800
• Al-kuhl means “the essense”
Astrolabe
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Used for astronomy & for
navigation.
It is believed that the
Muslim al-Fazari
(d.777A.D.) was the first
scientist in the MidEast to
make an astrolabe,
following the arrival of an
Indian mission to
Baghdad.
Muslim Medicine
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Muslim physicians
were active in the
advancement of
surgical techniques,
and were among the
first to use narcotic
and sedative drugs in
operations.
Omar Khyyam
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the Abbasid Dynasty was the
author of the Rubaiyat and the Book
of 1001 Nights.
 “A Book of Verses underneath the
Bough; A jug of wine, a loaf of
bread—and thou beside me in the
wilderness—Oh Wilderness were
paradise enow!”
Harun Al Rashid (800s)
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esteemed ruler of the Abbasid
Dynasty who exchanged gifts, and
established friendly relations with
Charlemagne (ruler of the greatest
Christian Kingdom in Europe at that
time).
Cordoba, Spain
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From 756 - 1031,
Cordoba was a
political and
cultural center for
the Muslims.
Muslim Art & Architecture
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The Muslim religion
prohibited the picturing of
human and natural forms.
Muslim art was thus
channeled into artistic
displays of great
geometric complexity and
abstract ornamentation.
Muslim Art & Architecture
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This Muslim
mosque in Seville,
was built in 1172.
 It was converted to
a Chrisitan
Cathedral in 1248.
Muslim architecture
So If Islam was so cool, what
happened?
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Present Mindedness—who knows if we
won’t all be dead or Muslim?
Problem of Closed Revelation
Failure to form effective states
Weak/decadent rulers
Focus on moral reform and supernatural
deliverance rather than structural/material
reform—Wahabbism.