Origin and expansion of Islam"

ORIGIN AND EXPANSION OF ISLAM

UNIT 3

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1. ORIGIN AND BASES OF ISLAM 2. EXPANSION OF ISLAM 2.1. THE CALIPHATE (632-656) 2.2. THE UMAYYAD CALIPHATE (661-750) 2.3. THE ABBASID CALIPHATE (750-892) 2.4. ISLAM IN EAST & WEST AFRICA (8TH AND 11TH CENTURIES). 2.5. MUSLIMS IN INDIA (10TH TO 11TH CENTURIES) 2.6. MULSIM MALAYA AND INDONESIA (13TH CENTURY) 2.7. OTTOMANS, SAFAVIDS AND MOGHULS (16TH TO 18TH CENTURIES) 3. ISLAM LEGACY 3.1. ECONOMY, URBANISM & SCIENCE 3.2. ISLAMIC INFLUENCE ON WESTERN EUROPE 4. ISLAMIC CULTURE AND ART 4.1 .THE MOSQUE 4.2. OTHER FORMS OF ART

UNIT 3 ORIGIN AND EXPANSION OF ISLAM

INTRODUCTION - ISLAM IS A MONOTHEISTIC RELIGION EMERGED IN THE 7TH CENTURY IN THE ARABIAN PENINSULA. -WAS FOUNDED ON THE TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD. - IT INVOLVES BLIND OBEDIENCE TO THE WILL OF ALLAH THE HOLY BOOK OF ISLAM IS THE QURAN - THE QURAN CONTAINS THE TEACHINGS REVEALED BY ALLAH TO MUHAMMAD.

1. ORIGIN AND BASES OF ISLAM. - Muslims believe that Islam has always existed and that it has been gradually revealed by different prophets since Abraham to the final and complete revelation of Muhammad in the 7th century. - The prophet MUHAMMAD was born in Mecca around 570 AD, in the current Saudi Arabia. - At that time the Arabian Peninsula was inhabited by polytheistic and nomadic tribes and the main cities were Yathrib (Medina) and Mecca. - These cities were important crossroads for the merchant caravans coming from the far east.

Muhammad was a member of a merchant family. He realised many problems in his society and the separation between the different tribes.

One night in 610 Muhamad was meditating on the mountains and was visited by the Angel Jibreel (Gabriel)

He was visited by Angel Jibreel who ordered him to pray and told him that he was in charge of transmitting God's message on earth.

Muhammad had to flee to Yathrib (Medina) in 622 and this date is considered the beginning of the Islamic calendar, also called Hijrah.

Muhammad attempted to organize the social and religious life of Mecca, but his actions were seen as a threat by the city authorities.

Finally Muhammad, along with many of his followers, conquered Mecca in the year 630. Before his death in 632, Muhammad had unified all the tribes and consolidated his rule over the Arabian Peninsula. Muhammad had established Islam as a social, military and religious force. His followers and family continued with their task.

SACRED SOURCES OF ISLAM

QURAN - Holy book dictated by allah to the prophet muhammad. - Muslims are still taught to learn and recite it in arabic. - The Quran contains the 5 pillars of Islam that every Muslim must comply with. SUNNAH - Behavior and way of acting of Muhammad that muslims should follow as a model. HADITH - The sayings and actions of the prophet Muhammad reported by his companions and compiled by the wise men who succeeded him.

THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

ZAKAT This pillar is about looking after another people. Muslims give some of their wealth each year to help others.

HAJJ Muslims must go on a pilgrimage to Meca at least once in their lives. They believe this helps to strengthen their community.

SAHADA "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah" The main belief of all muslims. This pillar declares a muslim faith in Allah.

SALAH Every muslim has to pray five times a day. They follow a special ritual before praying and must wash themselves before they pray.

SAWM RAMADAN For one month a year Muslims fast between dawn and dusk. This reminds us of the capacity for sacrifice.

Muhammad established the pilgrimage to the Kaaba as one of the central points of Islam. He also turned Mecca into the sacred city of the new religion. Medina became the political capital of the new Muslim state. Muhammad died in the year 632 without sons. He only had surviving daughters from his wife Fatima. Aisha, Muhammad's third wife, and her family were responsible for spreading Islam throughout Arabia.

2. EXPANSION OF ISLAM

2.1. THE CALIPHATE (632-656)

Muhammad did not have a clear successor, so after his death a conflict arose between his possible heirs. Upon his death the caliphs, or successors, ruled. The first are the so-called perfect or orthodox caliphs: - Abu BAkr, father of Aisha. (632-634) - Omar. (634-644) - Uthman. (644-656) - Ali, cousin of muhammad an husband of Fátima. (656-661)

During the rule of the first caliphs the Muslim armies continued an astonishing expansion.

Some of the characteristics of this period are: - Other religions were allowed, but non-Muslims paid taxes. - Ali faced the division between two branches of Islam: Sunni and Shia/Shia. - There were continuous clashes between different branches of Islam and different families with the intention of ruling

2.2. THE UMAYYAD CALIPHATE (661-750) The first family of rulers was the Umayyad family, which established a new dynasty. The first caliph of this dynasty was Muawiya. The Umayyads came from Mecca, but they established the base of their power in Syria and placed their capital in Damascus. From this moment on, the position of caliph would be hereditary, not elective as previously.

During this period there is a great expansion of the Umayyad empire. They conquer a large part of North Africa, the Iberian Peninsula and the Near East. At first Arabs and Muslims were the same, but with territorial expansion, new people joined the Islamic religion. Since the 8th century, non-Arab Muslims can be distinguished, such as Persians, Berbers, Syrians, Egyptians... Non-Arab Muslims, especially Syrians, felt mistreated by Arab rulers. They considered them second-class Muslims. This situation raised revolts and caused tension against the Umayyad government.

2.3. THE ABBASID CALIPHATE (750-892)

The difficulties of the Umayyad government led to major revolts in the year 747. In the year 750 all the male members of the Umayyad dynasty were murdered by the Abbasids... except one, Abd al-Rahman, who escaped to the Iberian Peninsula, where he managed to found a new independent emirate. They established the new capital of the Muslim empire in Baghdad, next to the Tigris River. From this moment on, the dominant group among Muslims were the Persians.

In this stage, the Muslim world expands and assumes as its own the culture, forms of thought, and artistic manifestations of the territories it occupies, (Persia, Babylon, Mesopotamia...). masterpieces of Arabic literature are produced, such as the Arabian Nights. Al-Rashid was the fifth and most famous caliph of the Abbasid dynasty. During his government at the end of the 8th century, high levels of art and culture were achieved. He maintained a friendly relationship with Charlemagne, with whom he exchanged gifts.

2.4. ISLAM IN EAST & WEST AFRICA (8TH AND 11TH CENTURIES).

In East Africa, Islam spread through merchants, rather than through conquest and armies. In this region, prosperous sultanates emerged, enriched by the trade in gold and slaves. In East Africa, Islam gradually arrives through the Saharan trade routes. In some regions a particular interpretation of Islam is produced, mixing with previous religions and traditions.

2.5. MUSLIMS IN INDIA (10TH TO 11TH CENTURIES) 2.6. MULSIM MALAYA AND INDONESIA (13TH CENTURY) 2.7. OTTOMANS, SAFAVIDS AND MOGHULS (16TH TO 18TH CENTURIES)

3. ISLAM LEGACY 3.1. ECONOMY, URBANISM & SCIENCE

ECONOMY The Muslim economy was more sophisticated than the European during the Middle Ages. Muslim traders spread throughout Africa, Asia and even regions of China and Russia. They traded in good quality products (silk, cotton, carpets, paper, ivory, spices). The Arab trade routes produced a rich cultural and merchandise exchange, also reaching European Christian regions.

URBANISM The percentage of urban population was much higher than in the Christian world, although these were mainly rural societies. Damascus, Cairo, Baghdad and Cordoba gathered much more population than the Christian urban centers. The central area of ​​the Muslim city is the medina. The main buildings are located in this part: mosque, citadel, palace of authorities, souk or market... and it is surrounded by a wall. Generally the urban structure is not planned and presents a disorderly plan.

The streets are narrow and winding.

The houses, individual and not in residential buildings, had a similar structure. They were isolated from the outside to avoid heat by thick walls, brick and adobe. The walls had few windows and were covered with lattices. Interior decoration consisted of carpets, tapestries, cushions and some simple furniture. The houses of the rich were organized around a patio with a garden and a harem, where the women were confined.

SCIENCE Muslim scholars studied ancient and contemporary authors (Greece, Roman Empire, Persia, India, China...). They played an important role in the preservation of classical knowledge. Some Muslim rulers were concerned and aware of the importance of culture, science and art. The work of Al-Khwarizmi, Persian mathematician, astronomer and geographer, can be highlighted. In charge of the Baghdad Library at the beginning of the 9th century. He popularized Hindu decimal numerals.

Muslim astronomers inherited Persian and Babylonian knowledge. Hundreds of stars have Arabic names. Medicine: inherited the tradition of ancient doctors (Hippocrates, Galen). Study of the therapeutic properties of plants. They spread eastern discoveries: gunpowder, compass, paper, astrolabe, the cultivation of rice, saffron and sugar cane.

3.2. ISLAMIC INFLUENCE ON WESTERN EUROPE

Islamic culture had a great impact on Western society Western Europeans incorporated Muslim ideas on maths, science, medicine and astronomy. There is an influence on music, arts, food, technology and literature. For instance, "flamenco", instruments as lute, guitar or violin, sweets, pastries or philosophy books.

4. ISLAMIC CULTURE AND ART

In Muslim art there are numerous common elements, despite the great regional variety. It has a heterogeneous character, because it assumes and adapts elements of previous civilizations. It is a decorative art, conditioned by religion. It takes into account aesthetic aspects and functional aspects. Absolute presence of decorative elements, which extend across walls, ceilings, windows and even floors. The decorative omnipresence, the repetitive character and the richness of colors refer to the idea of ​​eternity.

The center of Islamic art and decoration is THE MOSQUE.The first mosque was the house of Muhammad in Mecca. It was used as an example to build mosques in the beginnings of Islam. There are many types of mosque but they all have elements in common: - Quibla: Wall in the direction of mecca. - Mihrab or niche: central space of the qibla wall. - Minaret: Tower from which people are called to pray. - Ablution fountains: where Muslims wash before praying. - Courtyard: A patio where the fountains are. - Mimbar: Pulpit. - Prayer hall: contains the mihrab and the mimbar.

4.2. OTHER FORMS OF ART.

As a general rule, Islamic art does not allow the image of Allah or Muhammad to be represented. As a consequence, the presence of human figures is not common. Walls, doors and ceilings appear completely covered with decorative motifs repeated ad infinitum. The main decorative motifs are: - Vegetal: Arabesques and Ataurique. -Calligraphic: Kufic (More angular) and Nesji (More sinuous and stylize).

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