Chapter 6

Islamic Civilization

Pre-Islamic Arabia
Political Conditions
Islam appeared first In Saudi Arabia (Mecca)
Asabiyya: strongly tribal in organization
the clan spirit
Tribes; Quraish, Aus, Khazraj and Jewish tribes
Tribes were sedentary and nomadic
Absence of political organization in any form
No authority except of their separate tribes
No written laws and order
Economic Conditions
Jews leaders of Arabia were owners of the best lands in Hijaz and had the control
of trade
Slavery was an economic institution of the pre-Islamic Arabs
Economic system
trade flow through Arabia
Caravans traveled to Syria and Yemen
Caravans require protection, which was guaranteed by Mecca leaders who in
return were taking taxes from trades
Mecca was important trading rich city and the Quraish tribe was in charge of
everything

Social Conditions
As all before ancient civilizations, Arabia was also male dominated society
Women sex objects who had no status of any kind
Practice of alive burning of female infants
Prostitution, drinking and gambling were widespread
Religion in Arabia
Period that preceded the birth of Islam was known as the Time of Ignorance or
Jahiliyyah
Belief system of pre-Islamic Arabia had no scriptures and priests
Polytheism of Arabia idolatry and Kabah
Three main goddesses: al-Uzza, Manat and al-Lat
Kabah, formerly built by Abraham and his son Ishmael, became house of 360
idols
So Mecca was both as important spiritual as well as business city
Education
Only few individuals could read and write during the pre-Islamic period
Arts, philosophy, science, technology were not cultivated at all
The greatest intellectual accomplishment of pre-Islamic Arabs was poetry
Seven Odes and Ayyam al-Arab poetic literature
Imru al-Qays

Life of Muhammad
Early Life
About Prophet main sources include the Holy Quran, Hadith and Sirah
Born in 570 CE in Mecca into a Quraish tribe
His father Abdallah died before his birth and his mother Aminah also died
when he was six years old
Muhammad as an orphan was taken care of by his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib
and after his death by his powerful uncle Abu Talib
Abu Talib provided him with the best protection, a protection he would later
need
Muhammad participated in trade and traveled to Syria at the age of 12
During his youth Muhammad was seen as a mystic by his peers, highly
spiritual and often meditating beyond Meccas city limits
Muhammad due to his virtue and wisdom was called "al-Amin" "Honest or
Reliably"
In 595 CE at the age of 25, Muhammad gains respect of a wealthy widow a
forty year old Khadija who married him and provided him with support and
protection
Revelation
In 610 CE at the Mt. Hira Muhammad, at the age of forty, while meditating
was approached by the Angel Gabriel and is commanded to READ!
23 years revelation of the Holy Quran

Preaching
Secret preaching
Conversion of his wife Khadijah. A women was the first convert in Islam
Conversion of the first Muslims such as Ali, Abu Bakr and Uthman
In 613 the first public preaching
Muhammad began to preach in Mecca and was seen as a threat to the Meccan
way of life in general and to the Quraish in particular.
The persecutions of Muslims and humiliations of the Prophet Muhammad by
pagan Arabs
Three year boycott of Muhammads followers
Muhammad was not harmed so long as he had protection- but his uncle, Abu
Talib, would soon die as well as his wife leaving Muhammad extremely
vulnerable
In 615 CE migration to Abyssinia (Ethiopia)
In 621 CE Israa ( a journey from Kabah to al-Aqsa in Jerusalem) and Miraj or
the Night Journey
Establishes Muhammads position in the Prophetic tradition
Also Prophets communication with God Muhammad was profoundly
affected by the experience.

The Hijrah
Due to hostility Hijrah to Medina
2 pledges at Aqabah and allegiance of Medina Muslims
In 622 CE Hijrah or Emigration took place
Muhammad and his followers depart for nearby city of Media (then called
Yathrib)
Muhammad was invited to Medina because of a dispute between its residents. So
Muhammad was proclaimed as a Hakim or an Arbiter
Medina was agricultural city inhabited by pagan Arabs, Jews and Christians
In Medina Muhammad set up a political/religious community based on his
revelations he was receiving from God.
Building of a mosque
Writing of a constitution
Formation of a brotherhood
Protection of Jews in Median

Medina Period
Muhammad given certain rights and privileges as defacto leader of Medina.
Prophet used Islamic principles to govern the city
Began raiding Meccan caravans which angered Meccans and various battles
followed
Jihad- struggle from the verbal non Jahada or to strive; often translated as
holy war.
Three major battles against Meccans in the vicinity of Medina

Badr (Muslims won),

Uhud (tie),

Trench (Muslims won)

Muhammad popularity as a leader grew and more people converted to Islam.

Letters sent to kings and rulers

After the Treaty of Hudaybiyah was broken in 630 CE Muhammad opened
Mecca peacefully
His first act in the city was to destroy the idols that are worshipped in the
Kabah.
He also forgave all Meccas citizens as Yusuf forgave to his brothers
Last Days of the Prophet
Last revelation
He returns to Mecca in 632 for his final pilgrimage to the Kabah and gives his
farewell speech
Died in 632 CE in Medina
The Role of the Prophet

The Rightly-Guided Caliphs

Introduction
A problem of succession that would hunt the Muslim community until today
Prophet officially left no successor after him mission was over he simply died
After few days of negotiations a caliph was elected
Caliph (khalifa) literally means a successor of the Prophet, having no any divine
or superhuman characteristics.
Caliph was a ruler over Muslims but not their sovereign since sovereignty belongs
to God alone
All first four caliphs were simple, righteous, just, merciful and equal to their
subjects.
They were not like kings or emperors of that time

Abu Bakr (632-634 CE)

Closest companion of the Prophet; among the first to convert to Islam
Migrated together with the Prophet;
Replaced him as a prayer leader when he was extremely sick;
Being a wealthy merchant he contributed his wealth for the cause of Islam
His speech after prophet's death
O people verily whoever worshipped Muhammad, behold! Muhammad is
indeed dead. But whoever worships God, behold! God is alive and will never
die.
And Muhammad is but a Messenger. Many Messengers have gone before
him; if then he dies or is killed, will you turn back upon your heels (3:144)
Obey me as long as I obey God and His Messenger. When I disobey Him
and His Prophet, then obey me not
Contributions
Defeated rebellions who failed to pay zakat and self-proclaimed imposters
Code of war
The treat from Persians and Romans. Usamah sent to Byzantine borders
The collection and compilation of the verses of the Holy Qur'an
He consolidated the community and the state

Before he died he selected a small group of people to nominate and

choose his successor

Umar b. al-Khattab (634-644 CE)

Umar was known for knowledge of genealogy, speaking and swordsmanship
Bitter enemy of those who converted to Islam
He was on a way to kill a Prophet but finally converted to the religion of Islam. A
story of his conversion is very interesting
Under Umar there was the vast expansion of Islam:
Syria taken in 636 Battle of Yarmuk; Iraq taken in 637 Battle of
Qadisiyya; Jerusalem taken in 640; Egypt taken in 640 and Iran taken in 641
Battle of Nineveh
Implementation of justice
Administrative structure of the state
Appointed governors and judges
Department of treasury, army and public revenues were established
Professional paid army was established
Population census was made
Regulations of taxes
Founded new cities and provinces
Justice to non-Muslims
The concept of dhimmi introduced
Assassinated by Abu Lulu Feroze, a Magian follower, because of personal matter

Uthman b. Affan (644-656 CE)

Before he died Umar selected six companions, to select a new caliph from
among themselves.
Uthman belonged to the Umayyad branch of the Quraish tribe
Uthman was honest, mild, kind and charitable person.
Expansion and prosperity continued. Muslims added to their Empire Morocco,
Afghanistan, Armenia and Azerbaijan
Navy was organized, administrative divisions of the state were revisited, and
many public projects were expanded and completed
Compilation of the Qur'an and its distribution
During the last six years of his reign he had to face the revolts and rebellions
A conspiracy was created against him and his rule; he was accused of corruption,
cronyism and nepotism
In 656 CE, Uthman was finally murdered by rebels

Ali (656-661 CE)

He lived with the Prophet, married his daughter Fatima and was first male
convert
He was pressed by rebels to accept the office of the caliph
He was defender of Islam; slept in Prophets bed when his murder was
planned; in the Battle of Uhud he received 16 wounds
He was great scholar of Arabic literature, grammar and rhetoric
Chronology of events
Assassination of Uthman and Ali's acceptance of the office
Ali dismissed all previously appointed governors
Problems of bringing murderers to trial
Resistance and divisions
Battles of Camel
Battle of Siffin
Emergence of Kharijites

The Muslim Conquests and the Spread of Islam

At the eve of the Muslim expansion, the rest of the world was in chaos, political
struggles and civil wars
Three powers
Western Europe was under Germanic tribes
Byzantine was engulfed in civil wars
Persia got exhausted after wars with Byzantine over Syria
Muslims faced weak empires, where people didnt like their rulers
Muslim unity and inspiration from the Prophet and Islam
Such rapid expansion not seen after Alexander the Great
Both religious and material motives led to the expansion
Islamic worldview vs. Hellenism; Islam overshadowed ancient languages, religions,
worldviews, cultures and empires
Spread of Islam:
Muslim lands became centres of the world
Islamic learning, scientific and technological advancement
Trade and business; Muslim monopoly of trade
The prestige of Islam and peoples interest in conversion
Missionaries: warriors, merchants, sufis, and scholars of law

Muslim Dynasties and Empires

Umayyad Dynasty (661-750)
Founded by Mu'awiya; Bani Umayyah family

Ali assassinated in 661; no more capable opponents

Muawiyah was capable ruler

Constructed The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem

He tuned a caliphate into a monarchy; appointing his son as his successor
He made Damascus a capital city

Depended on Syrian army and support

Alid Revolt of 680 CE

Husayn, Alis son, was ambushed and assassinated at Karbala near Kufa

After this event Umayyad were ruling unchallenged

Time of expansion: to Spain in West, India in East

Tariq, 710

Battle of Tours, 732; Charles Martel halted Muslim advance to Europe

from Spain

Constantinople, 717
Umayyad overthrown by the Abbasids in 750 CE
Umayyad remained in Spain until 1493

Abbasids (750-1258 CE)

Bani Hashim or descendant of al-Abbas
Reasons for Umayyad decline?
Corruption and injustice of Umayyad
Struggle between Arabs and non-Arabs
Advantages of Abbasids
Abbasids were descended from Muhammad's uncle al-Abbas
Centered in Baghdad, the largest city of that time world
Muslim army in Baghdad was not supporting Umayyads
Support of Shia supporters
Harun al-Rashid (786-809) was the most capable ruler of Abbasids
This was a golden age for Islam:
Universality; not only an Arab empire but empire of all ethnic groups
No more internal disputes and revolts
Expansion and conversion
New learning center
Spread of technology and culture
Economic development due to Abbasid geographic position
Contributions in literature, arts, sciences, philosophy
Fell to Seljuk Turks in 945
In 1258 the Abbasid dynasty ended when the Mongols killed the last of the
Abbasid caliphs and destroyed Baghdad

Christians and Muslims in the Middle Ages

Crusades projected the image of Islam, which lasted until today

Islam was evil religion
Hostile force; Muslims forced others to convert
Opposed to Christianity; Muslims seen as heretics and pagans
Struggle against Islam justified because they opposed Christianity
Why Crusades
Islam's supremacy and conquests;
World of that time was under Muslims
Christianity and Hellenism utterly defeated in the Middle East
Reasons for the Crusades:
The Western European expansion to the East
Attempt at unification between eastern and western churches
Prevention of Turkish incursion into Europe
Promotion of the idea of Crusade at the crucial time; during internal straggles and
wars in Europe

The first Crusade in 1095 initiated by Pope Urban II

Organized in France
Not organized force; mobs gathered to proceed to the Near East
Disunity among the Turks
Christian army took Jerusalem in 1099
Massacres of Muslims, Jews and Christians
The first victory stimulated additional Crusades
Muslim counterattacks under Saladin (Salah al-Din)
In 1187 Jerusalem taken by Muslim armies

Results of the Crusades:

The long slow re-conquest of Spain
The seizure of the Mediterranean sea-routs by Italian trading cities. Muslims lost
the monopoly of the trade
Muslim embarrassment for loosing Jerusalem
Loss of Muslim Spain in 1492 was the loss of a vital Islamic cultural area
Islamic influence on Medieval Europe
Contacts during the Crusades stimulated influence of Islamic civilization on
Western civilization

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"Nomad Empires" in the Muslim World (1000-1500)

Introduction
Decline of the Abbasids in about 900 and the last fall in 1258
Emergence of the number of nomad empires
Seljuk Sultanate
Nomadic people from Central Asia (Uzbekistan)
Conquest of Iraq and Iran in 1055 Battle of Baghdad
Battle of Manzikert, 1071, Byzantine defeated
By 1100s fragmentation of Seljuks
Mongol Empire (13th century)
Brutal and destructive; stopped and defeated by the Mamluks of Egypt

Timur Empire (13th century)

Timur or Tamerlane

The Impact of these invasions on the Muslim world:

Negative
Destruction of urban and agrarian aspects of Islamic civilization
An introduction of new nomadic element into the conquered lands
Emergence of foreign cultures and languages
Positive
Conquest of Anatolia made a way to Ottoman Turks
Spread of Islam to Central Asia and later to Eastern Europe
Expansion into India by Ghaznavids

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The Gunpowder Empires (1500-1924)

Introduction
Ottoman Empire (1300-1924) (Anatolia and Balkan); Safavid Empire (Persia
or Iran); Mughul Empire (India)
The Ottoman Empire
Osman (1280-1326)
Murad I (1360-1389); Janissaries; Battle of Kosovo, 1389
Bayazid I (1389-1402); Tammerlane
Mehmet II (1451-1481); Constantinople, 1453
Expansion of the Ottoman Empire to Europe and Near East

Selim I (1512-1520)

Suleyman I the Magnificent (1520-1566)

Battles: Battle of Mohcs, 1526; Vienna, 1529; Vienna, 1683

Religion and Society in the Ottoman World

Caliph; Sufism; Non-Muslims and Millet

Decline of the Ottomans

Battle of Carlowitz, 1699

Corruption and Weak rulers

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The Safavids
Shah Ismail (1487-1524)
Iran and Iraq
Ottomans
Shah Abbas I (1587-1629)
Shah Hussein (1694-1723)
Politics and Society
Pyramidal political system, shah at the top
Art and literature
Isfahan
Textiles
Painting

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Mughal Empire
Babur (1483-1530)
Humayun (1530-1556)
Akbar (1556-1605)
Gunpowder empire
Religious tolerance
Din-I-ilahi (Divine Faith)
Administration
Legal system
Twilight of the Mughals
Jahangir (1605-1628)
Shah Jahan (1628-1657)
Taj Mahal
Augangzeb (1658-1707)
Reforms
Religious intolerance
Rebellions

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Islam
Meaning of Islam
Aslama "to submit oneself"
Islam means "entire submission to the will of God"
Muslim "one who have submitted himself willingly"
Articles of Faith:
To believe in Allah
Angels
Revealed Scriptures
Messengers
The day of judgement
Free will and predestination
Pillars of Islam:
Creed (Shahadah)
Prayers (Salat)
Fasting (Saum)
Purifying Tax (Zakat)
Pilgrimage (Hajj)

Islamic Sources:
Qur'an and Sunnah
Ijmah "Consensus of Muslim community
Qiyas "Analogy
Ijtihad "Independent decision making"
Legal Schools:
Maliki by Malik b. Abbas;
Hanafi by Abu Hanifa;
Shafi'i by al-Shafi'I;
Hanbali by Ahmad b. Hanbal
Theological Schools:
The Sunnite theological school
Maturidi
Ashari
Salafi
The Shite theological school
Tasawwuf or Sufism or Islamic Mysticism
Inner spiritual dimension of Islam
"Fear" of God and ascetic self denial
Love of God
Spiritual presentation of Islam
Political structure
Caliph; Diwan or advisory council; Vizier or prime minister

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Contributions in Sciences and Literature

Muslims transmitters or originators?
Distorted image of Islam
Prejudice against Muslims; Arabs seen as pupils of Greeks
Greek heritage, its spreading and influence on Islamic civilization
Translations under Ma'mun "Bayt al-Hikmah" "House of Wisdom
Translations of sciences of immediate practice in physics, medicine, biology,
astronomy, optics and geometry
Arabic became a scientific language as before Greek or later Latin
Translations also from Persia and India
Translations from Syriac, Greek, Pahlavi and Sanskrit
The most important translator was Hunayn b. Ishaq
Islamic sciences
Greatest achievement by Muslims
Islamic civilization was the most advanced between the seventh century to the
12th century
Without Islamic civilization and its contributions in sciences Medieval,
Renaissance and later western sciences would not have been possible
Islamic sciences based on the revealed sources and dont separate metaphysics
from physics

Mathematics and Astronomy

Both mathematics and astronomy influenced by Islam and the Holy Quran. Idea
of unity or monotheism seen mathematically; a need to determine qiblah or
prayer direction
Muslims worked on solid geometry, mathematical equations, algebra, geometry,
trigonometric functions.
Muhammad b. Musa al-Khawarizmi or Alegorismus
He wrote Kitab al-Hisab Treatise on Arithmetic
Algorism derived from his name
Foundation in algebra (al-jabr), arithmetic and invention of zero
al-Uqlidisi
Wrote a book Miftah al-Hisab The Key to Arithmetic
Discovered Decimal fractions
Ibn al-Haytham or Alhazen
50 of his works survived; "Kitab al-Manazir" The Book of Optics"
Theory of vision
Muslim astronomers:
Originated and founded observatories; used astronomical tables and produced
the most accurate tables
Al-Margarah school on astronomy improved Ptolemaic planetary system
Al-Tusi; Al-Biruni; Al-Battani and Al-Shirazi

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Medicine
Al-Tibb al-Nabawi or Prophetic Medicine laid the foundation of medicine
among Muslims
Muslims founded hospitals around 800, eg. Baghdad Hospital and Mansuri
Hospital in Cairo
Rhazes (d. 932)
Initiated foundation of Mansuri Hospital
Al-Hawi" "The Comprehensive Book"
Ibn Sina or Avicena (d. 994)
Philosopher and physician
"Canon of Medicine was used as a textbook until 17th century
"Book of Healing"
Abu Qasim al-Zahrawi (d. 1009)
On surgery
Contributed the number of surgical instruments
Consider English word taken from Arabic; syrup, soda, julep and alcohol.

Logic and Metaphysics

Greek Philosophy influenced Muslims
Theologians
Mu'tazilites
Philosophers:
Ibn Sina
Ibn Rushd
"A Commentator

Al-Farabi
Al-Ghazali
Devastating refutation of philosophy

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History
Ibn Ishaq
Al-Masudi
Al-Tabari
Ibn Khaldun
Islamic Poetry and Literature
Seven Odes Muallaqat
Ferdowzi (940-1020)
Book of Kings

Rabea of Qozdar
Persian first known women poet

al-Mutanabbi (915-965)
Omar Khayyam,
Rubaiyat

The Tales from 1001 Nights or The Arabian Nights

Sadi (1210-1292)
Rose Garden

Arts and Architecture

Art
No figures
Calligraphy
Geometric patterns
Carpets
Woolen rugs
Architecture
Arabesque
Mosque at Cordoba
The Alhambra
Taj Mahal
Dome of the Rock
Blue Mosque
Topkapi Palace

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Humayuns tomb at Agra

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Islam and European Self-Awareness

Introduction
Islamic presence in Spain and Sicily
Trade Contacts
Crusades
Islamic Influence on Medieval Europe and meeting of East and West
Rise of reason
Rise of sciences
Rise of universities
The distorted image of Islam: medieval and contemporary perspectives
Islam falsehood
Medieval Christian philosopher Tomas Aquinas Islam has nave arguments
about its claims; to him Muhammads followers accepted all from him
blindly and uncritically; to him Muhammad corrupted the Bible
Islam religion of violence and sword; belief spread that Muslims killed every
man who preached against their religion
Islam religion of decadence. Beliefs that Islam propagates plurality of wives with
no restrictions; belief in predestination make Muslims lazy
Muhammad Antichrist; Islam seen as Christian heresy and the Prophet seen as a
Devil

European inferiority and the significance for Europe of the meeting with Islam
Crusades meeting with Islamic civilization created inferiority
Islamic technology was superior
Muslims could afford luxuries
Military Muslims were stronger
Muslims ruled wide areas
The distorted image of Islam was a projection of the shadow-side of Europe and led to
European self-awareness
Influence material products and technology from Spain
Stimulated sciences
Provoked Europe to form a new image of itself
European debt to the Islamic world

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