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The Rise of Islam. Arabia in Late Antiquity . Struggle between Sasanian Empire (Persian, Zoroastrian) and Byzantium (Christian) Kingdom of Axum is a client state of Byzantium Pre-existing struggles between Christians and polytheists in Arabia before the birth of Muhammad . Muhammad.
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Arabia in Late Antiquity Struggle between Sasanian Empire (Persian, Zoroastrian) and Byzantium (Christian) Kingdom of Axum is a client state of Byzantium Pre-existing struggles between Christians and polytheists in Arabia before the birth of Muhammad
Muhammad Spiritual awakening in 610 CE Member of Quraysh tribe in Mecca Journey to Medina in 622 CE Religious community (umma) Conquest of Mecca in 630 CE Dies in 632
The early Caliphate First four rightly guided Caliphs (rashidun) (to 661 CE) Abu Bakr; ‘Umar; ‘Uthman; ‘Ali (all related to Muhammad) Riddawars
Umayyad caliphate (661 – 750) Period of spectacular military success. Islam stretched from Punjab to Spain. Caliphs cannot claim direct ties of blood to the Prophet. Conflict between ‘Ali and Mu’awiya. Ali successful in 656 but struggles to assert himself. Kharijites (seceders). Fitna(strife)
Legitimacy of rulers Kharijites - piety and standards of behaviour Alids, later Shi’ites -- legitimacy comes from descent from the prophet. Umayyads - legitimacy comes from consensus of community of Believers (jamaa) Religious scholars (‘ulama) Taxation of mawali(clients of Arab tribes)
Abbasid caliphate In 750 Umayyads were overthrown by a Shi’ite revolt from Khurasan in north-eastern Iran. Capital moved from Syria to Baghdad in 762 CE. The Abbasids have a bad press from early Islamic historians More inclusive than Umayyads Development of bureaucracy Iqta(right to collect taxes instead of taking a salary).
Mamluks From 9th C. the Abbasids replace the army that brought them to power with Turkish slave soldiers (mamluksor ghulams) brought from central Asia Esp. under caliph al-Mu‘tasim (r. 833–42)
Abbasids and ‘ulama Al-Ma’mun (r. 813 – 33) tries to subject ‘ulama to an inquisition (mihna) Mihnaabandoned under al-Mutawakkil in 848
End of Abbasid rule By mid 10th century Abbasids are controlled by Shiite Buyids in Iraq. Buyids are invaders from northern Iran. This period sees split between Sunni and Shiite Muslims which lasts until the present. Building of libraries and law schools (madrasas) Sunnis assemble collection of hadiths Development of four schools of Islamic legal thought (madhabs)