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Muslim World. Chapter 11. The Arabian Peninsula. Geography Farming limited in Arabia Commerce lively Trade routes converged at Arabian Peninsula Ideas as well as merchandise exchanged Trade-dependent towns rose near coasts Mecca , near Red Sea, most important of coastal towns.
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Muslim World Chapter 11
The Arabian Peninsula • Geography • Farming limited in Arabia • Commerce lively • Trade routes converged at Arabian Peninsula • Ideas as well as merchandise exchanged • Trade-dependent towns rose near coasts • Mecca, near Red Sea, most important of coastal towns • Religious purpose • The Kaaba, at heart of Mecca • Site drew religious pilgrims • One god considered supreme: Allah
Islam • monotheistic • Prophet Muhammad said to have heard the calling of God • journey from Mecca to Medina • turning point for Islam. • Quran contains the sacred word • final authority on all matters.
Islam – Way of Life • Sharia • the Islamic system of law • regulated moral conduct • family life • business practices • Government • Unlike the West • the Sharia does not separate religious matters from criminal or civil law.
Qur’an Five Pillars of Islam • Muslims read from Qur’an to hear Allah’s teachings • Seek religious experience in rhythm, beauty of words • Full meaning known only in original Arabic language • Translations not true representation • Five basic acts of worship central to Islam, Five Pillars of Islam • Profession of faith • Performance of five daily prayers • Giving of alms to poor, needy • Fasting during month of Ramadan • Make pilgrimage to Mecca Basic Belief • Followers memorized Muhammad's words, some wrote them down
Five Pillars of Islam • Profession of Faith • “There is no god but God…” • By affirmation, Muslim signals acceptance of the faith • Denies existence of other gods, accepts Muhammad as prophet • Five Daily Prayers • Worshippers say daily prayers five times during day • Always face Mecca to pray, no matter where they are • Giving Alms to Poor, Needy • Muslims supposed to give percentage of income to charity • Even those with little encouraged to help others • Fasting During Ramadan • Muslims required to go without food, drink, dawn to dusk • Ramadan when Muhammad began to report messages written down in Qur’an
Movements within Islam SUFI SHIITES SUNNI • Believed caliph, or successor to Muhammad, should be chosen by leaders of the Muslim community. • Viewed caliph as a leader, not as a religious authority. • Believed that only descendants of Muhammad could become caliph. • Believed descendants of Muhammad to be divinely inspired. • Sought to communicate with God through meditation, fasting, and other rituals.
The Umayyads and the Abbassids • These powerful caliphates ruled the Islamic world • expanded the Arab empire • brought about a golden age in Muslim civilization.
UMAYYADS ABBASSIDS • Set up dynasty that ruled until 750 • Conquered lands from Atlantic to the Indus Valley • Relied on local officials to govern the empire • Faced economic tensions between wealthy and poor Arabs • Overthrew the Umayyads in 750 • Ended Arab dominance and helped make Islam a universal religion • Empire of the caliphs reached its greatest wealth and power • Muslim civilization enjoyed a golden age
Advances MEDICINE ASTRONOMY MATHEMATICS PHILOSOPHY • Scholars tried to harmonize Greek ideas of reason with religious teachings of Islam. • IbnKhaldun set standards for scientific study of history. • Government set up hospitals with emergency rooms. • Muhammad al-Razi studied measles and smallpox. • IbnSina wrote a medical encyclopedia. • Surgeons developed treatment for cataracts. • Scholars studied Indian and Greek mathematics. • Al-Khwarizmi pioneered the study of algebra and wrote mathematics textbook that became standard in Europe. • Al-Khwarizmi developed astronomical tables. • Astronomers calculated circumference of the Earth.
Islam in India • In the 1100s, Muslim invaders entered northern India and organized a sultanate • land ruled by a sultan. • Sultans introduced Muslim traditions of government to India. • Many Turks, Persians, and Arabs migrated to India to serve as soldiers or officials. • Trade between India and the Muslim world increased.
Gunpowder • the Mughals ruled India, the Ottomans, and the Safavids dominated the Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe. • new military technology • cannons and muskets. • “the age of gunpowder empires.”
Fears • The fears to Islam • Negative stereotypes about Islam • “the enemy within” • “Islamic terrorists” • General stereotypes of Muslims: • as barbaric, irrational, fanatic, supportive of terrorism, oppressive of women • simply: Anti-American • biases • spread prejudices & stereotypes
Measure your fear Prejudice Stereotyping Hate Crimes: Verbal & Physical Abuse Vandalism & Arson of Mosques & shops Murder Defamation Slander Attack by Media Profiling Breach of Civil liberties Discrimination Alienation
Historical implications Based on deeply embedded cultural biases • Crusades & Inquisition • Holy War • Renaissance • excluded Muslims • Colonial times • Orientalists portrayed Arabs & Muslims as barbarian & primitive to justify colonial conquests
Myth 1 - Islam is a monolithic bloc • Around 1.4 Billion Muslims in the world • Only 18% are Arabs • Largest Muslim population • Indonesia 201M. • 55M Russia • 100M India • 24 in EU • 7-10 US (2nd largest religion) • Muslims comprise 4000 ethnic groups in 128 countries • Muslims follow no single religious authority – no priesthood
Myth 2: Islam condones violence against non-Muslims • Aggression is a vice in Islam • The Prophet defined the Muslim as one causing no verbal or physical harm to others • Islam’s greeting to everyone is “peace be upon you” • Murder of one person or causing devastation of any form is equated with killing all humanity • “Jihad” • Striving to do good for the sake of God • A broad concept
Myth 3: Terrorism is Islamic - a fundamentalist duty • Terrorism : Defined as “devastation on land”“killing people & destroying crops” • Recognized as most heinous crime • Punishment for terrorism: execution, crucifixion or exile • Trial first. • Terrorism as a phenomena • Hitler vsBinLaden