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| I took this pic of the Alhambra in Granada 2009. I added it to set the mood for our discussion :) |
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Islam Scored Discussion
We are continuing our discussion of the Umma in this discussion board. For the sake of keeping control of this discussion and making it manageable (to grade) you are limited to no more than 5 posts. You will get half the credit that you would have in class (for the purpose of encouraging in-class discussion) for a maximum of 5 participation pts. The participation will then be scaled along with the class version of the discussion.
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A major change throughout the Islamic Empire was the evolution of political centers from a single religious center to multiple political centers. Originally the center was in Mecca. Then when the Umayyads took over the political center changed to Damascus. Once the Abbasids overtook the Umayyad, it changed to Baghdad. Due to the fragmentation of the empire in the Turkic period, multiple political centers rose. However, despite the changes in political centers, Mecca still has remained an important religious center for the Islamic community.
ReplyDeleteSimilar to the change in political centers, the shift in power from the Umayyads and the Abbasids led to a change in acceptance of non-Muslims. During the Umayyad rule, they were somewhat accepting, but it was only to gain money. It was generally frowned upon to let them into their society, but when the Abbasids took over, they allowed non-Muslims into their community. While they were never fully considered a true Muslim, they got to enjoy the privileges one might have been able to experience.
ReplyDeleteWhen Muhammad first began teaching about Islam, he sought to have the rich share their wealth with the poor, increase peace, and stop the worshipping of inanimate objects by the Arabs. At first, these revolutionary ideas threatened the Umayyad Dynasty but after their conversion in 627 c.e. and their large region holdings, politically and culturally, being Muslim became an asset. The idea that membership of Islam of non-Arabs such as Persians and Turks equated with an Arab identity is observed in G.R. Hawting The First Dynasty of Islam. This idea allowed for the later rise of the Turks.
DeleteIn early Islam, the caliph was meant to be a powerful ruler that was chosen by God, however as time went on, the caliphs became mere figureheads that had increasingly less and less power. Umar II who was an Umayyad caliph is credited with ordering the collection of the Hadith and gives people that accept Al-Islam, no matter their religion, and are willing to pay the Jizya the ability to enjoy all the privileges of the Muslims. He has significantly more power than caliphs later have. Over 600 years later than Umar II’s caliphate during the Umayyad Dynasty, circumstances had greatly changed in Cairo, Egypt in 1335 c.e. Unlike document 7 where the caliphate had the final say, Document 19 shows that sometimes, the caliph has no choice but to support a king that takes over a region forcibly so as to prevent a fallout.
ReplyDelete